By the time this decision was made on the evening 23 June, barely 48 hours since the war had begun, the 11th Panzer Division, with the 16th Panzer Division traveling in its wake, had already penetrated 40 miles into Soviet territory.
På det tidspunkt hvor denne beslutning blev truffet, om aftenen den 23. juni, blot 48 timer efter at krigen var startet, var 11. panserdivision allerede trængt 65 km ind på sovjetisk område og med 16. panserdivision i sit kølvand.