The past week was marked by major military and political events that dramatically worsened the position of Nazi Germany.

The future frightens Hitler's bosses. One of them, the head of the so-called "labour front", Ley writes in the newspaper "Angriff": "Our time is full of such drama and such dynamics that one can only look back at the past, but it is almost impossible to look ahead. I just wrote in my last article in the Angriff newspaper that the situation on the Eastern Front had stabilized, but as a result of the Romanian events, this turned out to be a lie. Lei is forced to admit that things are bad not only in the south, but also in other sectors of the front. He writes: “We retreated to new positions. Fate made us do it. Now the third phase begins. We are waiting for the enemy."

Lei does not say where he is waiting for the enemy. This is a subterfuge. He does not want to say that the Germans are already waiting for the enemy on their own soil. The war has come close to the borders of Germany, not only in the East, where the Red Army hangs a formidable force over East Prussia, but also in the West, where the Allied troops, having broken through to Belgium and Luxembourg, are already fighting on the outskirts of the fascist lair. As a result of the new victories of the Red Army, the foreground of the German defense was sharply reduced. Romania itself became a springboard for the attack on Nazi Germany and its ally Hungary. Soviet troops, having taken Turpa-Severin, reached the Romanian-Yugoslav border. The ring around Nazi Germany is closing and every day it becomes narrower. Now, as one foreign observer rightly notes, it is not about storming Hitler's "European fortress", but about storming the "Hitler's fortress" in Europe. In other words, we are talking about the complete defeat of Nazi Germany itself.

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As a result of the defeats suffered by the Germans, primarily on the Soviet-German front, the fascist bloc collapsed. In fact, what is now left of the criminal Hitlerite bloc? Italy has long been out of the Axis system. Romania and Finland fell away from Germany. The entire Hitlerite new order in Europe is collapsing. The Red Army liberates Poland from the German invaders. The liberation of Czechoslovakia is not far off, in one part of which - in Slovakia - an armed uprising against the fascist invaders has already broken out. Germany lost France and Belgium.

In light of these facts, it is understandable why the fascist boss Ley is afraid to look into the future. It does not bode well for the Nazis. The fascist German radio commentator Semmler notes that Germany in its present position resembles a traveler who has to cross a turbulent river in the absence of a more or less reliable ferry. “We have before us,” he declares, “the choice between life and death.” The fascist scribbler is mistaken: there is no longer a choice - only death is in the future.

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Finland broke off relations with Germany. The Government of Finland accepted the precondition for armistice and peace negotiations presented by the Soviet Government. Military operations in the area where the Finnish troops are located have been stopped. A Finnish government delegation arrived in Moscow to conduct peace talks. Thus ended the Finnish-German "cooperation", which arose on the basis of aggressive aspirations.

The fact that Finland decided to withdraw from the war, despite the persistent persuasion of the Germans to refrain from this step, is eloquent proof of the catastrophic situation of Germany. Known, that in the spring of this year, peace negotiations were already underway between the Soviet Union and Finland. But they were interrupted by the Finnish ruling circles, despite the fact that the conditions put forward by the Soviet government were recognized by world public opinion as not only fair, but also extremely generous. The leading circles of Finland then still harbored the hope of receiving military assistance from the Germans.

It took a little time for the Finns to be convinced of the unfulfillment of their hopes. The defeats suffered by the Finnish army against the German troops on the Karelian Isthmus, the victories of the Red Army in all other sectors of the front revealed the true state of affairs. Finland decided to withdraw from the war. Hitler did not have the strength to prevent her from carrying out this intention.

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Things are different in Bulgaria. Under the guise of a false policy of "neutrality", its rulers were actively helping Hitler's Germany in the war against the USSR all the time.

The Soviet government showed an example of patience. It took into account the situation that had developed in the first period of the war, when little Bulgaria could not resist the military might of Germany. But when the situation changed, when it became clear to everyone that the war was finally lost by Germany, Bulgaria had every opportunity to join the alliance of democratic countries fighting against fascism. However, the Bulgarian ruling circles did not want to do this.

The diplomatic correspondence between the governments of the USSR and Bulgaria, published in our press, irrefutably testifies to how the Bulgarian ruling clique abused the patience of the Soviet Union. Bulgaria hid on its territory the retreating German troops from the persecution of the Red Army. The Bulgarian rulers gave the Nazi brigands the opportunity to create a new center of resistance to the armed forces of the USSR and our allies.

The Soviet government could not regard this policy of Bulgaria otherwise than as direct participation in the war against the USSR in the German camp and therefore declared in its note of September 6 that “it does not consider it possible to continue to maintain relations with Bulgaria, breaks all relations with Bulgaria and declares that not only Bulgaria is at war with the USSR, since in fact it was previously at war with the USSR, but the Soviet Union will henceforth be at war with Bulgaria.

But even after that, the Bulgarian government pursued a dual policy. On the night of September 6, it notified the Soviet government of the break with Germany and asked for a truce with the USSR. But on September 6, a message was published only that it was asking the Soviet government for a truce; the government did not say anything about breaking off relations with Germany. It is clear that this caused distrust in the position of Bulgaria. Therefore, the Soviet government could not consider the request of the Bulgarian government for a truce. Only on September 7, the Bulgarian government announced the severance of relations with Germany. On September 8, Bulgaria declared war on Germany.

At the present time, the Soviet government found it possible to take into consideration the request of the government of Bulgaria regarding the negotiations for an armistice.

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According to the official statement of the Hungarian government, Hungary began hostilities against Romania, whose troops entered Transylvania. It is known that Hitler tore away Transylvania from Romania and handed it over to Hungary for its services. Hungary's position, already quite unattractive, is getting more complicated.

"Cooperation" with Germany cost Hungary dearly. Its best troops found their grave on the Soviet-German front. Its economy is undermined. A rich country became a poor province of the third empire. In Hungary, which has always been known as the breadbasket of Europe, the bread ration has been reduced to 150 grams per day.

The ruling circles are strenuously maneuvering, trying to deceive both their population and world public opinion. The Hungarian ruling clique justifies its criminal policy on the grounds that Hungary's geographical position has made it necessary to go with Germany.

Indeed, "geography" played a very big role in the policy of Hitler's Hungarian henchmen, but by no means the one they are talking about. They were seduced by the prospect of unpunished seizure of foreign lands. They expected to expand the borders of their state at the expense of Yugoslavia and Romania. They have invaded our lands.

But this "geography" turned out to be an unpleasant "story". The war came close to the borders of Hungary. Its criminal rulers will soon have to answer for their predatory designs, for their participation in the Hitlerite adventure and for the monstrous atrocities committed on Soviet soil. This responsibility of Hungary cannot be evaded.

From the Soviet Information Bureau

SEPTEMBER 9 FACT SHEET

During September 9, in the territory of the northeastern part of Romania, our troops fought forward and occupied more than 100 settlements, including CHOMURNA, FRUMOASA, GURA-GUMORA, SLATIOARA. OSTRA, KOTYRGASHI, SABASA, LARGULUI. BISTRICHIOARA, JEDANTE-LEK, the railway stations GURA-GUMORA, FRASIN, MOLID and, together with the Romanian troops, captured the large settlement of TYRGUL-SACUESK with battles.

In the central part of Romania, our troops occupied the city of ALBA-IULIA, the large settlements of TEIUS, MIHALT, VALIA-LUNGO, MINESHAZA, KISH-KAPUS and the railway stations of KOPSHA-MINA, MIKESHAZA. TEIUSH, PODUL-MUREY.

In Bulgaria, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, moving forward, occupied the city and the railway junction of SHUMEN (SHUMLA), the city of RAZGRAD and, in cooperation with the BLACK SEA Fleet, captured the city and large port on the Black Sea of ​​BURGAS.

Over 2 days of operations, our troops captured more than 21,000 Bulgarian soldiers and officers. In the RAZGRAD area, our warriors sculpted more than 4,000 German soldiers and officers into captivity.

In other sectors of the front - the search for scouts and in a number of points there were battles of local importance.

On September 8, our troops knocked out and destroyed 35 German tanks on all fronts. In air battles and anti-aircraft artillery fire, 8 enemy aircraft were shot down.

SEPTEMBER 10 FACT SHEET

During September 10, in the territory of the north-eastern part of Romania, our troops, overcoming enemy resistance, captured the city and the VAMA railway station, and also occupied the settlements of RUSSIAN-MOLDAVIKA, VATRA-MOLDAVIKA, KRUCHA, HOLDA, BROSHTENI, GYERDIO -BACKASH.

In the central part of Romania, our troops, together with the Romanian troops, captured the city and railway junction SFINTUL GEORGE, and also occupied more than 50 other settlements with battles, including the large settlements of CATALINA, KARATNY, BUKSAD, MALNAS, AITA, MIZHLOKI and railway stations SYNKATOLNA, SAKUESK, SYNZENI, BUKSAD, BODOK.

In other sectors of the front - the search for scouts and in a number of points there were battles of local importance.

On September 9, our troops knocked out and destroyed 8 German tanks on all fronts. In air battles and anti-aircraft artillery fire, 10 enemy aircraft were hit.

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In the northeastern part of Romania, our troops continued their offensive. Fierce battles took place for the city of Vama, turned by the Germans into a stronghold of defense. This city is covered from the north, east and south by heights and mountain rivers Moldavika and Moldava. The enemy stubbornly defended these very advantageous positions and went over to counterattacks many times. As a result of the fighting, which lasted almost a day without ceasing. The Soviet units captured the city of Vama. Many trophies were captured and over 200 prisoners. In other areas, our troops, continuing to move forward, occupied a number of settlements.

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In the central part of Romania, our troops, together with the Romanian troops, went to Northern Transylvania. Here the Hungarians built a long-term defense line with concrete pillboxes. Heavy enemy fire, wide minefields and barbed wire made it extremely difficult for our units to operate. Today, Soviet and Romanian troops stormed the powerful stronghold of the enemy's defense, the city of Sfintul Gheorghe. Many killed German and Hungarian soldiers and officers remained on the battlefield. Trophies and prisoners were captured.

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South-west of the city of Ielgava, the enemy tried to conduct reconnaissance in force. The German attacks were successfully repulsed by the fire of our infantry and artillery. Destroyed up to 200 German soldiers and officers. In another sector, the enemy launched 12 torpedo tankettes towards the Soviet positions. On the outskirts of the front line of your defense, 9 tankettes were blown up by mines and 2 tankettes were hit by artillery fire. One German tankette was captured and rendered harmless by our troops.

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East of the city of Riga, a group of our fighter pilots under the command of Major Sobolev met 14 German fighters. In the ensuing air battle, Major Sobolev shot down two enemy planes, and Lieutenants Zavatsky and Melnik shot down one plane each. In recent days, the N-th fighter squadron has destroyed 15 German fighters. Of these, 7 aircraft were shot down by Major Konstantin Sobolev.

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Northwest of the city of Mariampol, our troops conducted reconnaissance and firefight with the enemy. Soviet reconnaissance detachments exterminated more than a company of the Nazis and captured prisoners. Snipers from one of our units, Abrosov, Chistyakov and Morozov exterminated 19 Germans during the day.

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The southwestern city of Lomza, our troops fought local battles. Parts of the N-th connection cleared one forest from the Germans. In another area, several of our tanks under the command of senior lieutenant Zatonaichenko broke through to the rear of the enemy and set up an ambush at a river crossing. When the enemy column approached the crossing, the tankers opened fire. Panic broke out among the Germans. Soviet tanks came out of the ambush and began to shoot the Nazis point-blank. More than 250 German soldiers and officers, 55 guns, 5 trucks with cargo were destroyed. Soon German tanks approached the crossing from the opposite side. They tried to ford the river and got stuck on a swampy bank. Soviet tankers opened fire and burned 5 German tanks.

***

The captured chief corporal of the 240th regiment of the 106th German infantry division, Heinrich Maebach, said: “Our division took up defense north of the city of Chisinau. On August 22, the division was ordered to withdraw immediately. The company commander announced to us that the Russians had broken through in the Iasi region and south of Tiraspol and were threatening to go behind the division lines. This news had a depressing effect on the soldiers. They were all very afraid of the environment,

At first we moved in an organized manner, without any contact with the Russians. But when the division approached the Prut River, something terrible happened. We were attacked by Soviet tanks. There was an incredible panic. The crowd of soldiers rushed from side to side and died under the tracks of tanks. I, among a small group of soldiers, managed to slip across the bridge to the western bank of the river. We hid in the forest and decided to make our way to the west. Along the way, we met the same as ours, disparate groups of German soldiers who went aimlessly. What was happening at the front and where the front was, no one had the slightest resistance. On the third day we ran into Russian infantry. All attempts to jump out of the new environment did not lead to anything. We were all disarmed and captured. Now we know that it is easy to get into the cauldron with the Russians, but it is impossible to get out of it.