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There are an awful lot of threads discussing German options for operations in the Caucasus campaign - I just checked - but few of them seem to offer significant improvements on the events of our TL. The one obvious smart choice might have been to give up months earlier and salvage what they could, but even that would have been extremely difficult. And anyway, it's hardly a "victory".

It strikes me that avoiding a Soviet victory might be much easier to arrange from the other end.

What favors could the Soviets have done the Axis during the deep eastern campaign?

A few thoughts:
  • Saving the spring offensives to be used as counter-attacks to the expected German rush. Might the spared strength end up encircled and destroyed in early, successful days of Case Blue?
  • Attacking the flanks of the salient before the commitment to Stalingrad had bled and demobilized the Germans?
  • Weaker commanders?
  • A real or perceived "generals' plot" that sees a purge of the southern army commanders in spring or summer of 1942?
  • Detonating oil fields too prematurely, just to be sure?

How hard could they make their own jobs?
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