The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-01-20
Would Unhinge Complete
Nazi Supply, COrlniunicas
tons System
80 DIVISIONS OF NAZIS
HAVE BEEN RUINED
Importance of KharkOH
Will Be Reduced If Kupya
ansk Falls to Reds
BY HENRY SHAPIRO
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Moscow, January 20.
(UP) - Crack Soviet guards
formations today smashed
toward Kupyansk, rail juno
ton So miles southeast Cf
the main Nazi base at Khax1
kov in a great drive aimed "A
relieving Kharkov and uni
Ringing the entire German
supply and communication
system supplying thousands
Of troops in the DonetS area.
The Soviet advance was reported
to be moving rapidly down the rall
line from Valuiki and Urazovo ana
scouting attachments were believed
to be within 20 miles Of Kupyansk
where three main railroads Join
to form the main line from Khars
kov to the rich Donets steel end
coal basin.
military observers In London ~
ported that since the launching OF
the Soviet winter offensive two
months ago at least SO divisions ug
German and Of Nazi Satellite troops
had been NAMED or destroyed hy
the Red Army. About so OF tho
divisions were identified as Mad
units. At full strength this would
constitute q force Of some 1855. 600
men but It was believed that many
Of the divisions were far below listed
combat strength due to previous
loSSeS)
Russian Pace Swift
The pace Of the Russian advance
against the hinges of the German
Donets positions was indicated Nv
communique reports Of increasing
.surrenders Of large bodies Of Itals
Ian troops. For some months tho
Nazis have depended more and more
upon Italian and Hungarian troops
to hold this section Of the fronS
with the aid of 'stiffening" de-
tachments of German regulars.
If the Russian guard detachs
ments succeed In reaching Kup~
yansk, they will be within abolls
as miles Of the Donets River, below
Kharkov. A crossing OF the frozen
river at that point would establish
a strong fianking position which
would reduce sharply the inpcrt@
ance Of Kharkov as q supply and
communications center for the Maj
forward troops.
The noon communique reported
that a large body Of Italian officers
and men had been made prisoners
on this south-V oronezh front dur
ing the night, after 5000 Italians
had surrendered yesterday In one
group, along with TOO motor truCkss
Gains On All Fronts
Gains on every main front Of tli9
/ $50 mile battle line from Lel1~
ingrad to the Northern Caucasus
were reported after one Of the
greatest days since the Russians
started their winter offensive III
November.
On the SOUTH Voronezh front tn
Russian infantry started encircline
bodies Of Axis troops ranging up TO
divisions Cat full strength perhaps
rs, 900 mem, the noon communique
reported.
The guards, attacking througholaA
the night, captured several the
points, attacking ttroughs
out the night, captured several In
habited points, killed TOO GermanG.
made 308 prisoners, and captured
II field guns and 90 machine guns.
the communique said.
On the southwestern front, where
the Red Army had taken KamenEk
City, 80 miles north of Rostov, yes
terday Russians tanks and motor
lied infantry in a night attack
broke through the Axis line h
desaroy five tanks, u anti-tank
guns mad 80 trucks. In anothea
sector, the noon communique aai@.
they occupied several inhahlh@&
places in the Northern Donets Rive
(C0ntintred m Ra0a A.