The northern spearheads reach their operational limit
By 27–28 November German formations had reached the Moscow–Volga Canal around Yakhroma and positions west of Krasnaya Polyana, creating the most dangerous northern penetration of the campaign. German strength was falling sharply as fuel, maintenance, frostbite and infantry losses accumulated. Stavka was assembling new armies behind the front. On 29 November Stalin released First Shock, Twentieth and Tenth Armies for Zhukov's use, and on 30 November the Western Front submitted its counteroffensive plan. Later stories placed isolated German reconnaissance elements at Khimki; the evidence for those claims is inconsistent, so…
Continue in The Battle for Moscow →