Evening star., 1943-07-23
The Russian Offensive

The Russian Offensive
Fighting in Russia is now acquir-
ing character which should clear
up uncertainties hitherto obscuring
its true meaning. Although the con-
flict is most intense around Orel, the
entire southern half of the vast east
ern front is flaming into action clear
down to the Sea of Azov and even to
the Axis bridgehead in the Caucasus.
Furthermore, the Red armies every
where hold the initiative. Thus, it is
the Russians who appear to have
launched real offensive in the stra-
tegic sense of the word.
Considering the vastness of the
eastern theater of war, this was not
true of the push started by the Ger
mans some three weeks ago, which
broke the prolonged lull on the east
ern front. That never developed be-
yond local operation, limited in
extent and tactical in character. It's
" oDJCSClFC Wdo W p11ltl1 O4l
the deep salient which the Russians
established at Kursk in their great
offensive last winter When the Ger
mans started this local drive they
asserted that 1t was intended to fore
stall a Russian offensive which was
in the making by rectifying the most
dangerous weak spot in the Axis line
and knocking the Reds off balance.
This does not mean that, if the Ger
mans had won a quick local victory,
it might not have been pressed home
and in it's turn broadened into an
offensive But the German drive
soon broke down and the Russians
counterattacked the vital German
salient at Orel, which formed the
northern pincer OF the original Ger
man attack on the enemy's Kursk
salient.
At first this looked like another
limited operation, intense but local.
Soon, however, the Russian attacks
spread southwark, first to Belgorod,
the southern pincer Of the German
drive on Kursk, and then to the
Donets River line below Kharkov.
and to the Axis anchor on the sea-
coast at Taganrog. simultaneously,
the Russians renewed their pressure
on the Axis Caucasian bridgehead
which they had tried vainly to storm
in the spring. And even the German
high command admits that all these
attacks are being pressed by the Rus
slams with great vigor and in great
strength.
From these known facts certain
interesting deductions can be drawn.
In the first place, the Russians must
be exceedingly strong and well equip
ped to risk such extensive operations
at the height of summer, when the
Axis mechanical war machine should
normally function at its best. This
is the first time the Russians have
ventured large-scale operations in
the summer season. Moscow con-
sistently asserts that the Axis has
not weakened it's eastern front, so
the Red high command is assailing
the enemy when he is still in his full
strength. This may be interpreted as
Russian confidence in the superiority
of their methods and equipment.
These apparently have justified
themselves, Judging by the way the
German drive on the Kursk salient
was summarily squelched. Even If
we discount Russian claims, the Ger
man tank and plane losses must have
been very severe. The Reds seemingly
have perfected a system of defense
in depth which the Germans cannot
break through.
It now remains to be seen whether
the new Russian system is as success
full in offensive operations. The Red
drive on Orel will be revealing test.
The Germans have turned that entire
salient into a huge fortress, hitherto
impregnable to Russian attacks. It's
retention is vital to the whole Ger
man defense system on the central
front, and presumably they will make
every effort to hold this key point.
If the Red armies can pinch off Orel,
it will look very much as though they
have the edge over the German war
machine and that tremendous events
on the eastern front may be in the
making. But if the Germans hold, a
strategic equilibrium will be indi-
Gated. The next week or two should
tell the story.
1t is said that the pen is mightier