 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Kubudirira kwake kukuru kwakauya panguva yeOperation Barbarossa, kupindirwa kweSoviet Union muna 1941. Mukati memwedzi miviri yokutanga yeBarbarossa, 1st Panzer Army yakanyura kumabvazuva kupinda munharaunda yeSoviet, ndokuzoenda kumaodzanyemba kuGungwa Dema kuti igure mauto eSoviet muHondo yeUman, ipapo kuchamhembe kukomberedza mauto eSoviet akapoteredza Kiev, ipapo kumaodzanyemba zvakare kuyambuka Rwizi Dnieper, uyezve kumaodzanyemba kudimbura mauto eSoviet pedyo neGungwa reAzov. Mukati meiyi nhimbe yose yakaoma, Zeitzler akachengeta 1st Panzer Army ichifamba zvakanaka uye akavimbisa kuti zvigadziro zvakasvika. Achirumbidza Zeitzler, Kleist akati: Dambudziko guru pakuendesa mauto nenzira iyi raiva rokuramba aine zvokushandisa. 