Mansteins Counteroffensive

8/13/2019 Mansteins Counteroffensive

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F i e l d Mars ha 1 v o n Xiins t e n 's C o u n t e r c f f e n s v eo Army Group South, February-:farch 1 9 4 3 :T h e L a s t O p e r a t i o n a l L e vc l V i c t o r y o f t h eP anze r F o rce s o n t h e E a s te r n F r o n t .

A : :h es is p r e s e n t e d t o t h e F a c u l ty o f t h e U.S. ArmyCoininand and Ge ne ra l S t a f f Collecje i n p a r t i a ld e g r e ef u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e r e q u i re m e n t s f o r t h e

NASTEH O F i4II.I':ARY ART A) : > S C I Z E J C E

D A V I D A . SI;UNR, E i A J O R , U S A FB . S . , M ic hi qa n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 7 3K.S., U n L v e r s i t y o f S o ut he rn C a l i f o r n i a , 1 9 7 7

For t Leavenwor th , Kansas1 9 8 6

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MASTER O F MILITARY A R T AND SCIENCETHESIS APPROVAL P A G E

Kai:;e o f c a n d i d a t e : Major 3 a v i d A . ShunkT i t l e of T h es i s : F i e ld N a r sha l vat? iv l ans t e in' sC o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e O f Army G roup S ou th ,February-March 1 .943 : T h e L a st O p e r a t i o n a lL e v e l V i c t o r y of t h e P an z er F o r c e s O n T h eE a s t e r n F r o n t .

, IMembeK, G ra d ua te r a c u l t y

A ccec ted t h i s 6t5 day c ; June 1986 by:

& i q J : k , D i r e c t o r , G ra du at .e 9 e g r e eP h i l i p ' J . B r o o k e s , P h . D . s r og r a mT h e o p i n i o n s and c o n c iu s i on s c x ~ r e s s e d e r e i n a r e t h o s e oft h e s t u d e n t a u t h o r a nd clc no: n e c e s s a r i l y r e p r e s e n t t h eviiews of t h e 3.S. Ar my C o i m a n d a n d G e n e r a l S t a f f C c l l e q e o ra n y o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t a l a g e n c y .

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ABSTRACTFIELD MARSHAL VON MANSTEIN'S COUNTEROFFENSIVE O F AliMY G R O U PSOUTH, FE BRU A RY -M A RCH 1 9 4 3 : THE LAST O P E R A T I O N A L L E V E LV I C T O R Y O F THE P A N Z E R FORCES ON THE EASTERN F R O N T : Ah i s t o r i c a l a n a l y s i s o f F i e l d M ar sh al von M a n s te i n 'sc o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e i n s o u t h e r n Russia i n F e b r u a r y - % a r c h 1 9 4 3 ,by ;vlajor David A . Shunk, S'SAF, 7 0 p a g e s .T h i s t h e s i s is a h i s t o r i c a l e x am i na t i on of t h e e a s t e r n f r o n tb a t t l e s i n s o u t h e r n R u s s i a d u r i n g F eb ru ar y- M ar ch 1 9 4 3 . F i e l dM a r s h a l von M an st ei n, Commander of t h e German A r m y GroupS o u t h , d e f e a t e d a S o v i e t t 'do F r on t o f e n s i v e with ane x c e p t i o n a l c o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e . vo n MansEe i n ' sc o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e c o n ce n t r a t e d a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e p an ze r( a r m o r ) a nd m e c ha n iz e d i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s i n t o two a t t a c kg r o u p s . Von M a ns te in t h e n a t t a c k e d t h e S o v i e t s , a r t e r t h e yhad e x h a us t e d t h e i r o f f e n s i v e , w i t h a double envelopmentc o u n t e r c f e n s i v e * dh ic h d e s t r o y e t i two s o v i e t . arm e: ; andr e g a i n e d t h e i n i t i . a t i v e f o r German f o r c e s i n s o u t h e r nEuss i d .T h e f o l l o w i n g i s a s e l e c t i o n f r o m t h e many c o n c i u s i o n s . 'TheS o v ie t G e ne r al S t a f f , S t a vk a , o ve r e x t en de d t h e i r f c r c e s ,u nd er e s t i m a t e d t h e German c o u n t e r o e n s l v e a b i l i t - y , antir e a c t e d v e r y s i o wl y t o v o r : M a n s t ei n 's c o u n t e r o f e n s i v e . vonM a n s t e i n c o n c e n t r a t e d a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e German m o b i l e f or ce :;f o r a b a t t l e o f maneuve r , ough t a c o m b i n e d a r m s b a t t l e , a n ds u r F r i s e d t h e S o v i e t f o r c e s a s t o t h e t i m e a nd p l a c e o f t h ec o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e .T h i s s t u d y c o n c l u d e d t h a t von M a n s t e in d e v e i o n e d a n de xe cu te d a b r i l l i a n t c o u n te r o f f e n s iv e i n t h e n i d s t o f lS o v i et o f f e n s i v e . D U ~ o k l i t l e r ' s r e s t r i c t i o n s on :naneuv(?rw a r f a r e , t h e dec l i :; i n l ;- German fo r ce s , and t h e in r ; rov inyS o v i et f o r c e s , t h i s was t h e l a s t o p e r a t i o n a l l e v e l v i c t o r yf o r t h e German p a n z e r f o r c e s on t h e e a s t e r n f r o n t .

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T A B L E O F CONTENTS

pageC ha p t e r O n e : Eastern F r o n t Overview . . . . . . . . . 1Chapter Two: T h e l o b i l e D ef en se . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1. T h e S o v i e t s P l a n of A t t a c k . . . . . . . . . . 62 . Map: S o v i e t O f f e n s i v e t o 18 Fe b r ua r y . . . . . 73 s o u t h w e s t F r o n t A t t a c k s . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 . V oronez h F r on t A t t a c ks . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 S o u t h e r n F r o n t A t t a c k s . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 26 . Ma n s t e i n s Mob i le D e f e ns e . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4C h a p t e r T h r e e : M a n s t e i n s C o u n t e r a t t a c k . . . . . . . 2 2I S o v i e t success a nd L o g i s t i c P r ob l em s . . . . . 2 22 M a n s t e i n - s P l a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 63 S o v i e t M i s t a k e s a nd M i s p e r c e p t i o n s . . . . . . 284 Mansteins C o u n t e r a t t a c k , T h e GermanS o u t h e r n P i n c e r A t t a c k s . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 . T h e German Nor the rn P ince r A t t a c k s . . . . . . 326 . Kharkov: T h e Se c ond E nc i r c l e m e n t . . . . . . . 357 Map: Mans te in s Co un te ro f f en s i ve t o 23 March 38

C ha p t e r F o u r : A n a l y s i s . L e s s ons L e a r ne d a nd C onc l us i ons 4 2Appendix O n e : O rd er o f B a t t l e . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2Bib 1 og rap h y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 9I n i t i a l D i s t r i b u t i o n L i s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4


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CHAPTER O N E

EASTERN FRONT OVERVIEW 1 9 4 1 - 4 2

K or ld war I 1 iqaS t h e l a r g e s t and most d e s t r u c t i v e w a re v e r f o u g h t . T h i s g l ob a l war s aw m i l i t a r y campaigns on t iel a n d , a i r a n d s e a . T h e German i n v a s i o n o f n u s s i a i n 1 5 4 ;c r e a t e d t h e t h e a t e r o f o p e r a E i o n s w i t h t h e l o n g es tc o n t i n u o u s l a n d f r o n t and l a r g e s t number o f c om ba t f o r c e si n v o l ve d . S o v i e t b a t: t le d e a t h s t o t a l e d ov e r 1 2 n i l l i o r a n dGerman dead 3 . 5 ni l l ;o n. The war was fo cg ht over a Z C O O m i i ef r o n t from t h e n o r t h e r n t i p of F i nl a nd s o u t h t o t h e C a u c a s u s

1m o u n t a i n r e g i o n i n s ou t hwes t R u s s i a .O n 2 1 J u n e 1 9 4 1 G e r m a n y i nvaded th e S o v i e t L ' nion .

H i t l e r dem anded a s h o r t war l i k e t h e e a r l i e r c am pa ig ns i r iPolan d , Fra nce , and t h e Balk ans . The war i n t h e east.,h ow ev er , l a s t e d a l m os t f i v e y e a r s a nd r e s u l t e d i n t h ed e s t r u c t i o n o f G er :na ny .

T h e f i r s t f i v e m o nt hs o f t h e war b r o u g h t t h e Gerrnancombined arms o f f e n s i v e w i t h i n s i g h t of Moscow andL en ing rad . T he f i r s t wi nt e r found th e Germans unprepGrec i fo rb o t h t h e s e v e r e c l i m a t i c: c o n d i t i o n s a nd t h e c f l u n t er a t t a ck oft h e S o v i e t s t r a t e g i c r e s e r v e a r m i e s . The Gerrllan a r m i e ss u r v i v e d t h e l ong w i n t e r and p lanned f o r t h e s u m m e ro f f e n s i v e t o e nd t h e w ar.

T h e 1 9 4 2 German summer o f f e n s i v e took them t.0 t h eC a u ca s a s r e g i o n anc t o S t a l i n g r a d on t h e V ol ga r i v e r . The

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German s t r a t e g i c o b j e c t i v e s w ere t h e U k r a i n e , S o v i e ti n d u s t r y i n s o u t h e r n R u s s i a , an d o i l f i e l d s i.n t h e C a uc as u s.I n s t e a d of b y p a s si n g t h e c i t y of S t a l i n g r a d , Adolf i l i t l e r ,t h e German d i c t a t o r , t o ? d t h e A r m y t o t a k e t h e c i t y . J os ep hS t a l i n , t h e S o vi e t d i c t a t o r , a l s o d ec id ed t o f i q h t f o r t h ec i t y of h i s namesake . 2

One of t h e b e s t S o v i e t g e n e r al . s , G e n er a l Georgi. K .Zhukov, a s a s p e c i a l S t t v k a (S ov ie: . G e n e r a l SL a - r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , sa>; a n oppor t un i r . y :(I c o n d u c t a d o u b l eenve1oFment of t h e Ger:nan f o rc es in and a r o und t h e c i t y . Or.b o t h f l a n k s o f t h e German 6 t h A rm y i n S t a l i n g r a d + ; e r e A x i sa ;l .i cd a r m i e s . The s h e e r s i z e of R u s s i a had f o r c e d t h eG er ra ns t c r e l y on A x i s a l l i e d a r mi e s t o m a in t a i n ac o n ti n u ou s f r o n t . A s t h e Germans thr ew panze r and r : iotor ized

s a v a g e h o u s e- t o- h c us e f i g h t i n g

w e r e p r e p a r i n g t h e l r l a r q e s ike th es e f l an k in g Ru:nar.ian

i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s i n t o t h ei n S t a l i n g r a d , t h e S o v i e t sc o u n t e r o f e n s i v e t o s t ra r m i e s .

O n 1 9 Nove:nber 1 9 4 2 t h e S o v i e t s a t t a c k e d t h e 3rdRumanian Army h o l d i n g t h e f l a n k n o r t h o f S t a l i n g r a d . T he sep o o r l y a rm ed f o r c e s cr u m b le d u n d e r t h e m i c h i of t h e Sov i er .5 t h Tank, 2 1 s t , 6 5 t h , 6 6 t h and 2 4 t h A r a i e s . O n 2 9 Novembert h e S o v i e t s c r us h ed 4 t h Runanian Army on t h e s o u t h e r n f l a n kv i i t h 51s t and 5 7 t h Armies . 4

O n 23 Novenber th e p i .n ce r s of t h i s double ezve lopmenl :c l o s e d n e a r t n e t own o f Kalach, e n c i r c l i n g t i * : en t y German and

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two R u m a n i a n d i v i s i o n s p l u s S p e C i aI i S t U n i t s t o t a l i n g S o m e330,000 men. ~ i t l e r r de re d 6 t h A r m y i n S t a l i n g r a d t o holdf a s t , based cn h i s no re t r ea t . o rd er o f w in te r 1 9 4 1 . T h ep r i o r y e ar s s u c c e s s f u i s u p p l y by t h e L u f t w a f f e g f t h e s xGerman d i v i s i o n s s u r r o u n d ed i n Deniyansk a l s o le d Comnlandero f t h e ~ u f t w a f E e , klermann G o e r i n g , t o b e li eve t h a ts u f i c i e n t s up p l i e s co ul d be a i r i i f t e d i n t o th( c i t y ,However, t h e e x t e n t of t h e o p e r a t i o n p ro ve d t o o a r g e . S

I n e a r i y F e b ru a r y 1 9 4 3 t h e G t h A r m y s u r r c d e r c d . \ i t ht h e s u c c e s s o f s t a i . i n y r a d t he so v ie t s [:o essed th eo p p o r t u n i t y t o d e s t r o y t h e rei: iain ing German fo ras e a s t a nds o u t h o f S t a l i n g r a d . t n a d d i t i o n t o t h e S t a i n q d c am pa io nt h e S o v i e t s a t t e si p t e d t o t a k e R O S t C V on t h e B l c : Sea t oo f f t h e German f o r c e s i n t h e C a uc a sa s, s t a n z e r , 4 t hp an ze r , an d 1 7 t h Armies , Erom r e i n f o r c i n g i r m y ~ r o u ~S o u t h . .

T h e Germans won t h e r ac e t o ROStoV by t b a r e s t o fm ar g i n s , h o l d i n g t h e e s cap e r o u t e o pen l o n g enlh f o r 1s tPanzer and 4 t h Panzer Armies t o r e t r e a t t h r o u c R o s t o v . ~t h e same t ime t h e S o v i e t s a t t e m p t e d t o C u t o f t h e f o r c e sb et ween S t a l i n g r ad an d Ku rs k w i t h a n e n v e l cn t of t h eweakly held Gernlan l i n e s . I n e a r l y 1 943 t h e Sets p l an n edt h e d e s t r u c t i o n of t h e G e r m a n f o r c e s w i t h e pia r l sO p e r a t i o n G a l l u p of 2 9 January 1 9 4 3 , and O p i o n S t a r ,o f 2 February 1 9 4 3 . I f t h e s o v i e t s s uc ce ed ed d e s t r o y i n gArmy Group A , t h e y would r i p a g i g a n t i c h ol e t h e German

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7l i n e p o s s i b l y ~ i n n i l i g t h e w a r .D u r i n g t h e w i n k e r o f 1 9 4 2 - 4 3 b o t h F i e l d Maisha

von Manste in a n d S t a v k a w e r e t h t n k i n q i n b o ld iiiirnagEr i c h

n a t i v et e r n s . F i e l d vcn %rSba:l Y a n s t e i n f i r s : . a t t e n i p t e d :.or e l i e v e S t a l i n r j ra a znd e v a c u a c e Ar rcy C roup k f ie ther .p i a n n e d t o r e s t o r e t h e s o u t t - e r r f l a n k , an d launch a

o d e f e ? t the S o b ' i e t f o r c e s i n S o u t h e r ne t s were rediiciiig I@ S t a l i n c r a d p o c k e t ,t h e r e l i e f a t t cr r ,p t , b e f o r e r n o ~ ~ n t i n g n o t h e ra i r e d a t a e s t r oy : n g ;>r~:' ,yC r o u n S o u t h . a

c o u n t e r a t t a c kR u s s i a . T h e Sovwhi le d e f e a t i n gn : ~ ; o r o f f e n s i v e

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E N D NOTESCHAPTER O N E

' Ea r i Ziemke, % i n g r a d t o B e r l i n : T h e C e r m nD e f e a t i n t h e E a s t , (Washing ton D . c . : ors set p r e s s , 1 9 6 8 ) ,5 0 0 .2 p a u l C a r e l l , H i t l e r M o v e s E a s t 1 9 4 1 - 1 9 4 3 , N e wY o y k : B a l l a n t i n e Books, 1 9 6 3 1 , 4 7 6 - 4 8 0 . T h e G e rm a n o b j e c t . i v e s$ere s e t b y H i t l e r i n F u e h r e r D i r e c t i v e 4 ? , "case B l u e " .3 Z i e m k e , S t a l i n - t o B e r l i n , 5 0 - 5 3 .4 J o h n E r i c k s o n , -- h e R o a d t o S t a l i n g r a d , B G U l C l e r :Westview P r e s s , 1 9 7 5 ) , 4 6 2 : A l b e r t S e a t o n , h ex u s s o - G e r n a n War 1941- 415 , N e w Y o r k : P r a e g e r ? u b l i s h e r s ,

1 9 7 0 ) , 1 - 5 .' E r i c h v o n i i lansteirl , L o s t V l c t o r i , e s , ( E l o v a t o :P r e s i d i o P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 1 , 3 0 3 , 3 0 8 - 9 . O p e r a t i o n s o f E n c i r c l e dF o r c e s G e r m a n E xp er ie nc es - R u s s i a , D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e Army2 a m p h l e t No. 2 0 - 2 3 4 , ( 1 9 5 2 ) : Walte r War l imont , I n s i d eH i t l e r ' s H e a d q u a r t e r s 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 , t r a n s l a t e d b y R.3. B a r r y ,Kew Y o r k : B a n t a m a o o k s , 1 9 6 6 ) , 2 4 8 - 3 1 2 .6 A l e x a n d e r W e r t h , f i s s i a a t War 1 9 4 1 . - 1 9 4 5 , N e wY o r k : E . P . D u t t o n & C o , 1 9 6 4 1 , 5 6 4 .' D a v id G l a n t z , - t h e Don t o t h e D n e p r : A s t u d y

of S o v i e t O f f e n s i v e O p e r a t i o n s D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 2 - A u g u s t1 9 4 3 . , ( C a r l i s l e : U n i t e d S t a t e s A rmy War C o l l e g e , 1 9 8 4 1 ,1 0 3 , 1 0 7 .' : b i d . , 1 0 2 - 1 0 3

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CHAPTER TWOTHE M O B I L E D E F E N S E

T h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e d e f e n s i v e t o t h e o f f e n s i v ei s one o f t h e mosr d e l i c a t e o p e r a t i o n s i n w c r .N a p o l e o n : Kaxims o f WarI n war t h e o n l y s u r e d e f e n s e i s o f f e n s e , a n d t h ee f f i c i e n c y of t h e o f f e n s e d e p e n d s o n t h e w a r l i k es o u l s o f t h o s e c o n d u c t i n g i t .G e o r g e S . P a t t o n , J r : War A s I Kn e w I t

The SOVw i t h t h e b a t . t

T H E S O V I E T ' S P L A N O F ' A T T A C K

e t s cdme c l o s e t o w i n n i n g t h e war i n ? h e e a s te s i n s o u t h e r n ~ u s s i a i n :he x i n z e r o f

1 9 4 2 - 1 9 4 3 . T h e G e r m a n 6 t h Arm y r e m a i n e d s u r r o u n d e d a n d t . h er e l i e f a t t e m p t . t o f r e e t h e G e r m a n f o r c e s ir. t . h e p c c k e tf a i l e d . S t a l i n p l a n n e d t o d e s t r o y a l l c h e G e r m a n f o r c e s i ns o u t h e r n R u s s i a a n d % i n t h e war. F r o m S t a l i n g r a d s o u t h :.c

h e G e r ilia nf o r c e s were i n f l i g h t t o c h e West. D e s p e r a t e f i g h c i n g r a g e dn e a r R o s t o v o n Army G r o u ~ :S o u t h ' s s o u t h e r n f l a n k . I f t h eS o v i e t f o r c e s t o o k R o s t o v , 1s t P a n z e r , 4 t h ? a n z e r , a n d 17:hArmies w o u l d b e t r a p p e d i n t h e K ub a n B r i d g e h e a d .

Cauc au sa s N o u n t a i n s t h e h ea v i 1 o u t n umbe r e d

1I n J a n u a r y 1 9 4 3 S t a v k a a s s i g n e d t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e

U k r a i n e t o t h r e e f r o n t s : v o r o n e z h , S o u t h w e s t e r n , andS o u t h e r n . S t a v k a saw t h e t h r e e f r o n t o p e r a t i o n a s ac o o r d i . n a t e d p u r s u i t o p e r a t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h a f r o n t f r o mC h e r n i g o v t o K h e r s o n . T h e t h r e e f r c n t s w o u l d s i n u l t a n e c u s l ya t t a c k A rm y G r o u p S o u t h . T h e o f f e n s i v e w o u l d b e g i n a t t h e

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e n d oE J a n u a r y . T h e t i m i n g a n d c h o i c e of p o s i t i o n s t o a t t a c kwere s u p e r b . A rm y G r o u p S o u t h h a d o n l y a f e w b a t t l e w e a r yGerman d i v i s i o n s a n d r e m n a n t s o f t h e H u n g a r i a n a n d I t a l i a na r m i e s i n t n e n o r t h e r n s e c t o r . 2

S t a v k a d i r e c t e d t h e V o r o n e z h F r o n t t o s e i z e t h en o r t h e a s t U k r a i n e . T h e 4 0 t h , 6 9 t h , a n d 3 r d T a nk Armies weret o t a k e K h a r k o v . T h e G o t h a n d 3 8 t h A r T i e s ' o b j e c k i v e was t ot a k e K u r s k . T h e Fir?al d e e p o b j e c t i v e was t h e : : z e f r o [ ? l i y l s kt o L e b e d i n t o P o l t a v a . 3

S t a v k a a s s i q n e d S c u c i w e s t a n d S o u t k e r n t7ror:cs t 5 ee a s t e r n U k r a i n e . T h e main e f c o r t a n i mcs t p c ' ; i e r f u l f r c n rr e s i d e d w i t h G e n e r a l N. F . v a t u t i n ' s S o u t h w e s t F r o n t . T h eS o u t . h 'd es t F r o n t ' s G t h a n d 1s t G u a r d A r m i e s a : . c n g w i t h o b i l et i r o u p P o p o v were t o d i v i d e ? . r ay G r o u p S o u c h i n t $ iC , o u t f l a n kt . h e G e r m a n f o r c e s a t t h e D n e i p e r R i v e r , a n d e n c l r c ; e t h e n b ya d v a n c i n g t o M a r i u p o l on t h e S e a o f A z o v . T h e S o u t h e r n F r o n tw o u l d a d v a n c e west t o M a r i u p o i t o c o m p l e t e t h e d e s t - r u c t i c n

4of t h e t r a p p e d Gerr,ar. f o r c e s .SOUTI.l ):EST PPON T ATTA CKS

O n 2 9 J a n u a r y S o u t h w e s t F r o n t a t t a c k e d t h e c e n t e r o fA rm y G r o u p S o u t h . Ge n e r a l V a t u t i n a t t a c k e d , f r o m n o r t h t os c u t h , w i t h 6 t h A r m y , 1st G u a r d s A r m y , 3 r d G u a c d s ~ r r r y , 5 :hT a n k A rm y , a n d M o b i l e G r o u p P o p o v . M o b i l e G r o u ~ O F O V , w i t kf o u r t a n k c o r p s , b e g a n b J i t h o n l y 1 3 7 t a n l t s . 5

O n t h e n i o r n i n q o f t h e 2 9 t h , t h e S o v i e t 6 t h A rm y l e f tt h e a r e a n o r t h w e s t o f S t a r o b e l s k a n 2 a t t a c k e d t o i i a r d s


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B a l a k l e y a . T h e y f o r c ed t h e 1 9 t h P an ze r D i v i s io n t o r e t r e a tw es t fr om S t a r o b e l s k . Or1 t h e 30 th 1s t Guards A rm y a t t a c k e dtow ard s Krasnyi-Liman and c r e a t e d a gap i n t h e G e r m a n l i n e s .G ene r a l V a tu t i n S enL Mob i le G ~ O U FP o ~ o v n t o t h e g ap b etw ee n6 t h Army and 1st G uards Army t o e x p l o i t t h e s u c c e s s . G e n e r a lPo po v's i n s t r u c t i o n s were t o a t t a c k s o ut hw e st t o t a k e t h eRrasnoarmiesk-Volnovakha-Mar i u po l l i n e t o e n c i r c l e :beGerman f o r c e s f r o m t h e r e a r i n t h e D o n r i v e r a r e a .

O n 2 F ebrua ry 3 rd G u a r d s Army a t t a c ke d a c r o s s t h eD onet s r i v e r e as:: c t V orosh i lovg rad a r id de s t royed t k er e m a n t s o f :he 8 r h 1ta . l ia .n A r m y . The 6 t h P a n z e r D i v i s i e nc o u n t e r a t t a c k e d 3 rd G u ar d s A rm y b u t c o u l d n o t d e s t r o y t.heS o v i e t b r i d g e h e a d , o n l y c o n t a i n i t . T h e 6 t h P a n z e r I l i v i s i o nt h e n r e t r e a t e d w es t t o a vo i d e n c i r c l e m e nt . F u r t h e r n o r t h a n dw es t o f V o r o s h i l o v g r a d t h e S o v i e t s a dv an ce d a g a i n s t : o n l yl i g h t r e s i s t a n c e . No German o r a x i s u n i t s remained i n t h ea r e a . T h e S o v i e t s a d v a n c e d t o S lavyansk a n d c a p t u r e dIsyum. -II

V O R O N E Z H FRONT AT T ACKSG ene r a l G o l ik ov ' s V oronezh F ron t on 2 F ebrua ry

a t t a c k e d t h e n o r t h e r n f l a n k of Ar my Group s o u t h t o t a keKharkov. T h e 4 0 t h Arlny a t t a ck ed be tw een B e lgo rod andK harkov , and ou t f l a nk ed K ha rkov f rom t h e no r th w e s t . The 6 9 t hAr my a t t a ck ed f rom V o lchansk tow ards K ha rkov. As w i t h a l lt h e i n i t i a l f o r c e s i n t h e V oronzh and S ou thw es t F ro n t s t h e s ea r m i e s w er e n o t f r e s h o r n e w u n i t s , b u t h a d b e e n d e p l e t e d i n

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t l e f o r S t a l i n g r a d , h a d s i g n i E i c a n t l o s s e s , a n d werel o w o n a m u n i t i o n a n d s u p p l i e s . T h e 3 r d T a n k A rm y

d K h a r k o v f r o m t h e s o u t h w e s t t o c o mp l e t e t h e d o u b . l em e n t .T h e r e m a i n i n g a r m i e s of G e n e r a l GolLkov ' s V o r o n e z ht t a c k e d t h e Ear n o r t h e r n f l a n k of Ar my Group S o u t h .' s c e n c e r a n d l e f t a t t a c k e d c n t h e S t a r y i

' a l y u k i : i n e :awards R h a r k o v . T h e 6 0 t h Arm y m v e da l o n g t h e K a s t o r n o e - K u r s k r a l l r o a d t o w a r d s Kcrsk .

en d i v i d e d : c t s t ' i c a s s a u l t . q c z u p s t o o u t f l a n k K u r s ke n o r t r : a n d s c u t . h . From t h e s t a r . 4 0 t . h h r l r y k a dcs F r o b 1 e : i i s . ' T h e 4 t h T a n k C o r p s o f 4 0 t t i Arm y b e g a n t o

o f f u e l a n d a m m u n i t i o n o n t :e s e c o r i d d a y oE t h e

a

9v eT h e S o v i e t s no w E i a n k e d t h e G e r l n a n ~ o s i t i o n s i n t h en w i n g o f Ar my Grol;p S o u t h . F r o m n o r t h o f B e l a o r o d t c

o c l y Arlr ? D e t a c h m e n t L a n z r e m a i n e d w i t h t h r e ey d i v i s i o n s , a n d t .he t 'd o p a n z e r d i v i s i o n se t s c h l a n d a c d 2as X e i c h .Armor o f 3 r d T a n k Army r e a c h e d t h e Donets r i v e r o n 4y j u s t s o u t h oE K h a r k o v . T h e y d i d n o t a t t a c k frcin t h eecause o f : h e p r e s e n c e o f 1st S S P a n z e r 3 i v i s i o n ,n d a r t e A d o l p h H i t l e r , a c r o s s t h e r i v e r .t e d by t h e i n a b i l i t y t o c r o s s : h e Donets R i v e r , t h e

l a u n c h e d a h a s t y r i v e r c r o s s i n g a t t a c k i n c h ei - c h y q y e v s e c t o r . ?he W a f f e n S S d i v i s i o n r e r n a i r i e d d u q

10

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i n on t h e h i g h e r western bank . T h e S o v i e t f r o n t a l a t t a c k sb ro ug ht h i g h S o v i e t . l o s s e s i n men, t a n k s , a nd p r e c i o u sammuni t ion . I t was no t u n t i l 10 F e b ru a r y t h a t t h e P e ch e ng iand Chuguev a r e a f e l l t o t h e s o v i e t f o r c e s . 11

I n many a r e a s t h e S o v i e t s e n c ou n t er e d l i t t l e o r n or e s i s t a n c e a nd hence c o n t i n u e d t h e i r a d v a nc e . S o v i e t f o r c e sd r o v e west a l l a l on q t h e n o r t h e rn a nd c e n t r a l r e gi o n of ArmyG ro up S o u t h . The S o v i e t s c l o s e d i n on Kharkov f rom th e no r t ha n d s o u t h . T h e 6 9 t h Army i n a b o l d a t t a c k f ro m V o lc h an s kc r o s s e d t h e f r o z e n n o r t h e r n D o ne t s R i v e r a nd w i t h i nt w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s r e a c h e d t h e German p o s i t i o n s a t K h ar ko v.S o v i e t c a v a l r y u n i t s l an k ed t h e c i t y t o t h e s o u t hw e stth rough Andreyevka , and approach ed Mere fa . 1 2

In t h e c e n t e r s e c t o r o f Army Group South t h e S o v i e tnued th e advance . The 6 t h A r m y a t t a c k e dw a r M o b i l e G ro up e op ov t o w a r d s

and 3d Gua rds Army c r o s s e d t h e D o n e t s

main e f f o r t c o nttowards Ba lakKrasnoarmeyskoyeR i v e r n e a r V o r o s h i l o g r a d ( L u g a n s k ) .

T h e Germ an s had g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y s t e m m i n g t h e S o v i e to f f e n s i v e wh ic h c r o s s e d t h e D on et z R i ve r i n f o r c e and t o r eo pe n a h o l e n o r t h a n d s o u t h of V o r o s h i l o v g r a d . T h e F i r s tPanzer A r m y , having moved n o r t h t h r o u g h R O s t O V , e s t a b l i s h e da new f l a n k b e t w e e n V o r o s h i l o v g r a d a n d P a v l o g r a d i n t h ec e n t e r o f Army Group Sou t h . 1 4

O n t h e n o r t h e r n f l a n k of Army Group Sou th , A r m yD e t a c h m e n t L a n z r e t r e a t e d w es t and n o r t h o Kharkov. No

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German u n i t s remained i n f r o n t o f t h e S o v i e t a r m o r e ds p e a r h e a d s h e a d i n g west towards DneprOpetKOVSk andZ apo rozhye o n t h e D niepe r R i v e r . 1 5

T h e 2nd SS P a n z e r D i v i s i o n DaS Reich unloadedfrom t h e t r a i n s near K h a r k o v a s t h e o n l y r e i nf o r ce m e n t t oArmy Detachment L a n z . I m m e d i at e l y I l i t l e r o r d e r e d t h e 2nd SSP a n z e r D i v i s i o n t o a t t a c k b e h i n d t h e S o v i e t armies w h i c hw ere n o r t h and w es t of K ha rkov . 16 .

F i e l d Marshal v o n Manstein opposed t h e c o u n t e r a t t a c ka s f o l l y b e ca us e s i x S o v i e t d i v i s i o n s d i r e c t l y opposed t h e2nd S S P a n z e r D i v i s i o n , i t would h a v e no f l a n k 2 r o t e c t i o n a si t a t t a c k e d t o t h e n o r t h , a nd no r e i n f o r c e m e nt s t o a i d i nt h e a t t a c k . T h e S o v i e t s s o l v e d t h e p ro bl em w h e n t h e ya t t a c k e d t h e 2nd SS P a nz e r D i v i s i o n ' s a s se m b ly a r e a nearV o l c h an s k , n o r t h e a s t o f K h ar ko v. DaS R eich immed ia t e lyh a d t o g o o n t h e d e f e n s i v e t o a i d i n t h e d e f e n s e o fK h a r k o v . 17

SOUTHERN FRONT ATTACKSNear R o s t ov , S o u t h e r n F r o n t j o i n e d t h e c o o r d i n a t e d

o f f e n s i v e . On t h e 4 t h a nd 5 t h o f F e b r u a r y t h e S o v i e t sa t t a c k e d F o ur t h P a n z e r Army. Two armies from t h e formerC a u c a s u s F r o n t , t h e 4 4 t h a nd 5 8 t h , j o i n e d t h e t h r e e a l r e a d yi n p l a c e . T h i s t h r e a t e n e d R o s t o v . I f t h e S o v i e t s t oo kR O S t O V , t h i s w ou ld s t o p t h e f u r t h e r movement o f 1st PanzerA r m y n o r t h , a n d t h e e v e n t u a l movement o f 4 t h P anze r Armyn o r t h . F l i t ho u t wh ic h t h e c o u n t e r a t t a c k c o ul d n o t


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18o c c u rThe fo l lo w in g accoun t o combat near R O S ~ O V

d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e t a c t i c a l l e v e l o f arm ored o p e r a t i o n s a se x p e r i e n c e d by Major Ge ne ra l Hermann Flalck's 11 th ?an zerD i v i s i o n . O n 2 3 J a n u a r y , 1 1 t h P a n Z e r , i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t ht h e 1 6 t h M o to r iz e d I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , s t r u c k t h e a d v a n c i n g~ u s s i a n s and r o l l e d t h e m back t o t h e i r b r id ge he ad a tManutchskaya. O n t h e 2 4 t h Balck a t t a c k e d t h e v i l l a g e w i t ho u ts u c c e s s . I t rem ained e s s e n t i a l t o c a 2 t u r e t h e p l a c e 't il th i t sb i g road b r id qe ac ro s s th e Nlanich, Ecr u n l e s s i t cou:d bet a k e n, a r e ~ e t i t i o n f t he So vl et a t t a c k on Rostov ".ou:d bep o s s i b l e a t a n y t i m e . O n 2 5 J a n u a r y , t h e 1 1 t h PanzerD i v i s i o n o r d e r s r ea d t o d e s t r o y t h e b r i d g e h e a d a t a l lc o s t s .

.

1 9The S o v i e t s h ad s t r o n a l y o r t i i e d t h e town a nd

numerous t an k s were dug i n b et we en t h e h o u s e s t o s e r v e a sb un ke rs : t h e y were b ot h d i f f i c u l t t o o b s er v e a nd e l i m i n a t e .The i r s t German a t t a ck had f a i l e d i n t h e f a c e of t h e S o v i e tt a n k g u n n e r s .

F o r t h e s ec on d a t t a c k e a l c k p la nn ed t o l u r e t h eR uss i an t a n k s f rom t h e i r concea lmen t . Many o f the so v ie tt a n k s r ema ined en t r enched i n t h e s o u th e r n p a r t of t h ev i l l a g e . T o a c h i e v e t h i s , Balck d i r e c t e d a l l a r t i l l e r y i r et o c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e n o r t h e a st e r n s e c t o r of t h e v i l l a g e ,f o ll o we d by a e i n t a t t a c k a t t h i s p o i n t w i t h a rmored ca r sa nd h a l - t r a c k s u nd er t h e c ov er oE a smoke sc re en . sudden ly

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t h e f i r e o f t h e d i v i s i o n a l a r t i l l e r y s h i f t e d t o t h e s o u t h e r np a r t o f t h e v i l l a g e t o t h e p o i n t o f t h e r e a l a t t a c k . Onlyo n e a r t i l l e r y b a t t e r y c on ti nu ed t o s u pp o r t t h e f e i n t a t t a c kw i t h smoke s h e l l s . 2 0

W h i l e t h e s h e l l s were s t i l l f a l l i n g , t h e t a n k s of1 5 t h P a n z e r Regim ent c h a rg e d t h e v i l l a g e a nd r o l l e d up t h ed e f e n s e s f r o m s o u t h t o n o r t h . The R u s s i a n t a n k s which hadmoved t o t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e v i l l a g e t h e n f e l l p r e y t ot h e Germ an t a n k s w h i c h a t t a c k e d t h e m f r o m t h e r e a r . T h eR u s s i a n i n f a n t r y f l e d a c r o s s ch e 4a nich 2 i ' Je r :' ii rh cu rd e s t r o y i E g t h e brid7.e w i t h t h e G e r m n 61st i . l o to rcy leB a t t a l i o n i n p u r s u i t , w hi le t h e t a n k b a t t l e s t i l lr a g e d . 2 1

A t f i r s t t h e d i v i s i o n a l s t a f f c ond uc te d t h e b a t t l efrom a h i l l s o u t h o f M a n u t c h s k a y a , b u t l a t e r j o i n e d t h el e a d i n g t a n k s . German l o s s e s w ere o ne k i l l e d a nd f o u r t e e nwounded; on t h e R u s s ia n s i d e t w en t y t a n k s w e re k no ck ed o u t .T h i s d e c i s i v e a t t a c k by t h e 1 1 t h P a nz e r D i v i s i o n s t o p p e d t h eR u s s i a n o f f e n s i v e a g a i n s t R o s to v Erom t h e s o u c h . 2 2

MAMSTEIN'S M O B I L E D E F E N S EO n 5 F e b r u a r y Army Group S o ut h s e n t a t e l e p r i n t e r

message t o O . K . H . (German Army High Command) outl in ingdemands t o save Army Group South from t h e a d v a n c i n g S o v i e tf o r c e s . Von Manstein a l r e a d y h a d fo rmed the b a s i s of h i sc o u n t e r a t t a c k p l an t o sa v e A rm y G ro up S o u t h a nd r e s t o r e t h ei n i t i a t i v e t o t h e German f o r c e s .

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Von Manstein r e q u e s t e d p e r m i s s i o n t o w i th dr a w t h er i g h t w i n g o f Army Group South back t o t h e M i u s R i v e r .A d d i t i o n a l l y r a i l t r a n s p o r t w ould be sw i tc h ed Er om s u p ~ l i e sf o r Army Group B t o r e i n f o r c e n e n t s o r A rm y G K O U F sou:.$.A l s o , 1 7 t h A rm y would t r a n s f e r t o A t m y G roup S ou th the 1 3 t hPanzer D i v i s i o n and two i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s . T he ser e i n f o r c e m e n t s i n t h e lower Dnieper r i v e r a r e a d o u l d p r c t e c r .

2 3t r a n s p o r t and s u p F l y co lumns .T h e r e s p o n s e t o t h e t e l e p r i n t e r m es sa qe c aF,e q u i c i l: / .

O n 6 F ebrua ry a Condcr t r a n s z o r t a i r c : a f t a c r i ' i e d t c r a k eF i e l d iqa rsha l von Mans te in t o v i s i t H i t i e r . T h e c o n f e r e n c eof 6 t h February opened w i t h H i c l e r t a k i n g : ~ l :r e s p o n s i b i l l t y f o r t h e f a t e of 6 t h A rm y a t S t a : i n g r a d . T h el a s t e lements O F 6 Army h a d s u r r e n d e r e d on 2 F e b r u a r y . A tt h i s c o n f e r e n c e H i t l e r a g r e e d t o e v a c u a t e t h e a r e a e a s t o ft h e D O n e t Z R i v e r b a s i n . T h i s would a l l ow von Mans te in t omove F o u r t h P a n z e r Ar my f r o m t h e R os to v a r e a t o t h e midd leDonetz R i v e r b a s i n t o s l o w t h e S o v i e t main e f f o r t O E t h eS o u t h w e s t F r o n t . T h i s depended on F i r s t Pan zer Army ho id in qi n t h e midd le D O n e t Z R i v e r a r e a a n d A r m y D etachmen t H o l l id ts u c c e s s f u l l y r e t r e a t i n g t o t h e M i u s R i v e r l i n e . 2 4

R e tu r ni n g t o h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s o n 7 Fekruary vonN a n s t e i n o r d e r e d 4 t h P a n z e r Army t o t h e l e f t win9 o f t h ef r o n t and Army Detachment H o l l i d t t o t h e I 4 i u s R i v e r l i n e . Hea l s o b eg an t o t a k e h i s p a n z e r d i v i s i o n s O U C of t h e f r c n :l i n e s w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e t o c o n c e n tr a t e f o r h i s p lanned

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2 5c o u n t e r a t t a c k .On 8 Fe br ua r y t h e s o v i e t s b r o k e o u t o f t h e i r

br idGehead .it 7 / o r s s ~ i l o v q r a d .:st ? a r , z e c > , r x y a i l e d : zs t o p t h e S o v i e t a d v a n c e i n c h e nic id le 3 o n e t z R i v e r a r e a . On9 Fe br ua r y t h e S o v i e t s t o o k a e l g o r o d a n d K u r s k . T h e S o v i e k sa l s o c c n t i n u e d t h e i r ' ie st wa rd a dv an ce sou:? o f X h a r i c v r c mt h e Donecz R i v e r bend near I s y u m . A t t h i s t ime t h e G e r m a nE r c n t a:ound K u r s i c c c t a i r e d c n l y ? \ t r y Detacnre r : L a r z , nadeu p : e l e m e n t s O t h e a r r : v : ng 2 n d ss P a t z e r ~ c r ~ sr d :heba z t e r e d Se c ond A r m y c f >.try C r C G g 3 nei: K u r s . ~ .; j

T h e Sovie t Voronezt i and southwes t F r o n t s had a c h i e v e dt h e c l a s s i c b r e a k t h r o u g h i n t h e middle Donetz River a r e aFrom Kharkcv t c V o r o s 5 ; l o v q r a d . The Scvie:s s p i : t Ar?y S r o u :South i n two g i r t s ' , i i tA o n l y s c : e e n i ng de t a c h1ne r . t ~ :n t r .em i dd l e o f t h e army group. T h e S o v i e t s c o u l d no:w a d v a r c ea c r o s s t h e Dnieper n i v e r n o r t h o 3nepropet:ovsk 5r.dt h r e a t e n t k e r e a r a r e a s o f Army Group Scurh. ;ron :.qanste:zr e qu e s t e d f rom G e n e r a l Z e i t z i e r , C . K . H . C h i e f Cf S t a f , t x on e w a r m i e s i n two weeks. O n e army would aove r . o r ~ h o fDnepcope t rovsk . T h e second army would assemble west of K u r s kf o r a c o u n t e r a t t a c k t o t h e s c u t h . T h e a r m i e s r e q u e s t e d f r o 3C . K . H . would never materialize. 2 7

In t h e middle Done tz a i v e r a r e a , 1 s t Panze r A r r yf o u g h t t o p r e v e n t a n enve lcpment on both El ar k s a tV o r c s h i l c v g r a d a n d a l o n g t h e S i s i c h a c s k - S ? a v y a n s % - i n e , n e a rx r i v o i T c r e t s . T e r r a i n d i c t a t e d ' % h e r e 4 0 t h nanze r C o r p s o f

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1st P a n z e r Ar my c o u l d c o u n t e r a t t a c k t o p r o t ec t t h e r a i ls u p p l y l i n e a t K rama to r skaya . R econna i s sance found th eg round west o f K r i v o i T O r e t S i m p a s s a b l e t o t a n k s b e c a u s e o fd e ep r i d g e s c o v e r e d I n snow, s o 4 0 t h P a n z e r c o r p s a c r a c k e da long and e a s t o f t h e K r i V O i T o r e t s R i v e r v a l l e y .

T h e commander cf 4 0 t h ?anzec co rp s , :iho t o l d 'ICEI. lanscein t h e f r o z e n v a l l e y of K ri v o i T o r e t s r em ai ne di m p a s s a b l e t c a r m o r , p ro v ed t o t a l l y w ro ng. o n c h e n l q h - . ct '11 F e b r u a r y a de tachment o ta nk s and t h r e e :necha: ilzedb r ig a d es from : .lco:le Grou? pcpov prc cee ded u p :he ' ial ey t cK rasnoa rme i skoye , t h rouqh w h i c h r an t h e main ra i lway f rcmD neprope t rovsk . N c b i l e Group Popov now c o n t r o l l e d t h e r a i ll i n e w h i c h s u p p l i e d a l l cf 1s t Panzer Army, A r m y 3 e t a c h n e n t sH o l l i d t a nd F r e t t e r - 2 i c o . 2 8

T h e w i d e r t r a c k s of t h e R u s s i a n T - 3 4 t a n k s a l l o w e dt h e m t o c r o s s t h e snow where German a rmor cou ld n o t . T h i sn e w t h r e a t p o se d a s e v e r e s u p p l y p ro b le m , b e c au s e t h e o n l yrema in ing r a i l l i n e d t ZaFOKOZhye was no t e f f i c i e n t becauset h e b i g D ni ep er b r i d g e d e s t r o y e d b y t h e S o v i e t s i n t h e i r1 9 4 1 r e t r e a t r e m a i n e d c l o s e d . A l l s u p p l i e s were now unlcadedfrom t h e t r a i n s and moved by t r u c k s from t h i s p c i n t , t h u si n c r e a s i n g t h e t ime f o r d e l i v e r y o f s u p p l i e s . 2 9

T h e S o v ie t s a l s o f l a n k e d F i r s t Panzer A r m y a tD e b a l t s e v o . A S o v i e t c a v a l r y c o r p s p e n e t r a t e d t o t h ei n p o r t a n t r a i l j u n c t i o n o f D e b a l t s e v o i n t h e r e a r o f F : rs tJ a n z e r A rm y and beh ind t he M i u s R iv er l i n e t h a t Arrcy

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Detachment H o l l i d t p l a n n e d t o o c c u p y . T h e b r e a k t h r o u g hd e l a y e d t h e r e l e a s e o f t h e 1 7 t h P a r i z e r D i v i s i o n f o r t h eu p c o m i n g c o u n t e r a t t a c k .

Army 3 e t a c h m e n t H c l l i d t , notiever, f e l l b a c k a sp l a n n e d t o t h e M i u s R i v e r p o s i t i o n s on 1 7 t h F e b r u a r y . A r n yG r o u p S o u t h ' s f l a n k now r e s t e d o n t h e Y i u s R i v e r a n d S e a o fA Z O V . I n t h e n o t c h O E Army G r o u : , S o u t h t h e German i n f a n t r yd i v i s i o n s S t a b i l i z e d t h e l i n e 'desr o f K u r s k a n d E e l q o r o d .T h e G e r m a n i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s b e c a m e : h e shie c t o z r o t e c tt h e f l a n k s a n d 1lr .es o f c o m m u n i c a t i c n s . 'The;? a c t i o n ;a l l o w e d t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f t h e a r m o r f o r c e s . 3 0

Eas t o f P a v l o g r a d t h e new:y a r r i v e d 5 t h SSP a n z e r g r e n d i e r J i v i s i q n , T :i k in 5, a t t a c k e d t h e a r i r c rs p e a r h e a d s o f t h e S c u t h v e s t F r o n t . A l o n e t h e y c o u l d n o t stopt h e S o v i e t . a r m o r a d v a n c e c o w a r d s G r i s h i c .

On 1 2 F e b r L a r y t h e Army G r c u p S o u t h H e a d q u a r t e r sm ov e d t o Z a F o r o z h y e . Cr. 1 3 F e b r u a r y a r n e s s a g e Ercm C . K . E .a r r i v e d g i v i n g A rR y G r o u p 3's s e c z o r t c Army C r o c c S o u t h( e x c l u s i v e o f B e l c g o r d ) . O.K. 1 . a s s i g n e d S e c o n d Army t c Ar;nyG r o u p Cente r a n d d i s s o l v e d A tmy G r o u p 8 . U n f c r t u n a t e l y n os i g n a l l i n k s h a d b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h A r m y G r o u p L a n z n e a rK h a r k o v b e f o r e t h e t r a n s f e r o r d e r a r r i v e d . 31

A l l d u r i n g t h e S o v i e t o f f e n s i v e v o n P l a n s t e i n p r e p a r e dh i s c o u n t e r a t t a c k p l a n . T h i s r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f hrrny G r o u pS o u t h c o n c e n t r a t e d a l l f o r c e s u r d e r h i s d i r e c t c o n t r o l ,p r o v i d i n g u n i t y o f c o m m a n d . 3 2

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E N D NOTESC l l A P T E R TWO - THE M O B I L E DEFENSE

-Y o r k : l e x a n d e r 'der:h, R u s s i a a t ?:at 1 9 4 1 - 1 9 4 5 , (XewZ . P . D U t t O n & C O , 1 9 6 4 1 , 5 7 0 .D a v i d G l a n t z , F r o m t h e Don t o t h e D n e p r : A S t u doE S o v i e t C f e n s i v e O p e r a t i o n s D ec e m be r 1 9 4 2 - Y A u q u s t1 9 4 3 . , ( C a r i s l e : U n i t e d S t a t e s A r n y War C o l l e g e , 1 9 8 4 1 ,1 0 2 - 1 0 6 .

H i s t o r y , ( i + o s c o w : i 4 i l i t a r y P u b : i s h i n q House o f t h e : . : r , : s : , : : io 3eense of t h e USSR, 1 9 6 1 , 2 3 .4 W l a d y s l a w A n d e r s , H i t l e r s J e e a t i n R u s s i a ,( C h i c a q o : H e n r y R e q n e r y C om p an y , 1 9 5 3 ) . 1 4 2 : J o h n L r i c k s o n ,-~T h e R o a d T o B e i l i n ; ( 6 i u l d e r : Westv iew. Press , 1 9 6 3 ) , 4 6 .

( W a s h i n g t o n D . C . , U . S . G o v e r n m e n t P r i n t i n g OE :ce , 1 9 8 3 ,4 3 8 , 7 7 7 . C o m m an de r o f S o u t h w e s t F r o n t , E l i k o l a y F e d o r3 v : c kV a t u t i n , j o i n e d t h e S o v i e t A rm y i n 1 9 2 0 , g r a d u a t e d t o r ;F r u n z e i n 1 9 2 9 , a n d t h e G e n e r a l S t a f f A c a d e m y l n 1 9 3 7 . He w a sC h i e f o S t a f , N o r t h w e s t F r o n t , i n J u n e 1 9 4 1 a n d 'was D e F u t yC h i e f o S t a f f , S t a v k a , t om May t o J u n e 1 9 4 2 . C om m an de r oEV o r o n e z h F r o n t , F i l i p p I v a n o v i c h G o l i v k o v j o i n e d t h e S o v i e tArmy i n i 9 1 8 a n d g r a d u a r e d r o m ? r u n z e i n 1 9 3 3 . Fie c o r n n a n d e dt h e 1 0 t h A rm y, 4 t h R s s u a l t A r m y , a n d t h e Bryansk F r o n t .5 ~ ~ O S c 0 Wn s t i t u t e o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , H i s r o r y o f6 E r i c k s o n , T h e Road T o B e r l i n , 46.

S o v i e t M i l i t a r y E n c y c l o g e d i c 3 : c t i o n a t - 1 , I 0 1 . . I

t h e Grea t P a t r i o t i c War, V o l 111, 5 .E r i c h v o n Y a n s t e i n , L o s t V i c t o r i e s , ( N o v a t o :? r e s i d i o P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 1 , 4 0 5 .

'S. M S h t e m e n k o , T h e S o v i e t Genera l S t a f a t War1 9 4 1 - 1 9 4 5 , O l o s c o w : P r o q r e s s P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 7 0 ) . 1 0 6 . M o b i l eG r o u p Po p o v s t a r t e d w i t ; o n l y e n o u g h f u e l for ' o n e r e f i l l i n qo f t h e t a n k s . T h e t a n k s c a r r i e d o n e o r t w o s e t s o f b a s i ca m m u n i t i o n l o a d . T h e i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s h a d even l e s s b a s i cs u p p l i e s a t t h e s t a r t o f t h e o f f e n s i v e t h a n t h e a r m o r a n dm e c h a n i z e d f o r c e s : E r i c k s o n , _The R o a d T o B e r l i n , 4 7 .

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E r i c k s o n , T h e Road To B U , 8 . E b e r h a r d S c h w a r z , Die S t a b i l i s i e r u n g Irn Suden DerC s t f r o n t N-I)er K a t a s t r o p h e Von S t a l i n g r a d und D e m Ruckzug

US D e m Kaukasus, ( K ol n : U n i v e r s i t y o f K ol n , 1 9 8 1 ) , 1 3 6 . E r i c k s o n , T n e 3 o ad T o aer::?., 4 7 .

I b i d . , 4 7 .Ll 3 A l b e r t S e a t o n , T h e Russo-German War 1 9 4 1 -4 5 ,David G l a n t z , F r o m :ne son t o t h e 3 n e g r , 1 2 7 .1 51 6 1 c i d . , 4 0 4 .- C h a r l e s S y d c o r , s o ? d i e r s o f 3 e s t r u c t i z r : ,

(New York: P r ae q er P u b l i s h e r s , 197?) , 3 4 8 .

Y a n s t e i n , L O S E I i c c o r i e s , 4 0 5 .

( e r i c c e r c n : e r ln c e c on :ci:lezsi:y ? r e s s , 1 9 ? 7 i , 2 5 6 ; ;.1ar,scein,L o s r V i c t o r i e s , 4 0 4 .

@David Gl a n t z , F:om t h e s on t o t h e Jnecr , 3. ~ r i e d r i c h : . ; i?he:n: v o n Mel : en th in , ? i n z e r

2 0 1 b i d . , 2 4 6 - 2 5 0 .211bic . , 246-250 .2 2 1 b i d . , 2 4 6 - 2 5 0 .2 3 ~ a n s t e i n , c s c i c t o r i e s , 4 0 6 .

s a c t l e s , (sew York, E a l l a n t i n e , 1 9 7 1 ) , 2 4 6 - 2 5 0 .

D o na l d D e t w i l e r , w o r l d w ar I T Cerrrar. : . l i :itarys t u d i e s , The O K W War D i a r y S e r i e s , Vol 9 , P a r t I : / ( :ex,$Y or k: G a r l a n d P u b l i s h i n g , 1 9 7 9 ) , 19: . I i i t l e r w o u l d n o t a g r e e2 1

t o a l a r g e s c a l e r e t r e a t a c r o s s t h e e n t i r e e a s t e r n f r o n t ,o n l y a l o c a l i z e d r e a d j u s t m e n t ; M a n st e i n , L o s t V i c c o r i e s ,4 0 6 .2 5 M a n s t e i n , ~ o s c i c t o r i e s , 4 1 4 .2 6 1 b i d . , 4 1 5 .2 7 1 b i d . , 4 2 0 .2 8i i la n C l , a r k , C a r b a r o s s a , T h e R u s s i a n - G e r n a nC o n f l i c t , 1 9 4 1 - 4 5 ( N e r r Y o r k : N i i l iam : lo r row and CClTlFany,1 9 6 5 ) , 2 9 9 .

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2 9 M a n s t e i n , L o s t V i c t o r i e s , 4 2 5 .3 0 F r i e d r i c h S c h u l t z , R e v er s es on t h e S o u t he r n Wing

( C a r l i s l e : U ni t ed S t a t e s A rm y war C o l l e g e , 1 9 8 1 ) , 7 73 1 bl an st ei n , L o st V i c t o r i e s , 4 2 0 .32 Ca r l Wagenee , "The C ou nt e r s t ro ke of X X X X PanzerCorps Aqa ins t t h e Bre akt hro ug h by Nob i le Group Popov i n t h e

IDonents - Basin , Februa ry 1 9 4 3 , N e h r w i s s e n s c h a E t l i c h eRUndSChaU 7 / 1 , t r a n s l a t e d b y R i c ha r d S i np k i n , ( J anua r: i ,1 9 5 4 ) : i l - 1 2 ; X a n s t ei n , L o st V i c t o r i e s , 4 2 1 .

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C HAPTER T H R E EM A N S T E I N 'S C O U N T E R A T T A C K

Bold d e c i s i o n s g i v e t h e b e s t p r o m i s e of s u c c e s s .E r w i n Rommel: T h e R o m e 1 ? a p e r s

: p p r o v e o f all mechods of a t t a c k i n g p r o v i d e d :keya r e d i r e c t e d a t t h e p o i n t w here t h e e n em y's acmy i sw ea ke st a nd w her e t h e t e r r a i n f a v o r s t h e n t h e l e a s tF r e d e r i c k t h e G r ea t : I n s t r u c t i o n o r H i s G e n e r a l s , X V I :A s w i f t a n d v i go r ou s t r a n s i t i o n t o a t z ac k --t h e l a s h i n g s word o f ve nge a nc e --i s t h e most b r i l l i a n t p o i nt c f :he d e f e n s i v e .C l a us e w i c z : C n > at--.

SCVIZT SUCCZSS AP D L C G I S T I C ?RCRLE:, ST h e s t r u q y l e on and o f f t i le b a t k l e f i c l d w r s e n e d t o r

F i e l d M a r s n a l vcn Aans te in a s he fcugh: b oth 3i t : e r and t h eS o v ie r f c r c e s . O n 1 3 F e b r u a r y F I i t l e r o r d e r e d A r n y 3e t a c h r e n :Lanz t o ho ld Kharkov a t a l l c o s t s w i t h t h e 2 n d S S ?ar.zerCorps , which s t i l l o n l y had two p a n z e r d i v i s i o n s . The f o u r t nl a r g e s t c i t y i n t h e S o v i e t U nion p o s s e s s e d g r e a t > r o pa g a nd av a l u e f o r b orh H i c l e r and S t a l i n . U n f o r tu c a t el y , l i t l e r d i dno t seem T O O c on c er ne d a b cu t a n c t h e r S t a l i n g r a d . 1

O n 15 t h Fe b r ua r y w i t h o n l y o ne e x i t r o u t e r e m a in i n g ,Waffen SS G e n er a l H au ss er d i r e c t l y d i so b e ye d o r d e r s n 3 t t cr e t r e a t f r o m Kharkov. O n h i s own i n i t i a t i v e , t o s a v e h i s SSC or ps , ne e va c u a t e d K har kov chouqh t w i c e d i r e c t l y o r de r e d byH i t l e r t o rem ain i n t h e c i t y . G e ne r a l H a uss e r r e f us e d : c

Lh a v e h i s f o r c e s t r a p p e d i n a n o th e r S t a l i n g r a d .B e s i de s h i s e l i t e SS Far.zer d i v i s i c n s t h i s c s r ~ s l s o

i n c l u d e d t h e Ar my ? a n z e r 3 i v i s i o n Gross a e u c s c h l a n d .L L


27/68

E a c h of t h e s e p a n z e r d i v i s i o n s h a d one r e g i m e n t o f t h e ne wT i g e r 1 t a n k . T h e ne w T i g e r I w i t h i t s 88mm m a i n g u n wasv a s t l y s u p e r i o r t o t h e S o v i e t T-34 i n E i r e p o w e r a n d a r m o r ,b u t l e s s m a n e u v e r a b l e a n d s l o ' d e : . These p a n z e r d i v i s i o n s h a dr e s t e d a n d were n e a r f u l l s t r e n g t h . T h e y w o u l d h a v e c r u c i a lr o l e s i n t h e c o n i n g c o u n t e r a t t a c k . 3

A t f i r s t g l a n c e , t h e S o v i e c o f f e n s i v e a p p e a r e du n s t o p p a b l e . i* ith c h e a l ? o f K h a r k c v a h u n d r e d rr.i:e g a ?b e t ' . r e e n G e r m a n u r . i t s e x i s t e d i n t h e c e n t e r ct' A r m y G::;L,>S o u t h . ? o r a h c r . d r e d ? i e s n o r t h a n d S C U : ~ of : ihar


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5s o u t h .T h e d e p l e t e d s t a t e of t h e f o r c es d i c t a t e d

c o n c e n t r a t i o n , n o t d i s p e r s a l . E lo bil e G ro up p op ov , f r o m t h eSc u t kw e s t F r c n t , W i t h 4 t h G u a r d s , 1 6 t h , 3 r d , and 1 0 t h TankC o r p s ha d on l y 1 3 , 0 0 0 men and 5 3 t a n k s . M o b i l e G r o u p ? o p o vh a d l o s t 90 t a n k s i n two da ys of b a t t l e . To h e l p :. lobileGroup Popov, 1 s t G u a r d s C o r p s t r a n s f e r r e d s e v e r a l 2 n i . t ~ t ot h e m . T h e r e s t of 1s: G b G a r d s xou l d qc o r c k e de f e ns i . de ,h o l d i n g t h e Slavyansk-Xizhne Gcrskoe ; i n e . ~t t h i s p o i r . ~h a l f o f t h e ta ck s t r e c o t ? c f Sou t h : ~ e s : Fr::.?: had s e e ? o s :i n b a t t i e o r t o rnechankcal oreakdowns. 6

T O S t a v k a a n d t h e Fr on t Commanders t h e r a c e was 01 .f o r t h e S c v i e : acni ies t c bed: ? ;. ie tkai;, Ger:nanr e i n f o r c e m e n t s , a n d t h e i r own e x h a u s t i o n t o d e s t r o y Ar r . yG r oup Sou t h . By 1 2 F e b r u a r y c h e f i r s t r e p o r cs o f pr ob l e m sf ro m S o v i e t d i v i s i o n commanders a p p e a r e d . S e v e r a l d i v i s i o n sw e r e down t o 1 0 0 0 m e n , and a few g u n s o f morcars, b u t S t a v k ai g n o r e d t h e s e i i a r n i n a s a n d o r d e r e d t h e a r xy c o r m a nde r s c cs e i z e t h e i r o b j e c t i v e s d e p s i t e t h e s e l o s s e s . '-.

S t av k a a l s o f a i l e d t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e German a n i t swere n o t s t a n d i n g a n d d y i n g i n p l a c e . T h e German f c r c e s werer e t r e a t i n g t o a n c s i t i o n t h a t narrowed t h e i r C r c n t a q e , ar.2b r o u g h t t h e G e r m a n f o r c e s c l o s e r e o t h e i r s u p p l i e s a n dt a c t i c a l a i r power . T h e S o v i e t p o s i t i o n r em ai ne d e x a c t l y t h eo p p o s i t e . T h o u g h t h e S o v i e t F r c n t s q a i n i e d g r o u c d , t h e y hadn o t d e s t r o y e d t h e German orces .2

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Gen era l Fr id o Von Se ng er, commander of t h e 1 7 t hPa nz er D i v i s i o n , obs e r ve d t h a t when on t h e de f e ns i v e t h eGermar. corps o r hi qh ec comnar,der kep t one o r t xo armcredcompanies o a p an ze r d i v i s i o n a s a c o u n t e r a t t a c k f o r c e .T h e y o f t e n became d e ta c he d f rom t h e i r d i v i s i o n t o a t t a c k t h epenetra t ing enemy armor . ?he German panzers would a t tack :heenemy f l a n ks . When t he ; ov ie t s a t t a c k e d t he f r o n t a l de f e ns eth e t an ks proved su , e r ior c o a l l o t he r a s t i - t a n and f i r e pow er became th e be s t ch oi ce i n d e f e n s i v eo p e r a t i o n s . M o to r iz ed r e s e r v e s q u i c k l y re a c c ed t o t h e enemyt h r e a t . T he modern nob i l e de f e ns e i s o r g a n i z e d t o r e a c t cc;t h e enemys moves. ~t i s no t : u s t a s t a c i c l i ne c fd e e e n s e s . 1 0

The German mobi le de fe ns e qu ic kl y caused t h e r a p l dcommitment o t he s l e nd e r Fr on t r e s e r v e s dl;e t t h e h ~ g hl o s s e s o f So v i e t a r m or . T he 88tn and 1 1 3 t h Tank Brigades zf3rd Tank A r m y , Voron zh F r o n t , f i e l d e d a t o t a l o f s i x t a n k s .>:hen t h e 3 r d T a n k Army commander requested armorr e i n fo r c e me n t s o r r e s e r v e s , G ol ik ov s t a t e d t h a t t h e f o r c e swere a d e q u a t e f o r t h e p u r s u i t i n p r o g r e s s . 11

T h e r e l e n t l e s s S o v i e t p r e s s u r e c o n t i n u e d . Durinc; 1 8Februa ry a Sov i e t C a va l r y C or ps o f t h r e e d i v i s i o n s andm ec ha ni ze d a r t i l l e r y b r ok e t h ro u g h t h e M L U S R i v e r l i n ebe tween t he German F re t t e r -P ic 0 group and 1 7 t h C orps . :McVing

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by n i g h t a n d a v o i d i n g German s t r o n g p o i n t s , t h e C a v a l r yc o r p s e me rg ed a t D e b a l t s e v o on t h e m a i n e a s t - w e s t r a i l w a y ,f o r t y miles b e h i n d t h e F r o n t . Here t h e y a t t a c k e d a n dde s t r oye d t w o t r a i n s c r e i n o r c e n e n t s f o r 17:: c o r p s . : h i sl e f t t h e T a g a n t o g - N a r i u p o l r a i l w a y a s t he o n l y s u p ~ l y r c u t e O r a l l t h e s o u t h e r n o r c e s c A r n y G r o u p S o ~ l t hd e f e n d i n g cnt h e M i u s r i v e r l i n e .

nO t h e r p r o b l e m s a l s o h i n de r ed v o r ? l a c s t e i n . - h epromised thLrcy-se 'den t r c c p t r a i n s a da:r f c o r r C , K . i 4 , f s ra r m y Crou? S c ~ t ? . pco ' ied t o h e or;:/ s i x z r a l n s c n 14February. Von Manstein would only r e c e i v e t h e 2 n d S S C c r sand t h r e e i n f a n t r y d i v i s i c n s a s r e i n c r c e T e n t s . >

I n t h e c e n t e r o f a r m y G r o u p S c u t : i S o s t k x e s t ?rc r . tc o n t i n u e d t h e a t t a c k a nd a d v a nc e . Cr. :6 Fe br ua r y t h e Sc vL e t sa dva nc e d t ow ar d Pa v l oq r a d a nd a ne p r o pe t r ov s k r c r , t h e a r e awest o I s y u m . Ar my Group C e n t e r , c o t h e nor t h , a nnc u r . c e d I tc o u ld n o t c o u n t e r a t t a c k i n c c o p e r a t i c n :.;it? A r n y GroupS o u t h . F i e l d K a r s ha l von Manstein m u l d o n l y ha ve t h e f o r c e si.n Arniy G ro up S o u th t o s t o p t h e t h r e e S o v i e t rants. 14

VON M A N S T E I N ' S ? L A NConce rned ove r t h e p o t e n t i a l l o s s o f : h e g o n e t s g i v e r

b a s i n , H i t l e r r e t u r n e d o r a n o t h e r r e e t i n g v i t h X a n s t e i n 1;17 Fe b r ua r y a t Z a por oz hye . Sou t hw e s t F r on t a r r r o r eds p e a r h e a d s w e r e s e v e n t y f i v e miles t o t h e e a s t . I t r eq u ir edtwc d a y s f o r vcrr Xa n s t e i n t o c o n v i n c e H i r l e r o f ? i sc o u n t e r a t t a c k g l a n . 1 5

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S i m p l i c i t y d r ov e K a n s t e i n s c o u n t e r a t t a c k p l a n . F i r s th e p la nn ed t o c o n c e n t r a t e a l l t h e p an ze r d i v i s i o n s i n t o ac o u n t e r a t t a c k f o r c e o f txc groups . O ne p ince r i r o u l d a t t a c kon t h e n o r t h f l a n k of Southwes t F r o n t a nd a n o t h e r on t h es o u th f l a n k . T h e p a n z e r f o r c e s wo ul d s t r i k e i n a c o o r d i n a t e dd o u b l e p i n c e r a t t a c k b e h in d t h e S o v i e t a rm o re d s p e a r h e a d s ir.t h e c e n t e r o f A r m y G roup S ou th . T h e second phase cE t h ec o u n t e r a t t a c k m u : d r e F e a t t h e t h e c o o r d i n a t e d doub:e c i n c e rt o t a k e K ha rk ov . 16

Von Manstein hzd needed e o r e t r e a t frorr t ne o r i o i ~ a :a r m y g ro u p p o s i t i o n s f o r s e v e r a l r e a s o ns . F i r s t , t n e S o v i e t shad broken h i s l i n e i n t h e c e n t e r . Second , w i t h t h e p a s s a g eof 1s t and 4 t h P a n z e r Armies f rom Ros tov , h e c o u l c : e c r e a ti n t h e s o u t h a n d s h o r t e n h i s d e f e n s i v e l i n e s . L a s t l y , t h es h o r t e n e d d e f e n s i v e l i n e s would enab le t h e p an ze r d i v i s i o n st o w i t h d r a w t o t h e c o u n t e r a t t a c k a s s e m b l y a r e a s n e a rK r a s n o d a r , K r a s n o a r n e i s k , D n e p c o p e t r o v s k , a n d P a v o q r a d . T h ei n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s would h ol d t h e f l a n k s o f t h ec o u n t e r a t t a c k f o r c e a n d d e f e a t s u bs eq u en t S o v i e t a t t a c k s .H i t l e r app roved t h e c o u n t e r a t t a c k be fo re l e a v i nq on 19F eb rua ry .17

T h e v o n Manstein p l a n a l s o r e l i e d on r e a d i c q S o v i e ti n t e n t i o n s . By 2 0 F ebru a ry , ba sed on t h e d i r e c t i o n a nd maine f f o r t of t h e S o v i e t a r m o r , von Manstein e l t s u r e of t h eS o v i e t p l a n oE a t t a c k and i n t e n t i o n s . He t hough t S ou thw es tF r o n t w o u l d a t t e m p t t o e n c i r c l e t h e s o u t h er n f o r c e s oE A r m y

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Group So uth . Sou the r n Front would a t t a c k t o l i n ku p w i t hSouthwes t F r o n t a n d V o r o n e z h F r o n t wo uld a t t e m p t t o e n c i r c l eGerman forces west oE Kharkcv. i i i s a ss u mp ti o ns ~ r c v e dc o r r e c t 1 8

T h e 2 0 t h of Fe b r ua r y p r ove d t o be t h e h i g h p o i n t o ft h e S o vi e t t n r e a t . O n 2 1 Fe br ua r y t h e German f o r c e s on :heM i u s R i v e r d e f e a t e d :he a t t e m p t e d S o v i e t b r e a k t h r o u g h o fS o u t h e r n F r o n t . Tt-,e Germar. fo rc es des t rc : /ed th e Scvie ' lc a v a l r y c o r p s w h i c h had broker . thrcGqh. T h e Ge:rr.an f c r c e sa l s c e r . c i r c l e d t h e 3 r 2 Gua rds ; . echanized C z r ? s . . he sea c t i o n s b r o k e t h e S o v i e t e f f o r t of S o u t h e r n F r o n t .

-1 9

SOVIET MISTAKES A N D N:SPERCSPTIOMSAlso on 2 0 Fe br ua r y t h e L u ft , wa f fe r a d i o i n t e r c e p z

s e r v i c e p r o v i d e d an i n t e l l i g e n c e c ou p. T h e y i c - e r c e p t e dr a d i o t r a n s n i s s i c c s an d r e p o r t e d t h a t M ob il e Gro up l o p ovne ar Kramatorska:ia had n e t r e c e i v ed any s u p p l i e s . A ~ S C , t h eS o v i e t a rm or f o r c e a t Z ap or oz hy e ( 2 5 t h Tank Corps s 6 t hA r m y ) had r u n o u t o f f u e l 1 2 miles f r o m -he tcwn. is v i t a li n f o r m a t i o n e r a s e d t h e t h r e a t f r o m t h e x i i n So vie : arn orf o r c e s o f S o u th w e st F r o n t . T h e m a i n e f f o r t o f S o u th we stF r o n t , w h i c h von Mans te in p lanned t o a t t a c k f i r s t , c o u l d n c ta t t a c k o r r e t r e a t . A l s o von : A a n s t e i n now k n e w :he e x a c tl o c a t i o n o f t h e s e S o v i e t a rm or f o r c e s . I n t h e upcomingc o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e t h e y woul d be de s t r o ye d p i e c e m e a l . 2 0

Unknown t o v c n M a n s t e i n , S t a v k a a nd t h e F r o n tc c m m a nde r s w ou l d g r e a t l y a i d h i s c o u n t e r a t t a c k . T h e i r

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per c ept i ons of t he bat t l ef i el d s i t uat i on pr oved ut t er l ywr ong. Sovi et r econnai ssance and i nt el l i gence sour ces hadobser ved t he Ger man ar nor concent r at i ons. Sout hxest ~r o n ti nt el l i genc e r epor t s o r 10- 26concent r at i ons near Kr asnodar andFebr uar y . The Sout hwest Fr ont Chi efP. I vanov , and t he seni or i nt e

ebr uar y not ed Ger manKr asnoar aei sk at er 17Of St af E, Lt Gener ai Sl i gence of i cer , #a or

Gener al Rogov ccncl uded t hat t hi s was a wi t hdr aval E t rcops r o m t he Don Ri ver t o t he onei per i t i ver . Bot h Sovi et Frontcc nmander s s har ed t he same vi ews t hat t ke Ger mans i er e s-.iL:

L li n r et r eat .I n addi t i on, nc maj or Ger man ar mor f orces ver e seen

i n ?o l t ava, and no r a i l or r oad movement s had ceen seen f rc:?west t o east . 1n: el l i gence r epor t s roc1 agent s and par t i sansdi d not cont r adi c t t he per cept i ons of t he seni oc Sov i ets t af f s . On 21 Febr uar y , St al i n or der ed Deput y Chi eE ofOper at i ons ( Gener al St aEf ) , Lt Genera l A . N . eogol yubov, t ci nd out what was r eal l y goi ng on i n t he Don Ri ver ar ea.Chi ef of S t a f of t he Sout her n Fr ont , Maj or Gener alVar enni kov t ol d Gener al Bogol yubov t hat as of 2 0 Febr uar ysol i d enemy col umns wer e r et i r i ng west f r o m t he oon

L LRi ver .The Sovi et oper at i onal commander s, however , di d not

dr aw t he same concl usi ons. Gener al Popov, sout hwest oeput yFr ont Commander and l eader of Mobi l e Gr ouF ?opov, acdGener al KuZne: SoV, Commander of 1s t Guar ds A r m y , Sout hwes:

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F r o n t , d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h e G e r m a ns were i n f l i g h t from t h eDon R i v e r . T h e i r a r g u m e n t s t o t h e Front commander were i n

L Jv a i n .Again on 1 9 and 2 0 F e b r u a r y S o v i e t r e c o n n a i s s a n c e

a i r c r a f t r e po r te d l a r g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f German armor n e a rK r a s nogr a d , t r o op movemen ts a t D ne pr ope t r ovs k , a n d armorr e q r o u p i n g t o ..he s c u t n e a s t o f K r a s n o a r n e i s k . : Jac ut :np e r c e i v e d t h e s e c o n c e n :r a t ic n s or So u th xe st 7rzn:s r ic:: :tf l a n k a s a c o v e r i n c ar r ro r f o r c e f c r : he i n f a n t r y c i i i i s i o n sf r o m t h e Don. i c r e a l i - y , t h e s e x e c e : h e c s n c e s t r a t i s n s o fi s t a n d 4 t h Panze r Arrnies , von M a n s t e i n s s o u c h c r n p i n c e r ,r e a d y i n g t o assau::. Sou t hw e s t F r on t . 2 4

T h e c ons e que nc e s o f chese m i s p e r c e g t i o n s r e s u l t e d i nS o u t h w e s t F r o n t s C h i e f of S t a f f , L: G e ne r a ? S . 2 . I va nov ,s i g n i n g an o p e r a t i o n a l a p p r ai s e me n t w h i c h c onf i r m e dmovements of t h e 48:h Panzer Corps by re co n ca is sa nc ea i r c r a f t on t h e 7 0 r i l e s e c t o r b etw een P o kr cv sk o e s n dS t a l i n o . 3e b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e s e f o r c e s w e r e p r c o f c f t h econt inued German wi thdrawl f rom t h e Don R i v e r a r e a . 2 5

C o n s e q u e n t l y , o n 1 9 F e b r u a r y V a t u t i n o r d e r e d P O F O V t oadvance west w i t h a l l p o s s i b l e s p ee d. O n 2 0 Fe br ua r y V a t u t i nr e f u s e d t o c h an g e K h a r i t o n o v s 6 t h A rm y o r d e r s s o i tc o nt in u ed t o a t t a c k t o t h e west . West t n e y w e c t , f c r t h e ri n t o v o n w a n s t e i n s t r a p . 26

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M A N S T E I N S C O U N T E R A T T A C KTHE G E R M A N S O U T I I E R N P I N C E R A T T A C K S

3y 2 0 F e b r u a r y F i e l d X a r s h a l von M a n s t e i n a s s e r b l e c i ap a n z e r a t t a c k f o rc e o f f i v e c o r ~ s . h e f i v e p a n z e r c o r p s ,2nd SS, 3 r d , 4 0 t h , 4 8 t h a n d 5 7 t h were t o d e m on s t ra t e t h e i ro Ef en s i ve a b i l i t i e s cnce a g a i n . F o r t h e E i r s t t ime s i n c e t h ef a l l campai gn t o t a k e S t a l i n g r a d , t h e panzer Eocces i r :s o u t h e r n R us s i a c o n c e n t r a t e d f o r a b a t t 1 e oE : : ianecver . Fort h e a t t a c k t h e Fourch Panzer Army would a t t a c k r .o r t h


36/68

d e ep i n t o K h a r it o n o v s 6 t h Army r i g h t f l a n k . Thougha t t a c k e d , K h a r i t o n o v s o r d e r s fr om V a t u t i n r em a in edu n ch a ng e d: a t t a c k t o :he we st a nd c r c s s t h e 3 n ;e p er 4 i v e rand t a ke D nep ro pe t rovsk . T he 3 rd P anze r C o rps ac t ack ed th ef l a n k of S ou thw es t F ron t w es t o f V o r o s h i l o g r a d . 3 0

THE G E R M A X N 0 4 T H E RE I P I N C E R ATTACKSAlso on 2 0 Februar y t h e 2nd SS P a nz e r C o rp s a c t a c k e d

f r c a : .he north t c e n c i r c l e t h e S o vi e t 6 t h A r ? y . The Sovie:.6 t h A r m y repor ted : .he a t :ack o f t h e 2 -d SS and : E r h ? a n z e rC o r p s . S t i l l u n d a un t e d , V a t u t i n d i d r o t a l t e r K ha r: zo no v so r d e r s t o a t t a c k t o t h e w es t. -

The Sovie t 6 t h Army s e n t a d: vi s i on cf 2 5 c h TankC o r p s t ow ards Z apo rozhe , cu t :he t an ks r a n c u t c f f u e l t e nm i l e s f r o i l l t h e town. The m i n f o r c e o 2 5 t h Corps remainedi s o l a t e d f i f t y m i l e s f r o m t h e main f o r c e o f 6 t h A r m y ,r u n n i n g low on f u e l and ammuni t ion . Unknown t c th en , 43 thP anze r C o rps accacked ?av?og rad f r o 3 che e a s t , cl; :cing t h e i rl i n e of commun ica t i cn . 3 2

Even by 2 2 F e b r ua r y S t a v k a a nd t h e S o ut h we s t c r c n tCommander, V a t u t i n , r e f u s e d t o b e l i e v e a Germanc o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e was i n p r o g r e s s . T h e y f e l t n o c a u s e f o ra la r m. i l ow ever , t he S ov i e t 6 t h Ar my found i t s e l f f i g h t i n g t ce s c ap e d e s t r u c t i o n . A lr ea dy t h e p a nz e r f o r c e s had e n c i r l c e dt h e 1 0 6 t h R i f l e B r i g ad e a nd 2 6 7 t h R i f l e D i v i s i c n . The 1s tGuards Tank C o r p s and 4 t h G uards R i f1 . e C o rps r e Je r sea t h e i rd i r e c t i o n and t u rn e d t o i g h c t h e German E hr eat t o t k e e a s t .

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T h e 2 5 t h T a n k C o r p s a t t e m p t e d t o r e g r o u p a l o n g t h e z a p o r o z h er o a d . M o b i l e G r o u p P o p o v s i m u l t a n e o u s l y o u g h t 4 0 t h P a n z e rC o r p s a n d r e t r e a t e d t o t . h e nor thw es t t o b l o c k t h e r o a d t cB a r v e n k o v c . 3 3

C n t h e n i g h t o f 2 1 F e b r u a r y t h e V o r o e n z h F r o n tC o m m a n d e r , G o l i k o v , r e a c t e d q u i c k l y t o t h e G e r m a n t h r e a t .G o l i k o v o r d e r e d 6 9 t h a n d 3 r d T an k Armies t o s k o ? t h e i rt % e s t e r nd r i v e o n :he 3 n e i p e r R i v e r , p r e p a c e t o t u r n s o u t h ,a n d a t t a c k t h e 2 n d SS P a n z e r C o r p s c p e r a t i n g a g a i n s ' .K h a r i t o n o v s o u t h c f K h a r k o v . 3 4

G o l i k o v ' s a r mi e s a c e d s e v e r e s h o r t a g e s i n m e n ,e q u i p m e n t , a n d s u p p l i e s . T h e S o v i e t l o g i s t i c a l s ys t e m f a i l e dt o s u p p l y e v e n t h e b a s i c s . Armor s u p p o r t o r t h e i n f a n t r yb a r e l y e x i s t e d , t h e t r o o p s r e m a i n e d s h o r t cf a m m u n i t i o n , a n dG o l i k o v w e n t s o f a r a s t o c c n s c r i p t l o c a l m en i n t h e i rp e a s a n t g e a r t o b o l s t e r t h e i n f a n t r y f o r c e . W i t h i n 4 8 h o u r s6 9 t h a n d 3 r d T a nk Armies r a n i n t o n a n z e r D i v : s i o n G r o s sD e u t s c h l a n d . T h e S o v i e t c o u n t e r a t t a c k f a i l e d t c rescue t h eS o v i e t 6 t h A r m y. 3 5

By t h e n i g h t o f 2 3- 24 F e b r u a r y G e n e r a l V a t u t i n ' ss i t u a t i o n b e ca m e d e s p e r a t e . He i n a l l y r e p o r t e d t o S t a v k at h a t h i s r i g h t l a n k iJas u n d e r a t t a c k b y t h r e e Germar.d i v i s i o n s w i t h 4 0 0 t a n k s . T h e F r o n t h a d n o a n t i - t a n kr e s e r v e s l e f t . V a t u t i n o r d e r e d 6 t h G u a r d s R i l e C o r p s c o nS l a v y a n s k t o B a r v e E k o v o - L o z o v a y a t o s t o p t h e G e r m z n a d v a n c e ,a l t h o u g h i t h a d no armor o r a n t i - t a r . k s u p p o r t t o s t o p t h e

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3 6German p a n z e r s .By 2 4 F e b r u a r y v on Manste in ' s c o u n t e r o f f e n s i v e f o r c e d

S o u t h w e s t F r o n t o n t:le d e f e n s i v e . T h e S o v i e t 2 5 t h T an kC o r p s , e a s t o f Z a p o r o z h y e , f i n a l l y r e c e i v e d o r d e r s t cr e t r e a t n o r t h w a r d b u t t h e i r t a n k s h a d n o f u e l . < o b i l e G r o u pP o p o v r e t r e a t e d t o B a r a v e n k o v E rom G r i s h i n o and l c i n e d twod i v i s i o n s o f 6 t h G a a r d s R i f l e C o r p s . X i t h t h i s r e i n f o r c e m e n t? o ? o V h a d 3 5 T-34s a n d 1 5 T -7 0 ( : i q h t ) t a n k s . 3 7

G e n e r a ? V a t u t i n , o n 2 5 F e b r u a r y , o r d e r e d t n e rich:ELar,k o S o u : h ' , i e s t F r o n t tr: go cn t h e d e e r . s : v e a n d a s k e ds t a v k a t o s e n d r e i n f c r c e m e n t s q u i c k l y . None o f t h e t h r e ef r o n t s h a d a n y r e s e r v e s t o c o u n t e r t h e German o f f e n s i v e . T Cmake matiers w o r s e , a l l t a n k r e p a i r u ~ i t s e r e : \ 'e l l f o r : ; a r cw i t h t h e t a n k c o r p s . T h i s s i g n i f i e d t h a t m o s t cE t h e t a n k ss e n t t o t h e r e a r f o r r e p a i r s a t u n r e p a i r e d . T h e m o b i l e t a n kr e p a i r s h o p s p r o m i s e d o r V a t u k i n ' s F r o n t n e v e r3 8a r r i v e d .

A t B a r v e n k o v c cn t h e 2 6 t h o f F e b r u a r y , t h e r e n n a n t sof M o b i l e G r o u p P op o v a n d 1st G c a r d s A f n y m ad e t h e i r l a s zs t a n d . T h e l a s t f i f t y t a n k s of t h e 1 3 t h Guards T a n k B r i g a d ea n d 4 t h G u a r d s T a nk C o r p s h a d nc f u e l . O n 2 8 F e b r u a r y t h eGerman p a n z e r s b r o k e t h r o u g h t h i s f o r c e c o t 5 e D C n e i s

3 9R i v e r .O n t h e e v e n i n g o f 2 8 F e b r u a r y S t a v l t a f i n a l l y r e a c t e d

t o Mans te in ' s c o u n t e r a t t a c k . S t a v k a r e a c t e d t c c l a t e a n dw i t h t o o l i t t l e . S t a v k a t r a n s f e r r e d 3 r d T a n k A r m y f r c n c h e

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V or en zh F r o n t t o So u t h we s t F ro n t t o c o u n t e r a t t a c k t h e Germana r m o r a t t a c k i n g 6 t h A rm y. 4 0

The 3 r d Tank Army never made i t o u t oE i t s assernb :~a r e a , be c a us e 2nd SS Pa nze r C or ps and L u t w aE e t a c c i c a lbom be r s a t t a c ke d i t . By 4 March t h e e n c i r c l e d 3 r d T a n k At myhad onl y 5 0 t ank s l e f t . 4 1

W i t h t h e l i n k u p oE 2nd SS Panzer C o r p s and 4 8 t hPanzer C o r p s a t t t e .Done ts , the Sovie t 6 t h h r rn y a n d ? s tG u a r d s A r m y , u nd er h eav y a t t a c k , f e l l b ack t o the Done tsR i ve t ne a r r z y u m . Akandoninrj a1 1 rh e;r heavy equipmerat : : leyc r o s s e d t h e f r o z e n r i v e r t o a v o i d e n c i r l e m e n t . The 6 t h and1st Guards Ar m ie s e x i s t e d i n name o n l y . T h e German panzersd e s t r o y e d S o v i e t 2 5 t h , 3 r d , i O t h , and 4 t h GEards Tankc o r p s . 4 2

T h i s f i r s t German dou ble enve lopment r e s u l t ed i n2 3 ,0 00 S o v i e t de ad on t h e b a t t l e E i e l d . The S o v i e t s a l s o i o s t6 1 5 t a n k s , 3 5 4 a r : i l l e r y p i e c e s , and 6 9 a n t i - a i r c r a t gun:.

t ot C

vet cv e

became t o d e E ea t t h e s o v i e t o r c e s a ro u nd K hark ov b e o r e t n e

O n l y 9 , 0 0 0 p r i s o n e r s w ere t a k e n . W i t h onl y panze r Eorcesc l o s e t h e e n c i r c l e m e n t s , l a r g e g a p s a l l o w e d S o v i e t t r o o p se s c a p e o n o o t a c r o s s t h e D o ne tz R i v e r . 4 3

K H A R K O V : TH E S E C O N D E N C I R C L E M E N TFi e l d Marshal von Man ste in had won a d e c i s

v i c t o r y , b u t h e d i d n o t d e s i r e t o h a l t , b u t r a t h e ri n l i c t even g r e a t e r l o s s e s on h i s f o e s . His m a j o r o b j e c t

i mpendi ng t haw would h a l t m ob i l e op e r a t i o ns i n a s e a oE m u d .

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O n t h e s o u th e r n M i u s R i v e r t h e thaw had a l re a dy begun b y t h ef i r s t week of March. 4 4

For t h i s s e c o n d e n c i r l e m e n t F o u r t h ? ar . ze r A r ~ y woulda t t a c k s o u th f r o m nea r K ra snog rad . T he 2 n d Ss i a n z e r C o r s sw o u l d a t t a c k f r o m t h e west and n o r t h f ro m v a l k i t o c o m p l e t ethe enve lopmen t o f X ha rkov . G ene ra l G o l ikov o f vc ronezh? r O n t o n l y p o s s e s s e d 6 9 c n , 6 4 t h , and 3rd Tan6 A r r y ( o fS c u t h w e s t F r o n t ) t o de'enr K h a r k o v . lie a sc had 3Or.h arrry\west of Beloorod.

The 4 0 t h l a n z e c C c r p s , o n 7 Karch , rec3n;ed t h e a t z a c kf r c n near Krasnograd and t w o d a y s l a t e r oFer.ea a 2 0 m:leho le be tw een 6 9 t h and 3 r d T a n k A rm y. G c l i k c v r e a l i z e d : h et h r e a t t o h i s x e s t e r r . a r m o r e d s p e a r h e a d s c d c : 2 :4archo r d e r e d t h e d i v i s i o n s s ie st o f K ha rkov a t A k ht yr ka a ndP o lt a va t o r e t i r e e a s t on 2 March. The 2 n d SS Panzer C c r s ,however , on 1 0 March cap tu red t h e n o r t h e r n s u b u r b s o fX ha rk ov , s e v e r i n g t h e S o v i e t e s c a p e r o u t e t c :he D or .e tsR iv er e a s t of t h e c i t y . 4 5

Panzer Di v i s i on Gro ss Deutsch land moved towardsB el go ro d. The t h r e a t t o t h e n o r t h e r n Voronezh F r c n t b r o u q h ta s t r o n g S ta v ka r e a c t i o n . S t av k a o r d e r e d r e i c f o r c e m e n t s f r o ~ r .C e n t r a l F r o n t , j u s t n o r t h o f V orone zh F r o n t , i n c o :heb a t t l e . C e n t r a l F K O n t Commander, Gen era l Ro ko sso vsk i i ,d i r e c t e d Zls t , 6 4 t h , and 1s t Tank Armies s o u t h t o u a r d s K u r s kt o b lock t h e German advance . 4 6

G e ne r al V a t u t i n t r i e d t o b lo ck t h e 2 n d S S ? a n z e r

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C o r p s a d v a n c e w i t h 6 9 t h A r m y . A t t h i s p o i n t t h e 6 9 t h Acinyf i e l d e d no t a n k s , and l e s s t h a n 1 0 0 g u n s , a n d i t s d i v i s i o n sa v e r a g e d a mere 1 0 0 0 m e n .

4 1As t h e 2nd S S C orps nea red K h a r t o v , F i e l d R a r s h a ; von

M a n st e i n o r d e r e d t h e m t o e n c i r c l e t h e c i t y . He warned t h e nt h r e e t imes t o a v o i d t h e h ig h c a s u a l t i e s o f h o u s e - t o - h o u s es t r e e t f i g h - i n g , 6 s had hapFened e a r l i e r a: S t a l i n g r a d . /onM a n s t e i n s x e c h a n i z e d d i v i s i o n wo ul d have been a : a s e v e r ed i s a d v a n t a g e i n c i t y f i g h t i n g , w i t h c u t : h e i c e a n t r y . G e r m a ni n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s h e l d t h e l a n X s a n d s h o u l d e r s oE ? . i ne n v e l o p m e n t s a n d hence r em ai ne d u n a v a i l a b l e .

I

43F o u r t h P a n z e r A r m y , on 1 2 >larch , c o n t i n u e d : t s at:acX

a nd d e s t r o y e d o u r c o r p s o t h e S o v i e t 3 r d T a n k A r m ys o u t h w e s t o f K h ar k ov . T h e poor s t a t e o t h e S o v i e t a r m i e s i nm e n , a r m o r , a n d s u p p l i e s c o u l d n o t h o l d b a ck 2nd Ss P a n z e rC o r p s a n d 4 t h P a n z e r A r m y . O n 1 4 March K h a r k o v f e l l t o t h eSS C o r p s . C n 1 8 March Panzer D i v i s i o n G r o s s D e u t s c h l a n dt oo k B e l go r o d. The S o v i e t a rm or ed c o u n t e r a t t a c k t o r e t a k et h e c i t y f a i l e d . 49

W i t h t h e German A r m y Group C e n t e r u n a b l e o r u n w i i l i n gt o a t t a c k from f u r t h e r N o r t h , t h e t ha w b e g i n n i n g , a n d t h ee x h a u s t i o n r o m t h e combat o t h e l a s t t h r e e m o n t h s , t h eGerman c o u n t e r o f e n s i v e e nd ed . 5 0

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END NOTESC H A P T E R T H R E E - M A N S T E I N ' S C O U N T E R A T T A C K

'E r ich von Manstein , Lost V i c t o r i e s , (Vova to :P r e s i d i o P r e s s , 1 98 21 , 4 2 2 .2 A l a n C l a r k , B a r b a r o s s a , T h e R u s s i a n - G e r m a nC o n f l i c t , 1941-45, (New York: William M O C K O W and Company,1 9 6 5 ) r 3 0 0 .3 C h a r l e s W . S y d n o r , J r . , S o l d i e r s o f D e s t r u c t i o n ,T h e SS Death-s D i v i s i o n , 1933-1945, ( P r i n c e t o n : P r i n c e t o nU n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 7 7 ) , 2 6 4 : H o r s t S c h e i b e r t , P a n z e rG r e n a d i e r D i v i s i o n G r o s s d e u t s c h l a n d , ( Wa rr e n:S q u a dr o n / Si q n a i P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 7 7 ) , 7 8.4 S . N. Shtemenko, T h e S o v i e t Ge n e r al S t a f f a t s~

1 9 41 - 19 4 5, ( No sc ow : P r o g r e s s P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 7 0 1 , 1 C 8 .'David G l a n t z , From t h e Don t o t h e D n e p r : A S t u dof S o v i e t O f f e n s i v e O p e r a t i o n s D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 2 - ' A u g u s t943 . . ( C a r l i s l e B a r r a c k s : U n i t e d s t a t e s Army War C o l l e g e ,1 9 8 4 ) , 1 6 9 .6 J o h n E r i c k s o n , T h e Road t o B e r l i n , ( 6 o u : d e r :W es tv ie w p r e s s , 1 9 8 3 ) , 4 8.'G la n t z , From t h e Don t o t h e Dnepr , 168 .*Shtemenko, T h e s o v i e t General s t a f f a t wa r , 108' F r i do von Se n ge r , N e i t h e r F e a r Nor Hope,(London : Ma c dona ld Pub l i sh ing , 19601 , 97 -98 . T h e RhodesScholar Commander o f t h e 1 7 t h P a n z e r D i v i s i o n g i v e s a no u t s t a n d i n g a c c o u n t o f w e ap o ns , t a c t i c s , a n d s t r a t e g y o n t h ee a s t e r n f r o n t .Ib id . , 97 -98 .

l l E r i c k s o n , T h e Road t o B e r l i n , 50.1 2 C l a r k , B a r b a r o s s a , 2 9 9 .1 3 M a n s t e i n , Los t V i c t o r i e s , 4 2 3 .1 4 1 b i d . , 4 2 3 .I 5 I b i d . , 4 2 3 - 4 2 8 .

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I 6 F r i e d r i c h S c h u l t z , R e v e r s e s on t h e s o u t h e r nWing, ( C a r l i s l e : U n i t e d S t a t e s Army War C o l l e g e , 1 9 8 1 ) , 7 2 .I7Manstein, L o s t V i c t o r i e s , 428 ." I b i d . , 4 2 9 .bid., 431 .

*'Hermann P l o c h e r , T h e German Air F o r c e v e r s u sRuss ia , 1 9 4 3 , N e w York: A r no P r e s s , 1 9 6 7 1 , 1 6 . He g i v e s ad e t a i l e d account o f German c a p a b i l i t i e s a g a i n s t S o v i e t r a d i ot r a n s m i s s i o n s ; Mans te in , L o s t V i c t o r i e s ( 1 9 8 2 ) : 4 3 1 .21S.M. Shtemenko, T h e S o v i e t G e n e r a l S t a f f a t ;


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3 8 1 b id . , 5 3 .3 9 1 b i d . , 53.4 0 G l a n t z , From t h e Don t o t h e Dn e p r , 1 6 3 .4 1 1 b i d . , 166 .4 2 E r i c k s o n , T h e Road t o B e r l i n , 53-54.43Manstein, Los t v i c t o r i e s , 433.44Hermann P l o c h e r , T h e German A i r F o r c e v e r s u sR u s s i a , 1 9 .4 5 H . A . P r o b e r t , T h e Rise a nd Fall o f t h e German AirF or c e 1933- 1945 , N e w York: S t M a r t i n - s P r e s s , 1 98 31 , 2 3 1 .4 6 E r i c k s o n , T h e Road t o B e r l i n , 544 7 1 b i d . , 54.48Manstein, L o s t v i c t o r i e s , 436.4 9 N . G l a d v o v , " T h e D e f e n s i v e B a t t l e s o f t h e 4 8 t hG ua rd s R i f l e D i v i s i o n t o t h e S ou th we s t o f Khar kov i n March1 94 3 ", M i l i t a r y H i s t o r y J o u r n a l ,Z h u r n a l , 5 (May, 1 9 8 3 ) : 31-36. V o y e n n o - I s t o r i c h e s k i y5 0 M a n s t e i n , L o s t v i c t o r i e s , 4 3 6 : G l a n t Z ,t h e Don t o t h e D n e Q K , 2 3 1 .

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CHAPTER FOURANALYSIS, LESSONS L E A R N E D A N D CONCLUSIONS

The Sovie t and G e r m a n o f E e n s i v e s i n t h e w i n t e r of1 9 4 1 - 4 2 o f f e r many l e s so n s l e a r n e d i n t h e a r t of wa r . Thei n i t i a l S o v i e t o f f e n s i v e an d M a ns t ei n 's c o u n t e r o f f e n s i v es u c c e e d ed d ue t o a d h e r e n c e t o a n c i e n t l a w s o f 'war fa re .

A n a l y s i s of t h e B a t t l e : The S o v i e t sFrom t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e S o v i e t o f f e n s i v e t h e S o v i e t

a r m i e s had s e v e r a l d e f i c i e n c i e s . St a vk a d e c id e d t c i g n o r et h e p r o bl e m s b e c a u se t h e y f e l t t h e c o m i n g o f t ' e r s i v e r c u l dr e m ai n a p u r s u i t . a g a i n s t t h e German f o r c e s i n Ar my GroupS o ut h. S t av k a f a i l e d t o p l an f o r c o n t i n g e n c i e s o t h e r t h a nt h e p l a n n e d p u r s u i t .

The S ov ie t o f f en s i ve c on s i s t ed o f a rmi e s worn down byt h r e e months o r more o f f i g h t i n g i n t h e S t a l i n g r a d c a m p a i g n .T h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f f e n s i v e b egan i n w i n t e r a n d a t t e m p t e d t oo u t r a c e and o u t l a s t t h e thaw and muddy s e a s o n , whenmechanized and a r m o r m ovem ents c e a s e d . ? he S o v i e t l o g i s t i cs y s t e m b eg an t o f a i l on d ay two o f t h e o f f e n s i v e

Id e m o n s t r a t i n g l a c k of p r o p e r p l a n n i n g .T h e Op er at io na l Maneuver Group Popov and 6 t h Army,

t h e m ai n e f f o r t of S o ut h we s t F r o n t , had e x c e l l e n t m i s s i o nt y pe o r d e r s t o c o v e r v a s t d i s t a n c e s t o r e ac h t h e i r f i n a lo b j e c t i v e s . U n fo r tu n a t e ly , t h e d i s t a n c e s t o t h e i r o b j e c t i v e swere u n r e a l i s t i c . The f i n a l o b j e c t i v e s were t h e S ou th we st

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F r o n t - s s t r a t e g i c o b j e c t i v e s of t h e Dneipe r R i v e r c r o s s i n gs i t e a t Zaporozhye . T h e n t h e armies w ere t o ad v an c e s o u t h t oMa r i upo l o n t he Se a o f A z o v t o t r a p t h e s o ut h e r n w i n g o Army Group Sout h . From t h e Sov ie t s t a r t l i n e t o Z a p o r o z h y ei s 3 0 0 miles. From Zaporozhye t o Mariupol i s a n o t h e r 130miles . T h e S o v i e t a r m i e s c o u l d n o t m a i n t a i n t h e i r s t r e n g t hover a campaign two m onths l ong w i t ho u t t h e p r ope rr e i n f o r c e m e n t s , s u p p l i e s , and r e s e r v e s which S t av k a c o u l dn o t p r o v i d e .

S t av k a a i l e d t o p r o v i d e an a d e q u a te r e s e r v e f o rV o r o n e z h and Southwes t F r o n t s . T h e V or one z h F r on t r e s e r vec o n s i s t e d o f o n l y t wo t an k c o r p s a n d two t a n k b r i g a d e s . T h eSou t hw e s t F r o n t r e s e r v e c o n s i s t e d o f two t ank co rp s and ac a v a l r y co r p s t o t a l i n g 1 5 , 0 0 0 men. A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e F r o n tcommanders d i d n ot use t h e i r r e s e r v e s p r o p e r l y . The r e s e r v e swere commit ted p iecemea l a n d o f t e n t o r e i n f o r c e a rm i es w h i c hwere n o t t h e main e f f o r t : . Neither Mobile Group Popov o r 6 t hArmy, t h e m a i n e f f o r t of S o ut h we st F r o n t , r e c e i v e d t h e F r o n tr e s er v e t o e x p l o i t t h e i r s u c c es s . S o v i e t d o c t r i n e s t r e s s e dr e in E o rc i ng s u c c e s s , n ot f a i l u r e . 2

I n t h e S o v i e t o f f e n s i v e S ta vk a f a i l e d t o f o l l o w i t sd o c t r i n e o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n a nd e c h e l o n me n t . The s o u t h w e s tF r o n t a r m i e s a t t a c k e d o n l i n e i n s t e a d o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g ont h e weakes t p o in t o f t h e German l i n e s u c h a s had been a tS t a l i n g r a d . The two F r o n t s had d i f f e r e n t o b j e c t i v e s l e a d i n gi n two d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s , V oronezh F r o n t t o t h e west and

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t h e Southwest F r o n t t o t h e s o u t h . T h e f o r c e s o f voronezh andS o ut h we s t F r o n t s d i d n o t e c h e l o n t h e i r f o r c e s i n t h e a t t a c ko r d e f e n s e . T h e s e a c t i o n s a l s o v i o l a t e d t h e p r i n c i p l e s o Fwar of mass a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n .

S o v i e t t a c t i c a l a i r power r a r e l y made a n a p p e a r a n c eon t h e b a t t e l f i e l d . T h e S o v i e t t a c t i c a l a i r f o r c e s d i d n o tadvance w i t h t h e a r m o r f o r c e s b e c a u s

Mansteins Counteroffensive

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