The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-17
Complete Garrison
KharkOv Routed By
Fierce Red Attack u
FALL INPERILS MANY
GERMAN REGIMENTS
Turkey Reports Germany
Rushing Troops to Kiev,
Main Axis Base
BY HENRY SHAPIRO

BY HENRY SHAPIRO
UNITED Press Staff CORRESPONDENCE
Moscow, February II.
CUP - For the first time o
major German army was
fleeing in disorder across the
Russian plains today and the
mounting Red Army winter
offensive threatened all o.
Adolf Hitler's armies remain
ing east Of the Dnieper River
The Soviet noon commune
revealed that the remnants Of the
German Garrison at Kharkov, al1s
Choir and chief supply center o.
the entire Axis southern line which
fell to the Russians yesterday, had
been "routed" and was running to-
ward the Dnieper hotly pursued ~
Soviet troops.
(The London radio reported thai
43 German tanks had been knocked
out in a great armored battle wese
Of Kharkov where the Nazis were
struggling to close the breach crep
ated by the fall Of the city,
It was the first time that SOviee
communique had usel the word -
reference to q major German force
and one Of the few times that ala1
stable .Nazi army had executes
other than Q disciplined, orderly
retreat.
The fall Of Kharkov seemed e
greatly increase the peril Of The
hundreds Of thousands Of Axis
troops to the south and southeast
who were being driven back steadts
" by onrushing Red armies. Orels
the one anchor point Of the Old
Axis line remaining In German
hands, also appeared doomed.
The noon communique indicated
that Red soldiers were reducing an
Axis salient south Of Kharkov, ape
parently intending to drive SOUTH
ward from Krasnoarmeisk to close
It's mouth take the important indus
trial center Of Stalino and join
Soviet forces at Kubienikov, which
were only so miles from the Sea
Of Azov coast.
If the maneuver succeeds, large
Axis Army will be trapped. The
noon communique reported "offens-
i've battles" adding that Hitler.
ties attempted at all costs to hold
I'D the advance Of Soviet troops"
Offensive Continues
At the head of the salient, ans
other Russian army were pushing
the Germans steadily westward.
The communique said that "soutks
west Of Voroshilovgrad," the Re0
Army men Continued their success
full offensive.
The salient is 40 miles across it,
mouth and go miles deep.
Still further to the south, a1l~
other Soviet army, pursuing The
Axis forces driven from RoStov adj
vanced along the Sea of Azov coast
to capture Sinyavka, only II miles
northeast of Taganrog, anchor 0e
the Axis 1941-42 winter defense
line.
The German forces fleeing from
nAIldIAOt 44C4uuS0 GA1C SAVuA4 " 49,
German army. The Soviet COM
mand identified two Of their divise
ions as the crack adolf Hitler" a1l@
Reich" Panzers.
Once 1t turned and offered bitter
resistance, but soon resumed the
flight after losing 43 tanks ana
1000 men in one sector alone, ned
dispatches reported.
The German Notifications on the
western outskirts Of Kharkov, utiIs
lied by the Germans in desperate
attempt to cover their withdrawal
after the city itself fell yesterday
soon crumbled under the Russiam
onslaught and the race 70 the
Dnieper was on.
"a Turkish broadcast heard e.
London said the Germans wezs
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