4th Panzer Army

[Footslogger]

If 4th Panzer Army had not been diverted to Stalingrad, does anyone have any doubt that it would have been much easier to take Baku?

[Teo_ITA]

IMHO, probably yes. But then the Germans would have not been able to force the passage over the Don, where it flows closest to Stalingrad (and the area around Kalach). The Germans might have reached Baku before winter, but what if the Soviets launched a counteroffensive against the 6th Army, around the Don loop? The 4th Panzer Army would have been still down there, in the Caucasus and I doubt that the 6th and 11th Panzer divisions alone would have played a significant role to break the Soviet encirclement!

[Footslogger]

What drives the Red Army's vehicles, planes and ships? With the capture of Baku, the Red Army would have bled dry. I would say the 6th Army is not to cross the river Don. Instead 6th Army should take up defensive positions to block any counter attacks. In addition, I would have used all 4 mountain divisions that the Germans had over the Caucuses mountains.

BTW...does ITA mean Italian?