Word: kerch
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...southern prong of an Axis drive for the Middle East, with the north prong aimed at the Caucasus and perhaps a central prong from Greece and the Aegean Islands through Turkey. If so, the capture of Tobruk would be just an opening puncture for Rommel, as the capture of Kerch had been an opening puncture for Field Marshal Dieter Wilhelm von Mannstein. Or it might be merely an attack to test the British strength and prevent the diversion of British units to Syria...
...Crimea, then. Field Marshal Dieter Wilhelm von Mannstein, Junker-born apostle of the swift and crushing thrust, slogged east toward Kerch. Before his power drive the Russians fell back toward the end of the Crimea, and at week's end were fighting in Kerch. With water at their backs they were in a tough spot, but so since last October had been the great naval base at Sevastopol. And Sevastopol was still in Russian hands...
What the German was after in the Crimea seemed reasonably plain. If he cleared out Kerch, he would find it easier to have another try at Sevastopol, chief base of the Russian Black Sea fleet. And east of Kerch, across only four miles of water, lay the Caucasus and its oil. If the German could get across, he would have something more than the fuel and lubricating oil he bitterly needs. He would also be in a position to lance down into Persia and cut the roads over which U.S. and British supplies are flowing into Russia...
...Kerch Front Important...
Commenting on the recent reports from the Russian front, the Sun's news man stated that the Nazi drive on Kerch was the one to be watched. "Even if the Russians lose Kerch they may still hold the Caucasus," he said, "but it is this drive which holds the balance...