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| SS-Division Wiking crossing the Kuban in the Caucasus |
The Soviet rearguards were unable to occupy one position for long or mount any effective resistance. The SS-Division Wiking forced them to be constantly on the retreat. During the pursuit, the Luftwaffe commander, Major Diering continually reported that the Wiking was moving within a flood of Russians that was rolling toward the south. The Stukas of Fliegerkorps IV had paved the way for the Wiking and 13.Panzer Division when they had pushed through heavy anti-tank defences near Rostov, and continued to support the drive to the oil fields in the Northern Caucasus. Although the Wehrmacht Daily Report of Aug. 4 1942 reported that mechanized formations of the Waffen-SS had reached the Kuban River on a broad front, the Wiking Division initially halted a suitable distance from the river. The Wiking were welcomed by two elderly Cossacks in Czarist uniforms complete with decorations. Following the Russian custom, the SS-volunteers were given bread and salt. On Aug. 6 1942, the Wiking was standing on the river's west bank. Top image: Messerschmitt Bf 109 of Jagdgeschwader 52 undergoing maintenance by its ground crew on an airfield Northeast of Anapa on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. JG 52 was used during the push towards the Caucasian oil fields during Aug. and Sept. 1942. The wing scored its 4,000th victory on Dec. 10 1942. PD. Middle image: Commander of SS-Panzer-Abteilung 5
Wiking SS-Sturmbannführer
Johannes Mühlenkamp in the cupola of his Befehlspanzerwagen IV and Commander of SS-Infanterie-Regiment Germania SS-Sturmbannführer August Dieckmann taking a brief rest from the rigors of battle with determined expressions into the wide vista. Bottom image: combat-hardened soldiers of the Wiking paddle furiously towards the west bank of the Kuban River. Middle and bottom photos by SS-KB Willi Altstadt. U.S. NARA.
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