Prelude to Stalingrad: The Red Army's Attempt to Derail the German Drive to the Caucasus in World War II

In 1942, the Germans launched Case Blue, a strategic offensive into the Caucasus. It was a pivotal moment of World War II, leading to the clash at Stalingrad. Igor Sdvizhkov reconstructs the fighting in the northern sector of the Case Blue offensive, near Voronezh, using German documents and previously classified Soviet sources. The Red Army inflicted heavy losses, eroding the Wehrmachts fighting power before it even reached Stalingrad.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 23 October 2019
Publisher: Stackpole Books

In the scorching summer of 1942, the German military launched a daring offensive known as Case Blue, aimed at conquering the Caucasus region. This strategic area was not only rich in oil resources but also held significant historical and geopolitical importance. It served as the birthplace of Stalin, posed a threat to the British Empire, and provided a gateway to Iran and the Middle East, where the Germans could further their oil ambitions and cut off vital supplies to the Soviet Union. The offensive was a pivotal moment in World War II, often overshadowed by the titanic clash at Stalingrad during the fall and early winter of 1942-43. However, less well-known is the series of summer operations that preceded and shaped this pivotal battle. In Prelude to Stalingrad, author Igor Sdvizhkov delves into the northern sector of the Case Blue offensive, focusing on the nine-day intense combat near the city of Voronezh. Sdvizhkov utilizes German documents and previously classified Soviet sources to reconstruct the intense fighting that unfolded, involving tens of thousands of men, hundreds of tanks, and guns on both sides. This period of see-saw battles threatened to derail the German offensive north of Stalingrad, as the Red Army mounted a fierce resistance to the German advance. In response to the withdrawals and mass surrenders on the Eastern Front during the early months of the war, Stalin ordered his armies to fight to the bitter end, ensuring that the battle would be brutal. Although the Red Army ultimately failed to deny the Germans a bridgehead on the Don River, they inflicted heavy losses on the Wehrmacht, eroding its fighting power before it even reached Stalingrad. This offensive marked a turning point in the war, as it showcased the resilience and determination of the Red Army and demonstrated the futility of the German military's ambitions in the Caucasus.

Weight: 754g
Dimension: 254 x 180 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780811738668