Reform of War Policy
Reduces armies to 5 or 6 divisions so they are more mobile & less of an aerial target
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1941 in Russia — Page 2
Explore 117 historical events and records for Russia in 1941.
Historical records for Russia in 1941
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 117 unique records.
117Unique records
2 of 3Page
18Named events on this page
11Named people on this page
7Places on this page
July
Arrest of Yakov Stalin
Stalins son is captured. In line with Russian policy soldiers captured by Germans are treated as traitors
Invasion of Russia
By mid July Russia has lost 3,500 tanks, 6,000 aircraft & 2 million men
August
Battle of Smolensk
About 300,000 Russian prisoners are taken
Chairman
Appointed Chairman of the recently formed State Defence Committee
Commander of Northwest Front
Appointed Commander of the Armies in the Northwest Front
Commander of Northwest Front
Appointed Commander of the Armies in the Northwest Front
Defence Committee
Appointed Member of recently formed State Defence Committee
Defence Committee
Appointed Member of recently formed State Defence Committee
Defence Committee
Appointed Member of recently formed State Defence Committee
Dismissal
Dismissed by Stalin for adivising that Kiev should be evacuated
Leningrad Soviet
Helps found the Military Soviet for the Defence of Leningrad
Leningrad Soviet
Helps found the Military Soviet for the Defence of Leningrad
Siege of Kiev
Defends Kiev, Stalin refuses to allow any withdrawal from Kiev
Siege of Moscow
Ordered by Stalin to organize a new Bryansk Front to defend Moscow
September
Siege of Leningrad
By the end of the month the Germans give up storming the City & dig in for a siege. Arrives in Leningrad to co-ordinate its defenses
Dismissal
Replaced by Marshal Timoshenko just before the capture of Kiev
Siege of Kiev
Orders the evacuation of Kiev, 665,000 Russian prisoners are captured
Atlantic Charter
States Soviet policy during the Inter-Allied meeting in London.
Atlantic Charter
The Soviet government joins the resolution adhering to Atlantic Charter principles.
Siege of Moscow
The Germans begin their final offensive to take Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Guderian takes Yeremenko by surprise when he begins to attack Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Part of the administration is moved but Stalin stays in Moscow
October
Operation Taifun
The operation "Taifun" to take Moscow commences
Siege of Moscow
The operation "Taifun" to take Moscow commences
Invasion of Russia
Stalin calls an emergency session of the State Defence Committee
Siege of Moscow
Ordered by Stalin from Leningrad to create a new western front to defend Moscow
Western Front
Ordered by Stalin from Leningrad to create a new western front to defend Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Prepares to evacuate his HQ from Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Beria brings in several regiments of the NKVD in to preserve order. A state of siege is declared
November
Stalin calls for the creation of second front in Europe to relieve
Stalin calls for the creation of second front in Europe to relieve pressure on Russian forces battling German army at the gates of Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Announces, "If they want a war of extermination they shall have one"
Siege of Moscow
Stages a symbollically important parade in Red Square
Siege of Moscow
The Germans begin their 2nd offensive against Moscow
Invasion of Russia
Orders Red Army units to destroy all houses & farms 40 miles behind the German lines
Red Army
Orders Red Army units to destroy all houses & farms 40 miles behind the German lines
Invasion of Russia
Kleists Panzers seize a bridge over the Don but are forced back by Timoshenko
Operation Barbarossa
Kleists Panzers seize a bridge over the Don but are forced back by Timoshenko
Siege of Moscow
Some German units advance into the southern suburbs of Moscow
Siege of Moscow
Orders that "there be no further falling back". Orders Rokossovsky to hold the line at Kryukovo with the remants his Sixteenth Army
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.