Desna River
The 2nd "Panzer" Army—along with the XLVIII "Panzer" Corps—attacked important rail junctions near Oryol (Orel) and Bryansk. Hoepner's 4th "Panzer" Army soon crossed the Desna River and gained access to deep Russian territory. Meanwhile, Hoth's 3rd "Panzer" Army struck toward Rzhev on the Volga River.