Hello, and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast, episode 149,

the March on Moscow, Part 3.

Last time, the Great Defense of Line stationed some 241 kilometers or 150 miles west of Moscow

had been shattered, shattered by Guderian of the Second Panzer Group to the south, by

Hopner's fourth Panzer Group to the north of him, and finally by Hoth's third Panzer

Group above him near the main road that led to Moscow.

Zhukov had been recalled from Leningrad in early October to take control of the newly formed

Western Front, namely the surviving armies of the former Western and reserve fronts that

were now trapped, but had been ordered by him to break out to the east.

Meanwhile, another defensive line, this latest one, the Mojaisk line, existed more on paper

than reality.

Zhukov had been right when he said that almost all roads to Moscow were open.

So while the GKO ready to abandon the capital, the Stavka labored to throw every unit it could

lay its hands on to the Mojaisk line.

As covered last time, the 110th and 113th rival divisions had already received their orders

to man the line.

They were now a part of the new 5th Army, which would be led by Le Lushenko, and he had

the unenvable task of being under the eyes of Zhukov, the Stavka, and Stalin, everyone

that mattered, everyone who had the power of life and death over him.

As for the defensive line itself, that would be under the control of Lieutenant General

Artemf, the Moscow Military District Commander.

He had already stationed along the Germans next obstacle, some troops, but even with

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