Informed German sources admitted today that the two-pronged German advance upon Leningrad and Moscow had been "slowed down somewhat" as a result of the ter pile battles south= West of" Novogorad" and around Smolensk. "adding that when the Panzer forces, swept beyond Smolensk ihey had left "very large" Russian forces to the rear which had to be dealt with.
These sources said that the gzlstence of these pockets forced the! Nasal panzer units and. supply columns to make a wide detour of Smolensk before being able to reach advance unns rolling toward Moscow. rearm sources eid that Bovil cops were, st if in. the 50 called "pockets" West, north and south of Smolensk. Bloody fighting was said to be raging as the Germans Sought to wipe out these Red Army
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