The morale of the troops taking part was astonishingly high at the start of the offensive. They really believed victory was possible - unlike the hig… - Gerd von Rundstedt

Long before winter came the chances had been diminished owing to the repeated delays in the advance that were caused by bad roads, and mud. The 'black earth' of the Ukraine could be turned into mud by ten minutes rain - stopping all movement until it dried. That was a heavy handicap in a race with time. It was, increased by a lack of railways in Russia - for bringing up supplies to our advancing troops. Another adverse factor was the way the Russians received continual reinforcements from their back areas, as they fell back. It seemed to us that as soon as one force was wiped out, the path was blocked by the arrival of a fresh force.

Nothing would have been changed for the German people, but my name would have gone down in history as that of the greatest traitor.

Just as the defending force has gathered valuable experience from...Dieppe, so has the assaulting force...He will not do it like this a second time.