Part 11/16:
In a drastic move, Hitler launched Blau II two weeks ahead of schedule, splitting forces into two groups—one advancing towards Rostov and the other towards Grozny. This scramble to salvage the campaign further stretched German logistics and mid-campaign decisions went against traditional German operational doctrine.
The Collapse of the Operation and Its Aftermath
The Encirclement Failures
German blitzkrieg tactics, once so successful in France, proved ineffective against the Soviet resilience. Despite advances, German forces could not encircle or destroy sizeable Soviet units effectively. The early gains in Voronezh and Rostov, instead of decisive victories, resulted in increased German casualties and depleted supplies.