January 1942

Eastern Front

The Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts begin probing attacks east of Leningrad in preparation for Operation ISKRA, the effort to break the sieve of the city. Farther south, the 16th Army struggles against the attacks of the Northwest front, finding it incrasingly difficult to prevent the penetration of the front line by the 3rd and 4th Shock Armies. Leeb requests permission to pull his forces back as the II and X Corps are in imminent danger of collapse. Hitler order Leeb to stand fast, withdrawal being strictly prohibited. Angered by the decision, Leeb requests that he be relieved of his command.