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Quiz about Battle of Moscow The Wehrmachts First Defeat

Battle of Moscow: The Wehrmacht's First Defeat Quiz

After launching 'Operation Barbarossa' in June '41, the Wehrmacht reached a good starting position from which to begin a direct ground assault on the capital of the USSR, Moscow.

A multiple-choice quiz by Kenny00. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Kenny00

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
354,238

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
272

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The initial plan for Operation Barbarossa called for the taking of Moscow in approximately how many months after the beginning of the operation on June 22nd ? Hint

1 month

7 months

12 months

4 months

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Question 2 of 10

2. What major city in the Russian SSR (Soviet Union) is historically considered to be the 'Gateway to Moscow'? Hint

Rhzev

Tula

Smolensk

Vitebsk

3. In August/September, Hitler ordered the 2nd Panzer Group to help the 1st Panzer encircle and capture Kiev. The commander of the 2nd was furious, as his forces were steadily advancing towards Moscow. Who was he? Hint

George-Hans Reinhardt

Hermann Hoth

Heinz Guderian

Leo Geyr von Schweppenberg

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Question 4 of 10

4. In October, Hitler thought there was a good chance of winning the war in the East, if all focus was concentrated on the Southern and Central parts of the front. While Heeresgruppe (Army Group) South moved on to Rostov on Don, Heeresgruppe Centre got orders to prepare for the assault on Moscow. Who was its commander? Hint

Walther von Brauchitsch

Gerd von Rundstedt

Fedor von Bock

Wilhelm von Leeb

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Question 5 of 10

5. In German, what was the name given to the operation to capture Moscow? Hint

Wintergewitter

Taifun

Herbstnebel

Donnerschlag

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Wehrmacht had a lot of divisions on the Eastern Front: roughly half of these were with Heeresgruppe Mitte. Roughly how many divisions was this? Hint

110

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Army Group Centre was opposed by three Soviet Fronts. Which were they? Hint

West-, Briansk- and Reservefront

1st Reserve-, 2nd Reserve- and Brianskfront

West-, Central- and Brianskfront

Reserve-, Central- and Brianskfront

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who was the Soviet Commander of these Fronts? Hint

Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky

Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin

Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Vasilevsky

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov

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Question 9 of 10

9. Of the Wehrmacht's four Panzer groups and Panzer armies, three were somehow involved in the Battle of Moscow. The 3rd and 4th were to the north of the city and the 2nd was to the south of the city. Which one of these made the furthest advance and, according to some sources, even entered the suburbs of the city? Hint

4th Panzer Group

2nd Panzer Army

1st Panzer Army

3rd Panzer Group

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Question 10 of 10

10. By early December, the Wehrmacht was unable to make any substantial advances. On 5th December the Soviet counter-attack was launched. It was here that Hitler for the first time issued an order that later in the war would be often repeated. What was it? Hint

The commanders themselves must make decisions

Retreat to new positions

Stand firm, no withdrawals

Surrender if absolutely neccesary

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The initial plan for Operation Barbarossa called for the taking of Moscow in approximately how many months after the beginning of the operation on June 22nd ?

Answer: 4 months

Since the war in the East started relatively late in 1941, the German Army needed to win the war within five months. In November the cold and snow would begin and the Wehrmacht would probably by stopped. Moscow was at first considered a major objective, but not key objective.

2. What major city in the Russian SSR (Soviet Union) is historically considered to be the 'Gateway to Moscow'?

Answer: Smolensk

Smolensk (360 kilometers west of Moscow) has been regarded for a long time as an important 'staging-post' on the route of armies heading for Moscow. Napoleon and Hitler both halted their advance shortly to reorganise after taking this city. Both these delays proved fatal.

Answer: Heinz Guderian

He would later refer to it as 'probably the most important strategic blunder in history'. Guderian protested fiercely against this order. He also denounced plans to split 2nd Panzer Group in half, because he thought it would make both smaller groups more vulnerable to any strong counter-attack.

Answer: Fedor von Bock

Promoted to Field Marshal on July 19th 1940, Bock was one of the Wehrmacht's most senior commanders. He was one of the few generals who could convince Hitler he was wrong, except in the 1941 campaign. Shortly before the start of it, Hitler made Moscow more or less a secondary target, This time Bock couldn't convince Hitler to make Moscow the primary target.

5. In German, what was the name given to the operation to capture Moscow?

Answer: Taifun

Operation Taifun, (in English 'typhoon') was the name give to the entire operation to take Moscow.

6. The Wehrmacht had a lot of divisions on the Eastern Front: roughly half of these were with Heeresgruppe Mitte. Roughly how many divisions was this?

Answer: 80

On 2 October HG Mitte had 14 Panzer-Divisions, 9 motorised infantry divisions and 56 normal infantry divisions; these were organised into six armies. Furthermore, HG Mitte had the support of its own Air Fleet (2nd) and parts of the 4th Air Fleet, which had formerly supported HG S�d.

7. The Army Group Centre was opposed by three Soviet Fronts. Which were they?

Answer: West-, Briansk- and Reservefront

The Germans faced the enormous might of three Soviet Fronts, including the Reservefront, which controlled all reserves in the area arround Moscow.

8. Who was the Soviet Commander of these Fronts?

Answer: Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov

He is sometimes referred to as 'The Russian Guderian/von Manstein'. Georgy Zhukov took Berlin in 1945. Before that he had led the defense of Leningrad, the defense of Moscow, the failed operation Mars (destruction of Army Group Centre in winter 42/43) and was on many occasions a frontline commander of an important front.

Answer: 4th Panzer Group

H�ppner's 4th Panzer Group came closest to actually taking Moscow. There are sources that claim that reconnaisance units of the army actually saw the Kremlin in the distance. As with most such claims, these sources cannot be 100% verified.

Answer: Stand firm, no withdrawals

After the Soviet counter-attack, the German Army was completely disorganized. When the OKH issued an unauthorized withdrawal order, Hitler exploded in anger. He recalled the order and said that not even one regiment could retreat without his personal permission.

Source: Author Kenny00

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