6/8/1943. 8 am. Frederick Allen
Late last night Marshal Stalin announced
a double victory viz. the capture of
Belgorod and the complete and full
occupation of Orel. He issued an order
of the day.
In Orel there was fierce fighting in the streets
before the place was captured.
72 German planes were destroyed in
air combats.
In the fighting which led to the capture of
Belgorod 3000 Germans were killed,
40 tanks destroyed, another 40 captured
and 66 planes destroyed.
The 8th Army entered Catania yesterday
morning. Our patrols during the night
had ascertained that the Germans were
clearing out. The roads were blocked not
in the least by many bomb craters.
Catania is an utterly devastated
city. Around the harbour houses have
been damaged beyond repair.
Palermo was also taken.
For the first time Badoglio's cabinet has met
and issued a number of decrees.
One decree orders that in laws and
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