Battle for Moscow 1941 in the history of confrontation between the USSR against Germany has a special significance.According to researchers, the battle is characterized by complexity, intensity and scope of military operations.Battle for Moscow lasted more than six months.The length of the front on which the battle was conducted - about two thousand kilometers.The hostilities on both sides were involved more than 2.8 million soldiers, 21,000 guns and mortars, about 2 thousand units of armored technique, more than 1.6 thousand units of aviation.
the autumn of 1941 the Soviet Union was in a very difficult and dangerous war footing.The strategic initiative in the hands of the German troops, but the battles with the Soviet Army disrupted the main ideas of the Wehrmacht.Unable to break through to the capital of the Army Group "Center".According to the German command, the blockade of Leningrad, as well as the successes that have been achieved in Ukraine, created favorable conditions for the offensive.
Battle of Moscow began September 30th.This attack on the capital of the Soviet Union, the German command was prepared as the final for the entire campaign.The Germans gave the name of the operation "Typhoon".Apparently, they did not expect any resistance and confrontation against the crushing of the fascist storm.
Battle for Moscow took place in the numerical superiority of the German forces.However, despite this, the Russian troops failed to adequately confront the enemy.
German government planned to occupy the capital of the Soviet Union before the onset of cold weather.Support for large aviation forces has allowed the Germans to break through the front, surrounded by six Russian armies in the area of Vyazma and Bryansk.According to German data captured was 663,000 people.Applying armored units, the German army for ten days has moved almost 250 kilometers and reached the line of Kalinin (Tver) - Mozhaisk - Kaluga.
by 30 October invaders occupied Kalinin line - Tula.Command of Germany began to pull reserves and occupied the redeployment of forces.This planned attacks from the flanks to encircle the capital of the Soviet Union.
new offensive of the German army began on November 16th.However, the first day she met the fierce resistance of the Soviet soldiers.Over the next three weeks the German army advanced only 50-80 kilometers, reaching thus a decisive success.
to Moscow closest Germans managed to come close to the village of Kryukovo, which is located 23 kilometers north-west of the city.In the period from 16 November to 5 December, the German army in a battle lost 153 000 people wounded, killed, frostbitten.
end of November - beginning of December was marked by several counterattacks, including with the reserves arrived from the east of the country.On December 5 the battle for Moscow to become the offensive.Being outnumbered Soviet soldiers differed more persistent fighting spirit, a strong desire to defeat the enemy and to protect the capital of their homeland.
Thus the German army was in a crisis related to the collapse of their hopes for an easy victory, as well as battle the harsh, unusual climatic conditions for them.The Soviet forces were able to push back the invaders for 200 kilometers, but to crush them completely if they could not.
most fierce fighting started in the area of Vyazma and Rzhev.Battles deployed there from February to April 1942.Completed battle for the capital on April 20th.
Battle for Moscow, in short, has dispelled the view of the invincibility of Hitler's army.The victory was the first major defeat of the German army and meant the failure of all her plans "light, lightning war", as well as the failure of the foreign policy program of the German government.
