The book examines the actions of the Red Army and the German command during the winter campaign of 1941/42 on the Soviet-German front. It describes how Soviet troops attempted to break through the defenses of three German army groups, and how the Wehrmacht responded. Strategic plans for the Soviet winter offensive and their actual results on the front are considered—from Lake Ladoga to the Black Sea. The book covers battles near Moscow, Kharkov, and Demyansk, attempts to break the siege of Leningrad, and fighting for the Crimea. The events presented are based on recently declassified documents and various international sources, with an emphasis on an accurate portrayal of the history of operations, the role of people and technology, and without political coloring.