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CCB -> 60 years ago.... (12/15/2002 8:57:58 AM)
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[SIZE=4]STALINGRAD[/SIZE]
December 12, 1942
Eastern Front
Although the Germans have a bridgehead over the Don at Nizhne Chirskaya, only 25 miles from the nearest of the forces trapped in the Stalingrad pocket, General Manstein has decided to begin his relieving attacks farther south near Kotelnikovo, code named Wintergewitter or Winter Storm. General Hoth is in tactical charge of the attack that, with initial armor superiority, makes good progress at first. The Germans have assembled a total of 13 divisions for the operation, including three Panzer Divisions. The Soviet line, held by the Fifty-First Army, is comparatively weak because its next major moves are planned for farther north and farther south. In fact Second Guards Army, which is intended to participate in the next attack in the north, is quickly summoned to take up positions on the Myshkova River. This reinforcement for the Soviet rear cannot arrive for a few days and the Fifty-First Army is left to delay the German advance.
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