August 1942

Eastern Front

The 1st Guards Army concentrates north of Stalingrad to bring pressure to bear upon the XIV Panzer Corps. The 24th and 66th Armies begin to move into their attack sectors but remain weak, lacking personnel and weapons. The advance of the XLVIII Panzer Corps drives into the rear of the 62nd and 64th Armies, penetrating close to Pitomnik. Paulus reacts too slowly to effect the isolation of the Soviet armies. As a preventive measure, the headquarters of the Stalingrad Front is moved to Malaya Ivanovka.

In the Caucasus, heavy fighting along the Terek River sees the 1st Panzer Army attempting to break the defenses of the Northern Group. The Soviets resist fiercely but are unable to prevent the Germans from consolidating their bridgeheads across the river.

The heavy fighting in the Caucasus has cost the Soviets dear. Since the end of July the North Caucasus Front has lost 35,000 killed and missing and 8,800 wounded, while the Trans-Caucasus Front has lost 7,300 killed and missing and 5,000 wounded since August 10.

The Soviets raised the 9th Air Army but it is not attached to a combat front. The 10th Air Army, 11th and 12th are also raised and are held in reserve with the 9th. The 16th is attached to the Don Front.

During August the 257th Infantry Division leaves the east, no other new units enter the combat area to replace it, giving a strength of 19 panzer, 15 motorized and 134 infantry divisions. The commitment of Germany's allies increases, 3rd Rumanian Army becoming fully operational. This new force begins to deploy onto the northern flank of the 6th Army, releasing German units for the assault into Stalingrad.

The fighting during the month has cost the Germans 62,000 killed.