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The German s.s. Odenwald, 5,098 tons, was taken by the United States ships. which intercepted her into San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Prize Court has decided that, as the German Captain signalled asking for boats to be sent as the Odenwald was sinking the ship was therefore salvage, and as such has been awarded to the United States.
MILITARY SITUATION.
(An outline map showing Axis operations against Russia is included in this Résumé as an inset.)
Russo-German Campaign.
Finland.
12. There has been no appreciable change.
Leningrad sector.
13. The situation around the city remains unchanged. Apart from the consolidation of the area between the spearheads at Schluesselberg and Tikvin there have been no offensive operations by the Germans.
Kalinin area.
14. Fighting in this area continues to be severe. Although the spearhead thrust to Kalinin has been widened slightly on its northern edge, German forces have not been able to make any progress eastwards and have suffered heavily in men and material from the vigorous Russian opposition, both on the ground and from the air. Heavy fighting is also taking place in the area between Kalinin and Wolokolamsk. The German forces still appear to be seriously hampered by supply difficulties and weather conditions.
Central sector.
15. Due west of Moscow and south as far as Tula, over a front of roughly 150 miles, the Germans have not succeeded in making any advance. In the Tula-Orel sector, however, after failure to make progress northwards from Tula, the German forces have begun a thrust_eastwards with some success. Their object may be either to cut the Moscow-Ryazan-Voronezh railway or to swing northwards against Moscow from the line Tula-Riazhsk.
16. In general, the frost has somewhat improved road conditions in the whole of the central sector, but the supply situation continues to be serious and the German troops are suffering severely from cold, as only some units are fully equipped with winter clothing.
Donetz sector.
17. No appreciable progress has been made in the German advance. There has been no fighting on a major scale, although operations continue.
Rostov sector.
18. The position immediately west of the town remains unchanged and the road conditions have continued to hamper further German advance.
Crimea.
19. While the Germans are still meeting with strong resistance and bad weather conditions in their advance on Sevastopol, they have succeeded in occupying practically the whole of the Eastern Crimea and have entered the town of Kerch.
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