Then the weather suddenly broke and almost overnight the full fury of the Russian winter was upon us. The thermometer suddenly dropped to thirty degr… - Günther Blumentritt

When Moscow was... almost in sight, the mood both of commanders and troops changed. With amazement and disappointment we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist. During these weeks enemy resistance stiffened. ... Marshal Zhukov had now assumed command. ... For weeks his men had been constructing a defensive position in depth. ... Skilfully camouflaged strong points, wire entanglements and thick minefields now filled the forests which covered the western approaches to Moscow.

Every soldier outside Moscow knew that this was a battle for life or death. ... In 1941 the choice for the Germans was only to hold fast or to be annihilated.

He [Hitler] then astonished us by speaking with admiration of the British Empire, of the necessity for its existence, and of the civilization that Britain had brought into the world. ... He said that all he wanted from Britain was that she should acknowledge Germany’s position on the Continent. ... He concluded by saying that his aim was to make peace with Britain on a basis that she would regard as compatible with her honour to accept.