Operation Wirbelwind 1942 with 11th army

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Deleted member 1487

Historically Operation Wirbelwind was supposed to be part of the campaign in 1942 to clean up the Rzhev salient and shorten the line that was to take place in August, but the Soviet offensive from July 30th-September against Rzhev slowly bled off forces earmarked for the attack leading to it being postponed and then cancelled. What if 11th army instead of being sent north to try and taken Leningrad was used in early August to complete the operation? It would have been more than the forces that were pulled off by the Rzhev fighting, so enough to successfully complete the operation and shorten the line while cutting off and wiping out 3 Soviet armies, while at the same placing a threat to the flank of the Soviet advance against Rzhev. This could then open up a potential offensive counter to the Western Front bashing away at 9th army:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rzhev,_Summer_1942#31_July_.E2.80.93_6_August_1942

What then would it mean for the fighting around Leningrad in August? Without 11th army there then the Soviet could create a landbridge to the city early:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinyavino_Offensive_(1942)

Wirbelwind.jpg
 

Deleted member 1487

I should clarify, IOTL it was launched, but just by 2nd Panzer army, which ran into heavy defenses and was stymied because of the missing action by 4th army. With 11th army's siege train and its experience in positional warfare it would be far better positioned to punch through Soviet defenses and conduct 4th army's part of the offensive much more strongly than 4th army was supposed to, letting 2nd Panzer do its historical effort at the same time, but supported by heavy artillery.
 

Deleted member 1487

Wouldn't German forces be transferred northward to stem the advance on Leningrad?
Historically they were but with the two operations running that's not an option until later when Wirbelwind is over. Of course the Leningrad offensive rather from August 19th-October so once things have been settled around Rzhev they'd probably go north.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinya...ffensive.2C_September_21_.E2.80.93_October_15
The question is whether 11th army would be in any shape to do the OTL September counter offensive.
 
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