Editing Erich von Manstein (section)

===Invasion of the Soviet Union===
{{Main|Operation Barbarossa}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-209-0086-12, Russland-Nord, Erich von Manstein, Brandenberger.jpg|thumb|Manstein (right) with ''[[General der Panzertruppe]]'' [[Erich Brandenberger]], one of his divisional commanders, in June 1941.]]
In July 1940 the German High Command commenced planning [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of the [[Soviet Union]].{{sfn|Evans|2008|p=160}} On 15 March 1941 Manstein was appointed commander of the [[LVI Panzer Corps (Germany)|LVI Panzer Corps]]; he was one of 250 commanders to be briefed for the upcoming major offensive, first seeing detailed plans of the offensive in May. His corps was part of the [[4th Panzer Army|Fourth Panzer Group]] under the command of General [[Erich Hoepner]] in [[Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb]]'s [[Army Group North]].{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=198–199}} The Army Group was tasked with thrusting through the [[Baltic States]] and then advancing on [[Leningrad]]. Manstein arrived at the front only six days prior to the launch of the offensive. Operation Barbarossa commenced on 22 June 1941 with a massive German attack along the whole front line. Manstein's corps was to advance with [[Georg-Hans Reinhardt]]'s [[XLI Panzer Corps]] to the [[Daugava River|Dvina River]] to secure the bridges near the town of [[Daugavpils]].{{sfn|Melvin|2010|p=205}} The Soviet forces mounted a number of counterattacks, but those were aimed against Reinhardt's corps, leading to the [[Battle of Raseiniai]]. Manstein's corps advanced rapidly, reaching the Dvina River, {{convert|315|km}} distant, in just 100 hours. Overextended and well ahead of the rest of the army group, he fended off a number of determined Soviet counterattacks.{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=209–210}} After Reinhardt's corps closed in, the two corps were tasked with encircling the Soviet formations around [[Luga, Leningrad Oblast|Luga]] in a pincer movement. [[File:German advance into USSR.png|thumb|left|Progress of Army Group North, June to December 1941]]Again having penetrated deep into the Soviet lines with unprotected flanks, his corps was the target of a Soviet counteroffensive from 15 July at [[Soltsy]] by the [[Soviet 11th Army]], commanded by [[Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin|Nikolai Vatutin]]. Manstein's [[8th Panzer Division]] was cut off. Although it was able to fight its way free, it was badly mauled, and the Red Army succeeded in halting Manstein's advance at Luga. The corps regrouped at [[Dno]].{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=217–218}}{{sfn|Forczyk|2010|pp=16–20}} The 8th Panzer was sent on anti-partisan duties and Manstein was given the [[4th SS Polizei Division]]. The attack on Luga was repeatedly delayed.{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=220–221}}

The assault on Luga was still underway when Manstein received orders on 10 August that his next task would be to begin the advance toward Leningrad. No sooner had he moved to his new headquarters at Lake Samro than he was told to send his men towards [[Staraya Russa]] to relieve the X Corps, which was in danger of being encircled. On 12 August the Red Army had launched an offensive with the 11th and [[34th Army (Soviet Union)|34th]] Armies against Army Group North, cutting off three divisions. Frustrated with the loss of the 8th Panzer and the missed opportunity to advance on Leningrad, Manstein returned to Dno. His counteroffensive led to a major Soviet defeat when his unit encircled five Soviet divisions, receiving air support for the first time on that front. They captured 12,000 prisoners and 141 tanks. His opponent, General Kuzma M. Kachanov of the 34th Army, was subsequently court martialed and executed for the defeat. Manstein tried to obtain rest days for his men, who had been constantly fighting in poor terrain and increasingly poor weather since the start of the campaign, but to no avail. They were ordered to advance to the east on [[Demyansk]]. On 12 September, when he was near the city, he was informed that he would take over [[11th Army (Wehrmacht)|11th Army]] of [[Army Group South]] in Ukraine.{{sfn|Forczyk|2010|pp=16–20}}{{sfn|Melvin|2010|pp=221–224}}