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(c) By an advance from the area Tula-Uzlovaya north-eastwards in the

direction of Kaschira and Ryazan.

Further south the eastward thrust towards Riazhsk has made progress. South-east of Orel the Germans have also advanced against what was probably only slight Russian resistance.

Ukraine.

17. In north and central Ukraine the Germans have gained some slight advantage in a number of areas, but the position virtually remains the same.

It is in the extreme south that the situation has been drastically changed by the events of the last few days. Here the Russian Southern Army Group, despite a long period of very heavy fighting and severe casualties, has managed; by means of a counter-attack on a considerable scale, to recapture Rostov. It is interesting to note that this success was euphemistically described by the Germans as "the evacuation of the centre of the town in accordance with orders so that the necessary measures of reprisal might be taken against the population, who had illegally taken part in the battle in the rear of the German army."

Crimea.

18. There has been no change.

Conclusions.

19. The battle for Moscow continues to rage fiercely and the position is still serious. Up to the present the direct attacks on the Russian capital have made comparatively little progress, and the Germans are apparently attempting, with some success, to carry out encircling movements from the Klin and Tula

areas.

An attack from the Tula area has also developed eastwards. Here the Germans are attempting to cut the important railway running from Moscow to Rostov via Riazhsk and Voronezh.

The Russian success at Rostov is of great importance. It is at present impossible to say whether the Germans will soon be able to launch a counter-attack and regain their lost ground, but, in any case, their time-table for an advance through Caucasia and any subsequent operations against the Middle East must have been seriously upset.

Operations.

Libya.

20. The operations in Libya during the period 18th to 25th November were described in last week's Résumé.

Throughout the 24th and 25th November preparations were made for an offensive towards Sidi Rezegh and Bir el Hamed from the south. This offensive was to be carried out in conjunction with a further thrust by the Tobruk Garrison directed on El Duda.

Operations on November 26.

21. The attack on Sidi Rezegh was launched by New Zealand troops supported by "I" tanks during the night of the 25th/26th November. By the morning, after heavy fighting, the position had been recaptured, as had Bir el Hamed, 5 miles further north.

By 1530 hours the Tobruk Garrison had reached El Duda.

Meanwhile, the reorganisation of our main armoured forces was proceeding apace. General Auchinleck reported that the tank situation was much improved and that vehicles were still being recovered.

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Operations on the 27th November.

22. Early on the 27th November, a New Zealand battalion, supported by 'I' tanks, effected a junction with the Tobruk Garrison at El Duda and the gap between the two forces was closed.

On the same morning, it became evident that General Rommel had recalled all his armoured forces in the frontier area to the Sidi Rezegh battlefield. As a result of this order, a party of about 60 armoured fighting vehicles, including

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