The closest point the German Wehrmacht reached during its advance on Moscow in December 1941 was the town of Khimki, just 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of the centre of Moscow. This marked the high point of the Wehrmacht's Operation Barbarossa, before the Red Army launched a successful counter-offensive that pushed the Germans back from the capital.
At this point in early December, German reconnaissance units were reportedly able to see the spires of the Kremlin, but harsh winter conditions, overstretched supply lines and fierce Soviet resistance prevented any further advance. The Soviet counteroffensive began on 5 December 1941, forcing the Germans to retreat and ending the immediate threat to Moscow.
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