Operation Blue, the Race for Oil - WW2 Timeline (June 28th

One year had already passed since the German invasion of the Soviet Union during June of 1941. The destruction heaved upon the Soviet nation did not go as smoothly as intended for Hitler and his generals, stopped by logistics and weather just outside the reach of Moscow. Supply lines he become stretched and resources were being used at a faster rate than they could be replenished. To ensure the German Army's survival, the oil-rich fields of the Soviet Caucasus region were targeted for capture and thus Hitler devised 'Operation Blue' for the action. The operation began on May 8th, 1942.

Progress was initially good as was the case with most German offensives in the war's early going. The Soviets lost 250,000 men at Kharkov after the Germans had completed an encirclement of the city. Multiple German attacks involving seasoned Panzer tank elements against strategic cities were launched and yielded promising results. A long siege against Soviet-held Sevastopol brought about another notable German conquer as did the fall of Rostov and another 83,000 Soviet Army prisoners of war.

Hitler then began to eye the important Soviet city of Stalingrad as a crowning jewel to the wide-reaching campaign and began his obsession to capture it. This resulted in diverting firepower and supplies to fulfill his objective. This resulted in an over-extension of forces and supplies creating yet another precarious situation for his German ground commanders. By November, the German advance was bogged down once again as Army Group A reached Mt Elbus while 6th Army was stuck trying to take Stalingrad. Hitler did not budge from his objective and reaffirmed to his commanders that Stalingrad must fall at any cost.

There are a total of (28) Operation Blue, the Race for Oil - WW2 Timeline (June 28th - August 19th, 1942) events in the SecondWorldWarHistory.com database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events may also be included for perspective.

Day-by-Day Timeline of Events

Sunday, March 1st - April 30th, 1942

Hitler and his commanders flesh out Operation Blue - in invasion of the oil-rich, Russian-held Caucasus.

Sunday, April 5th, 1942

Hitler issues the official Fuhrer Directive for Operation Blue.

Friday, May 8th, 1942

Operation Blue begins.

Friday, May 8th, 1942

German General Manstein leads his 11th Army onto the Kerch Peninsula towards the city of Sevastopol.

Tuesday, May 12th, 1942

Soviet ground forces launch a pre-emptive offensive against German-held Kharkov.

Tuesday, May 12th, 1942

German forces enact Operation Fridericus and attempt to take Izyum.

Saturday, June 27th, 1942

The Soviet Army is encircled and defeated at Kharkov, netting the Germans some 250,000 Soviet prisoners.

Saturday, June 27th, 1942

German forces complete their capture of Izyum.

Sunday, June 28th, 1942

The German Army turns its attention towards the Volga.

Sunday, June 28th, 1942

The German 2nd Army and 4th Panzer Army launch their attack towards Voronezh near Kursk.

Tuesday, June 30th, 1942

German General Paulus attacks at Belgorod.

Thursday, July 2nd, 1942

The Soviet city of Sevastopol officially falls to the Germans.

Monday, July 6th, 1942

The Soviet city of Voronezh falls to the German Army.

Monday, July 6th, 1942

The German 6th Army reaches the Don River.

Monday, July 6th, 1942

The German 6th Army moves on Stalingrad.

Tuesday, July 7th, 1942

German General Field Marshal List takes command of the new Army Goup A, made up of the 1st Panzer Army and the 17th Army.

Thursday, July 9th, 1942

The German Army begins its move towards Rostov.

Thursday, July 9th, 1942

German Army Group South is renamed Army Group B and placed under the control of Field Marshal von Bock.

Monday, July 13th, 1942

General von Weichs takes control of Army Group B from Bock.

Monday, July 13th, 1942

Adolf Hitler assigns General Paulus and his 6th Army to take Stalingrad.

Friday, July 17th, 1942

Hitler diverts the 4th Panzer Army away from Stalingrad and sends them towards the Caucasus.

Thursday, July 23rd, 1942

Rostov falls to the German Army Group A, netting some 83,000 Soviet prisoners as a result.

Thursday, July 23rd, 1942

Hitler issues a supplemental directive to Operation Blue requiring his 6th Army to take Stalingrad.

Sunday, August 9th, 1942

Army Group A captures the Maikop oil field on the Black Sea.

Sunday, August 23rd, 1942

Army Group B reaches the Volga River.

Tuesday, September 1st - September 30th, 1942

German progress throughout the Casucasus is slowed by Soviet resistance and fuel/supply shortages.

Sunday, November 15th, 1942

Army Group A reaches as far as Ordzhonikidze and Mt. Elbus.

Monday, November 30th, 1942

German General Paulus and his 6th Army is contained by the fierce resisting Soviets in Stalingrad, putting Hitler's plans on hold.

Operation Blue, the Race for Oil - WW2 Timeline (June 28th - August 19th, 1942)

In a bold move, Hitler enacted Operation Blue - an attempt to seize the oil-rich fields of the Soviet Caucasus.