November 1941

Eastern Front

The 16th Army launches a spoiling attack with 4 divisions (126th Rifle, 17th and 24th Cavalry and 58th Tank) on its right wing in an effort to spread apart the 9th Army and the LVI Panzer Corps of the 3rd Panzer Group. Heavy fighting with the 14th Motorized and 7th Panzer Divisions see the virtual destruction of the attacking divisions, despite the commitment of the 20th and 44th Cavalry Divisions to back up the attack. The Germans then counterattack, pushing toward the Lama, which is crossed during the afternoon.

The 4th Panzer Group then strikes the 16th Army at Volokolamsk, inflicting crippling casualties upon the heavily outnumbered units. As the 16th fights its ferocious battles, on its northern flank the 30th Army crumbles. Battered by the 9th Army and the 3rd Panzer Group, the Soviets suffer a terrible pounding. Only 2 days after the resumption of the offensive, it looks as though the Moscow defenses are on the verge of collapse.

The Soviets continue to attack the XIII Corps, inflicting heavy losses on the hardpressed German infantry.

With temperatures in the Ukraine as low as minus 20 degrees Centigrade, the 1st Panzer Army begins its offensive toward Rostov. Even as the attack rolls on, Rundstedt believes that the assault serves no purpose, as the German forces will be unable to maintain their hole upon the city due to the weakness of the combat divisions. Predicting the German attack, the Stavka has laid plans for a counter-stroke against Army Group South. Striking into the exposed northern flank of the 1st Panzer Army as it advances, the Soviets plan to encircle and destroy the army against the sea. With the 18th, 9th and 37th Armies pushing from north and east toward the Azov coast and the 56th Army fighting in Rostov, the Germans will find themselves pinned frontally in street fighting, while their flank and rear are overrun. The defensive operation before Rostov has already cost the Southwest Front's 6th Army 11,200 killed and missing and 15,000 wounded.

In the Crimea, the battle for Kerch ends. The remnants of the 51st Army flees across the Kerch strait. 12 rifle and 4 cavalry divisions have been mauled during the fighting and 100,000 men captured. During the entire Crimean battle the Coastal and 51st Armies, together with elements of the Black Sea Fleet, suffer 48,000 killed and missing and 15,000 wounded. The Germans also capture or destroy more than 700 artillery pieces and 160 tanks in and around the burning port.