After concluding the Battle of Kiev in September 1941, the German Army Group South advanced from the Dniepr to the Sea of Azov coast. The city of Rostov was assigned as the objective for the 11th Army now commanded by General von Schobert, however he died in a crash the same day due to landing his liaison Fieseler Storch aircraft in a minefield. To replace him, General of Infantry Von Manstein was ordered to travel from the Leningrad sector of the front to the extreme southern sector. He would also receive support from the 4th Luftwaffe Air Fleet.