[Homer_J_Simpson]

Marsala Reached (Matthews) – 2-3
Air Troops Barred Invasion Setback (Graham) – 4
Reunion in Sicily: Sergeant and General Meet (photo) – 4
News of Our Men in Sicily Delayed (Daniell) – 5
Patton Says Army Tops Nazi Blitz Speed; Cites Lightning Gains on Troops in Sicily – 5
Nazi Bastion Falls – 6
War News Summarized – 6
Allies Raid Java; Bomb Naval Base (Durdin) – 7
Submarine Triton Listed as Lost; Took Heavy Toll of Japanese Ships (Wood) – 8-9
Lost United States Submarine and Her Skipper (photos) – 8
Giraud Disavows Pro-Nazi Leaning (Bracker) – 9-10
U.S. Planes on Way to Attack Italian Airfield and Results of the Raid (photos) – 11
Chips Down in Russia (by Hanson W. Baldwin) – 12
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the Fighting in Various War Zones – 13-14

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1943/jul1943/f23jul43.htm

Soviets pursue withdrawing Germans
Friday, July 23, 1943 www.onwar.com

Soviet soldiers inspect a destroyed Tiger tank [photo at link]

On the Eastern Front... The German forces engaged on the southern battlefield of the Kursk salient reach their original starting positions (for the battle of Kursk) under continued Soviet pressure.

In Sicily... Americans occupy Trapani and Marsala. On the north coast, US forces reach Termini Imerese.

[henkster]

Very good article by Hanson Baldwin on the fighting in Russia. He’s very perceptive about the importance of that front, the stakes involved, and the trends in the fighting. He must have some good sources, as well as a fair amount of military insight.

The Soviets are attacking everywhere, but the Germans are still strong enough to limit the Soviet gains and inflict absolutely staggering losses on the Red Army. However, their own forces are being ground down in the heavy fighting. Ninth Army, which held Rzhev for over a year, and spearheaded the northern pincer of Citadelle, is being mauled in the Orel salient. It will never recover. The same thing is happening or will happen to every other German army south of the Pripet Marshes this summer and fall.

Alexander Werth called 1943 “the year of hard victories” because the Soviets are exercising their initiative at heavy cost. But between now and September is when Stalin breaks the back of the Wehrmacht.

[henkster]

Hey, I scanned some more maps. Compare this to the map in today's Times. The Times map is pretty accurate, and shows the penetration by Bagramian's 11th Guards Army northeast of Orel.