December 1941

Eastern Front

Fighting at Tikhvin continues as the Leningrad Front launches fierce attacks against the I Corps. The 18th Army has the bulk of its strength against the southern perimeter of Leningrad, the XXVI Corps being deployed around the Oranienbaum pocket, and the XXVIII and L Corps facing the city. Only the I and XXXVIII Corps are east of the Volkhov, covering the exposed line from the southern shores of Lake Ladoga to Novgorod on Lake Ilmen. South of Lake Ilmen, holding the line from Staraya Russa to the junction with the 9th Army near Ostashkov, is the 16th Army. Army Group North has a total strength of 30 German divisions and 1 Spanish division.

Kluge's 4th Army launches a new attack with the XX Corps, striking the 33rd Army in an effort to break open the road to Moscow. The attack is made in 3 groups, the 267th Infantry Division attacking southwest of Zvenigorodka, the 258th and 292nd Infantry and the 3rd Motorized Divisions north of Naro-Fominsk while the 183rd Infantry, 20th Panzer and part of the 15th Infantry Divisions attack south of Naro-Fominsk. After heavy fighting, the 267th Infantry Division is thrown back to its start lines, while the 1st Guards Motorized Division puts up a ferocious defense at Naro-Fominsk. By noon, however, the 258th Infantry and 3rd Motorized have pushed ahead 5 miles north and south of Naro-Fominsk and are close to Akulovo, having sliced apart the 33rd and 5th Armies. Realizing the danger, Zhukov rushes reserves up to the hardpressed armies. Heavy fighting rages at Naro-Fominsk as the 4th Army launches additional attacks.

The 2nd Panzer Army is trying to smash its way through Moscow, but the intensification of the fighting prompted the Stavka to commit the 10th Army from the reserve. This unit threatens the southern wing of the 2nd Panzer, forcing Guderian to draw forces away from his advance to the north to protect the exposed flank.

As the offensive stalls, Field Marshal von Bock, ill with stomach cramps, reports to Hitler that he no longer considers it possible to achieve the objectives set for his forces and strongly urges that his armies be allowed to suspend offensive activity. Hitler disagrees and orders the offensive to be continued until the Red Army has been broken and Moscow captured.

On the northern wing of the Moscow axis, the Stavka orders the Kalinin Front to assemble a shock group to attack Kalinin, its aim being to break into the rear of the German forces at Klin.

Kleist's 1st Panzer Army, together with elements of the 17th Army, continue their fighting withdrawal to the Mius as the South Front launches constant attacks. Reichenau continues the withdrawal, Hitler having agreed to allow it now that it is in motion, but wants the 1st Panzer to stop a short distance before the river, a stupid and pointless decision. Kleist disagrees with this decision, and lets Halder know it during a telephone conversation. The weakness of the German forces means they will be unlikely to hold this line, expecially since there is an excellent position just a few miles behind them. Reichenau though refuses to pull back, being convinced that Hitler's decision is the right one. Brauchitsch goes to see Hitler and at the same time Reichenau calls from the front to inform Hitler that the Soviets have broken through and are pressing toward the Mius. Hitler then gives permission to fall back to the river line.