In 1942 the 2nd Army covered the northern wing of Case Blue operating in the surroundings of Voronezh. "Generaloberst" Hans von Salmuth became commander on 14 July. It suffered a major defeat during the Voronezh-Kastornensk operation the Soviet winter offensive that followed the battle of Stalingrad. "Generaloberst" Walter Weiß became commander on 4 February 1943.