Chapter 9; The Crimean Campaign Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 9, Manstein became the commander of the Eleventh Army attacking the Crimea in late September 1941, a key strategic position according to Hitler. Manstein also took over the command of large bodies of Romanian forces, which were recognized as being operationally inferior to German forces. At first Eleventh Army was to both capture the Crimea, and march east on the mainland toward Rostov. To breakthrough into the Crimea over the Perekop meant fighting over an extremely narrow front. Manstein decided to first attack the Crimea. The Eleventh Army succeeded in penetrating the Crimea by September 26th, but still had to get past the Ishun isthmus, another narrow point. The advance had to be stopped in the Crimea to deal with Russian attacks further north that were soon defeated by General Von Kleist.

Even Hitler realized...