Maps of World War II 1939-1945

Operation Blue: Second German Summer Offensive
June 28 - November 18, 1942

The German losses sustained in the first year of warfare led to a less ambitious series of objectives being specified for the second summer campaign. Hitler's focus was on gaining control of the resources in the Caucasus. After the campaign was underway, the city of Stalingrad on the Volga became another objective. The extended left flank was eventually defended by relatively weak German allied armed forces from Rumania, Hungary and Italy.