 On 15 November , with the ground hardening due to the cold weather , the Germans once again began the attack on Moscow . Although the troops themselves were now able to advance again , there had been no delay allowed to improve the supply situation . Facing the Germans were the 5th , 16th , 30th , 43rd , 49th , and 50th Soviet armies . The Germans intended to let the 3rd and 4th Panzer Armies cross the Moscow Canal and envelop Moscow from the northeast . The 2nd Panzer Group would attack Tula and then close in on Moscow from the south . As the Soviets reacted to the flanks , the 4th Army would attack the center . In two weeks of desperate fighting , lacking sufficient fuel and ammunition , the Germans slowly crept towards Moscow . However , in the south , the 2nd Panzer Group was being blocked . On 22 November , Soviet Siberian units , augmented with the 49th and 50th Soviet Armies , attacked the 2nd Panzer Group and inflicted a shocking defeat on the Germans . The 4th Panzer Group pushed the Soviet 16th Army back , however , and succeeded in crossing the Moscow canal to begin the attempted encirclement of Moscow . 
