Liveblogging World War II: July 26, 1942
The Nazi XXIV Panzer Corps breaks through the Soviet lines and reaches the Don River in the Great Bend. The recently formed First and Fourth Tank Armies conducted several counterattacks against Sixth Army's advance, threatening XIV Panzer Corps, but neither attack by the inexperienced troops proved successful.
However, the Sixth Army is now nearly out of ammunition, and is short on motor fuel. Hitler demands that Sixth Army capture Stalingrad immediately, and also that the focus of the advance be shifted to Army Group A's drive toward the Caucasus oil fields. The OKH Quartermaster Department diverts half of Army Group B's motor transport to support Army Group A.