ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: THE WINTER CAMPAIGN After frustrating German attempts to relieve encircled Sixth Army, the STAVKA ordered its fronts in southern Russia to undertake a series of operations simultaneously with the destruction of the encircled force (see Map 8). The STAVKA applied maximum pressure on the Germans and their allies by conducting a series of successive front operations to collapse German defenses on the entire southern wing of the Eastern Front. Initially, these operations were well-planned, but as time passed, each successive operation became more hasty in nature. The last operations, begun in early February, were literally planned and conducted from the march. Initial operations incorporated detailed razvedka and maskirovka plans. Later operations were characterized by adequate intelligence collection but poor interpretation of data and lax implementation of maskirovka as increasingly overtaxed and exhausted Soviet units sought to deliver that last blow required to produce German collapse.
