Nonetheless, it had drawn the German forces away from an early offensive against Moscow, and had delayed further German progress by 11 weeks.

Another complicating factor for an early offensive would be the hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

An early offensive into Lorraine was successful.

Iran mounted an earlier offensive toward Basra on Dec. 24, but it did not reach as far west as the latest drive.

The pact for an early Russian offensive was hardened and sharpened in annual Staff talks that were a feature of the Franco-Russian Alliance.

Himmler called the preparation of the early 1945 Soviet offensive "the biggest bluff since Dshingis Khan".

Unlike the earlier offensives, Dawn 8 was planned entirely by professional Army officers, all of whom had began their careers under the Shah.

An early offensive against Lorraine was successful, but the attempted French invasion of Tuscany in 1553 was defeated at the Battle of Marciano.

The Mato Grosso campaign was an early Paraguayan offensive in the Paraguayan War.

They also expected that an early Russian offensive in East Prussia would tie down German forces.