December 1942

Eastern Front

The 3rd Shock Army launches new attacks against the garrison at Velikiye Luki.

The LVII Panzer Corps presses home its attack, the 23rd Panzer Division reaching the Aksai River. Hitler agrees to release the 17th Panzer Division from behind the 8th Italian Army and sends it south to aid Hoth's attack. The division has only 40 battle-worth panzers and will arrive too late to support the relief attack, arriving just as the Soviets bolster their defenses. With the German plan apparent and the 51st Army retreating to the northeast, Vasilevsky proposes that the 2nd Guards Army be used to halt the counterattack. Stalin angrily refuses to sanction this, having intended to uses the 2nd Guards to help reduce the 6th Army. After reasoned argument, he gives way though, and the 2nd Guards begin the move to the Myshkova River.

Along the Chir the 11th Panzer Division is struck on its right flank by strong Soviet forces. Balck redeploys and counterattacks, defeating the Soviets. However, the fighting has prevented the 11th from finishing off the Nizhne Kalinovski bridgehead.