1. To view animation on PC: hit F5
Kerch Peninsula May 8-18, 1942
Strategic Context
Adolf Hitler’s German armies invade the Soviet Union in June 1941 in Operation Barbarossa. When the offensive fails to destroy the Soviet Red Army and force a political collapse, Hitler must plan a southern Summer Offensive in 1942 with the objective of capturing the Soviet oil fields in the Caucasus. Before this offensive can take place, German Army Group South must conquer the Crimean Peninsula to eliminate any threat to the southern flank. Erich von Manstein’s 11. Army is tasked with this and besieges Sevastopol until D.T. Kozlov lands in the Kerch Peninsula to the east with three Soviet armies. Manstein leaves a few Romanian divisions to watch Sevastopol and turns to clear the Kerch Peninsula with the rest of his force before it becomes a perilous two-front campaign.
To view animation on PC: hit F5
To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter
Stakes
+ A Soviet victory would force the Germans into an attritional, two-front battle for the Crimea, tying down 11. Army and delaying the German Summer Offensive.
+ A German victory would allow 11. Army to assault Sevastopol and Army Group South to advance into the Caucasus.
No Image
Available
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

2. Kerch Peninsula, 1942 Strength
Soviet Crimean Army Group
Well
German 11. Army
Well
D.T. Kozlov
Erich von Manstein
296,000 infantry
150,000 infantry
350 tanks
180 tanks
400 aircraft
700 aircraft
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

3. Eastern Front c. May 5, 1941

4. Soviet Crimean Army Group
The battlefield consists of a peninsula roughly 90km from its eastern tip to its narrowest point to the west, which measures only 19km across (the neck of the peninsula has been widened to fit all units). Although the terrain is relatively flat and open, there are few roads and railways; the only major railway for supply runs from the west in the north, splitting south to Fedosiya and east to Kerch. German units are italicized in the narration.
Soviet Crimean Army Group
(Kozlov)
Sea of Azov
Arabat Spit
Bay of Arabat
Kerch
Kamenskoye
Kerch Strait
Semysotka
Kerch Peninsula
Taman Peninsula
Caffa Bay
Feodosiya
German 11. Army
(Manstein)
Black Sea

5. Soviet Crimean Army Group Soviet Crimean Army Group
Manstein orders an unusual amount of aerial reconnaissance missions over Soviet 47. and 51. Armies while VII Romanian and XLII Corps act busy, building phony artillery batteries and supply dumps. All of these actions contribute in convincing Kozlov that he is correct to assess the German attack will come in the north.
VII Romanian and XLII Corps launch pinning attacks against 47. and 51. Armies while the 22nd PzD hits the left wing of 44. Army. It breaks through the 63rd Mountain Division (MtnD) and envelops the 396th ID, effectively destroying them both. Manstein’s 132nd ID exploits this success and pushes along the southern shore. Chernyak’s armoured reserves can only delay the 22nd PzD while Lvov begins to transfer forces to contain the breakthrough and protect the northern armies from encirclement.
Manstein’s 22nd PzD wheels north, followed by the 28th ID. Kozlov desperately counterattacks with available armoured reserves. These are successful in that they bide time for 51. Army and elements of 47. Army to escape encirclement. However, three Soviet divisions are trapped while the others flee east, constantly harassed by German dive-bombers. Manstein transfers the 10th Romanian ID south to support the advance, leaving the 4th MtnD and 19th Romanian ID to reduce the trapped Soviet pocket.
Manstein deploys his corps from north to south: VII Romanian Corps, XLII Corps and XXX Corps. He plans to pin down the Soviet right wing with VII Romanian and XLII Corps, and then smash the Soviet left wing with XXX Corps, spearheaded by the 22nd Panzer Division (PzD). Manstein also holds air superiority with VIII Air Corps supporting his offensive. Kozlov deploys two armies in the north, 47. Army and 51. Army – as this is where previous German attacks have come – and one army in the south, 44. Army. Kozlov plans to hold his position for the time being in preparations for a later large-scale offensive.
The Germans attack all along the front, engaging all fifteen frontline Soviet divisions in some capacity. VII Romanian and XLII Corps pin 47. and 51. Armies while XXX Corps advances furthest against the weakest 44. Army. Manstein uses VIII Air Corps to pulverize Soviet frontline positions and prevent Kozlov’s reserves from reaching the frontline. Manstein transfers his 170th Infantry Division (ID) to XXX Corps because there appears to be no danger of a Soviet counterattack in the north. The 22nd PzD is unable to reach the frontline due to heavy rainfall.
Landmarks
Soviet Crimean Army Group
(Kozlov)
Sea of Azov
Symbol guide
Arabat Spit
4th Mountain Division – Eglseer
10th Romanian Infantry Division – Caracas
19th Romanian Infantry Division – Schmidt
22nd Panzer Division – Apell
28th Infantry Division – Sinnhuber
46th Infantry Division – Haccius
50th Infantry Division – Schmidt
132nd Infantry Division – Lindemann
170th Infantry Division – Sander
German 11. Army Soviet Crimean Army Group
Infantry division Infantry division
Mountain division Mountain division
Panzer division Tank brigade
Romanian infantry division Cavalry division
Headquarters Headquarters
Naval units
Bay of Arabat
Kerch
47. Army (Kolganov)
47. Army (Kolganov)
Romanian VII Corps (Mitranescu)
Kamenskoye
Kerch Strait
Semysotka
51. Army (Lvov)
Kerch Peninsula
Taman Peninsula
XLII Corps (Mattenklott)
44. Army (Chernyak
44. Army (Chernyak)
XLII Corps (Mattenklott)
XXX Corps (Fretter-Pico)
Soviet Crimean Army Group
(D.T. Kozlov)
296,000 infantry
350 tanks
400 aircraft
German 11. Army
(Erich von Manstein)
150,000 infantry
180 tanks
700 aircraft
XXX Corps (Salmuth)
Caffa Bay
Feodosiya
Subordinates
German 11. Army
(Manstein)
Black Sea

6. Soviet Crimean Army Group Soviet Crimean Army Group
Kozlov forms his battered divisions into a disorganized defensive line. Manstein is forced to hold back the 22nd PzD because it is slated to be sent northwards to support Army Group South’s operations at Kharkov.
Manstein continues to place pressure on the rapidly deteriorating Soviet force; the 46th ID makes the next major breakthrough. Kozlov can do nothing but allow the Black Sea Fleet to evacuate what remains of his force out of the peninsula.
Manstein launches two main thrusts with the 170th and 132nd IDs. Both succeed in breaking through Soviet lines; Kozlov’s defensive line collapses as his forces flee further east. Soviet formations surrender in battalion size during this flight. Manstein sends the 10th Romanian ID southeast to protect the coast from any amphibious landing.
Landmarks
Soviet Crimean Army Group
(Kozlov)
Symbol guide
Arabat Spit
4th Mountain Division – Eglseer
10th Romanian Infantry Division – Caracas
19th Romanian Infantry Division – Schmidt
22nd Panzer Division – Apell
28th Infantry Division – Sinnhuber
46th Infantry Division – Haccius
50th Infantry Division – Schmidt
132nd Infantry Division – Lindemann
170th Infantry Division – Sander
German 11. Army Soviet Crimean Army Group
Infantry division Infantry division
Mountain division Mountain division
Panzer division Tank brigade
Romanian infantry division Cavalry division
Headquarters Headquarters
Naval units
Bay of Arabat
Kerch
Kamenskoye
Kerch Strait
Semysotka
Black Sea Fleet (Oktyabrsky)
Kerch Peninsula
Taman Peninsula
Soviet Crimean Army Group
(D.T. Kozlov)
296,000 infantry
350 tanks
400 aircraft
German 11. Army
(Erich von Manstein)
150,000 infantry
180 tanks
700 aircraft
Caffa Bay
Feodosiya
Subordinates
German 11. Army
(Manstein)
Black Sea

7. Kerch Peninsula, 1942 Casualties & Aftermath
Soviet Crimean Army Group:
German 11. Army:
>185,000 or
63%
7,600 or 5%
Manstein left the 4th MtnD along with the 10th and 19th Romanian IDs in the Kerch Peninsula to deter any desperate Soviet landing, and turned his attention to Sevastopol. However, the Soviet landing in the Kerch Peninsula and consequential battle allowed the Soviet Coastal Army enough time to build extensive updates to Sevastapol’s fortifications. Manstein only captured the fortress and declared the entire Crimea secure on July 4, Germany’s Summer Offensive was launched soon after but ended in disaster at Stalingrad, which shifted the initiative to the Soviets and nearly destroyed Army Group South.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

8. The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps
By Jonathan Webb, 2009