(4/10) Battlefield II The Battle of the Crimea Ep8 World War II

Videos Running Time 01:41:00 in 10 Parts

Battlefield II: The Battle of the Crimea"


This episode of "Battlefield" chronicles the German Armys campaign in the Crimea.
The campaign was conducted by the German 11th Army (XI), despite the incorrect map references to the 6th Army (VI).

The Crimea was a thorn in the belly of Army Group Souths advance on Rostov. Hitler also believed the Crimea could act as an alternative invasion route into the Caucasus. The task of conquering the Crimea would fall on Gen. Erich von Manstein. Mansteins 11th Army would consist of 4 Corps. Thirty, 49th Mountain, 54th, and the 3rd Romanian Corps were all assigned to the 11th Army. The Soviet Union would assemble a force of 235,000 men in various units.

The Battle of the Crimea officially began on September 24th, 1941. Gen. Mansteins first objective was to break resistance and breakthrough the Isthmus of Perekop. This invasion route was an obvious choice, and a necessary entrance into the Crimea. Manstein had no choice but to fight a battle of attrition in this area. Manstein achieved a breakthrough on October 28th, 1941.

The defenses of Sevastopol were extensive and well planned out. Three belts of defenses defended the approaches to the city. Manstein chose to center his offensive in the south. The Soviet defensive belt network was weaker in the south. However, the terrain was terrible. The offensive failed.

As Manstein was closing on Sevastopol, the Soviets launched attacks across the Kerch Peninsula. These attacks succeeded in pushing the Germans back. A series of excellent counter offensives succeeded; in clearing the Soviet presence out of the eastern Crimea, and inflicting 175,000 casualties on the Soviets.

After murderous attacks, bombardments and tough Soviet resistance Sevastopol fell on June 29, 1942. Gen. Manstein was promoted to Field Marshall.

In 1944 the Soviets crossed into the Kerch Peninsula once again. As the 17th Army retreated, the Soviets encircled all forces in the Crimea. When all hope seemed lost a botched seaborne extraction began. The German defense of the Crimea in 1944 was another complete Hitler influenced disaster.

Enjoy this episode of Battlefields

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• Russia
• Soviet
• Crimea
• Barbarossa
• German
• Wehrmacht
• Panzer
• Field
• Marshall
• Manstein
• 1944
• Sevastopol
• Germans
• Soviets
• Battlefield
• Hitler
• Army
• Group
• South

[polkovnik50]

My father was in 1942 in Crimea.

[polkovnik50]

My father was a Russian soldier. Thank you!

[popper504]

@skofuzen maybe you should stop watching American movies.

[popper504]

@kerier1911 yes in mid 1945 when japan was gettingnuked and they were starnded.

[popper504]

@sheemsheem Germany had more resources than RUssia. It's just Russia had America and Britian sedning supplies and Germany had to send resources to Africa, Italy , and in France to fight , also include when America and Britian started bombing Germany in 1942. They had to keep fighters , flak batteries, and men to defend Germany.

[polkovnik50]

@maxter480 I spoke about my father. He was born in 1914. From 1942 to 1945 he was in a concentration camp in Germany. And from 1945 to 1955 was in the Soviet camp in Kolyma

[maxter480]

they totally stole this from Fire Emblem xD

[maxter480]

@polkovnik50 What are you, like 60???

[kerier1911]

@omegavalerius ussians killed more than one million japaneese troops in manchuria campaing...

[sheemsheem]

Imagine Manstien with the manpower,resources,armor, etc of russia

[omegavalerius]

@skofuzen

Well you took the heaviest hit from the Germans but the Yanks pretty much single handedly took out Japan, turned the tide in Africa with the Brits, took out the Italians with the Brits and helped with the Germans. Having two comepting dictatorships who didn't get along well saved the free world. Although it did condemn a lot of small nations for decades of foreign rule but in real politics there is never ultimate victory.

[tjhoenecke]

@skofuzen There are a few idiots in every group. And they all stereotype.