What was Germany's most glorious battle during World War II? More than a million people were annihilated
During World War II, the Soviet army was able to win the battle to defend Moscow. The extremely harsh and cold weather helped a lot. Due to the early arrival of winter, the advantages of the German army's impact troops could not be used normally, resulting in a greatly weakened marching speed and combat effectiveness. But this can't be entirely blamed on the damn weather. In fact, the temperature in Moscow at that time was not as low as the legend says. Most of the time the temperature was above minus ten degrees. Even if the blizzard comes early, it will never fall on the Germans alone. So, who is the real "savior" who saves Moscow?
Although the German army has been devastated since the war began. However, the Soviet army's industrial and military foundation also caused the German army to suffer considerable losses in previous battles before arriving in Moscow. The important northern town of Leningrad even achieved the miracle of holding on for a full 900 days amid heavy siege.
However, the German offensive on the central and southern fronts was surprisingly smooth. It took only one week to capture Belarus, and the Soviet army was completely annihilated.
However, in the subsequent Battle of Smolensk, the German army advanced slowly due to the more effective defense organized by the Soviet army. Although the Soviet army suffered serious losses in personnel and equipment in this battle, it also shattered the German army's intention to quickly reach Moscow.
Later, Hitler insisted on seizing Ukraine's resources and completely annihilating the heavy Soviet army group on the southern front; while the Soviet army tried its best to protect Ukraine from threats south of Moscow.
So after the Battle of Smolensk, Hitler ordered Guderian to immediately lead the most elite armored group southward and encircle Kiev with Army Group South. As a result, the largest encirclement and annihilation battle in human history-the Battle of Kiev officially began on August 23, 1941.
On September 15, the two German armored groups and the main forces of Army Group South completed the encirclement of the Soviet Southwest Front. Faced with this desperate situation, the Soviet generals all requested to retreat, but were blocked. The supreme commander flatly refused.
The next day, the German army launched a general offensive against the Soviet troops in the encirclement, dividing and surrounding them. The Soviet troops suddenly fell into chaos. On the 19th, the city of Kiev was captured by the German army.
At this point, the Soviet army in the southwest was completely destroyed, more than 660,000 Soviet officers and soldiers were captured, and more than 800 tanks, more than 3,700 artillery pieces of various types, and more than 3,500 vehicles became the trophies of the German army.
However, behind the seemingly unprecedented victory of the German army, the Kiev encirclement and annihilation campaign was actually the biggest strategic mistake. Because Moscow is not only the capital of the Soviet Union, but also the economic center and transportation hub, with developed industry and sufficient food security.
According to the recommendations of the German General Staff, it is better to attack Moscow sooner rather than later. If the Kiev encirclement and annihilation campaign is not launched, the German army is entirely likely to capture Moscow before the arrival of winter. As a result, it was the Soviet army that was frozen to death and frostbitten by the entire army in the ice and snow.
Therefore, after the battle, Guderian led the army non-stop northward, broke through the Bryansk-Vyazma defense line, and annihilated more than 670,000 people, once again causing the Soviet army to suffer heavy losses.
These two battles of siege and annihilation resulted in the total elimination of more than 1.3 million Soviet troops. It can be said to be the most glorious victory of the German army in World War II. However, it was too late at this time, and the German army completely lost the opportunity; winter came earlier than usual this year, and the Soviet army had already built the capital into an impregnable fortress and was ready to attack.
It can be said that the Kiev defenders bought time to reorganize Moscow's defense with their own sacrifice. Due to the consumption of personnel and equipment caused by continuous operations, the German army was no longer able to capture Moscow.
Therefore, the credit for saving Moscow was not all cold and muddy, but more importantly, fatal strategic mistakes. It caused the German army's "Blitzkrieg" to go completely bankrupt, sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of a protracted war, and no longer able to launch a full-scale offensive.