My name is Greg Jackson. I'm a PhD holding historian, a professor, and the

creator of history that doesn't suck. A podcast that makes legit

seriously researched American history come to life through entertaining stories.

Join me for a chronological telling of the United States story.

From the Revolution to Fractious Civil War, tenacious inventors, brave reformers, and more.

With more than 100 episodes, you can already binge listen your way from 1776 to the early 20th century.

Listen to history that doesn't suck on Spotify. Hello and thank you for listening to the history of World War II podcast.

Episode 483, not one single step back.

Last time, with the Soviet counterattack to safeguard Moscow launched the results had been

positive but costly. Tens of thousands of more Russian lives were lost but the German

positions closest to the outskirts of Moscow were recaptured.

What's more Army Group Center's commander, Von Bach, knew he was not strong enough, practically to withstand an attack, much less launch his own attack.

So on December 7th, he ordered his staff to prepare plans for a pullback.

The question was how far back, far enough to relieve the

pressure from the enemy, but not so far back as to be sacked by Berlin. Either way, the immediate threat to the Communist

capital was now over. But what will happen next, or rather play out, until the end of

the war was the German army at odds with itself.

Yes, men like Gudarian and Von Bach could see that they weren't winning, but not because

they did not have the courage to continue the fight.

No, the reasons were real world.

They needed more men, more supplies, more pansers, and clothing to deal with a cold.

Had Army Group Center all these things, and clothing to deal with a cold.

...