July had seen Field Marshal Fedor von Bock set in motion his great 1942 offensive for the conquest of all southern Russia and a mortal blow at the Red army. By early August, advancing with seven-league strides, he was within sight of his first objective.
His heaviest initial blow had fallen on Timoshenko's central and southern wings in the Volchansk-Voroshilovgrad region. Badly smashed up, the Russians had retreated, opening the way for Bock's first big advance of the year.
Rostov, at the Don's mouth, was captured. In eight days Bock's mechanized forces dashed...
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