July 1941

Eastern Front

The XLI Panzer Corps, carrying on its successful advance along the Luga, forces the river defenses between Sabsk and Kingisepp and gains a small bridgehead. The Soviet divisions in this area, only recently raised from Leningrad militia units, rapidly disintegrate in the face of concerted German attacks. As a result of the imminent collapse of their positions on the Luga, the Soviets begin to construct yet another new defense line to the south of Leningrad, this time between the mouth of the Luga and Chudovo. Miles of pillboxes, trenches and anti-tank positions are hastily constructed, but seasoned, experienced soldiers to man the positions remain in short supply.

Near Lake Ilmen, Manstein struggles to repel the attacks of the 11th Army around Soltsy. The Germans are unable to prevent the encirclement of Manstein's force, prompting frantic calls for support from the infantry of the 16th Army. The 16th Army, however, is still a good distance behind the 4th Panzer Group, being at least a week behind the most advance panzer troops.

With only fragmented defenses established along the Luga line, the road to Leningrad lay open to Leeb. However, Hitler's vacillation cost the Ostheer dear, a month of wasteful fighting on the Luga giving the Red Army the opportunity to rebuild its shattered armies and erect defenses in depth. The opportunity taken so readily on the Dniepr was squandered on the Luga.

Nevel falls to the 19th Panzer Division after a difficult march through marshy terrain. Soviet forces counterattack immediately but are held off. Slightly south, XXXIX Panzer Corps swings south to capture Yartsevo to the east of Smolensk, threatening the rear of the West Front. Lemelson's XLVII Panzer Corps fights its way into the suburbs of Orsha, while other elements of the corps are fighting around Grusino. Slowly but surely, a ring of steel is closing around the West Front, for the second time.

After heavy fighting with the IV Mechanized Corp, the XLVIII Panzer Corps takes Kazatin. The 17th Army, advancing steadily against the Southwest Front, breaks through the Stalin Line near Bar. The gradual encirclement of the southern flank of the Southwest Front is well under way. Kirponos realizes that the main German threat lay not on the road to Kiev but to the south, where they intended to encircle his armies before they retreated to the Dniepr.

After heavy fighting, the Rumanian V Corps breaks free from the Prut and march toward Kishinev.