The second of a three-volume history of the German-Soviet conflict in World War II. In this volume, the German and Soviet forces initially confront each other on the approaches to Moscow, Leningrad, and Rostov in the late-1941 battles that produced the first major German setbacks of the war and gave the Soviet troops their first tastes of success. Later, the pendulum swings to the Germans' side, and their armies race across the Ukraine and into the Caucasus during the summer of 1942. In the course of a year, the Soviet Command goes from offensive to defensive and, finally, at Stalingrad, decisively to the offensive--meanwhile, frequently in desperate circumstances, building the strength and proficiency that will enable it to mount the relentless thrusts of the succeeding years. --Foreword.

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"The world will hold its breath" -- The Blitzkrieg -- To Moscow -- The counteroffensive: first phase -- The counteroffensive: second phase -- Crisis in Crimea -- Hitler and Stalin -- The general offensive -- The clinch -- The war behind the front -- The northern theater -- Active defense, center and north -- Active defense, south -- A time for decisions -- Prelude to summer -- Operation Blau -- Hitler's grand design -- Operation Edelweiss -- From the Don to the Volga -- Summer on the static fronts -- The change of seasons -- Thrust and counterthrust -- Stalingrad, finale.