World War: New Russia

"The taking of Moscow would doubtless have a great political import, but it could never be a decisive act for the whole war. The control of the Donets Basin, however, is decisive." This statement by a Berlin spokesman may have been partly apology for the way the German drive on Moscow stalled last week. But it was also partly true.

The Donets Basin is more important strategically than Moscow, and last week the Germans were trying hard to take the Donets Basin. They captured Taganrog, on the approaches to Rostov-on-Don.

They took Stalino,...

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