October 1942

Eastern Front

Operation MARS, the planned Soviet offensive against the Rzhev salient, is postponed until the end of October due to bad weather. The plan calls for the right wing of West Front and the left wing of the Kalinin Front to encircle the Germans at Rzhev and free the Moscow to Velikiye Luki railway. West Front's 20th and 31st Armies, supported by the 29th Army, are to attack along the Osuga and Vazuza Rivers toward Sychevka and link up with the 41st Army of the Kalinin Front which had attacked From Belyi. The 31st and 20th Armies will then mop up the German salient and strike toward Vyazma.

The Kalinin Front is to attack with one grouping (41st Army and attached corps) from Belyi toward Sychevka, while the 22nd Army encircles the Germans at Olenino. The 39th Army is to attack along the Molodi-Tud to push the Germans back into the arms of the 22nd and 39th Armies.