The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-19
Germans Driven Another
30 Miles Westward
Through Ukraine
RUSSIANS CLOSE IN ON
OREL, STRONG NAZI BASE
Remnants of Axis Army
Trapped in Caucasus;
Enemy DisOrganized
BY HENRY SHAPIRO


UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Moscow, February 10. --
(UP)-RuSsian mobile forces
that drove the Germans
another 30 miles westward
through the Ukraine today
moved within 40 miles Of
Poltava, key railway junction
midway between Kharkov
and the Dnieper River
stronghold Of Kremenchug.
To the north another Red Army
was closing In on Orel, last strong
German base threatening Moscow's
left flank, overrunning 10 more vii
lagos in fighting through fierce
blizzard.
Front dispatches reported Iln-
broken Soviet gains along the en-
tire southern front. The biggest adj
vances were scored In the pincers
push on Orel and the drive west
Of Kharkov. More slowly the Do
nets basin was being cleared out,
and the remnants Of the Axis army
trapped In the Caucasus were
clamped tight on the Taman PEN
insula.
Colonel General Philip Golikov.
clearing his right and. left TANKS In
the Kharkov area, thrust a spear
head within striking distance Of
Poltava, only 65 miles from the
Dnieper, giving him straight run
down the railway to Kremenchug.
Desperate and disorganized Ger
man forces were reported counter
attacking furiously but to no avail
In an effort to check the Red Army
drive toward the river, the next ma
tural barrier at which they could
establish a stable line.
Position Critical
At the same time the German po-
sition in the Donets Basin grew
more critical by the hour as Soviet
assault forces deepened their wedges
and struck westward and south
ward toward Taganrog, Sea Of
Azov anchor post which had been
brought within range Of heavy ar
tillery.
Bitter fighting was reported in
progress around scores Of towns and
villages where the Germans were
entrenched with circular firing
points dominating roads and high
ways. Violent street battles ragged
In many communities.
A number Of strong points In the
basin were reported encircled, with
the Germans trying to supply their
doomed garrisons by air.
New gains against Orel were re-
ported after the capture Of Zale-
gosch. 80 miles to the east, and the
neighboring towns of Pokrovskoye
and verkhne Sosna, As miles to the
southeast.
Capture OF Orel would knock out
the northern anchor of the Axis
southern line and restore the vital
longitudinal Moscow Kharkov rail-
road to the Soviets.
The latest Red Army thrust from
the south was announced in the
Soviet midday communique, which
said the victory Melted the Russians
eight guns, 20 motorcycles and two
stores of material.
simultaneously, the communique
reported. other Russian armies to
the south overcame Gn aboEtive Axis
counter-attack west Of Kharkov
and, resuming their pursuit Of the
enemy, occupied number of towns.
The Germans threw the remnants
of two infantry regiments 5000
men at full strengthened 20 tanks
into the futile counter-attack.
by infantry fire, Soviet men
pinned down the Hitlerites and
made them take cover" the COM
munique said. simultaneously, two
Soviet motorized attachments at
tackled the enemy flank and rear.
THE Germans lost 800 men and
retreated rapidly. Soviet troops cap
tured seven tanks, four self-pro-
polling guns, Is machine guns, two
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