LEEB'S DOUBTS (CHAPTER 1)
October 1941 Army Group North HQ
GeneralFeldmarschall Ritter Von Leeb rubbed his bald skull in deep thought. This latest order from the Grofraz really bothered him, not that Leeb had the best relations with Hitler. The fuhrer had already retired him from service twice and only the escalation of the war brought him back into the army.
Leeb's army had already advanced hundreds of kilometers and occupied the Baltic states and had now reached the outskirts of Leningrad. Leeb was proud of his men they had accomplished much despite harsh terrain and fanatical Russian resistance. Leeb had failed to break through the outer ring of the Leningrad defenses in his first rush and up to the time this order arrived had been planning another lunge leading with his veteran 4th panzer army under General Hoeppner.
The order was a serious one and Leeb had a big decision to make.
Army Group North is to go over to the defensive and maintain the encirclement of Leningrad and let the city starve. 4th Panzer army is to be transferred as soon as rolling stock allows to the northern most assembly areas of army group center for participation in the drive to Moscow - OKH
Leeb longed to be the man who captured Leningrad since he had just a minor roll in the victory against France. He weighed his options. He could launch the offensive he was prepping for anyway... success would give him forgiveness and the men were ready. Leeb could also count on the personal support of Field Marshal Keitel who was a longtime friend.
Leeb also considered the men he commanded for a moment. He had visited 1st panzer division recently and they and their machines were tired. He would have to not only disregard his orders to send them forward again but disregard his instincts as an officer in favor of vanity. The 4th panzer army needed a few days of vital rest and repair before they could be effective. In his heart Leeb knew that Moscow was the key objective of the campaign. The German possession of the Moscow communication node would turn Russia's vastness normally an asset into a liability because the northern and southern fronts wouldn't be able to support each other and the Germans could defeat them in detail.
"
I thought we could take Leningrad in the following spring Moscow was the more vital objective" Leeb would write in his war diary.
The orders went out 4th panzer army to stand down and repair vehicles for 3 days then move onto the left flank of army group center for operation typhoon. All of Army Group North's air support would be coming along as well. The XXXXI and LVI Panzer Corps serviced their tanks and trucks while the troops got some much needed rest there would be big battles ahead.
It would prove to be one of the biggest decisions of the war. The 4th panzer army had a high percentage of seasoned personel and veteran officers who would lead the critical northern thrust towards Moscow.
The remainder of Leeb's army the 16th and 18th infantry armies dug in and let the Leningrad garrison feel the pangs of hunger siege warfare could generate and prayed for the armor to come back soon
to be continued....
hope you all enjoy our cooperative tl
(Ritter Von Leeb who gave up his tanks so the Germans could reach Moscow)