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| 1942, Jan. 20 |
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| Continuing their winter offensive, the Russians recaptured Mozhaisk. Dorogobuzh also fell to them (Feb. 23) and Rzhev (March 20). In addition they scored advances toward Kursk (April 29) and Kharkov (May 12). | 1 |
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| May 26 |
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| The mutual aid pact between Great Britain and Russia was extended to a 20-year treaty. | 2 |
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| July 2 |
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| The Germans, who had opened a new summer offensive in southern Russia, captured Sevastopol, which had sustained a siege of eight months. Driving powerfully toward the Caucasus, the Germans claimed Voronezh (July 7), Millerovo (July 15), and Rostov (July 24). | 3 |
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| Aug. 9 |
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| Maikop fell to the invaders, who crossed the Don River (Aug. 20) and opened a vital offensive against Stalingrad (Aug. 22). This city was important as a communications center through which Volga River traffic, especially oil from the Caspian region, reached Russian distribution points. The Germans hoped not only to obtain needed supplies of petroleum for themselves, but to cripple the Soviet war effort by cutting a major line of supply. | 4 |
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| Sept. 1 |
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| The Germans crossed the Kerch Straits and captured Novorossiisk (Sept. 6). Farther north, a week later, they penetrated the city of Stalingrad (Sept. 14). Their summer offensive appeared on the point of succeeding, but they had overstretched their lines. Soviet forces counterattacked northeast of Stalingrad (Sept. 21) and ten days later (Oct 1) opened a second thrust from southeast of the city. | 5 |
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| Nov. 19 |
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| Without permitting the Germans time to entrench or to withdraw, the Russians intensified their pincer attack on the Stalingrad front while opening new drives toward Rzhev (Nov. 25) and Kharkov (Dec. 16). | 6 |
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