Picking another weak point of the Axis defensive line to the NW of Stalingrad, the Italian 8th, the Hungarian 2nd and what remained of the Romanian 3rd Armies would be attacked. Then the airfield feeding Gen. Paulus’ 6th Army would be raided. The German forces would be tied down and unable to assist. Punch by punch Army Group South is losing its strength.
Episode 537-Gen. Manstein’s Backhand Blow
Manstein overcame Hitler’s objections and then two Soviet Fronts. By early March 1943, Kursk was exposed and open to attack.