In the end the Germans prevailed, although the Soviets inflicted heavy losses on the 1st Panzer Group.

The attacks were especially strong against Third Panzer Group, which had made some of the closest penetrations to the city.

Neither proved any threat to the advancing Second Panzer Group.

The battle between Panzer Group 1 and the Soviet mechanized corps was the fiercest of the whole invasion, lasting a full four days.

In the north, 3rd Panzer Group was moving much more slowly.

On February 17, 1941, the corps headquarters was inactivated in order to form the 4th Panzer Group.

"We are in Panzer Group 3, a mere twenty kilometers or so from Moscow itself."

"We were in Panzer Group 3," said Ishihara.

The Panzer Groups had advanced 321 km into the Soviet Union and almost a third of the distance to Moscow.

Then the three Panzer Groups, under the control of Army Group Center, will lead the advance on Moscow.