Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Nazis Gambling
Big Tank Force
On Soviet Front
Won KIuee Abondons
Drive in North for
About Blow in South
By the Associated Press.

MOoOoW, July lo.-rlelQ MAR %
shall Guenther Won Kluge threw
the entire weight of his armored
columns into a furious attack to-
day against the southern end of
the 200-mile er-Kursk- Belgo-
rod front in an action designed to
enlarge the Belgorod wedge and
blast a major breach in the
Russian lines.
Dropping all efforts to break
through on the northern end of the
salient, Won Kluge fell back on the
old Nazi powerhouse play, but the
thick Red defenses remained i'm
penetrable, although fighting be-
came SO violent that even tank
crews Of the opposing forces broke
into hand-to-hand fighting on one
occasion.
"a German communique. broad
cast by the Berlin radio and re-
corded by the Associated Press,
claimed that the Nazi armored
forces with the support of the
German air force had gained
further ground in the area just
north of Belgorod and had
smashed strong enemy counter
attacks on other sectors of the
front. The Russians suffered
Heaviest losses" the German
communique said, including a
total of 400 tanks and 1913 air.
craft
Reds Claim Success.
The tremendous success of the
Red armies was indicated by ar
announcement today that the Ger.
mans have ''despaired" of breaking
through on the Orel-Kursk sector
after suffering immense losses In
one Of the most determined attacks
they have launched since the nine.
day offensive started. Today, the
Russians said, German forces or
this sector have been considerably
reduced in size and are being useo
merely to consolidate their present
positions.
While the Russian midnight COM
munique reported that German at
lacks were somewhat weaker in the
northern area around Orel, tht
Soviet Army newspaper Red Stal
said the struggle around Belgoroc
was daily becoming more acute.
with the Nazis hurting wave after
wave Of Cotton Tiger tanks into the
fray in an attempt to widen a wedge
they drove into the defenses last
week.
A few details are now trickline
through about the fighting Of the
past few days around Belgorod. After
breaking through into Russian posi-.
tons. Won Kluge's columns at.
tempted to exploit the wedge by
launching numerous attacks in diff
ferent directions, front Line dis.
patches said.
Break Through Attempt Stalled.
When these failed the Nazis were
reported to have buttreSsed their
own lines under cover of darkness
quickly erecting defenses and tank
barriers to forestal! a Russian flank
attack. The German columns then
turned north and attempted break
through on narrow sector. but
were again repulsed, the dispatches
said.
The fighting. Red Star said, gained
the German forces nothing and re-
suited only in further heavy losses
of manpower and heavy equipment
as the defending Soviet forces
poured a hail Of artillery fire and
hand grenades at the advancing
tanks.
In engagements where the Rus
slams met the invaders tank for tank
Red Star continued, the results
proved that the Soviet XIV" tank
was far superior to the highly.
touted German Tigers.
The government newspaper Izvestis
estimated that at least 80 per cent
OF the attacking mechanical col.
umns were composed of the new
Tigers, which were being used tt
spearhead the attacks. The tanks
mount 88-millimeter cannon. which
have proved valuable as an offensive
weapon and as a screen for the
lighter tanks following.
The Tigers carry 4-inch armor.
plate in front, Izvestia said, but
the sides, rear and caterpillar tread.
have proven to be vulnerable tt
Soviet shell fire.
The Russian midnight com.
munique reported that the Ger.
mans had lost 122 tanks yesterday
bringing the eight-day total to 1922
The Russians said they shot dowr
So Nazi planes yesterday, makint
lips brought down either in ali
combat or by anti-aircraft sine,
Won Kluge launched his offensive
Although there was no indica
ton that the Germans had decided
to give up the battle to pinch of
the Kursk salient, the Russian com
munique indicated that the majo
effort was being concentrated in tn,
Belgorod sector at the southern end
declaring: "Despairing of breakin,
through the Soviet defenses, tn,
Germans today tried to improv,
their positions in some sectors O
the 'front.'"
In some cases, the midnight bull
letin said, the Red Army uset
engineering units to blow up Ger
man tanks, adding to the destruc,
ton by artillery fire.
Other sectors of the Russian from
remained more or less static ant
action was confined to purely loca
operations.
Dutch Air Force Hits
Jap Base on SeIoru
By the Associated Press