108 - Another week, another half million for the Germans - WW2 - September 19, 1941

by Panzer
Yeah?
They’re doing what?
But the Germans conquered the territory!
Huh?
They don't know... they don’t care… they’re attacking the trucks..
Okay...
September 19, 1941
It’s the third largest city in the Soviet Union, and as such, a major prize.
This week, the Germans take Kiev.
I’m Indy Neidell; this is World War Two.
Last week, the Soviet red Army beat the Germans at Yelnya, a pretty big deal.
The Germans have Leningrad under siege in the north, however, and were advancing on
multiple fronts in Ukraine on Kiev.
On the 13th, elements of Heinz Guderian’s 2nd Panzer Group approach Lokhvitsa from the north.
Andrey Yeremenko’s Bryansk Front has tried and failed to stop him, and of the 261,696
men committed to that combat, took around 100,000 casualties.
Guderian is now just 40 km from the tanks of Panzer Group Kleist approaching Lubna.
Mikhail Kirponos whole SW Front- the 5th, 26th, 37th, and 38th armies, and part of the
21st- is almost totally surrounded west of Lokhvtisa and Lubna and east of Kiev.
They still could in theory escape to the east, but Stavka will not allow them to do so.
I mentioned last week that Semyon Timoshenko now replaces Semyon Budenny as commander of
SW Direction High Command.
This happens the 13th and the first thing he does is assure Stavka that he can, in fact,
hold Kiev.
That same day, Lubna and Lokhvitsa fall, Mitgorod falls, and the Germans begin setting up blocks
in the gap between Guderian and Kleist.
The SW Front’s CoS V.I.
Tupikov radios Red Army CoS Boris Shaposhnikov that disaster is soon at hand.
Shaposhnikov tells Stalin this and Stalin replies, “Major-General Tupikov has submitted
a panicky report to the general staff.
On the contrary, the situation requires the maintenance of extreme coolness and steadfastness
on the part of all commanders at all levels…
It is necessary to take all measures to hold occupied positions and especially to hold
on to the flanks.
You must compel Kuznetsov and Potapov to cease their withdrawal.
You must instill the entire front with the necessity to fight on stubbornly… it is
necessary to fulfill the orders given to you by Stalin on September 11.”
Those orders were to not abandon Kiev or blow the Dnieper bridges without Stavka’s express permission.
On September 16th, Guderian and Kleist link up near Lokhvitsa, trapping the entire SW