What if a reinforced Operation Typhoon led to the capture of Moscow by November 7th, 1941?
I've been reading the book Operation Typhoon by David Stahel, among other articles, and thought i'd put this up.
Here are a few topics i would like to discuss.
1. What if AGC gets extra tanks?
Germany produced 815 tanks between June-August 1941. Of this number Hitler released 306 of the tanks to AGC for Operation Typhoon. The other 509 tanks were kept by Hitler in a special reserve pool for quote "future campaigns." During OTL AGC was desperately short on armour, in October alone they lost 325 tanks. If AGC was given this extra tank boast, all 815 tanks, could it have had an impact on the operation? i imagine even having spare parts around would have helped.
2. What if Luftwaffe gets extra aircraft for Operation Typhoon?
Hitler in Dec ,when the situation was really bad, sent alot of aircraft to support AGC and stem the Soviet advance. I was wondering what the result would have been had he committed more air forces to Operation Typhoon earlier. This would probably help the supply situation.
from wiki: "The Luftwaffe was quickly reinforced, as Hitler hoped it would "save" the situation. Two Kampfgruppen (Bomber Groups) (II./KG 4 and II./KG 30) arrived from refitting in Germany, whilst four Transportgruppen (Transport Groups) with a strength of 102 Junkers Ju 52 transports were deployed from Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4) to evacuate surrounded army units and improve the supply line to the front-line forces. It was a last minute effort and it worked. The German air arm was to help prevent a total collapse of Army Group Centre. Despite the Soviets' best efforts, the Luftwaffe had contributed enormously to the survival of Army Group Center. Between 17 and 22 December the Luftwaffe destroyed 299 motor vehicles and 23 tanks around Tula, hampering the Red Army's pursuit of the German Army."
3. What if AGC advanced on Moscow earlier and on a more narrower front?
Against von Bock's wishes Hitler expanded Typhoon to include the capture of Rzhev and Kalinin in the north and Kursk in the south. This in the words of author Jonathan Jordan resulted in the "dilution of AGC armoured strength."
What if instead the Germans focused on driving on Moscow as quickly as possible. Reinhardt's Panzer Group instead of heading for Rzhev and Kalinin could have helped Kulge's infantry with the Viaz'ma pocket. This would then free up more of Hoepner's Panzer forces to start the drive towards Moscow earlier.
In the south Guderian instead of sending the XLVIII Panzer Corps to Kursk could have used it to help with the Bryansk pocket, while his other forces made a dash for Tula. Capturing Tula on October 3-4, would make things much smoother later.
from wiki: "On 3 October, Guderian's forces captured Orel and subsequently gained access to a paved highway which led to Moscow, some 180 mi (290 km) away. Meanwhile, elements of the 2nd Panzer Army reported that they had bypassed Bryansk and were heading toward Karachev. Bock ordered Guderian to press on toward Tula, but within hours this order had been reversed by High Command. The reversal of the order called for Guderian to attack Bryansk where — along with Vyazma — two massive encirclements of Soviet forces were occurring. Bock argued that the area between Orel and Tula remained relatively free of Soviet forces and that Tula could be captured within hours. Ultimately, Bock agreed to divert Guderian's tanks toward Bryansk."
The overall goal should be to push towards Moscow, as quickly as possible, in early October, while the weathers good, and ruin Zhukov's attempts to establish a defensive line in front of the city. I would like to remind every one that at this stage only 90,000 Soviet troops are defending Moscow!
In closing
In mid November Zhukov gets tons of reinforcements, equivalent of 40ish divisions, how would he use them if most of Moscow is in German hands?
Interested in everones thoughts
I've been reading the book Operation Typhoon by David Stahel, among other articles, and thought i'd put this up.
Here are a few topics i would like to discuss.
1. What if AGC gets extra tanks?
Germany produced 815 tanks between June-August 1941. Of this number Hitler released 306 of the tanks to AGC for Operation Typhoon. The other 509 tanks were kept by Hitler in a special reserve pool for quote "future campaigns." During OTL AGC was desperately short on armour, in October alone they lost 325 tanks. If AGC was given this extra tank boast, all 815 tanks, could it have had an impact on the operation? i imagine even having spare parts around would have helped.
2. What if Luftwaffe gets extra aircraft for Operation Typhoon?
Hitler in Dec ,when the situation was really bad, sent alot of aircraft to support AGC and stem the Soviet advance. I was wondering what the result would have been had he committed more air forces to Operation Typhoon earlier. This would probably help the supply situation.
from wiki: "The Luftwaffe was quickly reinforced, as Hitler hoped it would "save" the situation. Two Kampfgruppen (Bomber Groups) (II./KG 4 and II./KG 30) arrived from refitting in Germany, whilst four Transportgruppen (Transport Groups) with a strength of 102 Junkers Ju 52 transports were deployed from Luftflotte 4 (Air Fleet 4) to evacuate surrounded army units and improve the supply line to the front-line forces. It was a last minute effort and it worked. The German air arm was to help prevent a total collapse of Army Group Centre. Despite the Soviets' best efforts, the Luftwaffe had contributed enormously to the survival of Army Group Center. Between 17 and 22 December the Luftwaffe destroyed 299 motor vehicles and 23 tanks around Tula, hampering the Red Army's pursuit of the German Army."
3. What if AGC advanced on Moscow earlier and on a more narrower front?
Against von Bock's wishes Hitler expanded Typhoon to include the capture of Rzhev and Kalinin in the north and Kursk in the south. This in the words of author Jonathan Jordan resulted in the "dilution of AGC armoured strength."
What if instead the Germans focused on driving on Moscow as quickly as possible. Reinhardt's Panzer Group instead of heading for Rzhev and Kalinin could have helped Kulge's infantry with the Viaz'ma pocket. This would then free up more of Hoepner's Panzer forces to start the drive towards Moscow earlier.
In the south Guderian instead of sending the XLVIII Panzer Corps to Kursk could have used it to help with the Bryansk pocket, while his other forces made a dash for Tula. Capturing Tula on October 3-4, would make things much smoother later.
from wiki: "On 3 October, Guderian's forces captured Orel and subsequently gained access to a paved highway which led to Moscow, some 180 mi (290 km) away. Meanwhile, elements of the 2nd Panzer Army reported that they had bypassed Bryansk and were heading toward Karachev. Bock ordered Guderian to press on toward Tula, but within hours this order had been reversed by High Command. The reversal of the order called for Guderian to attack Bryansk where — along with Vyazma — two massive encirclements of Soviet forces were occurring. Bock argued that the area between Orel and Tula remained relatively free of Soviet forces and that Tula could be captured within hours. Ultimately, Bock agreed to divert Guderian's tanks toward Bryansk."
The overall goal should be to push towards Moscow, as quickly as possible, in early October, while the weathers good, and ruin Zhukov's attempts to establish a defensive line in front of the city. I would like to remind every one that at this stage only 90,000 Soviet troops are defending Moscow!
In closing
In mid November Zhukov gets tons of reinforcements, equivalent of 40ish divisions, how would he use them if most of Moscow is in German hands?
Interested in everones thoughts
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