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222 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL March included about 2,000 men per mile of front. It went down within a few hours, notwithstanding all the labor and materiel which had been expended expressly to avoid such a possibility. The Axis does not appear to have had any considerable number of reserves immediately available to meet the new attack. The Russians pushed on, using armored troops well ahead to open passages and break enemy systems of supply and communication. Following came the infantry, charged with mopping territory by-passed by the armored troops and with reducing centers of resistance. By December 19th the new Russian offensive had reached the railroad north of Kantemirovka, having made an average advance of about 35 miles in 4 days. Kantemirovka, which had been recaptured by an Axis counterattack, once more passed to Russian hands. The German High Command decided to withdraw the line along the lower Chir to in rear of the Kalitva. Heavy fighting once again started near Kotelnikovski on the Kalmuck steppes. Von Mannstein attacked on the 20th, and as before made some gain to the front, although the Russians offered a stiff resistance. Their plan was to pass to the offensive later, after von Mannstein had expended his power in continuous offensives. They fell back slightly day by day, but making very strong resistance before doing so. By the 22nd, the Russian attack north of Kantemirovka was beginning to bear fruit. The Axis troops were fighting hard, and made frequent counterattacks—but they were unable to stop the Russians. All villages had been prepared for defense, and as the Axis withdrew it left garrisons in the villages to block roads. The Russian follow-up infantry reduced these villages gradually, in such order as to most quickly open routes of communication to their armored troops forward. One after the other the garrisons were compelled to surrender. Some
1943 PERIMETERS IN PARAGRAPHS 223 20,000 men were captured this way. On December 23d von Mannstein renewed his previous effort to turn the Russian left. He met Russian cavalry, and without much trouble repulsed and dispersed it. The Germans did not, however, make any advance against the main Russian force, which still blocked all the roads to Stalingrad. In this beleaguered city General Hoth was continuing his attacks to divert Russian troops from opposing von Mannstein. He had no success. The Russians had sufficient forces to enable them to meet both series of attacks at the same time. von Mannstein's effort to relieve Stalingrad came to an end on this day. In twelve days, on eight of which he had attacked, he had advanced about 10 miles out of 100 necessary to go. On the 24th the Russian army opposite Kotelnikovski passed to the offensive and delivered a strong assault against von Mannstein's army. It made only slight gains, but it definitely stopped this attempt to relieve Stalingrad. Having attracted German attention to their front, next day Russian troops advanced around both flanks of von Mannstein's army. The main effort was on the west flank, to separate the Germans east and west of the Don from each other. Full use was made of armored and motorized troops. The fighting centered about the Kalmuck villages, which as usual were prepared for defense. This Russian army did not have sufficient armored troops to undertake a break-through. It therefore advanced as rapidly as practicable around both German flanks simultaneously, by direct assault on villages and positions as it came to them. The artillery was largely depended upon for rapid capture of strong points. The three German Panzer divisions made furious attacks on December 26th and 27th. They were unable to stop the Russians, and one of the Panzer divisions was so severely handled by Russian artillery fire as to have lost, according to Russian reports, most of its armor. By the 28th the Russian advance was well past Kotelnikovski. The Germans now decided to abandon that town and all efforts to relieve Stalingrad. A new mission, purely defensive, was assigned to von Mannstein. In view of this change, von Mannstein was ordered to return his best Panzer division to the control of GHQ. It was withdrawn from line and sent west across the Don to join the German forces south of Millerovo. von Mannstein detailed two regiments of infantry, less transportation, to hold Kotelnikovski as long as possible, and ordered his remaining troops to withdraw to south of the Sal River. On December 29th the Russians attacked Kotelnikovski from three sides and late in the day captured it; 1,970 prisoners were reported as captured. How many (if any) of the two regiments in the town escaped is unknown. While this fighting was proceeding in the Kalmuck area, north of Millerovo the Axis had about brought the Russian offensives to a halt on a line generally just west of the railroad extending south from Kantemirovka. South of Millerovo (held by the Axis) the line extended generally southwest to the vicinity of Tsimlyanskaya, where liaison was had with von Mannstein's army. This was the situation as the year 1942 came to a close. According to Russian accounts their booty for the December campaign described above, to include 31 December, was West of the Don from 16 December Men 59,000 killed 60,050 prisoners Planes 117 destroyed 368 captured Tanks 172 " 168 " Guns 268 " 1,929 " Trucks over 1,000 " 7,414 " Vicinity of Kotelnikovski from 12 December Men 21,000 killed 5,200 prisoners Planes 306 destroyed 40 captured Tanks 467 " 94 " Guns 257 " 292 " Trucks 945 " 329 " Even allowing for possible errors, the foregoing figures give some idea of the wastage of modern battles. The new year opened with a continuation of the Russian offensives. They continued on in the Kalmuck country, with their extreme left reaching Elista. On the other side of the Don the Russians were at Oblivskaya. von Mannstein and the Axis forces southwest of Millerovo were retiring without other than rear-guard actions and delaying measures. North of Millerovo the Axis line held under continuous fighting. By January 10th von Mannstein withdrew to a line through Zimovniki. This line was attacked by the Russians on the 15th. The first attacks failed with considerable loss to the Russians, but new attacks toward evening went through and Zimovniki was captured. von Mannstein now commenced to withdraw to the Manych River, which is an improved irrigation project with numerous dams holding back lakes. When not frozen over this line is as good as any in this area. As this article goes to press it is yet unknown whether or not the Germans will withdraw further. Southwest of Millerovo, the Russian army of General Volkhov advanced during January without meeting opposition other than delaying actions. By the 20th it had passed Millerovo (which was taken on the 17th) and reached the Donets River at Kamensk. It immediately started across that river. A new Russian offensive began on January 12th to the north of that last made and in continuation of it. This was launched from the vicinity of Liski, and few details are yet available. This sector was defended by Hungarian troops. Their front was overwhelmed by the Russian artillery preparation in spite of defenses, and the Russians pushed westwardly. By January 20th this advance had arrived at Valuiki. During the December and January battles, the position of the German Sixth Army in Stalingrad steadily deteriorated. After von Mannstein's relief expedition
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FIELD ARTILLERY GUIDE • Designed
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29th April, 1941 We have been evacu
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MOUNTAIN JAEGERS In the Conquest of
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166 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL Mar
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168 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL Mar
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With the evacuation of Greece, the
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Page 16 and 17: BRITISH 6-POUNDER 174 Mounted as a
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Page 24 and 25: LIBYAN LETTER M.E.F. February 20th,
Page 28 and 29: The Autumn, 1942, Campaign in Russi
Page 38 and 39: GERMAN MODELS 196 Mk. II TANKS AT "
Page 40 and 41: ANTITANK THOUGHTS LTHOUGH much anti
Page 42 and 43: THE RED GUIDON By COL. GERALD GRIFF
Page 44 and 45: In modern warfare it is vitally imp
Page 46 and 47: Back Toward Fundamentals By Maj. A.
Page 48 and 49: Weapons Instruction at the Tank Des
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Page 54 and 55: Landing operations differ considera
Page 56 and 57: To move, to shoot, to communicate;
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Page 68 and 69: The class is seated in bleachers 60
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Page 72 and 73: "CELESTIAL" COMMENTS . . . . By Cap
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