OKH Final Plan for the Invasion of Russia 18 December 1940

On 12 December 1940 the first draft of Hitler’s Directive No. 21, concerning what became Operation Barbarossa, was submitted to Hitler. After comments supplied by the Luftwaffe commanders and the OKW (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces), Hitler personally dictated his final amendments. These included a drive northward towards Leningrad; after the destruction of the central group of Soviet forces, Army Group Centre would detach half its force north. The remaining force would halt, ready to move south in support of Army Group South. Its task was to occupy the Ukraine. When the North and Ukraine had been gained the advance on Moscow would resume. The campaign would conclude along a line running from Archangel along the Volga to Rostov-on-Don.