At this time Hitler agreed to a general withdrawal to the Dnieper line, along which was meant to be the Ostwall, a line of defence similar to the Westwall (Siegfried Line) of fortifications along the German frontier in the west.
În acest moment, Hitler era de acord cu o retragere generală pe linia Niprului, de-a lungul căruia trebuia sa fie Ostwall (Zidul Răsăritean), o linie de apărare similară fortificațiilor de la frontiera occidentală a Germaniei – Westwall (Zidul Vestic).