Case Blue

Operation Blue (German: Fall Blau) was the German Wehrmacht's codename for the 1942 summer offensive. It led to the Battle of Voronezh, Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of the Caucasus.

The Red Army defeated the Wehrmacht at Stalingrad by conducting Operation Uranus and Operation Saturn.

Operation Blau

Operation Blue: German advances from 7 May 1942 to 18 November 1942

  to 7 July 1942

  to 22 July 1942

  to 1 August 1942

  to 18 November 1942

Army Group South was selected for a sprint forward through the southern Russian steppes into the Caucasus to capture vital Soviet oil fields. The summer offensive was code-named Fall Blau ("Case Blue"). It was to include the 6th and 17th Armies and the 4th and 1st Panzer Armies. In 1941, Army Group South had conquered Ukraine, and was positioned at the area of the planned offensive.

General situation before the German Offensive

On June 22, 1941, German troops advanced across the Russian boarder and buffer zones, commencing Operation Barbarossa. Barbarossa's objective was to take control of several key Russian areas, the main including the Ukraine, Caucasus area, Russian and free Baltic states, and the Moscow metropolitan area. By September 9, 1941, German troops had eliminated resistance in Kiev, taken a firm hold of the Ukraine (well over 60% of ethnic Ukraine population), secured several Balkan states, and advance within 300 km. of Moscow and 100 km. of Leningrad and Kharkov.

Strong communications, sufficient initial supply of basic resources (fuel, clothing, food), technological superiority and organized air superiority led to a powerful German surge during the initial months following June 1941. Factors that led to the formation of Operation Blau were:

1. The success of the Sixth Army and other advanced brigades across much of Southern Russia (Ukraine).

2. Control of Odessa and Kiev as auxiliary points for air and naval units.

3. Optimal geographic conditions for the several Panzer and motorized brigades in South (steppe conditions through Stalingrad deep into Asia).

4. Necessity to capture valuable crude oil fields near the Russian city of Baku to supply other motorized brigades throughout the entire German expedition.

5. Capture the final components of Industrialized West Russia, realistically defeating Russia (combined with other projected successes), and completing Operation Barbarossa.