Editing Franz Halder (section)

==== Case Blue ====
{{Main|Case Blue}}
In the spring of 1942, Halder, along with the German high command, began planning a new ambitious offensive in the Soviet Union. This was despite the heavy losses the ''Wehrmacht'' had suffered in 1941. Under the code name "Case Blue", the plan envisaged an offensive against the southern sector of the front. The aim was to capture the Soviet oil fields in the [[Caucasus]].{{sfn|Citino|2007|pp=9–11, 86}} The directive for the offensive was issued by Hitler on 5 April 1942, envisaging a complex sequence of staggered operations.{{sfn|Citino|2007|pp=156–157}} The offensive began on 28 June 1942 and at the outset appeared successful; [[Friedrich Paulus]] cut through a defensive position with ease and Bock wrote: "There was nothing left: The enemy has not succeeded in organizing a new defense anywhere."{{sfn|Citino|2007|p=172}}

The Soviet army had adopted a new strategy known as the "[[elastic defence]]" that was highly uncharacteristic of prior engagements and left the German army closing in on an enemy that had already left.{{sfn|Citino|2007|p=173}} Confusion ensued leading to the failure of the campaign. Bock was removed as Commander of [[Army Group B]], replaced by [[Maximillian von Weichs]] and Halder was marginalised.{{sfn|Citino|2007|pp=176,180}} The relationship between Hitler and Halder became strained. Halder's diary entries became increasingly sarcastic, and Hitler mocked him. On one occasion Hitler said Halder had spent [[World War I]] in an office "sitting on that same swivel stool".{{sfn|Citino|2007|p=238}} On 24 September Hitler replaced Halder as Chief of Staff of the [[OKH]] with [[Kurt Zeitzler]] and retired him to the [[Führer Reserve]].{{sfn|Stahel|2013|p=306}}