0813_01:The Ripple Effect - PzC 09 Rzhev '42

Dubna, SE section of the Rzhev Salient, August 13th 1942: During the summer of 1942, General Zhukov, then commanding the Western Front, devised a plan to use the Rzhev Salient as a springboard to take the city of Vyazma. The plan was to use a 'ripple' effect attack from north to south along the whole eastern side of the salient. Armies from both the Kalinin and Western Fronts were to be used, starting with the Kalinin Front. Every few days another grouping, further to the south, would attack. The rationale was that the Stavka air and artillery assets could be moved to support each attack in turn. This was a wonderful idea on paper but, in reality, the Soviet ability to organize such an undertaking was non-existent. It was a very over-ambitious plan. The Soviet 33rd Army was the last to attack, and initially it met with great success. [Size, medium]