Rzhev-Vyazemsky ledge

The Rzhev-Vyazemsky ledge is a bridgehead formed in the defense of German troops during the Soviet offensive in the winter of 1941/1942 in a western direction. It had dimensions: up to 160 km in depth and up to 200 km along the front (at the base). The German command considered this ledge as a springboard for an attack on Moscow . In the winter of 1942/1943 , about ² ⁄ ₃ troops of Army Group Center were concentrated here, against which the main forces of the Kalinin and Western fronts acted. The troops of the latter covered the shortest direction to Moscow (from the front line to Moscow in a straight line about 150 km). This bridgehead was liquidated during the Rzhev-Vyazemsky operation by the end of March 1943 .