Battle of the Caucasus Day in Russia Date in the current year: October 9, 2024

The Battle of the Caucasus was a series of military operations where German troops (with the support of Romania and Slovakia, as well as the Italian Navy) fought with the Red Army for control of the Caucasus region of the Soviet Union. It consisted of two main stages: the German-Romanian offensive in July-December 1942 and the Soviet counteroffensive in January-October 1943.

The Caucasus was an important source of oil for the Soviet Union. After the occupation of Ukraine by German troops, the Caucasus and Kuban also became the main suppliers of grain. Due to this, the capture of the oil fields of the North Caucasus and Baku was a priority for Hitler, while Stalin expected that Germany would try to capture Moscow next.

Army Group A began its advancement towards Kuban on July 25, 1942. The Wehrmacht used the tactics of blitzkrieg in its offensive to capture the Caucasus region, overwhelming and defeating the opponent through a coordinated effort by tanks, motorized infantry, artillery, and aircraft.

By mid-August, German troops had captured Voroshilovsk (Stavropol), Maykop, Krasnodar, and Elista. On August 21, 1942, Germans raised their flag on Mount Elbrus, having established control over most of Kuban.

The first stage of the Battle of the Caucasus lasted until December 1942. German-Romanian troops captured a vast territory and reached the foothills of the Greater Caucasus. However, they suffered significant losses and failed to break through to Transcaucasia and the Middle East.

On January 1, 1943, Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive. They pushed German troops back to western Krasnodar Krai and the region north of Rostov, liberating a number of cities and upsetting the plans of the German command for a further offensive in the Caucasus.

The defeat of the German army in the Battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of the Battle of the Caucasus and the situation on the Eastern Front in general. The strategic advantage passed to the Red Army, and Soviet troops continued their counteroffensive in the Kuban region. On September 3, 1943, Hitler ordered the withdrawal of troops from Kuban.

The final offensive of the Red Army, the Novorossiysk-Taman Operation, commenced on September 10, 1943. During the operation, Soviet troops liberated Novorossiysk, and then the Taman Peninsula. On October 9, 1943, the Red Army reached the Kerch Strait, consolidating its control over the whole of the Taman Peninsula.

The anniversary of the final day of the Battle of Caucasus was declared a day of military honor in 2020. The observance was initiated by the Duma of Stravropol Krai. The Battle of the Caucasus Day is marked by flower-laying ceremonies, special classes in schools, and other events and activities honoring the memory of those who died in the Battle of the Caucasus.