A new question.
On 3rd October 1941, armored vehicles of the German XXIV Motorized Corps 4th Panzer Division, having advanced over 200 kilometers over the previous four days, at 16.40 burst into Orel from the march.
The news of the enemy's surprise capture of Orel rang out through the Soviet command like a clap of thunder from a calear blue sky.
An important admimistrative center and a major railway staion and road hub had fallen into enemy hands, and became a staging area of German forces' further offensive.
The enemy now had the opportunity to use an exellent highway for supplying the troops.
At this time troops of a recently created formation was assembling north of Orel.
What was this formation?
With best, J-P
