alternatehistory.com

The Russian counter-offensive breaks through the German lines around Moscow, completely unexpected. The German armies have to cancel the planned attack, regroup, stop the Russian attack, eventually retreating - the nazi propaganda, of course, calling it "shortening the front lines".

Only some weeks later, they can stop along the line of Kaluga-Kalinin, using the improvised Soviet fortifications (stormed last year) for defense. Fortunately for them, the Red Army isn't at full strength yet. Thus, Hitler can still hope that his dream of crushing Russia may become true.

In June 43, it seems that the opportunity has come. Finally Sevastopol has fallen (after being besieged about one year), and German troops (several divisions) are relocated to the North. Besides, the Wehrmacht has started since winter to recruit troops among captured Soviet soldiers - only non-Russians, though. This gives Hitler several new divisions to fight with.

On 1st August, the big German offensive against Moscow starts. Tula which was meanwhile reconquered by the Red Army falls again. Same thing happens to many little cities before Moscow. A few weeks after the offensive has started, German troops sit on the outskirts of Moscow, from the NW to the S. Hitler doesn't dare to take the city with a direct attack, though, so he tries to cut it off. The next attack goes from Tula to Kolomna, cutting of the railway Moscow-Ryazan. Now the Germans cross the Moskva river, aiming North. Hitler commands to conquer all of the area between upper Volga and Oka, for a better defense. By this way, he wants to hunger out Moscow.

Stalin has spent most of the time in his bunker - during the first time when the Germans approached Moscow, and now again. The stress is eating his nerves, too, though he tries to stay firm as steel. He knows that the Russians will lose hope if their capital would be lost. If only those Americans would declare war upon Germany...

But for the moment, they don't. The Brits had some local successes down there in the Middle East, but that was all. Hitler doesn't really care for it - he only wants Moscow, maybe more fanatical than he ever wanted something. It could still happen... his tanks now go North, take the little city of Vladimir, east of Moscow, and cut off the railroad to Nishny Novgorod. Only the rail to the North connects Moscow with the big rest of the country.

(OK, now we're almost at maximum tension. Next posting you'll get the release.)