Dismissal Despite the triumph at Kiev, by the end of September Rundstedt was becoming concerned about the state of his command. After three months of continuous fighting, the German armies were exhausted, and the Panzer divisions were in urgent need of new equipment as a result of losses in battle and damage from the poorly-paved Ukrainian roads. As autumn set in, the weather deteriorated, making the situation worse. Rundstedt wanted to halt on the Dnieper for the winter, which would allow the German Army time to rest and be re-equipped. But the German armies could not rest, for fear the Soviet southern armies (now commanded by the stubborn Marshal Semyon Timoshenko) would regroup and consolidate a front on the Donets or the Don. So, soon after the fall of Kiev, the offensive was resumed. Reichenau advanced east towards Kharkov and Kleist and Stülpnagel headed south-east towards the lower Donets. In the south 11th Army and the Romanians (commanded by Manstein following the death of Schobert) advanced along the Sea of Azov coast towards Rostov.
dismissal despite the triumph at kiev by the end of september rundstedt was becoming concerned about the state of his command after three months of continuous fighting the german armies were exhausted and the panzer divisions were in urgent need of new equipment as a result of losses in battle and damage from the poorly-paved ukrainian roads as autumn set in the weather deteriorated making the situation worse rundstedt wanted to halt on the dnieper for the winter which would allow the german army time to rest and be re-equipped but the german armies could not rest for fear the soviet southern armies (now commanded by the stubborn marshal semyon timoshenko) would regroup and consolidate a front on the donets or the don so soon after the fall of kiev the offensive was resumed reichenau advanced east towards kharkov and kleist and stülpnagel headed south-east towards the lower donets in the south 11th army and the romanians (commanded by manstein following the death of schobert) advanced along the sea of azov coast towards rostov