Vyazemsky operation
Map showing the Battle near Vyazma (October 2nd — October 20th 1941) during the Second World War (1939—1945) at the Eastern Front. The map is created by Inkscape and is based on the Map 30 in the attachement of the book P.N. Pospelow (Hrsg.): Geschichte des Großen Vaterländischen Krieges der Sowjetunion, Bd.2, Berlin (Ost) 1963. The troop movements have been corrected.
Historical Overview
The twin battles of Vyazma and Bryansk were a military confrontation during World War II on the German-Soviet front. They began under the code name Operation Typhoon on September 30, 1941, with the attack of the German Army Group Centre against the Soviet Western, Reserve and Bryansk Front. The goal of the German offensive was the destruction of the formations of the Red Army before Moscow and subsequently the capture of the city itself. Despite initial successes of the Wehrmacht, which was able to encircle and destroy large parts of the Soviet defenders at Vyazma and Bryansk, the advance stalled by October 30, 1941, in the autumn mud and the strengthening Soviet resistance. Only after more than two weeks could it resume the offensive with the onset of frost weather and thus open the Battle of Moscow.
Quick Facts
German Army
- Commander: Fedor von Bock
- Strength: 1000000
- Casualties: 25000
Red Army
- Commander: Iwan Konjew
- Strength: 1250000
- Casualties: 670000
Strategic Context
Destroying last reserves before Moscow.
Related Literature
Historical Locations
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