August 1941

Eastern Front

Soviet defenses on the Luga begin to crumble as the XLI Panzer Corps shatters the XLI Rifle Corps. Most of the Soviet unit is encircled close to the river but it then breaks out toward Krasnogvardievsk (now Gatchina). The Germans push forces into the breach, destabilizing the entire Luga position.

In Estonia, the 18th Army strikes Tallinn and Narva. Soviet positions at Narva become untenable, compelling Ivanov to pull back to evade isolation as the German thrust toward Leningrad.

South of Lake Ilmen, the 34th Army continues to attack around Staraya Russa. The 34th has advanced 24 miles in two days.

The XXIV Panzer Corps completes the destruction of the Krichev group, capturing 16,000 Soviet soldiers.

As the 11th Army approaches the Black Sea coast, the retreating 9th Army destroys naval installations at Nikolayev.

With the front line in shambles, the Stavka raises another new command in the central sector. The Bryansk Front, commanded by Gen A. I. Eremenko, the former deputy commander of the West Front under Timoshenko, consists of Gen Petrov's 50th Army of 7 rifle divisions and 1 cavalry division, and Gen Golubev's 13th Army of 8 rifle divisions, 1 tank and 2 cavalry divisions. There are 3 rifle divisions and 1 cavalry divisin in reserve. Eremenko is given the task of halting the easward advance of the 2nd Panzer Group and 2nd Army. Stalin and the Stavka still believe Guderian is about to strike east from Roslavl in order to encircle Moscow. Guderian, however, has begun to turn his forces south, smashing the junction of the Bryansk and Central Fronts even as the Bryansk Front took to the field.