There was no longer any doubt that the
Caucasus offensive, which had yielded such impressive successes, had to be characterized as a failure with the start of the events in December 1942. The tables started to be turned, and the German forces in the field were pressed hard. With the deterioration of the situation on the
Stalingrad front, the German forces in the Caucasus were forced to withdraw rapidly to avoid being trapped themselves. On Dec. 12 1942 the III.Panzerkorps front was shortened; SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking was taken out of the front and fights it way back to the west. It's manpower strength was 15,928 officers and men in December 1942. New assignment, a relieving attack in the direction of Stalingrad! The division was involved in a terrible winter retreat, characterized by
bitter fighting against the enemy and against glacial cold. Left image: an unidentified volunteer, one of several hundred thousand that volunteered for the Waffen-SS in order to fight against Bolshevism and Soviet supremacy. In his belt he stored two Stielhandgranate 24. Right image: an SS-Scharführer of the Wiking wearing the Close Combat Clasp in Silver. Those were awarded for taking part in at least 25 close combat engagements. He also wears the Iron Cross 1st Class, the Infantry Assault and Wound Badge. c. Bundesarchiv.
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