The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-08
Berlin Places
Reds Miles
From Target
Kuestrin And Frankfort
CrayeIy Menaced By
Drives

LONDON. Thursday, Feb. g.
dp,-Russian troops yesterday
ovnanded their hold on the Ode,
,iver's east bank northeast of Der
lin in a seven-mile advance thai
carried them within 81 miles of the
German capital, and Berlin sale
The Soviets had won a fourth
bridgehead across the water
barrier on the shortest road to the
threatened city.
The key citadels of Kuestrin ane
Frankfurt-on-theIC der, guarding
the approaches to the capital, were
gravely menaced. Soviet troops
drove to within one and one-hah
miles of Kuestrin, capturing the
northwestern suburb of Alt Dire
WITT Three miles before Frankfurt,
they won the historic battlefield Of
Kunersdorf.
These gains were revealed in the
Soviets guarded communicates as
Berlin and Moscow reports indi
Gated that a decisive battle for the
gates to the capital had been join.
ed and that the Red Army already
was ripping up the city's outer
defenses.
Enemy reports acknowledged
that each of four bridgeheads or
the Oders west bank within few
minutes flying time from Berlin
was being Widened in tank and ar.
tillery battles that presaged the
encirclement of Kuestrin and
Frankfurt. Both cities were under
artillery fire and Soviet tanks yes
terday broke into Kuestrin's center.
On the direct, shortest route to
Berlin, Marshal Zhukov's First
White Russian Army was on the
broad, asphalt super-highWay
leading like an arrow to the heart
Of Berlin" Soviet newspapers said,
The Nazis said Zhukov's forces
had won new bridgehead across
the Oder east of Berlin, for a total
Of four. Each was being expanded
Berlin admitted. The Oder river
fortresseS of Kuestrin and Frank
furt, 80 and 33 miles east of Ber'
lin, were under artillery fire anc
Soviet tanks this morning broke
into the center of Kuestrin.
The Nazi Transocean agency said
ZukoV seems to have completed
his preparations for major
thrust against Berlin" The DNB
agency said that due east of Ber-
lin the battle increased in intensity
this morning.
Artillery fire assumed the char
acter of drumfire and the Soviets
made breaches but achieved no
operahonal success" DNB said.
The Soviet High Command
elamped security blackout on
the great battle for the short road
10 Berlin. but Moscow correspond
ems reported through censorship:
reports say Zhukov's vanguards
nave hurdled the river" "a
spectacular battle is raging at this
very minute, and fighting now is
gong on in the fortified forefield
VI Berlin Russian armies
are poised to leap on Berlin; the
situation is wildly promising
a, II now looks IKE the drive for
ge capital really is on; the posi-.
.ol OF the Germans has become
'eIIo0s 10 point of desperation. 80
These reports came from United
c rteSs Moscow dispatches and NBC
soo and BIC Moscow broadcasts
recorded here.
O. The Soviet Army newspaper Red
S Wa said; Red Army pressure
d do; only is not weakening, but
i isnt5 is gaining strength. The oh.
. ~ NJ complete destruction
Nazl Germany-is near"
according to enemy reports the
b at"a on the blazing BATTLEFRONT
tbis' 'e Berlin's eastern gates wa:
hen adukov's army had one bridge
s esst = at Kierni'z. 80 miles north
Of K 81 Berlin at point northwes
was Hhu ";5t A new bridgeheae
wa a,, pr probably opposite the high
mT I crossing town of Goerlitz, 81
sisNs east of Berlin, and the Rus
Urn highway. '7 '''e 0er''" nue.
Fr oUg,1 Of the bulwark city O
panoe du[t, zhukov's troops ex
medis4e,,r~ Two bridgeheads, one i'm
defensa south Of Frankfurt
eit5a belt, and the second o,
miles size SIDE of Fuerstenberg, 4;
mjle MILES, southeast of Berlin and l.
'eS below Frankfurt