Battle of Moscow
Moscow Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
What happened
Soviet General Georgy Zhukov led the defence of Moscow against the German Army Group Centre of Field Marshal Fedor von Bock. In October 1941 Germany launched Operation Typhoon to capture Moscow, the Soviet capital. Autumn rain turned roads to mud and then an early, very harsh winter struck, but German troops still reached within about 30 km of the Kremlin. On 5 December Soviet forces, strengthened by fresh troops from Siberia and the Far East, counter-attacked and pushed the Germans back 100 to 250 km.
Why it matters
Result: Soviet victory. Leaders: Adolf Hitler / Wilhelm Keitel against Joseph Stalin / Boris Shaposhnikov. Why it matters: It ended Germany's hope of a quick victory over the Soviet Union. Moscow became a symbol of Soviet resistance and was named a Hero City in 1965.
What came next
Hitler dismissed his army commander, Walther von Brauchitsch, and took personal command of the German army.
Did you know?
On 7 November 1941, with the Germans close to the city, the Soviets held a military parade in Red Square, and the soldiers marched straight from the parade to the front.
Timeline
- 2 October 1941Germany launches Operation Typhoon against Moscow.
- 7 November 1941Soviet troops parade in Red Square and march to the front.
- 5 December 1941The Soviet counter-offensive begins.
- 7 January 1942The Soviet winter counter-offensive ends.
- 1965Moscow is named a Hero City.