The Soviet Headquarters of the High Command committed a fatal error by awaiting a second German advance on Moscow in spring and summer 1942. The key direction of the German advance on Moscow was southern, with the aim of capturing Stalingrad (present-day Volgograd) and the Caucasus. The defeat of the Soviet troops in the Crimea and near Kharkov allowed the Wehrmacht on July 23, 1942, to take Rostov and crossed the lower Don on July 25 (this date is considered the start of the Battle). On the part of Germany, military operations in the N. Caucasus were carried out by an "A" body of troops (or "group of armies" in the Russian terminology) commanded by General Field Marshal Wilhelm List (in November replaced by Colonel-General Ewald von Kleist). The "A" body of troops was opposed by the troops of the Soviet North Caucasian Front (commanded by General of the Army Semyon Budenny) and, from September 1942, the Transcaucasian Front (commanded by General of the Army Ivan Tiulenev) to which the defeated units of the North Caucasian Front were re-subordinated (reorganized as the Black Sea body of troops commanded by Colonel-General Yakov Cherevichenko and the Northern body of troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Ivan Maslennikov). The Black See Fleet (commanded by Vice Admiral Philip Oktyabrsky) and the Azov Military Flotilla (commanded by Rear Admiral Sergey Gorshkov) operated along the Black See coast.

In August the German troops took Stavropol, Krasnodar, Maikop, Elista, Cherkessk, Nalchik, Novorossiysk, and Mozdok. The German flag was hoisted on Mount Elbrus on August 21.

In late September through early October, the Soviet command was able to organize successful defense along the Main Caucasian Range and the Terek River. The German advance got exhausted and the front stabilized along the following line: the southern outskirts of Novorossiysk - Goryachy Klyuch - passes of the Main Caucasian Range - Alagir - the northern outskirts of Vladikavkaz (the city was not invaded) - Malgobek - Ishcherskaya - Achikulak. Further in the north the frontline was practically absent (the German troops did not reach the Caspian Sea). Completely occupied were the Rostov region, Cherkesia, Karachay, Adygeya, and the Stavropol territory; almost completely the Krasnodar territory (except for the Black Sea shore behind Novorossiysk), Kalmykia (except for Chernye Zemli), Kabardino-Balkaria (except for its southeastern part), and North Ossetia (except for Vladikavkaz and its southern part). In Checheno-Ingushetia, the Germans were able to take Malgobek and Ishcherskaya in the northwest. Just a few reconnaissance groups penetrated Dagestan's northern steppes, so there was no military action here.

TimeLine:

August 3, 1942 - Wehrmacht takes Stavropol
August 10, 1942 - Wehrmacht takes Maykop
August 12, 1942 - Wehrmacht takes Krasnodar
August 25, 1942 - Wehrmacht takes Mozdok
September 11, 1942 - Wehrmacht takes Novorossiysk
September 1942 - German offensive effectively stopped near Mozdok

Operations of the Novorossiysk Defensive Region

 

 

 

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