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• Operation Trappenjagd brillian Manstein’s set piece battle
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When we speak about Von Manstein military genius, we amateur historian, ussually bragg a little how much books we have read them – but hey in the end, any historian is also an resesrcher and your’s truly, Gonzo Journalist Master of Subversion ahem have really read a lot of them.
So, just to say – this article is mostly based on works of Earl Ziemke, Paul Carell, John Ericson and personal memoirs by Manstein itself „Lost Victories“.
So, when we evaluate genius of Von Manstein we must have this in check.
The first pre-requisite thing for such a succseful Operation Trappenjagd in 1942, against Russians in Crimea and led to capture of Kerch and 190000 of captured Soviet soldiers, was set months before.
During winter 1941/1942, Germans had to economise their meagef Air assets on Eastern Front. That led to brilliant German tactic of concentration of Air Power for deciceive air supremacy on small part of the Russo-Germa front.
That in fact proved quite effective in German operation around Staraya Russa, Demyansk, Kholm, and later in breaking Russian offensive around Kharkov in the spring of 1942., and later pre-operstiond before Operation Blau.
In essence, that was concentration of Air Power, esoecially Ju87 dive bomber Geshwsders, and other bomber and fighter forces.
To be some sort of artilery and thing that will „lift up infantry’ in absence of real artilery or other means of destruction or of an isolation of a battlefield.
Because, Manstein knew that he was weaker so he used his Military Genius against Kozhlov – not a fair fight.
Well, first Manstein led Russians that attack will come in the North but Manstein in fact had intentions to attack in the South.
Russians had three very fortifided lines in front of Kerch, big prize if later advance to the Caucasus is ever considered.
Manstein used really creative approach, how to break first fortified position sufficently fast.
He needed to be fast because he wanted to encircle and isolate Northern, most numerous Russian groupings of forces with Air Force – that was whole concentrated. Imagine 500 bombers and how they can devastate and isolate part of the front.
And that was the thing, when Von Manstein said „Infantry will have to be pulled by Air Force“.
First Russian position was breached by very innovative simultaneous attack of Germans by tge sea and land on most southerly position of the Russian positions, by the sea.
Imagine dozen German boats landing behind Soviet positions and right at the same time attack from land side. Brilliant, defenders would be stunned – and you could roll the front from the flank. That coordination was achieved because those boats left Feodosiya harbour in the night, so attack was coordinated in a minute.
At the same time roaring Stukas attacks Soviet artyllery positions, strongpoints.
After first line was breached, Soviet defenses were simply stunned – and later encircled. Now, it was too later and even impossible to transfer forces for the Russians.
So, basically, Von Manstein just outsmart Russian Generals in his TrappenJagd. With less forces at his disposal he had to use Military Creativity and let’s be frank, tricks, because when you defeat stronger opponent forces – that is in fact Military Genius of using creatively forces under your command.
