Wedge

If the Germans were still engaged in "strategic retreat" in Russia, they were strangely unstrategic about it last week. They allowed the Russians to drive a huge wedge between their Leningrad and Moscow fronts which, if it could be maintained and extended, might prove to be a major strategic defeat for the Germans.

In a sudden thrust, Marshal Klimenti Voroshilov advanced 65 miles in ten days, swept around the Valdai Hills; recaptured Kholm, only 110 miles from the Latvian frontier; and cut the Leningrad-Vitebsk railroad, essential to German communication with Leningrad. In addition to claiming the death of 17,000 Germans, the Russians claimed the capture of 1,000 barrels of gasoline, 10,000 cans of Norwegian food, 150 freight cars of war supplies and "large stores" of good French wine.

The Russians always like picturesque details, but neither the Russians nor their details always tell the whole story. Untold about last week's action was the extent of German resistance to it (Reds may have found a relatively undefended sector); the size of the Russian forces (which must hold the ground they have gained if the wedge is to be effective); and how much momentum the Reds had (since to exploit the wedge they must eventually surround and destroy German forces).

But the writers of German Army communiques were hard put to explain the situation. Their excuses were lame. "The Soviet Army has not engaged in one single, real large-scale attack during the last eight weeks. Anyhow, fighting in the area which was mentioned by the Soviets has not ceased."

German writers did not quote Adolf Hitler's speech of December 1940: "Wherever the German soldier stands, nobody else can get."

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