December 1941

Eastern Front

With temperatures well below zero, the citizens of Leningrad struggle to endure the privations of the siege. On this single day, 3,700 people die of starvation, hypoothermia or exhaustion.

Against the northern wing of Army Group Center the 39th Army completes its concentration, having brought together 5 rifle divisions. Other Soviet attacks begin to falter, the 20th and 16th Armies stalling as they try to cross the Lama and Ruza Rivers.

Guderian becomes the latest victim of Hitler's purge, being dismissed from the 2nd Panzer Army. Hitler condemns Guderian for his failure to halt the Soviet attacks, an unreasonable charge given the exhausted state of his army. Gen Schmidt is appointed to command the 2nd Panzer.

With German attention fixed firmly upon Sevastopol, the Soviets prepare to launch an offensive into the Kerch peninsula. Units of the Trans-Caucasus Front aided by the Azov Flotilla set sail from the Kuban in 2 groups which are to land north and south of Kerch. Group A consists of the 44th Army with 23,000 men, 30 tanks and 130 artillery pieces, while Group B has 3,000 men of the 44th Army together with 13,000 of the 51st Army. The landing is due to begin on December 26.