Caucasus, October-November, 1942

I am currently working on a film that takes place on the Eastern Front, in 1942 caucasus. I don't have time to do research, and I have failed to gather enough information to begin production. I do however have a plot and screenplay completed. I need help digging up exact details of the battle of Gizel during the German offensive in October-November 1942, and the defense of the Ordzhonikidze sector. Please feel free to reply or message me if you would like further details.

 

A little research (even it's just a couple of Osprey books, IIRC there was a recent one by Forczyk on Caucasus operations) will go long way in avoiding glaring errors, you do not have to struggle with Glantz for that and it will make the end result a lot more enjoyable, getting hold of a consultant, there might be Easter front entusiasts willing to look over the script for free, may be even better. You can come up with something pretty decent. even if you do not have the budget to redo Cross of Iron.

 

I'm afraid you may struggle a little to find the detail you require - the Caucasus is one area of the Eastern Front which has attracted limited literature. As TiredOldSoldier has noted, Forczyk's recent osprey title 'The Caucasus 1942-43' is useful for operational information, but limited in scope. Still the most comprehensive coverage is in Tieke's now hard-to-find 'The Caucasus And The Oil' - but I've checked my copy which only gives the most scanty coverage of the battles you mention. You may have to delve into as-yet-untranslated German literature.....

 

Thank you, I have just purchase "The Caucasus 1942-1943" and it looks very promising.

Thank you, I have just picked up Forczyk's book, I will do my best.

 

There might be several nationalities fighting there as for example Finnish volunteers took part since Dec 41-Jan 1942 with SS Wiking letting the Czech volunteers be put to reserve, and Finns advanced to Terek river in summer 1942, and in Jan 1943 the troops simply escaped the Caucasus Trap as Russian forces were cutting the route to main AGS forces.

 

One further suggestion - you could also take a look at Paul Carell's famous/infamous 'Hitler's War On Russia' which includes a complete section on the Caucasus and the Oil. This should almost come with a health warning as it's become fashionable to sneer at Carell, although more recently serious historians have slightly rehabilitated his work. As Carell had direct access to many German veterans, the book still has value as 'background', giving more of a feel as to how it was on the ground rather than dry operational statistics. Just remember that you're getting a very German-centric ( and very selective ) view.

 

Just saw this thread over on Feldgrau. The magazine mentioned has an article on a unit in the Caucasus listed for inclusion in it's first issue.
http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=35394

Not sure if it will be useful or not. Asking the question of the OP over there might not be a bad idea either. The Axis History forum is another possible data source.