According to the website quora.com, Erich Van Manstein, seen above on left, with Adolf Hitler, was a superb general. Wikipedia says, “Germany’s fortunes in the war began to take an unfavourable turn later in 1942, especially in the catastrophic Battle of Stalingrad, where Manstein commanded a failed relief effort (“Operation Winter Storm”) in December. Later known as the “backhand blow”, Manstein’s counteroffensive in the Third Battle of Kharkov (February–March 1943) regained substantial territory and resulted in the destruction of three Soviet armies and the retreat of three others. He was one of the primary commanders at the Battle of Kursk (July–August 1943), one of the largest tank battles in history. His ongoing disagreements with Hitler over the conduct of the war led to his dismissal in March 1944. He never obtained another command and was taken prisoner by the British in August 1945, several months after Germany’s defeat.” See this link for more.
By: Phil Kohn. Dedicated to the memory of his father, GM3 Walter Kohn, U.S. Navy Armed Guard, USNR, and all men and women who have answered the country’s call in time of need. Phil can be contacted at ww2remembered@yahoo.com.
In North Africa, Gen. Bernard Montgomery’s British Eighth Army begins to move westward through Libya again on December 11, 1942, after a rest, refit and reorganization period. It engages Rommel’s Panzerarmee Afrika at El Agheila, Libya. On the Eastern Front, the Germans realize that their attempt to take Baku and the rich oilfields of the Caucasus has failed, and they begin to withdraw to the north.
In Russia, Gen. Erich von Manstein, commanding Army Group Don, launches “Operation Winter Storm” on December 12 to try to relieve the Sixth Army at Stalingrad. Manstein has a hastily assembled force of 13 divisions, including three Panzer divisions with about 230 tanks. In North Africa, four Allied ships are sunk in the harbor of Algiers, Algeria, by Italian midget submarines.
On December 13, The Japanese make successful landings north of Buna, Papua-New Guinea. In North Africa, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel begins withdrawing his force towards Tunisia despite Hitler’s insistence that he stand and fight at El Agheila.
A three-day tank battle begins south of Stalingrad on December 14. In Africa, Ethiopia declares war on Germany, Italy and Japan.
Gen. Bernard Montgomery on December 15 tasks the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Division of the British Eighth Army with trying to outflank and surround the retreating Panzerarmee Afrika. They are unsuccessful.
The Red Army on December 16 begins another offensive in the direction of Rostov-on-Don to cut off the German forces in the Caucasus. To the north, the Soviet 63rd Army, with T-34 tanks and fighter-bombers, attacks the Italian 8th Army outside of Stalingrad. Outnumbered almost 9-to-1, the Italians’ precarious position on the River Don threatens the German Stalingrad relief attempt. In Berlin, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler orders that all people of Romani (gypsy) blood be sent to Auschwitz, in Occupied Poland, for extermination.
On December 17, U.S. and Australian troops begin a combined assault on Japanese positions at Buna, Papua-New Guinea. By means of “A Joint Declaration by Members of the United Nations” published in London and New York, the Allied governments “condemn in the strongest possible terms this bestial policy of extermination” of Jews by the Nazis. The American submarine USS Drum lays mines in the Bungo Channel, a strait between the Japanese home islands of Shikoku and Kyushu. In Russia, the Volga River freezes over, allowing the resupply of Red Army troops in Stalingrad.
