The Kuban 1943

The Wehrmacht's last stand in the Caucasus

Robert Forczyk, Steve Noon, Nikolai Bogdanovic

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English

Osprey
01 March 2018

History; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Battles & campaigns

Series: Campaign

In the summer of 1942, the Wehrmacht invaded the Caucasus in order to overrun critical oil production facilities at Maikop, Grozny and Baku. However, the Red Army stopped the Germans short of their objectives and then launched a devastating winter counteroffensive that encircled them at Stalingrad. Consequently, Hitler grudgingly ordered an evacuation from the Caucasus, but ordered 17. Armee to fortify the Kuban bridgehead and hold it at all costs in order to leave open the possibility of future offensives. On the other side, the Soviet Stavka ordered the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet to eliminate the Kuban bridgehead as soon as possible. The stage was set for a contest between an immovable object and an unstoppable force.

With the help of stunning specially commissioned artwork, this book tells the enthralling story of the impressive but strategically foolish German stand at Kuban, which tied down seven Soviet armies in a sideshow battle of attrition, which the Soviets dubbed ‘the Kuban meat grinder.’

By: Robert Forczyk
Illustrated by: Steve Noon
Associate editor: Nikolai Bogdanovic
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 318
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 184mm,
Weight: 308g
ISBN: 9781472822598
ISBN 10: 1472822595
Series: Campaign
Pages: 96
Publication Date: 01 March 2018
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Origins of the campaign /Chronology /Opposing commanders /Opposing armies /Orders of battle /Opposing plans /The campaign /Aftermath /The battlefields today /Further reading /Index

Robert Forczyk has a PhD in International Relations and National Security from the University of Maryland and a strong background in European and Asian military history. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the US Army Reserves having served 18 years as an armour officer in the US 2nd and 4th infantry divisions and as an intelligence officer in the 29th Infantry Division (Light). Dr Forczyk is currently a consultant in the Washington, DC area.