Caucasus

Situation

In the summer of 1942, German efforts on the Eastern Front were centered on southern Russia. While fighting raged in the Don Basin, Army Group A was tasked with capturing Rostov, occupying the Kuban and then continuing its advance into the Caucasus in an effort to capture the strategically important oilfields there.
More than 90% of Russia's oil extraction and 80% of its refinement capacity was located in the Caucasus area. In 1940, the Maikop region produced 19 million barrels of oil annually, the Grozny area 32 million barrels, and Baku 170 million barrels. A German High Command study in May 1941 noted, that with monthly military requirements for its armed forces equating to approximately 7.25 million barrels, German stocks would be rapidly exhausted. The study concluded that this shortfall could only be made up with petroleum from Russia, and this was a prime element in Hitler's decision to attempt to capture the region.
On the 7th of July, Army Group South was subdivided into Army Groups A and B, to clearly define the two axes that the groups would take.
Army Group A consisted of the 17th and 11th German Armies, the 3rd Romanian Army and the 1st Panzer Army, supported by elements of the 4th Panzer Army and were tasked with advancing from Rostov into the Caucasus to capture the oil regions there.
Russian forces defending the Caucasus consisted of the Southern and North Caucasus Fronts. The Southern Front occupied a defensive front running 320km from Verkhne-Kurmoyarskaya to Kagalnik at the mouth of the River Don and was comprised of the 18th, 12th, 37th and 51st Armies. Also attached were the 56th Army, which was held in reserve south of the Eia River, and the 24th and 9th Armies, which were reorganizing south of the Egorlik and Salsk Rivers.
The North Caucasus Front was occupying a defensive front from the mouth of the Don River along the eastern shore of the Sea of Azov, the Kerch Straight and along the Black Sea coast as far as Lazarevskaya. It was comprised of the 47th Army, the 17th Cavalry and 1st Separate Rifle Corps. The 17th Cavalry Corps was tasked with supporting the Southern Fronts 18th Army, while the 1st Separate Rifle Corps was also designated to reinforce elements of the Southern Front. The 47th Army was tasked with defending the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov.

The Battle for Rostov 20th July - 25th July 1942

Elements of the 1st Panzer Army reached and crossed the Don River on the 20th of July and opened the way for the drive south towards Rostov. Elements of the 17th Army had also begun to assemble for an attack on the city. The 57th Panzer and 5th Army Corps had arrived in the area east of Taganrog while the 3rd Panzer Corps was assembling to the north of the city. The majority of Russian forces had withdrawn to the south of the River and established a defensive line, leaving the defence of the city to only limited forces.
The attack against the city began on the 21st of July. The 73rd and 298th Infantry Divisions, supported by the 13th Panzer Division and Kampfgroup 'Wiking' advanced along the Taganrog - Rostov road into the first of the three defensive belts surrounding the city, which were some 40km in depth. It took two days of determined fighting, supported with repeated ground attack sorties flown by the Luftwaffe, to break through the series of bunker positions, anti tank ditches and wire entanglements.
On the 22nd, Group Wetzel opened its attack to the north of the city, with its 198th Infantry Division and the Mobile Slovak Division. It was also supported by the 3rd Panzer Corps, 14th and 22nd Panzer Divisions.
On the 23rd of July, the 22nd Panzer Division entered the city's northern suburbs, as did the Mobile Slovak Division. To the south of the city, the 13th Panzer Division advanced along the Sultan Saly - Rostov road and broke into the industrial district, capturing a bridge at Kommolomny. The following day, the 125th Infantry Division advanced into the centre of the city and was involved in heavy fighting. The Wiking Division captured the city's airfield and then advanced into the western portion of the city. During the 24th of July, German forces continued to mop up the last defensive positions within the city and then prepared to force crossings over the Don. The Mobile Slovak Division forced a crossing of the Don in assault boats, and was followed by elements of the 73rd Infantry Division, which also crossed into the bridgehead at Ust Koissug. The same day, elements of the 9th Infantry Division captured Aleksandrovskaya.
On the 25th of July, the 29th Motorized Division reinforced its bridgehead on the River Don at Tsimlianskaia, despite heavy attacks mounted against it by elements of the 51st Army.
The 3rd Panzer and elements of the 23rd Panzer Divisions advanced south from Nikolaevskaia, breaking through the defenses of the 51st Army's 302nd Rifle and 110th Cavalry Divisions. By the end of the day, a bridgehead had been seized over the Sal River at Orlovka. The German forces were unable to break out of the bridgehead for three days, due to stiff resistance from the 91st Rifle Division, which had been deployed to contain the breach in 51st Army's defences.
The 14th and 22nd Panzer Divisions also forced crossings over the River Don, breaching the defences of the 37th Army and separating it from the 51st Army, threatening to unhinge the whole Southern Fronts defensive line from the East.

Advance into the Kuban 26th July - 10th August 1942

On the 26th of July, the 125th and 73rd Infantry Divisions captured Bataisk and established a bridgehead over the Don River there. The same day, the 16th Motorized Division crossed the Manych River at Svoboda and Novoselevka, while the Grossdeutschland Division captured Bogaevskaia. The rapid advance of these two Divisions forced the defences of the 12th and 37th Armies to collapse and they began a disorganized withdrawal back across the Don River over crossings at Razdorskaya, Melikhovskaya and Bogayevskaya.
On the 27th of July, the 23rd Panzer Division broke out of its bridgehead on the Sal River and resumed its advance, forcing the 51st Armies 110th Cavalry and 302nd Rifle Divisions to withdraw eastwards. Meanwhile, elements of the 13th Panzer Division continued their advance and broke through the Kagalnik - Manych defensive line in the area of Kagalnitskaya.
In response, the 51st Army's 110th Cavalry Division, supported by the 135th Tank Brigade, mounted a counter attack on the 28th, in an effort to close the breach at Krepianka. The main effort of the attack fell on the lead elements of the 23rd Panzer Division, preventing it advancing further.
The dire situation facing Russian forces in the Caucasus, led STAVKA to reorganize the front. On the 28th of July, the northern and southern Fronts were combined into the North Caucasian Front. It consisted of the 24th, 9th, 37th, 56th, 12th, 18th, 51st and 47th Armies. The 9th and 24th Armies were not combat worthy and were moved to the rear to reform. The Front was supported by the 4th and 5th Air Armies, but their airfields were too remotely located to enable them to provide adequate support.
On the 29th of July, the 23rd Panzer Division repelled renewed counter attacks by the 51st Army's 302nd Rifle and 115th Cavalry Divisions, supported by the 135th and 155th Tank Brigades in the area of Malaya Martynovka and Bolshaia Martynovka. However the attacks quickly broke down and the Panzer Division resumed its advance capturing a bridge over the River Sal at Bolshaia Martinovka. Despite suffering a shortage of fuel, the 3rd Panzer Division managed to capture Proletarskaia on the Sal River and also force a crossing of the Manych River.
On the 30th of July, the 13th Panzer Division broke out of its bridgehead to the south of Bataisk. It advanced rapidly southwards, capturing Salsk and securing a bridgehead over the Srednyi Egorlyk River. It also managed to join up with elements of the 3rd Panzer Division on the Manych River to the south of Proletarskaia.
The same day, the 4th Mountain Division reached the Yeya River at Leninsky, where it was halted by fierce resistance from the 17th Cossack Cavalry Corps. Despite this setback, the 125th Infantry Division managed to force a crossing of the river at Kushchevskaya.
On the 31st of July, Hitler issued a Fuhrer order, commanding the 4th Panzer Army to transfer the bulk of its forces to the command of Army Group B, fighting around Stalingrad. It left only the 40th Panzer Corps still attached to Army Group A in the Caucasus.
The Russians were also transferring forces to support the effort at Stalingrad. The 51st Army was transferred from the North Caucasus to the Stalingrad Front.
Following its capture of Rostov, the 17th Army had continued its advance south towards Krasnodar, crossing the Srednyi Egorlyk, Kagalnik and Eia Rivers by the 31st of July. By the end of the day on the 1st of August, elements of the Army had broken the defences of the opposing 18th Army along the Eia River. It dislodged the 216th Rifle Division and seized a bridgehead over the river at Kushchevskaia.
The same day, the 3rd Panzer Division broke out of its bridgehead on the Manych and advanced to the east of Salsk, capturing crossings over the Egorlyk River. The 23rd Panzer Division contained the remnants of the withdrawing 51st Army north of the Sal River, while the 101st and 97th Jäger Divisions began the destruction of the remnants of the 12th and 37th Armies, trapped south of the Sal and Manych Rivers.
On the 3rd of August, Russian forces began to withdraw across the Kuban River, in an effort to form a coherent defense along both the River and the Krasnodar line. In an effort to bolster the defences, the 32nd Guards Rifle Division was moved from the Taman Peninsula and three additional Rifle Divisions were also mobilized in the Krasnodar Area.
The Transcaucasus Front was also reinforced by the newly formed 10th and 11th Guards Rifle Corps and ordered to begin preparing defences along the northern approaches to the Caucasus. The defences were to be prepared on the approaches to Baku and Grozny, along the Terek, Sulak and Urukh Rivers and in the passes through the High Caucasus Mountains.
Of the forces withdrawing southwards, the 56th Army had withdrawn into the area of Krasnodar, while the 18th Army remained in the Tikhorets area. The 12th Army meanwhile was approaching the Kuban bend near Armavir and the 37th Army had withdrawn towards Voroshilovsk.
On the 4th of August, elements of the Wiking Division captured further crossings over the Kuban at Krapotkin and in the area of Grigoripolnskaya. The two bridgeheads captured by Wiking had to be held until the infantry formations of the trailing 5th Army Corps, some three days march away, could catch up. Heavy fighting ensued until the as Russian forces desperately tried to reduce the bridgeheads.
On the 4th of August, the 5th Cavalry Division crossed the river Don near Rostov. It split into two detachments. The 8th Rosiori Regiment advanced down the coastline and took Yeisk, an important objective for the control of the Azov Sea on 9 August and Primorsko-Ahtarskaya on 11 August. The 6th Rosiori Regiment moved to the interior and occupied Krasnoarmeiskaya and Slavianskaya.
On the 5th of August, the 16th Motorized Infantry Division captured Armavir and the Kuban River crossings there, while the 13th Panzer Division reached the River at Peschanokopskoe, establishing a small bridgehead by the following morning. Efforts to expand the bridgehead were frustrated by fierce Russian resistance and so a second crossing was made further south. Facing only slight resistance, the second bridgehead was rapidly reinforced and expanded. Rapid construction of a bridge at the site of the 13th Panzer Divisions main crossing allowed the 16th Motorized Division to begin crossing the river.
The 3rd Panzer Division meanwhile, captured the important town of Voroshilovsk, and at the city's airfield secured a large fuel dump. On the 6th of August the Division broke out of Voroshilovsk and advanced towards the Kuban crossings at Nevinnomyssk, where they captured and crossed the rail bridge over the river. However the Division was unable to break out of the bridgehead it had secured due to a lack of fuel.
The progress made by the 40th Panzer Corps had forced a 100km deep wedge into the North Caucasus Front, separating its Coastal Operational Group to the west of Stavropol and the Don Operational Group to the east and southeast of the city.
The 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions were brought forward to help protect the left flank of the 1st Panzer Army alongside the 370th and 111th Infantry Divisions.
On the 8th of August the 'Wiking' Division reached the Laba River, forcing a crossing at Tenginskaya and then advanced towards the town of Belorechenskaya, an important rail and road hub. The Division was supported by the Mobile Slovak Division, which mounted a diversionary attack against the town of Giaginskaya, allowing the 'Wiking' Division to achieve complete surprise and capture Belorechenskaya.
The same day, further to the east, the 5th Army Corps reached the outskirts of Krasnodar, which was defended by the 30th Irkutsk Red Banner Rifle Division. The German Corps 9th, 73rd, 125th and 198th Infantry Divisions surrounded the city and fighting raged for two days before it finally fell on the 11th of August.
On the 9th of August, the 3rd and 23rd Panzer Divisions continued their advance towards Mineral'nye Vody, which was defended by the 11th NKVD Division. The 3rd Panzer Division bypassed the town from the southwest and captured Pyatigorsk on the Podkumok River. The 'Wiking' and Mobile Slovak Divisions crossed the Kuban River, breaking through the defences of the 1st Separate Rifle Corps.
On the 9th of August, the 13th Panzer Division, supported by the 16th Motorized Infantry Division launched an attack westwards from Armavir, against remnants of the withdrawing 12th Army. The two Divisions captured bridgeheads over the Laba River at Kurgannaia and Labinskaia.
After crossing the river, the 13th Panzer and 16th Motorized Divisions, joined by elements of the 'Wiking' Division, reached Maikop and attacked the city.
The battle continued on the 10th, as German forces fought through the city's streets and captured a crossing over the River Belaya. The fighting became confused, as Russian forces bypassed by the German advance, attempted to continue their withdrawal, cross the river and reach the safety of the Caucasus forests.
As they withdrew, the Russian forces destroyed the town's well heads, storage facilities and sabotaged the refineries, leaving barely any oil production to take place once the town had fallen.
On the 10th of August the 3rd Panzer Division captured the town of Cherkessk.
During this time, Russian forces had begun to concentrate a new defensive line along the Terek and Urukh Rivers. The defence line had been occupied by fresh reserves, including the 89th and 417th Rifle Divisions, the 52nd and 44th Tank Brigades, nine additional separate Rifle Brigades, the 60th, 62nd, 107th, 131st, 19th, 57th, 84th, 119th and 256th, and elements the of the 10th Guards Rifle Corps, including the 5th, 6th and 7th Guards Rifle Brigades.

The Kuma River to Baksan 5th August - 17th August

While the mountain Divisions fought in the high passes of the Caucasus, the 40th Panzer Corps attacked along the Transcaucasus in the direction of the Grozny oil region. The advance, which began on the 5th of August, was continually restricted by chronic fuel shortages and attacks along the supply lines by withdrawing Russian forces.
The 23rd Panzer Division advanced towards Tuguluk and reached the Kalaus River near Ipatovo on the 6th of August. It was forced to halt there due to a lack of fuel until the 8th of August, when it again resumed its advance towards Mineral'nye Vody. The 3rd Panzer Division advanced parallel to the 23rd Panzer Division and reached Kangly, after crossing the Kursevka River at Soluno Dimitrievskoe.
On the 9th of August the 3rd Panzer Division reached and crossed the Kuma River. By the end of the following day the Division had captured the city of Pyatigorsk after heavy fighting.
Both Divisions halted again until the 13th of August before resuming their advance. The 23rd Panzer Division crossed the Solka River and captured Marinskaya, while the following day the 3rd Panzer Division advanced along the Pyatigorsk-Nalchik road, crossed the Malka River and captured the town of Malka itself.
The advance was halted again due to a lack of fuel and did not resume until the 17th of August. The 3rd Panzer Division reached the Baksan River near Kysburen. The same day, elements of the 3rd Panzer Corps arrived on the 40th Panzer Corps left flank to support its advance. Its 13th Panzer Division forced a crossing over the Kuma River near Aleksandrovskoe.
On the 22nd of August, the Romanian 2nd Mountain Division managed to establish an important bridgehead over the river Baksan at Kysburun and the important height, Hill 910, which overlooked the Baksan Valley.

The Battles for the Mountain Passes 12th August - 1st September 1942

Russian forces had also begun organising the defences of several key mountain passes. The Klukhor Pass was defended by elements of the 394th Rifle Division. Defensive Regions were also set up in the areas of Makhachkala, defended by a scratch Rifle Division consisting of the 280th, 237th and 286th Rifle and 30th Cavalry Regiments, alongside elements of the 3rd Rifle Brigade. The Grozny Defensive Region was defended by a scratch Rifle Division, consisting of the 141st, 308th and 170th Rifle Regiments. The Ordzhonikidze Special Defensive Region, was defended by a scratch Rifle Division, consisting of the 196th and 273rd Rifle and 34th Cavalry Regiments. In addition STAVKA ordered the formation of eight new Divisions, the 271st, 276th, 317th, 319th, 320th, 328th, 337th and 351st, to be completed by the 15th of August.
Army Group A revised its offensive plans in the middle of August, with the objectives of traversing the mountain region of the Caucasus, capturing Tuapse and encircling the Russian 56th Army in the Novorossiysk area.
It was at this point that the 44th Jäger Corps took the lead in the advance. Its 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions were to advance southwards through the mountain forests along three parallel routes. Route 2 ran towards Taupse, route 3 ran via the Tuby Pass towards Lasarovskaya, while route 4 ran towards Adler.
The 97th Jäger Division was tasked with advancing along routes 3 and 4, while the 101st Jäger Division was tasked with clearing route 2.
Meanwhile, Russian forces of the North Caucasus Front consolidated their defences in the following manner. The 17th Cavalry Corps moved its four Divisions southeastwards from the Krasnodar region to occupy defensive positions along the Pshish River, in order to block German forces attempting to advance from Maikop. The 12th Army, reinforced by elements of the 18th Army, occupied defences southwest of Maikop to prevent German forces gaining access to the mountain roads to Tuapse and Lazarevskaia. The newly arrived 32nd Guards Rifle Division, occupied defences along the upper Pshish River.
On the 12th of August, the 'Wiking' Division, in coordination with the 101st Jäger Division, secured the gateway to the mountains, capturing Belorechenskaia from the 383rd Rifle and 12th Cavalry Divisions. The Divisions continued its advance the following day capturing, Khadyshenskii and reaching Navaginskaia, which had been defended by elements of the 32nd Guards Rifle Corps. The same day, elements of the 111th Infantry Division captured Elista in the Kalmyk Region.
The attack by the Wiking and 101st Jäger Divisions began to lose momentum on the 15th of August, following the capture of Apsheronskii. The two Divisions eventually occupied a defensive line, running westwards from Neftegorsk to Asfaltovaya. This was in conjunction with the Mobile Slovak Division to its west, which had occupied the oil region of Kura Zize.
Further south, the 40th Panzer Corps 3rd Panzer Division, strengthened its defences in the Pyatigorsk area and despatched a combat Group southward into the mountains from Cherkessk. Also, elements of the 23rd Panzer Division cleared up the remaining Russian forces in the Mineral'nye Vody area, while also forming a defensive screen to protect the Panzer Army's open left flank towards Stavropol.
On the 16th of August, the 16th Motorized Division was ordered to transfer to Army Group B, to protect the gap between the two Army Groups in the Kalmyk Steppes. The same day saw the 23rd and 3rd Panzer Divisions advance southeastwards from the Mineral'nye Vody and Pyatigorsk regions. The 23rd Panzer Division captured Georgievsk, while the 3rd Panzer Division reached Baksan on the Baksan River.
The 97th Jäger Division also began its advance on the 16th of August. It advanced along route 3 from Neftegorsk, reaching and capturing Samurskaya by the end of the day.
On the 18th of August, the 97th Jäger Division captured the oil region around the town of Neftyanaya, and then advanced into the Pshekha valley. However, it was attacked by superior Russian forces and found itself overextended and threatened with encirclement. The lead elements of the Division were ordered to withdraw back towards Samurskaya. Heavy fighting also took place around the 1010m high Oplepek mountain pass, where Russian units had prepared formidable defences.
The 23rd and 3rd Panzer Divisions continued their advance and broke through the 37th Army's defences along the Malka River, the 23rd Panzer Division capturing Prokhladnyi.
The 101st Jaeger Division, whose attack had also begun on the 18th of August, had only managed to advance along route 2 as far as Khadyshenskaya, where it had become bogged down in the face of determined resistance by the 32nd Guards Rifle Division.
The 97th Jäger Division had also continued its advance along route 4, reaching the Kurdship and Belaya valleys on the 20th of August. On the 20th of August, all offensive action in the area was halted and any further attempts to advance along routes 3 and 4 were abandoned.
All further effort was to be directed along route 2, the Maikop - Taupse road.
On the 20th of August, the 13th Panzer Division swung east and then south, outflanking the Russian 9th Army, and advanced in the direction of Mozdok. It reached on the city, which was defended by the 26th Reserve Rifle Brigade, on the 22nd.
The 13th Panzer Division was relieved by the 2nd Romanian Mountain Division. It then redeployed across the Lenin Canal, occupying positions to the east and west of Mozdok. Reconnaissance elements of the Division also reached the Terek River at Ishcherskaia, 30km to the east of Mozdok, where it secured a bridgehead over the Terek against the 389th Rifle Division.
On the 25th of August, elements of the 3rd Panzer Division broke into Mozdok and captured the city. To the east of the city the 13th Panzer Division forced a crossing over the Terek at Naurskaia. The same day, the 16th Motorized Division began its withdrawal from the line and started moving eastwards to begin mobile screening operations in the Elista region.
German forces went over to the defensive until the 28th of August, when elements of the 101st Jaeger Division reopened their attack in the direction of Hill 134.4. Following three days of heavy fighting, in which little progress was made, the Division was ordered to withdraw back towards Paparotniy on the 31st of August.
On the 1st of September, the 370th and 111th Infantry Divisions began to arrive in the Mozdok area from the Elista region, having been replaced there by the 16th Motorized Division.
Meanwhile Russian forces continued to bolster their defenses, with the introduction of the newly formed 58th Army on the 28th of August. It consisted of the 173rd, 221st, 308th, 292nd and 207th Rifle Divisions and the 217th Tank Brigade.

Attack on Mozdok 23rd August - 7th September

Having secured a crossing over the Terek River, the 40th Panzer Corps prepared for an attack on the city of Mozdok. The advance towards the city began on the 23rd of August, as the 3rd Panzer Division split into two Battle Groups. The northern most Battle Group reached the Lenin Canal at Russkiy, and following repairs to a damaged bridge, crossed the river and continued its advance.
Mozdok was reached by the end of the day and fierce fighting took place as elements of the Division broke into the outskirts of the city. During the night, the Russian garrison was strengthened by elements of the 6th, 8th and 10th Airborne Brigades. As the fighting to clear the city continued into the 25th of August, it became clear that forcing a crossing of the Terek River at this point would be too difficult. For this reason the 13th Panzer Division was tasked with establishing a bridgehead some 30km to the east of the city, near Isherskaya.
In conjunction with the attack on Mozdok, the 23rd Panzer Division launched an attack against Prokhladny. Following its capture, the Division continued to the south along the Prokhladny-Orjonikidze railway. However, any further advance was halted by the 151st Rifle Division.
The 111th Infantry Division arrived in Mozdok on the 26th of August, releasing the 3rd Panzer Division, which then moved into the bridgehead at Isherskaya on the 30th of August.
On the 2nd of September, the 111th Infantry Division crossed the Terek River, dislodging the defences of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps and securing a bridgehead to the east of Mozdok. Meanwhile the 370th Infantry Division crossed the river further to the west at Kislyar, again securing a small bridgehead.
On the 4th of September, the fortification of the Mozdok bridgehead having been completed, the 3rd Panzer Division withdrew from the bridgehead at Isherskaya, which had become untenable. The 111th Infantry Division broke out of its bridgehead, supported by tanks from the 23rd Panzer Division. It advanced to the south capturing Terskaia, but was then halted by the 62nd Naval Rifle Brigade, supported by the 249th Separate Tank Battalion.
On the 7th of September, the bridgehead at Kislya occupied by the 370th Infantry Division joined up with the bridgehead at Mozdok. Despite German forces managing to combine the two bridgeheads, the Russian 9th Army continued to mount coordinated counter attacks against them.
The 52nd Tank Brigade, supported by the 75th Separate Tank Battalion and the 275th Infantry Division attacked from the west, while the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, supported by the 417th Rifle Division mounted attacks from the east. Kampfgroup Herfürth, which had broken out to the south towards Predmostny, was attacked by elements of the 62nd Naval Infantry Brigade supported by the 249th Tank Battalion and was forced to withdraw back into the bridgehead.

The Black Sea Coast 15th August - 26th September

While the 44th Jäger Corps had broken into the mountain passes, the 5th Army Corps had broken out of its Kuban bridgeheads and advanced along the Black Sea Coast in an effort to capture the important harbors belonging to the Russian Navy. The Black Sea Fleet was preventing German forces invading the Caucasus from the sea and from using its ports and inshore routes which they needed badly to support the Army's offensive on land. The first major target was Novorossiysk, which had been placed under aerial bombardment from the 2nd of July.
Following the capture of Krasnodar on the 15th of August, the Coastal Operational Group's 18th, 12th and 56th Armies withdrew southwards into the foothills of the western Caucasus. The 47th Army also began to move eastwards to defend the port and naval base at Novorossiysk. The 47th Army consisted of the 77th and 216th Rifle Divisions, the 103rd Rifle, 83rd and 1st Naval Brigades and the 126th Separate Tank Battalion. It occupied a defensive sector which included parts of the Taman Peninsula, Black Sea Coast, Kuban River and a defensive screen to the north of Novorossiysk itself.
The 5th Army Corps attack opened on the 19th of August, with the 9th and 73rd Infantry Divisions advancing from the Krasnodar region towards Abinskaia, which was defended by the 103rd Rifle Brigade. The Romanian 5th, 6th and 9th Cavalry Divisions captured Troitskoe, but were stopped from advancing any further by stiff resistance from elements of the 103rd Rifle Brigade. This forced the Romanian 5th Cavalry Division to push westward along the northern bank of the Kuban River.
On the 21st of August, the 9th Infantry Division broke through the defences at Abinskaia, forcing the Russian units to withdraw south towards Novorossiysk. The 126th Tank Battalion lost most of its armored vehicles during this fighting.
On the 23rd of August, the 73rd Infantry Division captured Nizhne Bakansky, 12km to the north of Novorossiysk, enabling German artillery units to shell the city.
The attack on Temryuk began on the 23rd of August and was carried out by the Romanian 6th Cavalry Division. In the evening it had reached the outskirts of the city. The following day, at 0400 hours, after an artillery preparation the Romanian troops stormed the city and took it three hours later. Thus the 6th Division trapped two Soviet marine brigades in the Taman Peninsula.
Despite this setback, the 77th Rifle Division mounted a counter attack on the 25th, in the area of Neberjayevskaya. The Division captured the village and surrounding heights the following day. But lacking sufficient forces to hold its gains was forced to withdraw on the 27th.
In the meantime, the 5th and 9th Divisions started to cross the river Kuban on the 23rd and continued their advance, preceded by the Mechanized Detachment 'Col. Radu Korne'. The latter reached the Nasurovo Heights, near Anapa, on the 31st of August. There it captured two Soviet 152mm batteries, with which it bombed the city and the harbour. Soon Anapa fell to Romanian troops. After that, the two cavalry divisions advanced towards Novorossiysk, to support the German 5th Corps, which had the mission to capture this port.
The following day, elements of the 83rd Naval Brigade, supported by the 126th Separate Tank Battalion reinforced the defences at Abinskaia.
On the 31st of August the 9th Infantry Division captured Anapa, which lay on the Black Sea Coast to the northwest of the city. This cut off the withdrawal route of Russian forces retreating into the Taman Peninsula to the west.
Elsewhere, elements of the German 46th Infantry and Rumanian 3rd Mountain Divisions had crossed the Kerch Straights and landed on the northwestern tip of the Taman Peninsula. On the 4th of September the 46th Infantry Division captured Taman and then advanced eastwards towards Krymskaya, accompanied by the Rumanian 3rd Infantry Division.
On September the 1st, elements of the 125th Infantry Division seized the height 198.9 known as Heights of Gudsewo, following heavy fighting against elements of the 83rd Naval Infantry Brigade. From there, the German forces were able to overlook Zemeskaja Bay, the city and the port.
On the 6th of September, the 73rd and 9th Infantry Divisions captured prominent hills overlooking the city, which was defended by the 77th Rifle Division, the 103rd Rifle and 14th, 144th, 83rd, 255th, and 305th Naval Infantry Brigades.
On the 7th of September, elements of the 9th, 73rd and 125th Infantry Divisions penetrated into the northern section of the city capturing the railway station and the port, forcing the Black Sea Fleet to begin withdrawing its ships from the harbor. Particularly heavy fighting took place at Verkhne-Bakansky, where the 103rd Rifle Brigade tied down German forces for several days.
On the 19th of September, the Rumanian 3rd Mountain Division attempted to break through to the coastal road, to the east of the city. It broke through the defences of the Russian 216th Rifle Division, which then managed to close the penetration and encircle the leading elements of the Division.
Heavy fighting raged throughout Novorossiysk until the 26th of September, as Russian forces mounted a staunch defense of the Industrial area on the eastern edge of the city.
Fighting in both areas stalled and the line stabilized. Both sides constructed fortified positions prior to the onset of winter.
Between the 22nd of October and the 10th of December 1942, the Romanian 6th and 9th Cavalry Divisions and the 19th Infantry Division managed, through repeated attacks, to reach the Azovskaya - south Holmskaya - Kushnariov - Hill Lambina alignment, securing the railway, which was vital to Axis operations in the Caucasus.

The High Mountain Passes 14th August - 30th September

The 49th MountainCorps was tasked with capturing the mountain passes in the east and center of the Caucasus, including Mount Elbrus.
These passes were defended by the 46th Army, which consisted of the 9th and 20th Mountain Rifle Divisions and 389th, 392nd, 394th and 406th Rifle and 63rd Cavalry Divisions. They were supported by the 155th Rifle Brigade, 7th NKVD Division and the 12th Separate Tank Battalion.
The Russian forces defending the area were organized as follows. The Ossetian Military Road was defended by the 351st Rifle Division. The Sancharo Pass was defended by the 51st Rifle Brigade. The Pseashkha and Belorechenskii Passes were defended by the 20th Mountain Rifle Division. The 242nd Mountain Infantry Division occupied defensive positions in the Elbrus sector. Defensive preparations were not begun until early August and even then a lack of engineering equipment and supplies. Deployment into the mountain passes was slowed due to the difficult conditions and a lack of experience in mountain warfare. However, once underway, obstacles including minefields, fortifications including pillboxes, trenches, anti tank ditches and fougasses. Artificially created landslides were used to block roads and tracks. The local population were used to assist in the construction of fortifications and to act as guides.
Elements of the 1st Mountain Division captured Teberda on the 14th of August, opening the gateway into the mountain passes. On the 17th of August, elements of the Division captured the 2816m high Klukhor Pass, which was defended by elements of the 394th Rifle Division and also secured the Sukhum Road. The Division continued its advance through the Kuban Valley to the Khotiu-Tai Pass at the western foot of Mount Elbrus. The peak at Elbrus, which was defended by the 242nd Mountain Rifle Division, was reached on the 21st of August.
The 4th Mountain Division meanwhile, advanced through Opornaya and into the Bolshaya Laba, Urushten and Selenchuk Valley's. Once the valleys were secured the Division would continue its advance towards Adler.
Meanwhile, the 97th Jäger Division attacked elements of the 20th Mountain Rifle Division along the approaches to the Belorechenskii Pass to the south of Maikop.
However, the terrain and poor weather began to stretch the logistical situation to breaking point. The majority of mountain passes were only traversed by cart trails, which caused great difficulty bringing forward supplies and heavy weapons.
Elements of the 1st Mountain Division advanced through the Klukhor Pass, reaching the Klych Farmstead on the 21st of August. However the advance stalled as the Russians deployed elements of the 7th NKVD Rifle Division into the area on the 22nd.
On the 25th of August, the 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions, supported by the 97th Jäger Division, conducted repeated probing attacks along their entire front as the Russian 46th Army attempted to stabilize its defences.
The same day, elements of the 394th Rifle Division mounted a counter attack into the Marukh Pass, which threatened to force a breach between the 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions.
On the 26th, elements of the 4th Mountain Division attacked the defences of the 51st Rifle Brigade in the Sancharo Pass. On August 28th, the Sancharo Group, consisting of elements of the 61st Rifle Division and the NKVD 25th Frontier Regiment mounted a counter attack in an effort to dislodge the German forces. Elements of the 4th Mountain Division continued their advance, capturing the village of Pskhu and reached the Dou and Achavchar Passes, but were forced to withdraw back across the Bsyb by the Russian counter attack, which recaptured Pskhu on the 6th of September. The Division withdrew back across the Bsyb towards defensive positions in the Adsapsh, Sancharo and Allisttrakhu Passes, which it occupied on the 8th of September.
On the 2nd of September elements of the 9th Mountain Division dislodged German forces from the villages of Gvandra and Klydj in the Klukhori Pass and on the 3rd forced them to withdraw to the head of the pass.
In the meantime, the remainder of the 1st Mountain Division had also reached and crossed the Bsyb River. Following an attack on the 5th of September, the Division advanced through the Aksuat and Marukha Valleys, inflicting heavy losses against elements of the 394th Rifle Division.
At the end of September the situation stabilized and offensive action was suspended by both sides as winter began to set in.

The Terek Bend 13th September - 3rd October

The 9th of September saw Hitler relieve Field-Marshal Wilhelm List of command and take direct control of Army Group A himself. The situation at this point saw 1st Panzer Army occupying the following positions.
The 40th Panzer Corps 3rd and 13th Panzer Divisions were moving towards the Mozdok region to link up with 52nd Army Corps 111th and 370th Infantry Divisions, which were occupying positions along the Terek River between Mozdok and Prokhladnyi.
Opposing them along the southern bank of the Terek River, between Prokhladnyi and Grozny were the 9th Army's 151st, 176th, 389th and 417th Rifle Divisions. Further east, between Grozny and Kizliar, were the 44th Army's 223rd, 414th and 416th Rifle and the 30th and 110th Cavalry Divisions.
The 3rd Panzer Corps 23rd Panzer Division was occupying the Baksan River line, while further west the Romanian 2nd Mountain Division was occupying the Baksan region. Facing them along the southern bank of Baksan River were the 37th Army's 2nd Guards, 275th, 392nd and 295th Rifle and the 11th NKVD Rifle Divisions.
In the Terek bend, the 13th Panzer Divisions Kampfgroup Crisolli, broke out of the Mozdok bridgehead and captured the towns of Malgobek on the 12th and Nizhny Kurp on the 13th of September.
However, on the 14th of September, elements of the 62nd Rifle and 52nd Tank Brigades launched counter attacks against the 13th Panzer and 370th Infantry Divisions in the area of Mekenskaya. The following day, the 11th Guards Rifle Corps also launched an attack Predmostny which made some gains including the capture of mount Khushako. Elements of the 275th Rifle Division also forced the 13th Panzer Division to withdraw back towards Nizhny Kurp.
On the 18th, Kampfgroup Crisolli broke through the 9th Army's blocking forces and advanced southwards towards the Terek River, crossing at Arik on the 20th. The Russians moved the 44th Separate Tank Battalion in an attempt to contain German forces crossing the river.
On the 20th of September, the 13th Panzer Division resumed its advance to the south and captured the town of Terek, while further west the 2nd Romanian Mountain Division captured the Baksan River Valley.
By the 22nd, counter attacks by the 10th Guards Rifle Corps and the 417th Rifle Division had forced the 3rd Panzer Division to withdraw from the Mekenskaia region to new defensive positions along the Terek River.
The 3rd Panzer Corps resumed offensive operations on the 24th. Its 23rd Panzer Division captured Maiskoe and Kotliarevskaia on the Terek River, breaking through the defences of the 295th Rifle and 11th NKVD Divisions.
On the 25th of September, the 13th Panzer Division captured the towns of Planovskoe and I'llarionovka, forcing the 59th and 60th Rifle Brigades to withdraw to new positions around Elkkhotovo.
The 13th Panzer Division also began its attack through the Elkhotovo Pass, which was heavily fortified and defended by 59th, 60th and 62nd Rifle and the 52nd Tank Brigades.
On the 3rd of October the 13th Panzer Division captured the town of Elkhotovo, which stood at entrance to the Elkhotovo Pass.
On the 28th the Wiking Division advanced into the Sagopshin Valley towards Malgobek. However, the initial attack ran straight into 9th Army's forces, which were in the process of assembling for a counter attack against German forces along the southern bank of the Terek River. The Division managed to capture Hill 711 overlooking the heavily defended town of Sagopshin, which it was unable to capture. However, other elements of the Division, supported by the 111th Infantry Division, managed to capture Malgobek on the 1st of October. The Division lacked sufficient strength to exploit the breakthrough and advance further and was forced to go over to the defensive, along with the 370th Infantry Division, which had captured Kurp.
The 13th Panzer Division captured Elkhotovo on the 3rd of October, but the Division was incapable of advancing any further following heavy fighting.

The Kalmuck Steppes 26th August - 22nd November 1942

On the 26th of August, the 16th Motorized Infantry Division began its task of securing the area between Army Groups A and B, in the Kalmuck Steppes. This vast area, almost the size of Belgium, saw the Division operating between the Manych Valley in the south and the town of Yenotaevsk, on the Volga River, in the north.
The Division secured the town of Yashkul on the 28th of August, following a night attack, which met fierce resistance. Due to the size of the area, the Division occupied a thin defensive line, established on strong points of approximately Company strength. The most easterly point captured, was the town of Khalkuta with its important water station.
By the 3rd of September, the front had stabilized along a line, Kharnud - Mosheen - Zharkov. On the 7th of September, elements of the Rumanian 4th Army arrived and took responsibility for a portion of the northern sector of the Steppes. Despite the static nature of the defence, the Division continued to probe forward with reconnaissance patrols as far as the Kislyar - Astrakhan rail line.
On the 18th of September, the Russian 4th Guards Cavalry Corps was transferred to the Kalmuck Steppes to operate in the area south of Elista.
On the 21st of November, following the opening of Operation Uranus, the Russian attack against German forces in Stalingrad, the Division was forced to withdraw westwards. It occupied a shorter line centered on Yashkul as it faced attacks from the 28th Guards Rifle Division, supported by the 6th Heavy Tank Brigade. On the 22nd of November the Division was subordinated to the 4th Panzer Army, part of Army Group B.

The Final Attack Towards Taupse 23rd September - 16th December

Toward the end of September, German forces mounted a final attack towards Taupse. The 97th and 101st Jäger and 46th Infantry Divisions and Group Lanz would attack from the Khadyzhenskii and Neftegorsk regions and advance towards Shaumian. In conjunction, the 125th and 198th Infantry and Slovak Mobile Divisions would conduct a secondary attack from the Goriachii Kliuch region against the same objective. The attack would have to be mounted across difficult mountain terrain, against heavy resistance and in deteriorating weather conditions as winter set in. A successful breakthrough to Taupse would enable the Germans to cut off and encircle the 47th and 56th Armies. This worrying prospect, lead to STAVKA making every effort to prevent the breakthrough succeeding.
Russian forces assembled to block the German advance towards Taupse, consisted of the 216th and 318th Infantry Divisions and 81st, 83rd and 255th Naval Infantry Brigades were concentrated from the southeast of Novorossiysk to Erivansky. The 30th, 349th, 353rd and 339th Infantry Divisions occupied defensive positions between Cherkassovsky and Staroobryadchesky. The area from Staroobryadchesky to Rozhet was occupied by the 32nd Guards, 31st, 383rd, 236th and 395th Infantry and 12th Guards Cavalry Divisions and the 68th and 76th Naval Infantry Brigades. Extensive construction of defensive works took place during the operational lull prior to the commencement of the German offensive.
The attack opened on the 23rd of September, with a preparatory attack on the right flank of the 57th Panzer Corps by elements of the 125th and 198th Infantry Divisions. Two days later, the 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions and Group Lanz opened their attack. The attack by the 198th Infantry Division progressed well until it reached the Psekups Valley, where the resistance of the 30th and 395th Rifle Divisions stalled the advance.
Meanwhile the 101st Jäger Division became involved in heavy fighting around the tunnel entrance to the Pshekh Valley, which was defended by the 32nd Guards Rifle Division. The 97th Jäger Division opened its attack on the 26th of September, capturing Mount Lyssaya, dislodging elements of the 236th and 383rd Rifle Divisions following heavy fighting.
On the 27th of September, Division Lanz attacked towards Goich, supported on its southern flank by the 46th Infantry Division. The Division found itself fighting through difficult terrain against elements of the 383rd Rifle Division. It became increasingly difficult for its artillery pieces to keep pace with the advance. It was forced to seek help from the Luftwaffe to provide support for its attacks, in an effort to dislodge the well prepared Russian defences.
On the 28th of September, elements of the 46th Infantry Division breached Russian defences at the boundary of the 383rd and 31st Rifle Divisions, forcing them to withdraw westwards. This in turn forced the 236th Rifle Division on the right flank to withdraw.
The same day, the important objective of Hill 514.2 was finally captured, allowing the Fast Slovak Division to begin its advance in the area south of Kutayskaya.
On the 30th of September, elements of the 198th Infantry Division, supported by tanks from the Slovak Mobile Division captured the town of Fanagoriskoe and were then forced to go over to the defensive in the face of strong counter attacks on the 1st of October.
On the 3rd of October, the 101st Jäger Division renewed its attack, capturing the town of Kurinskiy.
Group Lanz also captured Mounts Gunai and Geiman and reached the valley of the Gunaika River. The 46th Infantry Division had also captured the village of Maratuki and the heights of Mount Oplepen, but was prevented from advancing further by the 31st and 383rd Rifle Divisions. Meanwhile, the 101st Jäger Division had managed to capture the village of Kurinskii, but was also prevented from advancing further by Russian counter attacks.
On the 4th of October, elements of the 46th Infantry Division captured Mount Oplepek.
On the 7th of October, Group Gaidukov, formed from the 31st and 20th Mountain Cavalry Divisions, launched a series of counter attacks to prevent the 46th Infantry Division from reaching Pshekha River valley. The attacks were a success and restored a cohesive defence in the area of Mount Oplepek and Maratuki village. In the Gunaika Valley the 236th Rifle and 12th Guards Cavalry Divisions also launched a counter attack against Group Lanz.
In a further attempt to halt the German advance the Russians pushed reinforcements into the line. The 83rd Mountain Infantry Division moved into the Goitkh area, while the 353rd Rifle Division occupied positions around Mt Indyuk and in the Goitkh Pass. The 8th, 9th and 10th Rifle Brigades were moved in to the area of Goitkhskoye and Procheva, while the 165th Rifle Brigade occupies positions around Perevalny.
On the 14th of October, German forces resumed the offensive. The 125th Infantry Division continued its attack against the Khatyps Ridge, breaking through the positions of the 395th Rifle Division along the Taupse Road. Group Lanz captured the road and rail junction just to the west of Shaumian. However, poor weather conditions hampered the advance and progress was slow.
On the 16th of October, the 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions captured Navaginskii and then continued their advance towards Sadovoe.
The following day, on the 17th, the 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions captured Shaumian, while the 198th Infantry Division managed to advance 8km towards Mount Kochkanova.
On the 18th, the Russians moved the 83rd Mountain Rifle Division into the Indiuk area in an attempt to block the German advance through the Goitkkskii Pass.
On the 19th, the 198th Infantry Division dislodged the 395th Rifle Division from its defensive positions on Mount Kochkanova. The 97th and 101st Jäger Divisions also captured the Elizavetpol'skii Pass.
To avoid encirclement, the 395th and 32nd Guards Rifle Divisions were withdrawn from the areas of Sadovoe and the Elizavetpol'skii Pass on the 20th of October.
On the 21st, an attack mounted by elements of the 97th Jäger and 1st Mountain Divisions along the Pshish River, capturing the town of Goitkh. The attack shattered the defences of the 408th Rifle Division, which was encircled and almost totally destroyed.
In a coinciding attack, Group Lanz and the 46th Infantry Division advanced towards Perevalnoye. The attack broke through Russian defenses at the boundary of the 408th Rifle Division and the 40th Motorized Infantry Brigade. The 46th Infantry Division captured Perevalnoye and forced the 40th Motorized Infantry Brigade to withdraw southward across the Pshish River.
On the 23rd of October, the Russian 18th Army went over to the offensive in an effort to halt the German advance towards Taupse. The 353rd Rifle Division attacked the 101st Jäger Division and Group Lanz in the area of Mount Semashkho, while on the 25th the 383rd Rifle Division attacked the 46th Infantry Division in the area of Perevalnoye and re-established a bridgehead over the Pshish River. On the 28th, the 9th and 10th Guards Rifle Brigades joined the offensive, forcing the re-capture of Perevalnoye on the 3rd of November from elements of Group Lanz.
By early November, the advance towards Taupse had been halted and the Germans forced onto the defensive.
The Russians renewed their offensive efforts on the 26th of November, in an effort to dislodge German forces occupying defensive positions in the Semashkho and Indyuk areas. The 353rd Infantry and 83rd Mountain Infantry Divisions and 8th Guards and 165th Infantry Brigades attacked along the Goitkh - Mt Semashkho road and the southern bank of the Pshish River. The attacks made difficult yet steady progress until the 16th of December when the positions on the Semashkho Ridge were finally abandoned and Group Lanz withdrew to new positions to the northeast.
By this point, both sides were exhausted and the onset of harsh winter weather saw a temporary halt to all offensive action.

The Nalchik - Ordzhonikidze Operation 25th October - 30th November

By the middle of October, with offensive operations in the Terek bend making no real progress, a renewed attempt was made to advance along the mountain passes towards Ordzhonikidze, and force the capture of Nalchik. The attack would be implemented in two phases, a direct attack against Nalchik, followed by an attack against its eastern flank in an effort to circumvent the city.
Attack Group west, formed by the 2nd Romanian Mountain and elements of the German 1st Mountain Division, would mount a frontal attack, while elements of the 13th and 23rd Panzer Divisions would open the flank attack a day later.
The attack opened on the 25th of October, heavily supported by Luftwaffe ground attack aircraft, in the Baksan area. The initial attack, mounted by the Romanian 2nd Mountain Division, progressed well. The villages Kysburun, Kishpek and Chengem were captured.
The following day, Attack Group East broke out of its bridgeheads on the Upper Terek River at Kotliarevskaia, Maiskii and Prishibskaia.
Elements of the 23rd Panzer Division captured Argudan, breaking through the defences of the 151st Rifle Division and severing the Nalchik-Ordzhonikidze road. The 23rd Panzer Division then became involved in heavy fighting with the 257th Rifle Division near the village of Osrek, but the following day managed to capture Aleksandrovskaya.
The 13th Panzer Division forced a crossing of the Cherek River, and then advanced towards Urban, capturing Staryi Cherek and Pygansu. Later that day, elements of the 2nd Romanian Mountain Division attacked the boundary between the 392nd and 295th Rifle Divisions at Baksanenek. The attack progressed well and reached Chegem on the Chegem River. The attack continued and elements of the 2nd Romanian Mountain Division broke into the northern suburbs of Nalchik.
An abortive counter attack was launched by the 2nd Guards Rifle Division in the area of Dokshukino in an attempt to halt the Romanian advance.
On the 27th of October, the flank attack continued to make good progress, with the 23rd Panzer Division capturing Stariy Urukh and the 13th Panzer Division continuing to compress the pocket now being formed around Nalchik.
On the 28th, the garrison at Nalchik surrendered. The pursuit by the 13th and 23rd Panzer Divisions continued on to the 30th, reaching the Urukh River between Chikola and Urukh.
On the 31st, the 52nd Tank Brigade launched repeated counter attacks against the 23rd Panzer Division, halting its advance 10km east of the Urukh River. This saw the start of two days of heavy fighting as the 13th and 23rd Panzer Divisions attempted to encircle and destroy elements of the 275th, 59th and 164th Rifle Divisions and the 52nd Tank Brigade around Digora and Ardon. These Divisions managed to escape encirclement and withdrew into new defensive positions between Alagir and Kirovo, along the Ardon River.
By the 1st of November, elements of the 13th Panzer Division had established a crossing over the Fiagdon River, and the following day broke out of the bridgehead and captured Gisel. The 23rd Panzer Division had also made good progress and captured Khataldon.
Meanwhile, the Russians had begun to reinforce their defences to the west of Ordzhonikidze, bolstering them with the 2nd and 5th Guards Tank Brigades.
On the 3rd of November the attack against the strategically important city of Ordzhonikidze began. Elements of the 13th Panzer Division were involved in heavy fighting in an attempt to break through the defensive belt, which lay to the west of the town in the area of Fiang Don and Dzuarikau.
Several counter attacks by elements of the 10th and 11th Rifle Corps, against the northern flank and supply route of the 13th Panzer Division, required elements of the 23rd Panzer Division to be redeployed to secure the breaches. The Russian garrison at Ordzhonikidze was repeatedly reinforced and considerable support was provided by ground attack aircraft of the Red Air Force.
On the 6th of November, Russians forces opened a counter attack in the Ordzhonikidze area. The 10th Guards, 57th Rifle and 5th Guards and 63rd Tank Brigades attacked at dawn from the Fiang Don region towards Dzaurikau. Elements of the 23rd Panzer Division were forced to withdraw towards Dzaurikau and elements of the 13th Panzer Division were encircled near Gizel. The 34th Rifle Brigade set up blocking positions at Mairamadag to prevent the trapped elements of the 13th Panzer Division escaping.
In conjunction, the 4th Guards Rifle and 52nd and 2nd Tank Brigades attacked at midday towards Gizel. This attack faltered in the face of counter attacks by the 23rd Panzer Division.
On the 8th of November, elements of the Romanian 2nd Mountain Division, supported by elements of the 23rd Panzer Division, attacked the 34th Rifle Brigade in an attempt to open an escape corridor for the trapped forces.
On the 10th of November, elements of the Wiking motorized Division joined the relief attempt. On the 11th of November, a small escape corridor was opened and the bulk of the trapped elements of the 13th Panzer Division managed to escape, but lost most of its tanks, vehicles and heavy weapons.
The staunch defense of Ordzhonikidze, by elements of the Russian 10th Guards and 34th Rifle Corps, halted all further offensive action by Army Group A and ended any chances of German forces capturing the vital oilfields further south.
By the 12th of November, the Russian forces around Ordzhonikidze had gone over to the offensive and were pursuing the 13th Panzer Division through the Suarskoe Pass towards Fiang Don.
On the 13th of November, the entire Russian 9th Army went over to the offensive. Its 10th Guards and 3rd Rifle Corps, supported by the 2nd, 15th, and 52nd Tank Brigades attacked the 23rd Panzer Divisions defensive positions along the Fiang Don River.
On the 14th, the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, supported by the 5th Guards and 63rd Tank Brigades, attacked the remnants of the 13th Panzer Division in the Ardon Region.
On the 17th of November, elements of the 10th Guards Rifle Corps forced a breach in the defences of the 13th Panzer Division near Rasvet. The breach was contained by elements of the SS Wiking Division.
On the 27th of November, the Russian 9th Army concentrated its ongoing attack along the Digora axis, against German forces occupying a salient between the Urukh and Fiang Don Rivers. The attacks were all mounted across the Fiang Don River along the following axis. The 275th, 389th and 319th Rifle Divisions and the 9th Rifle and 140th and 52nd Tank Brigades, attacked towards Ardon and Digora. The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Rifle and 15th and 207th Tank Brigades attacked towards Kadgoron. The 10th Guards, 34th, 57th and 62nd Rifle and 5th Guards and 63rd Tank Brigades advanced in the direction of Nogkai.
Despite three days of heavy fighting, the attacks failed to penetrate the 3rd Panzer Corps defences along the Fiang Don River and were halted on the 30th of November.

Defense on the Mountain Flanks 16th November - 20th December

On the 16th of November, Russian forces mounted an attack in the area of Mount Rassvet, which was repulsed by elements of the Wiking Panzer Division. On the 24th of November, the 23rd Panzer Division was withdrawn from the front, in order to join the 4th Panzer Army's relief attack on the Stalingrad pocket, Operation Winter Storm.
The partially refitted 13th Panzer Division was meanwhile redeployed in the area of Ardon. The Division bore the brunt of renewed Russian attacks by the 10th and 11th Guards and 3rd Rifle Corps on the 25th of November, in the areas of Ardon, the Fiagdon Bridgehead and from the Chikola Valley. The attacks continued until the 8th of December, when the front finally stabilized.
In the 40th Panzer Corps area, Russian forces mounted continuous attacks in the Alpatovo, Dovlatin and Tomasov areas, between the 9th and 23rd of December.
In the 52nd Army Corps area, elements of the 317th, 176th and 89th Rifle Divisions attacked between Malgobek and Verkhniy Kurp on the 16th of December, penetrating the front in several places. The front was partially restored by the 20th of December, but the Corps was stretched to its limit.

Defensive Battles on the Northern Flank 7th December - 8th January

Covering the gap between the northern flank of the Caucasus and the forces of the 4th Panzer Army was the 16th Motorized Infantry Division, in the Utta-Elista area. It was gradually withdrawing westwards under pressure from the 38th Guards Rifle Division, the 152nd Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 6th Tank Brigade. At the beginning of December the Division had withdrawn to defensive positions centered on Yashkul.
On the 28th of December, Romanian forces were also forced to withdraw on the Divisions northern flank. The following day, Russian forces mounted a concerted attack in the Ulan-Erge area, in an attempt to outflank 1st Panzer Army in the direction of Elista. Further contact with the 4th Panzer Army was lost.
The 16th Motorized Infantry Division was forced to withdraw towards Elista in the face of this threat. Elista itself rapidly became untenable and the Division was forced to continue its withdrawal behind the Maloe Kuberle River in the area of Simovniki, an important road and rail hub.
At the beginning of January, the Division had become to be joined by other elements of the 57th Panzer Corps, including the 23rd and 17th Panzer Divisions and the newly arrived Wiking Division.
Simovniki was repeatedly attacked by Russian forces, which broke into the town on several occasions. The 17th Panzer Division was also under pressure along the Sal River in the area of Martinovskaya. On the southern flank, the 23rd Panzer Division was also facing attempts to outflank it by Russian forces.
By the 8th of January, Russian forces had penetrated into the rear of the 16th Motorized Infantry Division, by forcing a crossing of the Manych Dam near Sporny.

Withdrawal from the Caucasus 21st December - 8th February

It was at this point that the deteriorating situation along the Don River, further to the west, threatened to trap German forces operating in the Caucasus. The 4th Panzer Army was fighting a desperate delaying action to keep the gateway to the Caucasus at Rostov open.
The withdrawal of German forces in the Caucasus began on the 21st of December, as the 3rd Panzer Corps withdrew northwest to new positions between Chikola and Elkhotovo.
On the same day, the 40th Panzer Corps also began to withdraw towards the Terek River. On the 1st of January, Russian forces launched an attack against the 3rd Panzer Division in the area of Mozdok The Division was forced to begin its withdrawal, in conjunction with the 111th Infantry Division, abandoning Mozdok on the 3rd of January.
The 2nd of January saw the 52nd Army Corps begin its withdrawal towards new positions between Mozdok and Arik.
On the 4th of January, the 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions began to withdraw from the mountain passes of the Caucasus.
The entire 1st Panzer Army was now beginning to move westwards. The 57th Panzer Corps began moving through a series of holding positions, the Augsberger, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Mainz Lines, beginning to assemble in the Potsdam Line along the Kuma River, on the 7th of January.
Battle Group Filippov, consisting of the 4th and 5th Guards Cavalry Corps and 52nd, 140th and 207th Tank Brigades, remained in close pursuit during the withdrawal, forcing the 111th and 50th Infantry Divisions to become involved in costly rearguard actions.
The 111th Infantry Division was tasked with holding open the vital Kuma River Bridges at Soldato-Aleksandrovskoye. An important rail link also ran through the town, which was being used to evacuate supply dumps of precious supplies.
By the 10th, the pursuing Russian forces had crossed the Kuma River at several locations and the Kuma Line was abandoned. The withdrawal continued northwestwards towards the Mittenwald Line, centered on Mineral'nye Vody. However, this line soon came under pressure and was abandoned on the 11th of January. The same day the 52nd Tank Brigade recaptured Mineral'nye Vody.
The withdrawal continued on towards the next holding line, the Garmisch Line. The slow moving 50th and 111th Infantry Divisions again came under pressure by pursuing Russian formations. The winter had arrived and the weather had rapidly begun to deteriorate. The temperature dropped rapidly and the number of vehicles and horses available was rapidly depleted.
It was at this point that the southern flank, including the 44th and 49th Mountain and the 5th Army Corps began to diverge towards the Kuban.
By the 15th of January, the 23rd Panzer Division had withdrawn across the land bridge between the Manych River and Lake Kosinka. The Wiking Division had reached Proletarskaya, while the 17th Panzer Division had reached the area of Salsk.
The northern flank consisting of the 3rd Panzer and 111th Infantry Divisions were moving towards Voroshilovsk, which they reached on the 20th of January. On the 23rd of January, the 40th Panzer Corps reached Tikhorets, where it was joined three days later by elements of the 57th Panzer Corps.
By the end of January, the 57th Panzer Corps had occupied a stable defensive front around the Bataisk and Aksaiskaya crossings over the Don River. The Wiking Division had occupied a defensive line in the Mechetinskaya area, keeping a withdrawal route open for other German units moving westwards. The 16th Motorized Infantry Division had occupied defensive positions along the southern bank of the Manych River, while the 17th Panzer Division in Selanaya Roshcha and Kanzyshevakha area and the 23rd Panzer Division in the Shukovo Tatrskiy and Don Pakhary area.
The last units to arrive at the Bataisk bridges over the Manych River were the 111th Infantry and 3rd Panzer Divisions on the 6th of February. The bridges there were demolished the same day to prevent their capture by the pursuing Russian forces.
Two days later, on the 8th of February, the last elements of the 16th Motorized Infantry Division crossed the Don Bridge at Aksayskaya, before it too was demolished. The withdrawal from the Terek River to the Don had taken two months and covered some 375 miles.

Withdrawal from the Mountain Passes 10th January - 29th January

The 44th Jäger and the 49th Mountain Corps began to withdraw from their positions on the 10th of January. The 97th and 101st Jäger as well as the 4th and 1st Mountain Divisions all withdrew along the Taupse-Maikop road, towards the Goryachiy Klyuch - Maikop line. Considerable difficulty was experienced withdrawing the Divisions artillery and heavy equipment due to the poor ground conditions and a lack of draught animals and suitable vehicles.
The 125th Infantry Division had withdrawn to the south of Krasnodar, where it was tasked with holding the vital Kuban River bridges and the huge dumps of supplies in the city. The Russian 9th Mountain Division repeatedly attempted to capture the key hill 249.6 to the west of the town of Goryachiy Klyuch.
On the 17th, the 97th Jäger Division moved to the Salsk area to help hinder Russian progress towards Rostov, while the 198th and 46th Infantry Divisions joined the withdrawal. The 46th Infantry Division reached Maikop on the 26th of January.
On the 29th of January, the last remnants of the 198th Infantry, Slovak Fast and 101st Jäger Divisions crossed the bridges over the Psekups River to the north of Saratovskaya, in the direction of Krasnodar.
The brides over the Kuban River at Ust-Labinskaya were being held open by elements of the 13th Panzer and 46th Infantry Divisions.

Amphibious landing at Novorossiyk 4th February

On the 4th of February, Russian forces executed an amphibious landing at Ozereyka Bay to the south west of Novorossiyk, in an attempt to trap elements of the German 17th Army in the Taman Peninsula.
The first wave of the assault was made by elements of the 225th Marine Brigade, supported by lend lease tanks. Despite a heavy artillery bombardment by naval vessels, the well hidden German coastal defences were largely unscathed. The Russian landing force suffered heavy casualties and most of the tanks were lost as they disembarked too early and their engine compartments flooded, rendering them useless. Confusion reigned and the following waves of landing parties were put on hold. German reinforcements quickly arrived and the beachhead was contained. By the 6th of February, the Russian forces in the beachhead had surrendered.
The landing operation at Stanichka, just to the south of Novorossiysk, was more successful. The arrival of a landing force there achieved complete surprise. A preliminary heavy artillery bombardment proved more successful and caused havoc amongst the German coastal defences. Elements of the Romanian 10th Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties and withdrew from their positions under the withering fire.
Fatefully, the Germans waited three days to mount a concerted attack against the beachhead. But during this time, the beachhead was reinforced by an entire airborne Regiment on the 5th and on the following day, the units, which had not been used in the failed landing at Ozereyka Bay, the 225th, 83rd Marine and 165th Rifle Brigades, were also landed. By the 7th, when an attack was finally mounted, some 8000 men occupied the small beachhead, in well prepared positions and supported by coastal artillery emplaced on the eastern side of Tsemes Bay.
The counter attack, mounted by units of the 73rd Infantry Division, suffered heavy casualties and failed. Despite repeated attacks by elements of the 73rd, 125th and 198th Infantry Divisions, Russian forces held out in the beachhead for seven months. The battle for 'The little land', with a frontage of only seven kilometres and a depth of three-four kilometres, became a huge propaganda exercise for the Russian leadership.

Crisis south of Krasnodar 16th January - 10th February

On the 16th of January, forces of the Russian 56th Army initiated Operation Mountain, an attack mounted by the 32nd and 55th Guards Rifle and 83rd and 20th Mountain Divisions from the area of Goryachiy Klyuch in the direction of Krasnodar.
Despite poor weather conditions and fierce resistance, penetrations were forced in the areas of Severskaya and Kalushkaya, occupied by the Royal Romanian Cavalry Corps. These penetrations were exploited by the 61st Rifle and 55th Guards Rifle Divisions in the direction of Novo Dimitrievskaya. In an attempt to stem the Russian advance, the 97th Jäger Division was moved into the sector, along with elements of the 101st Jäger, 9th Infantry and 5th Luftwaffe Field Divisions. The line was stabilized and an orderly withdrawal back towards Krasnodar and the Kuban River continued.
On the 29th of January, new attacks were initiated by the 5th and 6th Guards Rifle Brigades in the area of Shendshiy and the 32nd Guards Rifle Division in the area of Lakshukai. The 101st Jäger, Fast Slovak and 125th Infantry Divisions managed to stem the attacks along the Kuban River line, and creating a coherent defensive line in the area of Pritsepilovska. On the 30th of January, the last units of the 49th Mountain Corps withdrew over the Kuban River bridges at Ust Labinskaya, which had been held open by elements of the 13th Panzer and 46th Infantry Divisions.
On the 10th of February, the last elements of the 198th Infantry and 101st Jäger Divisions crossed onto the northern bank of the Kuban River and all remaining crossings were destroyed. German forces abandoned Krasnodar the following day.

Withdrawal to the Kuban Bridgeheads 9th February - 4th April 1943

As German forces attempted to withdraw into the Kuban bridgehead, they were pursued by the Russian 37th and 56th Armies in the Krasnodar area, and the 58th and 9th Armies further to the north, in the area of Novo Korsunskaya. Further south the 47th Army harassed the withdrawal in the area of Cholmskaya. The German 17th Army, occupying the bridgehead consisted of the 52nd and 5th Army, 49th Mountain and 44th Jäger Corps.
The 52nd Army Corps in the northern portion of the Bridgehead consisted of the 2nd Romanian Mountain, 50th and 370th Infantry Divisions. Further south, along the northern bank of the Kuban River, the 49th Mountain Corps was comprised of the 46th Infantry, 1st and 4th Mountain Divisions. The southern bank of the Kuban was occupied by the 44th Jäger Corps, which consisted of the 101st and 97th Jäger Divisions. Finally, in the Novorossiysk area, the 5th Army Corps consisted of the 125th and 198th Infantry Divisions.
The bridgehead was supplied, via an ice road across the Kerch Straits from the Taman Peninsula in the Crimea until March, when the ice could no longer sustain vehicles. From this point on almost all supply was carried out by air, to airfields at Krasnodar, Temryuk, Slavyanskaya, Timashevskaya and Varenikovskaya.
On the 9th of February, the 58th and 9th Armies, initiated attacks along the Sea of Azov in the direction of Slavyanskaya. A breach in the positions of the 50th Infantry Division was opened near Novo Korssunskaya. The Division was forced to withdraw under heavy pressure to a new defensive line 50km to the west. On the 15th of February, the main thrust of the Russian attack shifted against the 2nd Romanian Mountain Division. An armored battle group had to be despatched from the 13th Panzer Division to help restore the situation.
On the 11th of February, elements of the 31st Rifle Division broke into the suburbs of Krasnodar and the town was abandoned the following day by the 198th Infantry Division, which had been defending it.
On February the 14th the North Caucasus Front resumed its advance. The 58th and 9th Army's attacked in the direction of Slavyanskaya and Varenikovskaya, while the 37th and 46th Army's moved along the right bank of the Kuban River also towards Slavyanskaya.
On the 22nd of February, 101st Jäger Division was attacked in the area of Migrelskaya. A small German force was encircled and had to fight its way back towards the Kuban River. Contact between the 49th Mountain and 44th Jäger Corps was severed and a hastily formed Kampfgroup was raised to restore the situation. Heavy fighting revolved around the town of Troitskaya and the breach was closed, enabling the 49th Mountain Corps to complete its withdrawal behind the Protoka River.
On the 26th of February, the 317th and 351st Rifle Divisions attacked the 97th Jäger Division in the area of Abinskaya, in an attempt to cut off German units withdrawing westwards. However, the attack failed due to the poor ground conditions which had been caused by the spring thaw.
On the 13th of March, the 49th Mountain Corps withdrew its left flank from the Protoka to the Kurka River. With this shortening of the line complete the 13th Panzer and 1st Mountain Divisions and the 2nd Romanian Mountain Corps were extracted across the Kerch straights for commitment elsewhere.
On the 18th of March, the 9th Army's 43rd Rifle Brigade forced a crossing of the Protoka River and established a bridgehead. On the 21st, an attack was launched from the bridgehead which recaptured the town of Slavyanskaya.
On the 23rd of March, the 50th Infantry Division was attacked by elements of the 417th and 276th Rifle Divisions. Fighting raged along the Anna Line until the 31st of March when it was evacuated. On the 4th of April, the remaining elements of the 49th Mountain Corps, the 50th and 370th Infantry Divisions, completed their withdrawal into the Kuban Bridgehead.

For a full and in depth account of this campaign, see David Glantz's book, The struggle for the Caucasus - Combat Chronology and Documents, Wilhelm Tieke's The Caucasus and the Oil, The German-Soviet War in the Caucasus 1942/43 and Battle for the Caucasus by Andrei Grechko. Details of these books are on the sources page.