27 January 1944

London: Churchill lays down two priorities for Bomber Command: first to bomb targets on the continent, and second, to drop supplies to resistance fighters.

U.S.S.R.: The blockade of Leningrad is lifted. This has continued for 872 days and took the lives of over a million people. The news was announced by General Govorov, the planner and commander of the onslaught which drove the Germans away from the beleaguered city. In an order of the day he announced: "The city of Leningrad has been completely freed from the enemy blockade and the barbaric artillery shelling."

Addressing his troops, sailors of the Baltic fleet and "workers of the city of Lenin", Govorov said that in 12 days' fighting the Red Army had liberated 700 places and driven back the Germans along the whole front for 40 to 60 miles.

Leningrad had suffered grievous damage. Many of its fine buildings have been destroyed by shelling and bombing. In the occupied southern suburbs the retreating Germans looted and set fire to buildings, and left the bodies of partisans hanging from the trees.

As the sound of gunfire faded from the city for the first time for nearly two and a half years, the people, gaunt and tired, emerged from their shelters to celebrate in the unusual safety of the streets.

They are the true victors of the siege. They withstood everything that the Germans threw at them. They watched their families die of starvation. They ate bread made of sawdust. Some even ate the dead. One million citizens died, mainly from hunger, along with 150,000 troops. But their city has become an example to the world that Hitler's military might could be defied.

Now, as they celebrate their release, their liberators are rushing on to the west in great strength, outnumbering Field Marshal von Kuchler's weakened Army Group North in men, arms and aircraft.

The Red Army is now approaching the German defence zone codenamed "Panther", which runs south from the Gulf of Finland, along the river Narva and the banks of Lakes Peipus and Pskovskoye, to the town of Ostrov. Hitler thinks the "Northern Wall" is impregnable: that remains to be seen.

CANADA: Frigate HMS Ettrick transferred to RCN while under refit Halifax, Nova Scotia. Became HMCS Ettrick.

U.S.A.: Atrocity stories on the treatment by the Japanese of American and Filipino soldiers after the surrender of Bataan and Corregidor disclosed in official reports of the United States Army and Navy.

Destroyer escort USS Bray laid down.

Submarine USS Razorback, Redfish, Ronquil and Scabbardfish launched.

Destroyer escorts USS Alfred Wolf and Groves launched.

ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires breaks off diplomatic relations with Berlin. (Mike Yared)