Last time we spoke about the beginning of the battle of Moscow. German offensives toward Moscow and Rostov press on despite severe logistical strains: scarce trains, fuel, and winter clothing; heavy snow and Rasputitsa slow movements; and a growing strain on supply lines. The Red Army, led by Zhukov and Rokossovsky, resists with fortified defenses, minefields, and deliberate countermeasures, while STAVKA reshuffles commanders and maintains pressure to keep German forces tied down. By mid-November the Soviets begin exploiting a minor opening near Tikhvin, stretching German lines, but German reinforcements and the stubborn defense around key corridors prevent a decisive breakthrough. In Moscow’s vicinity, German plans for a rapid encirclement confront entrenched Soviet defenses and fuel shortages that limit panzer operations. Guderian’s group faces fuel and supply constraints, with tanks often immobilized, while Soviet counterattack planning intensifies, including a major southern push planned by Timoshenko to threaten Rostov and seize strategic rail links. Meanwhile, the Road of Life over Lake Ladoga begins to sustain Leningrad, and Allied materiel reaches Soviet hands, complicating the German strategic picture.  This episode is the First Great Victory of the Red Army Well hello there, welcome to the Eastern Front week by week podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800’s until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  The flanking armies defending Moscow crumpled as the Battle of Moscow began, and the Panzer commanders smelled blood in the water as they surged forward with renewed momentum. Meanwhile, Leeb found himself increasingly embattled as Red Army forces smashed into his overextended salient at Tikhvin. To the south, Kleist faced a poisoned chalice in Rostov, his now overextended Panzer Army coming under attack from multiple directions.  On 25 November, Group Boeckmann was finally halted in its northward drive, six kilometers short of Volkhov and just short of the Voibokalo area. On 26 November, the Soviets counterattacked with the 3rd Guards Rifle Division, the 310th, and the 311th Rifle Divisions, joined by the 6th Naval Rifle Brigade, and these units slammed into the German 21st Infantry Division. Over the next few days, the Soviets thrust the Germans back several kilometers, but their momentum began to wane. As a result, Halder ordered Leeb to abandon the Volkhov push and reinforce the drive toward Volkliovstroi. Halder 19th diary entry "In AGp. North it is becoming increasingly obvious that the attack on Shum [location unknown but presumably between Volkhov and the Svir River] has miscarried. The main effort by von Boeckmann's group must be shifted against Volkliovstroi [near Voibokalo Station]. An order to this effect is issued. At the same time, Fediuninsky received the 80th Rifle Division transferred from the Leningrad Front, and along with this unit he was ordered to form a new Shock Group to drive the Germans back from Voibokalo Station. For the entirety of this week, all three Shock Groups of the 4th Army continued their assaults, keeping the Germans around Tikhvin in a state of perpetual crisis but making little headway against stubborn resistance. The 52nd Army likewise pressed its pursuit of the 126th Division back toward the Volga, where a new German defensive