September 1941

Eastern Front

The Finns launch strong attacks across the Svir, capturing Podporogye but are unable to press any farther south.

After a fierce battle, Krasnoye Selo falls to the 1st Panzer Division. The Germans try to push on but are halted at Pulkovo as the Soviets pile forces up in front of them. A naval brigade is committed to reinforce the militia division at Krasnoye Selo, while other militia hold fast at Pulkovo. The German advance, however, has outflanked the 42nd Army positions at Krasnogvardievsk. The XLI Panzer Corps advance threatens to outflank the 42nd Army's defenses at Krasnogvardievsk, opening up the rear of the 55th Army.

The 6th Panzer Division of the XLI Panzer Corps, supported by the SS Polizei and 169th Infantry Divisions of the L Corps, attack from the Ishora River in an attempt to take Krasnogvardievsk and push ahead to Pushkin and Slutsk. East of Slutsk a single rifle division stands fast. The XXVIII Corps unleashes its attack with the 96th and 121st Infantry Divisions toward Slutsk and Pushkin, aiming to link up with the XLI and L Corps.

On the Volkhov, the Stavka disband the 48th Army, absorbing its elements into the 54th Army. Stalin order Kulik, commanding the 54th, to restore the broken front line south of Lake Ladoga, while the 4th Army under Gen Yakovlev and the 52nd Army under Gen Klykov are ordered up to the Volkhov line. Yokovlev's 4th Army is forming on the Volkhov, pulling together 3 rifle and 1 cavalry divisions.

Schweppenburg's XXIV Panzer Corps continues to push south, becoming involved in heavy fighting at Nezhin.

As the situation on the central axis plunges toward disaster, the Stavka revises its standing orders to the Bryansk Front. Eremenko is ordered to halt his already failed offensive and regroup his battered armies in order to strike at the left flank of the 2nd Panzer Group. The Stavka orders the 13th Army to be reinforced at the expense of the 50th Army.

The 1st Panzer Group launches its attack from the Kremenchug bridgehead. Despite counterattacks by the 38th Army, the 16th Panzer Division pushes through the Soviet defenses, closing up to Khorol. The 14th Panzer Division moves to follow the 16th. After heavy defensive fighting, the 38th Army begins to withdraw.

Potapov's 5th and Vlassov's 37th Armies fight desperate actions against the advancing 2nd and 6th Armies between the Desna and the Dniepr.

The Stavka disbands Timoshenko's Glavkom West, Budenny simultaneously being dismissed as commander of the Glavkom Southwest, his sacking being greatly influenced by his requests for the evacuation of the Kiev salient. Marshal Timoshenko takes over command of the southern theater.