Another couple of bits here:

The Economic Geography of Soviet Oil and Coal and Their Means of Transport

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Hitler was obsessed with oil. He was obsessesed in protecting the oilfield in Rumania and was obsessed in obtaining the oil fields in the Caucasus. But as previously mentioned, he did not even think about denying the Russians access to the oil by having them bombed. I believe he did this because he honestly thought he would be able to obtain and hold those oilfields so he did not want to destroy them. Same line of thinking as to why the Generals could not get permission to blow bridges because Hitler wanted them intact to use in his counterattacks. Generals' response, 'Gegenangriff, mit vas!'

It also seems like the Generals were more interesting in destroying armies than destroying economic capabilities. I would have expected more of the General Staff.

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Was'nt "Spring Awakening",the failed attempt at retaking Budapest, really for the oilfields?

Yes, in part. A desperate measure because the Hungarian output, or what was left of it, was largely symbolic but when you don't have anything else...

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Nice to see some logic about why Hitler didn't bomb Soviet oilfields when he could. I suspect reason was behind fighting at Stalingrad as well - that since this was where the Red Army stood its ground this was the place to fight it. I'd be interested to see what effect Operation Blue had on German fuel stocks and transport capacity and whether Germany's southern armies could do much different by the time that the German army closed up to the Volga.

PS 'Stopped at Stalingrad' was really rather good.

Do you mind if I this thread up a bit? To me it's central to East Front strategy.

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This is a very interesting thread. Where do you think the natives were to come in on this? We all know the troubles Russia has had in the region these last few centuries, basically every since they has decided to go there to begin with.

I can on one hand see Hitlers logic in going after Stalingrad, would you want the Russians to have that on your flank? Keep in mind, the Don retreat left a lot of the Russian army intact, on the other side of the Volga and in Stalingrad. I can also see the gamble he took going south. I'm willing to bet he was hoping for help from the natives in a big way.