The German offensive that shattered the Western Front at the beginning of October opened the road to Moscow. It seemed that no one could stop the tank divisions rushing toward the capital of the USSR. Soviet command feverishly pulled troops toward Moscow—from under Leningrad, from Siberia, from the Middle Asia region. Trainloads with fresh divisions were sent. But to form a new front, time was needed. It was necessary to delay the enemy at any cost, and the last reserves went into battle. Cadets and paratroopers, artillerymen and scouts— newly formed tank brigades with a thin line—blocked the far approaches to Moscow…