Description:

O.K.H. 'KRIEGSTAGEBUCH' WAR DIARY ENTRIES ON THE FAILING OPERATION 'WINTERSPORT', (I)
Historically important, unique set of O.K.H. war diaries, entries from the 'Kriegstagebuch' being official daily OKH war records for nearly 1.5 million men on the southern front used in the planning of the German 'Operation Wintersport', the unrealized German plan in late 1941-1942 for capturing Soviet oilfields in the Caucasus, later attempted as Operation Edelweiss. The pencil notes, 2pp. 16.5 x 11.5 in., [n.p.], late November, 1941, are written in an unknown hand but original and from the estate of German Gen. FRANZ HALDER (1884-1972) who planned 'Operation Barbarossa', the invasion of the Soviet Union. The notes, marked 'KTB', indicate they are from the war diary of the German Army groups mentioned. These KTB / KTB Anlage kept a log of the daily actions/operations at the German High Command. Halder stole these at some point as these were invaluable to him in his last arguments with Hitler concerning the operation. Case Blue/Wintersport would not work, and Halder was correct. The 6th Army entered Stalingrad, Moscow drive was lost and the oil fields were too far for the reach. The review and analysis of the situation reads, in small part: '...22.11. ...the 1st Panzer Army cannot be released for another operational crisis. The 1st Panzer Army is reported to be fully committed along the entire front in defensive fighting. It is noted that the current enemy attacks have been launched on a broad scale. Even if the enemy offensive succeeds, it would call into question the continuation of the operation aimed at reaching Maikop. Army Group therefore considers the commitment of a motorized corps with fast-moving formations to be urgently necessary...Immediate relief is expected through the prompt continuation of the attack by the 17th Army on Voroshilovgrad...[and] the commitment of the 6th Army along its entire front...measures must be taken and accelerated to bring about relief of the 1st Panzer Army...23.11.–24.11. Based on the developments of the current day, Army Group arrives at the conclusion that the continuation of enemy attacks against the northern front of the 1st Panzer Army must, without doubt, be assessed as a serious danger...the enemy will concentrate his main effort against the right wing of the 17th Army. Increased enemy pressure does not yet permit any conclusions regarding operational intentions...25.11. There is the impression that the enemy has abandoned the idea of breaking through toward Taganrog and has essentially given up his attacks against III Panzer Corps, now only intending to hold positions. 26.11...The Army Group again emphasizes the difficult supply situation of the 6th Army...a large-scale operation against Oskol and in the direction of Kupjansk can be carried out with good prospects. Reaching the lower Oskol is indispensable if the operation is still to be continued...Strong enemy forces have assembled along the entire front on the northern and northeastern sectors. Powerful enemy troop concentrations are moving up along the railway lines. Despite Luftwaffe attacks, larger troop concentrations could not be effectively disrupted...An attack conducted with massed forces between Krepnaja and Ruslow was repelled...The 14th Panzer Division is being withdrawn from the Rostov area...17th Army: Against the front of the attacking wing, enemy attacks—some of them conducted with only hastily assembled forces—were repelled. Along the Donets front, several enemy thrusts across the Donets were beaten back. 6th Army: With partial forces, the army advanced in the direction of Kupjansk and gained ground against weak enemy resistance...17th Army: Hasty local attacks by numerically superior enemy forces against the right wing were repelled. 6th Army: In the center of the army sector, the enemy withdrew, in part without resistance, toward Oskol. 25.11. 17th Army: On the right wing, the enemy limited himself to weaker local thrusts...26.11. 17th Army: The enemy is fighting along the entire front with battalion-strength elements or smaller groups. By reaching the lower Oskol, the 17th Army would likely free two to three divisions on the Donets front, which could then be committed to Schwerpunkt operations...26.11...all enemy divisions previously known to the 1st Panzer Army and the 17th Army—including those temporarily withdrawn from the front—have been committed by the enemy....within the Caucasus theater, the enemy still has strong forces available. From the Army Group's perspective, he is likely to have committed strong forces southward. With the addition of further forces, increased enemy railway transport movements toward the south are to be expected...After regrouping, transition to defense along the entire front. Reasons for this would be the heavy losses suffered and general exhaustion following the previous failed attacks. The introduction of new forces and the concentration in the assembly areas of the III Army Corps would make further offensive operations unlikely after failure of the last attack...' Very good. Excellent, in depth detail on a little-studied abortive German operation. No official war diaries higher than regimental level have ever been offered on the market.

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April 21, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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