An Analysis of Manstein's Winter Campaign on the Russian Front, 1942-1943

A Perspective of the Operational Level of War and Its Implications, by Lawrence L. Izzo, LTC, USA. This study is a historical analysis of the campaign waged by Field Marshal von Manstein on the Russian southern front during the winter 1942-1943. The study begins just after the 6th Army's encirclement in Stalingrad and describes the four principal phases of Manstein's campaign: the attempted relief of 6th Army; the protection of Army Group A as it disengaged from the Caucasus; the prevention of Manstein's lines of communications from being cut; and the counterblow to regain the initiative.