Located on the peripheries of Turkey, Iran, and Russia, and rich in natural resources such as oil, coal and peat, the Caucasus has been an arena for political, military, religious, and cultural rivalries and expansionism for centuries. These resources were immensely important to Hitler and his war effort, especially as the war became global and much of his fuel supply was cut off. By February 1942, the Army High Command had begun to look to the Caucasus to solve its massive fuel shortage problems, and on 5 April 1942, Hitler unveiled his plan now known as"Case Blue". Initially successful, the German army was eventually overstretched by the vast area they had captured, and consequently the offensive was stopped by the Red Army in Chechnya in September during the North Caucasian Strategic Defensive Operation. This impressive, full-colour book examines the role the Luftwaffe played in this ambitious operation, providing ample material for modellers and information on this key campaign for historians and enthusiasts. About the Series Air Battles is a series of books focusing on World War II air battles of specific aircraft and units. Each volume contains information on the planes involved, lists of scores, pilot reports and portraits, colour profile artwork and maps.