Mius River
Though preferring to delay the counterattack because of the delays needed in assembling some of his units, Cherevichenko was pressed to commence the operation by "Stavka" and had the attack begin on November 17 with just four rifle divisions and one tank brigade, but only one day late. Though able to capture Rostov, Kleist's Panzer Army was caught by surprise in the counterattack and was compelled to abandon the city by the end of the month. On November 30, "Pravda" published a photograph of Cherevichenko alongside Marshal Stalin's praise of the Rostov defenders. On December 2, the German rode their tanks back to the Mius River.