Hitler launches 'Operation Typhoon'

2nd October 1941: The drive on Moscow resumes with a huge Wehrmacht assault

Medium Panzer III tanks from the 11th Panzer Division of the Nazi Wehrmacht moving to Spas-Demensk in the Kaluga Region. October 1941.

Soldier from the 5. SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” fires a German 5 cm leGrW 36 50 mm mortar on the Eastern Front against the Red Army.

For two months, Hitler had halted most of Army Group Centre as he diverted their panzers south for an attack into the Ukraine. At the end of July, frontline German troops had been bewildered by the decision.

With Kiev now captured in one of the largest encirclement battles ever seen, it looked like Hitler had been proved right. Now he ordered a new Operation - Typhoon. The advance on Moscow, which he had halted against his generals' advice, would resume.

So Army Group Centre rejoined the battle, heading north west towards Moscow. With a little over 200 miles to go, if they could sustain their old rate of advance, they should reach the Russian capital in a matter of weeks.

But the Red Army had had time to prepare defensive positions and trenches.