Army Group Don
In late November 1942 the Red Army had completed Operation Uranus, encircling some 300,000 Axis personnel in and around the city of Stalingrad. German forces within the Stalingrad pocket and directly outside were reorganized (22 November 1942) into Army Group Don and placed under the command of Field Marshal Erich von Manstein. The Red Army continued to allocate as many resources as possible to the planned Operation Saturn to isolate Army Group A from the rest of the German Army. To remedy the situation, the "Luftwaffe" attempted to supply German forces in Stalingrad through an air bridge. When the "Luftwaffe" failed and it became obvious that a breakout could succeed only if launched as early as possible, Manstein decided on a relief effort.