1201_09: Too Little Too Late - PzC 09 Rzhev '42

Belyi Sector, Rzhev Salient, December 1st 1942: Things had been going well for the 41st Army's assault south of Belyi. General Tarasov was feeling elated after meeting with Marshall Zhukov at the Kalinin Front HQ. The 47th Mech Brigade was making progress to the north east of Belyi and would soon cut the road from Olenin, isolating the German units in the city. Meanwhile, the 1st Mech Corps was sitting well forward waiting to exploit the penetration fully, but without some infantry support, it was simply too weak to sustain any further assault. Tarasov was intent on getting rid of the thorn in his side, Belyi, and was diverting the infantry support earmarked for 47th Mech Bde and 1st Mech Corps. All the while, ominously, the Germans were steadily strengthening the lines and looking at ways to pocket the Soviet forces. [Size, medium]