MH-16: Eastern & Med FrontsEastern & Mediterranean Fronts - Strategic Overview:Strategic Overview: Southern FrontStrategic Overview- Eastern FrontTo Stalingrad & Disastrous Defeat– 1942Sacrifice of the Sixth ArmyAvoidable DisasterTragic EndingGermans RecoverBattle of Kursk (July 1943)Friction & ChangeBattle of Kursk: Order of BattleExecutionBattle of ProkhorovkaSoviet Counterattack (7JUL43-30Apr44)*Compare & Contrast- the details2nd Battle of Alamein (23 Oct – 12 Nov 1942)Order of Battle & The PlanExecution- Operation LightfootOperation Supercharge (0105 2 Nov – 12 Nov)Battle ResultsOperation Torch (Nov-Dec 1942)Operation Torch: ExecutionOperation Husky (July 1943)Order of Battle & Plans & ExecutionOperation Avalanche (Sept 1943)Eastern Front – 1944Operation Bagration (June-August 1944)Plans & Objectives & Battlefield PrepOperation Bagration’s ExecutionChaos, Interference, & the ResultCollapse of Balkans (April – September 1944)Time Running OutAssessmentAssessment -21MH-16: Eastern & Med Fronts2Eastern & Mediterranean Fronts -Strategic Overview: •Nazis running out of gas in Europe by 1942–Still Germany remains a very capable enemy•Very strong on active defense as newly arrived US troops would learned•Continued to display impressive tactical and Operational skills•Yet => German logistics & re-supply was over-stretched–Attempt to deal with 2 front War => soon to be three–Furthermore, time was running out for Germany•In contrast: Allied $$$/Logistics building steadily w/time–Allied forces & industrial capacity steadily expanding–Also => Intel collection & analysis superior (ULTRA)•In MED: Montgomery would finally defeat Rommel-where?–2nd Battle of ?___ ______________3Strategic Overview: Southern Front•Allied able to exploit superior Intel, Air/Sea power =>–Soon Allies would be landing in North Africa - Impact? –Opens yet another front =>•(Where)?•US enters combat in WWII for first time against Germans–Learns some tough lessons •(but does learn from them)–From whom & where does the US learn these hard lessons?–?_________ at ?____________ Pass4Strategic Overview- Eastern Front •Soviets start to get it together in 1942:–More capable military leaders take charge–Stalin even trusts some (Zhukov & Rokossovskii)–Improved equipment also helps•T-34 Tanks & trucks & logistics–Soviets begin to drive Germans west, back toward Germany•Result: Allies take strategic initiative from Germans–It starts on the Eastern Front with German advance on what Soviet southern city?5To Stalingrad & Disastrous Defeat– 1942 •German Plan - Order of Battle:–Army Group South=>split into Army Groups A & B–Hitler ignores his generals who advise against this split–6th Army – General Paulus is tasked to attack the city •Nazi Problems:–Overextension of LOCs & onset of winter–Hitler’s role: interference into tactical & operational situation•Refused all requests by his generals to give up ground when situation dictates •Denied his generals tactical flexibility to withdraw in orderly fashion–Hitler assumes Command of Army Group South from the rear6Sacrifice of the Sixth Army•Sixth Army in bitter fighting & hand to hand combat:–Pointless battle of egos between Hitler & Stalin•As winter closes in & supplies dwindle:–Battle conditions become extreme–6th Army’s position more vulnerable & isolated–Paulus is about to be cut off from his LOC to west–Poor German intelligence misread Soviet OOB & intentions–Time running out for 6th Army to conduct an orderly withdrawal7 Avoidable Disaster •Hitler makes situation worse:–Orders the 6th Army to stand fast as Soviets close in “regardless of the danger…” –Countermanding informed & more competent tactical decisions of his ground commanders at the scene•C3 breakdown at OKH HQ:–Hitler’s belated reversal is too late–Chuikov is about to cut off Paulus–Manstein would attempt a rescue •Goering’s role? –Sealed 6th Army’s fate:–Outrageous Promises not kept–5-600 Tons/day of supplies to 6th? •Reality?–?________ tons per dayPaulus ChuikovManstein8Tragic Ending•Indecision on Hitler’s part:–Last chance to withdraw 6th Army–6th Army’s flanks protected by Romanian allies – very vulnerable–Army Group Don (FM Manstein) attempted rescue from South:•Ultimately too late to save 6th –Don must fight for its own survival•Soviet Response: Chuikov seizes the opportunity:–Aggressive counter-attacks –Closes in & surrounds 6th Army•“Field Marshal” Paulus forced to fight to bitter end:–31 Jan 1943: surrenders 90K => (5K make it back after war)–2 Feb: Strecker’s 11th Corps makes Last Stand at Machinery Factory9Germans Recover •Hitler finally allows Army Group A to withdraw:–Withdrawal affords opportunity to recover –Fall back on own LOCs & supply dumps & grow stronger–Reinforcements finally arrive:–Germans gradually start to stabilize their defensive positions•In contrast => what happens to Soviet advance?•Soviets now become overextended the more they advance:–Soviet air support unavailable – bases are too far to East;–Soviet Counter-offensive starts to grind to halt•Manstein is able to convince Hitler to cut Army Group A some slack:–Army Group A allowed to consolidate & refit–Prepares for counteroffensive => to be launched 19 Feb:•Decisive CAS provided by Gen Richtofen’s fighter aircraft–By Mar’43 advance to push Soviets back to Donets:•Recaptured Kharkov & then rest & refit until July10Battle of Kursk (July 1943) •Operation Citadel: –Series of battles of latest German Offensive•Operational Purpose:–Reduce Soviet reserves +–Improve established German defensive positions•Plan (Map):–Tactical Objective:–Pinch off Soviet forces defending Kursk salient–Hitler: strategic victory effect: –“as beacon seen around world”11Friction & Change•What major Soviet improvements would the Germans now have to contend with?•Soviet Improvements:–1. Operational & tactical skills–2. Intelligence collection & perception management–3. Outstanding generalship •Rokossoviskii & Zhukov –4. In-depth defense preparation •Successive re-enforced Defense belts•Status of German intelligence?–Virtually ?______________ & vulnerable to Soviet