German Troops Inspect Soviet Trenches Along the Volkhov River

Image size: 1600 x 1200 pixel. 718 KB
Date: Thursday, 16 October 1941
Place: Volkhov River, Leningrad Oblast, Soviet Union
Photographer: Unknown

German soldiers of Heeresgruppe Nord examine trenches captured from the Red Army during the Tikhvin Offensive. Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Ritter (translated as Knight, a title) von Leeb (September 5, 1876 - April 29, 1956) was ordered to move part of his mechanized divisions to Heeresgruppe Mitte for Operation Typhoon, the offensive against Moscow. Even with reduced forces, Reichskanzler (Reichchancellor) Adolf Hitler still expected von Leeb to take Leningrad. In the wake of mass surrenders at Kiev, Rostov, and other Soviet bastions, Hitler ordered von Leeb to rush his forces toward Tikhvin, a city on the Volkhov River that was a link in the rail line supplying Leningrad, expecting an easy advance on Leningrad. General Rudolf Schmidt (1886-1957) commanding XXXIX. Armeekorps, composed of the 126. Infanterie-Division, 21. Infanterie-Division, 18. Infanterie-Division (mot.), 20. Infanterie-Division (mot.), 8. Panzer-Division, and 12. Panzer-Division, were reinforced by the 250. Infanterie-Division (the Spanish volunteer Blue Division) and other units for the offensive. The XXXIX. Armeekorps attacked on October 16, 1941. Initially Schmidt struck at the junction of the lines of the Soviet 52nd and 4th Armies, effecting total surprise and overrunning the Red Army positions. As this photo was taken, the Russian "General Mud" began to take effect, as the Rasputitsa (Quagmire Season) began with the first snow of the year. The same day, elements of the 250th established a bridgehead and occupied Smeiko, Sitno, Tigoda, Dubrowka, Nitikino and Otenski as part of an offensive to link up with Finnish troops east of Lagoda Lake in order to complete the encirclement and the siege of Leningrad. Within weeks the Germans were soon enveloped in mud, causing the panzer crews to abandon their mired tanks. The rains and mud prevented resupply as trucks and even tractors could not move off paved roads, and even "corduroy" roads of felled trees sank into the muck. Still, the Germans took Tikhvin on November 8. Small unit counterattacks and reorganization of the Red Army forces into the Volkhov Front stopped the Germans from advancing to Leningrad. 45,000 Germans were killed, wounded, or captured, causing Heeresgruppe Mitte to send reinforcements. On December 10, General Kirill Meretskov (June 7, 1897 - December 30, 1968), who was released from NKVD custody in September 1941 after accusations of treason and appointed to command the 4th Army, launched a counteroffensive that drove Army Group North out of Tikhvin and back to their initial positions by December 30th. This was the first time the Blitzkrieg tactics had been blunted! Meretskov was appointed to command the Volkhov Front and helped to break the blockade of Leningrad in 1943. 

Source:

Combined Arms Research Library 

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii0098