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Ahhhh ED, before you gain credibilty as a Historian you do need to learn your Geography....Stalingrad is way to the South of Moscow. nopt NORTH. It wasn't until the Spring Offense that Hitler opted for the Southern strategy of Russian Resources.

There was a point in late August of 1941 that Hitle decided on a battle of encirclement to anhilate further Russian Armies. This diverted the Panzer Divisions froming pushing on towards Moscow, which was lightly defended at the time. This delay of a few weeks put the Germans into the Rainy season in Russia which ground their offensive to a halt. Then with the first freeze they were able to continue on, however as stated before exhaustion of troops and equipment along with the Russians having gained some time were able to bring up troops from the East to defend Moscow.