Barbarossa II
To Force A Peace
7
0500 August 18th 1945.
18. Armee Headquarters. Leningrad, Russia.
The weather had cleared up in Estonia and von Rundstedt gave the orders that would result in the capture of eight Soviet divisions.
Kesselring led the assault against the depleted defenders, commanded by Voronov. The battle did not last long.
0300 August 19th 1945.
IV. Panzerarmee Headquarters. Kuybyshev, Russia.
German infantry forces were closing on the Soviet stockpile in Gorkij. They decided to relocate it to a safer place.
Von Manstein did not think Naberezhnye Chelny was actually a safer place for it. He ordered Steiner to move north and attempt to capture the stockpile.
1200 August 19th 1945.
The Skies above the Black Sea.
Milch was still conducting air superiority missions over the Black Sea when he found some American bombers. He engaged them over the Sea of Marmara.
Once more the Strategic bombers would suffer high casualties to Milch's interceptors.
0600 August 20th 1945.
18. Armee Headquarters. Leningrad, Russia.
Rommel was now confident that he had sufficient infantry surrounding Moscow to launch his attack and von Rundstedt gave him the go ahead to do so.
Von Brauchitsch would lead the attack supported by other infantry divisions. The armour was kept out of the battle for the Soviet capital.
At 1300 hours the battle was over and seven more Soviet divisions were captured by von Brauchitsch's men.
1900 August 20th 1945.
18. Armee Headquarters. Leningrad, Russia.
Von Rundstedt's headquarters staff had been compiling a map of the Eastern Front to illustrate progress being made by Axis forces.
The map clearly showed advances in all directions. One other thing of note, also clearly shown, there were no Soviet forces anywhere to be seen.
0000 August 24th 1945.
18. Armee Headquarters. Leningrad, Russia.
German forces were slowly advancing into Finland, with thoughts of taking over the country as swiftly as possible in von Rundstedt's mind.
Model had recently captured the Finnish capital located in Helsinki. He proceeded onwards towards Turku.
To the east Steiner had noticed a Soviet armoured division appear in Naberezhnye Chelny as von Manstein advanced into Chkalov. Steiner would overcome the enemy easily at daybreak.
1500 August 24th 1945.
18. Armee Headquarters. Leningrad, Russia.
News had arrived swiftly of the capture of Moscow. Von Runstedt sent a return message congratulating the forces in the area on their success.
Von Brauchitsch had commanded the first German forces to enter Moscow. Another city that could not be taken years earlier was now under Germany's control.