October 1941

Thursday, October 23rd

Eastern Front

NORTHERN SECTOR

Malaya Vyshera falls to the XXXVIII Corps.

CENTRAL SECTOR

German forces break into Naro-Fominsk and fight for control of the southern half of the town.

SOUTHERN SECTOR

The 6th and 17th Armies, having failed to penetrate into Kharkov, begin to develop attacks around the city in and effort to envelop the 21st and 38th Armies. The battle for the Perekop continues as the LIV Corps launches repeated frontal attacks against the 51st Army.

SOVIET COMMAND

Following the disasters of the previous few weeks, the Stavka establishes 2 new operational commands. The 2 areas, Northern under Zhukov's command, cover the line from Leningrad to the Moscow axis and the Southern under Marshal Timoshenko, cover the Ukraine.

Zhukov has already repelled the Germans before Leningrad and is back in favor with Stalin, having been transferred to the Moscow sector to prevent the German capture of that city.

[ October 22nd - October 24th]