November 1941

Eastern Front

Group Belov counterattacks at Serpukhov, the intention being the encirclement of the XIII Corps. Belov commits the II Cavalry Corps, 2 tank divisions and 2 tank brigades.

The Stavka disbands the Bryansk Front, incorporating the 50th Army into the Western Front and the 3rd and 13th Armies into the Southwest Front.

Hitler issues objectives for the continuation of Operation TYPHOON. Army Group North is to build upon its gains at Tikhvin, effecting a junction with the Fins on the Svir before pounding Leningrad into submission. The Germans do not anticipate the surrender of the city, having decided there were insufficient resources available to feed the civilian population. Army Group Center is to continue the attacks on the Moscow axis and destroy Soviet forces in and around the city. It is then to push east to the Urals. Army Group South, tasked with capturing Rostov, is to reduce the Soviet forces encircled at Sevastopol using the 11th Army and then cross the Kerch Strait into the Kuban. This will begin the advance to and capture of the Maikop oilfields, a gigantic task given the early onset of the Russian winter and the weakened state of Army Group South.

These objectives prove just how out of touch Hitler and his staff really are with the situation at the front. To expect the Ostheer, with its exhausted and under-strength divisions, to maintain an advance in the middle of winter, without winter equipment, and bring about the destruction of the Red Army in the field is utter delusion.