Chapter 86 Appendix (4)

Top secret (transmission by officers only) December 19th at 18:00 Five copies (fourth) Recipient: Sixth Army, Fourth Armored Army 1. The 4th Panzer Army (57th Panzer Corps) has repelled the enemy in the Verkhoye Kimsky area.And has reached the Mishikova River at Nizh Kimsky.It is planning to attack the strong enemy concentrated in the Kamenka area and its north.A bitter fight is expected. The situation on the Chill front did not allow forces on the west bank of the Don to advance towards Karach.Zirskaya is still in the hands of the enemy. 2. The Sixth Army should begin the Winter Storm attack as early as possible.The purpose was to get in touch with the 57th Panzer Corps and, if necessary, to advance across the Donskaya Shalitsha in order to allow the transport columns to pass.

3. The development of the situation may further extend the tasks in the previous section to the Miškova River.The code word is thunder.In this case, again, the aim was to establish contact with the 57th Panzer Corps in order to allow the passage of the transport column and then cover the flank downstream of Karpovka so that the Army could advance to the Miškova River and at the same time divide Withdraw from the fortified area. It is necessary to launch Operation Thunder immediately after the attack of the winter storm.Air replenishment should still continue.Pitonic Airport should try to hold out until the last minute.

All weapons and artillery should be taken away as long as they are movable, especially artillery needed in battle and weapons and equipment that are difficult to replenish.For this purpose they should be moved in due course to the southwestern part of the encirclement. 4. For all the actions mentioned in the previous section, necessary preparations should be made immediately, and the action should be started only after the order from Lei Ming. 5. When the attack specified in Section 2 can start, the date and time shall be reported. Field Marshal Manstein Copy 1: Correspondence File The second: Fourth Air Group Army

The third: the military department Volume 4: War Diary Fifth: draft