General Keating is satisfied with turn of events, as ORSHA ( see above) and DEMIDOV (see below) fall. However, Keating is well behind the timetable set by his superiors, but all might be redeemed if he can take SMOLENSK quickly.
This is not quite as simple as it might seem. Here is the situation at SMOLENSK as ORSHA and DEMIDOV fall...
...and here is the situation after the Russian reaction..
.
..Trout’s just in time defence might be hard to crack.
Comrade General Trout is upbeat, and why wouldn’t he be? Another three (3!!!) German units are obliterated, two of them the long suffering Recon men. General Keating will be reduced to personally scouting ahead in his staff car if this Recon attrition goes on much longer.
Trout seems to have enough units to defend not just SMOLENSK
but the front lines either side in great strength, and in the Urban areas, in
depth as well. It will be interesting to see how Keating tackles these latest
challenges.