| Army Group Don | |
|---|---|
| Heeresgruppe Don | |
| Active | 21 November 1942 – 12 February 1943 |
| Disbanded | 1943 |
| Country | .svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Allegiance | German Army |
| Type | army group |
| Size | 3–5 armies |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Erich von Manstein |
Army Group Don was a short-lived army group of the German Army during World War II.
On 20 November Hitler ordered again to reorganize the southern front in the Soviet Union. The order was following: "Between the Army Group A and B at the turn of the river Don has to be sent another Army Group." Army Group Don was created as an attempt to hold the line between Army Group A and Army Group B.
Army Group Don was created from the headquarters of the Eleventh Army in the southern sector of the Eastern Front on 22 November 1942. Army Group Don only lasted until February 1943 when it was combined with Army Group B and was made into the new Army Group South.[1]
The only commander of Army Group Don during its short history was Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erich von Manstein. It consisted of the Sixth Army in the Stalingrad pocket, which included the encircled elements of the 4th Panzer Army, together with the Romanian Third Army.[2]
Zhukov stated, "We now know that Manstein's plan to rescue the encircled forces at Stalingrad was to organize two shock forces - at Kotelnikovo and Tormosin." The attempt "was a total failure."[3]
Commanders
| No. | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein (1887–1973) | 21 November 1942 | 12 February 1943 | 83 days |
)
References
- ^ Tessin 1980, p. 50.
- ^ Adam, Wilhelm; Ruhle, Otto (2015). With Paulus at Stalingrad. Translated by Tony Le Tissier. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 113. ISBN 9781473833869.
- ^ Zhukov, Georgy (1974). Marshal of Victory, Volume II. Pen and Sword Books Ltd. p. 133,137. ISBN 9781781592915.
Bibliography
- Tessin, Georg (1980). Die Landstreitkräfte: Namensverbände / Die Luftstreitkräfte (Fliegende Verbände) / Flakeinsatz im Reich 1943–1945 [Ground forces: Named units and formations / Air forces (Flying units and formations) / Anti–aircraft service in the Reich 1943–1945]. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen–SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). 14. Osnabrück: Biblio. ISBN 3-7648-1111-0.