Eastern Front Editor: Cherkasy Steel Encirclement

In the autumn and winter of 1943, since the Kursk Tank Battle, the Soviet army rapidly advanced in Ukraine, forcing Manstein's German Army Group South to retreat step by step. However, the Soviet army never got the chance to encircle and annihilate Manstein's heavily armed group. At the same time, Hitler transported Germany's most elite armored forces and a large number of the latest heavy tanks to Manstein to stabilize the situation on the southern battlefield on the Eastern Front. In Kiev and other places, Manstein launched a powerful armored counterattack, but failed. The Soviets continued their advance. In early 1944, in the Cherkasy area, the Soviet army finally seized a fighter opportunity and surrounded the two armies under Manstein's command. The so-called steel circle was formed. In order to save face, Manstein decided to make a desperate move and deploy the largest and most elite armored force to carry out the rescue. A rare tank battle unfolded on the winter snowfields. After the German army fought hard, although a large number of soldiers were rescued, the strongest armored corps of the German army on the Eastern Front lost its combat effectiveness. The balanced situation on the southern battlefield of the Eastern Front was completely broken. Having lost Hitler's trust, Manstein's military career would also come to an end. Since 1943, the technical advantages of German heavy armored forces were also lost in this battle. The Battle of Cherkasy has a unique and important position in a tactical sense. An in-depth understanding of this battle will help deepen our understanding of the Soviet and German military systems, tactics, and weapon use methods. This volume provides a more detailed description of this winter tank battle than conventional volumes.