Friends of Padre Steve’s World, It has been a long and busy day and I am a bit too tired to put anything new out, however here is something that is probably more interesting to the World War II history buffs out there. After the German 6th Army surrendered at Stalingrad the Red Army was advancing and threatening much of Army Group South. The Germans were faced with the potential of a cataclysmic disaster on their front. This is the story of a fortnight in February 1943 where to cool head of a commander and his subordinates that reversed a situation that would have overwhelmed others. This is the story of Manstein’s Counterstroke.
Peace, Padre Steve+
Introduction
After Stalingrad the Soviets followed up on their success and attempted to entrap the rest of Army Group South. Field Marshall von Manstein attempted to save the Army Group and perhaps prevent the Soviets from collapsing the entire German front.
Manstein planning at the front
Chaos and Peril in the South
As 6th Army died at Stalingrad field Marshall von Manstein was faced with one of the most challenging situations faced by any commander in modern times. He faced strategic and operational “problems of a magnitude and complexity seldom paralleled in history.”[i] Manstein had to deal with a complex military situation where he had minimal forces to counter the moves of a superior enemy force that was threatening to entrap all German forces in southern Russia. Additionally Manstein had to deal with the “Hitler’s obstinate opposition to a maneuver defense and a Red Army flushed with the…
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