At Grozny, on the northern foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, the temporary headquarters of German Army Group E had been established. After German Army Group E crushed the Russian Caucasian Front Army, it set up its headquarters here.
Now, the forces under Army Group E were pursuing the remnants of the Russian Caucasian Front Army along the roads north of the Caucasus Mountains. The four army corps under the Russian Caucasian Front Army had all suffered heavy losses and no longer possessed the strength to contend with German Army Group E. Even the three Turkish army corps and three Persian army corps under German Army Group E now dared to launch attacks against the Russians independently. This showed just how feeble the Russian forces had become.
General Rundstedt, commander of German Army Group E, was discussing the current situation with Lieutenant General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, commander of the German 21st Army Corps, and Lieutenant General Ludwig Beck, commander of the German 22nd Army Corps.
"Now that we have crossed the Caucasus Mountains, the Russians can no longer stop us. Eliminating the remnants of the Russian Caucasian Front Army is merely a matter of time. However, we cannot set our sights solely on the Russian Caucasian Front Army. We need to look further ahead," General Rundstedt said.
"Commander, what is your plan?" Lieutenant General Equord asked.
"Army Group D is fiercely attacking the Russian Southern Front Army. The Russian Southern Front Army has far more troops than the Russian Caucasian Front Army. Once we annihilate the Russian Caucasian Front Army, we will immediately thrust northward, cut the connection between Volgograd and Yuzefgrad, and block the retreat of the Russian Southern Front Army. Then that front army will be doomed beyond doubt," General Rundstedt said.
"Commander, are we helping Army Group D?"