The Soviet breakthrought southwest of Kiev during december 1943 pushed the German 4th Army back over 160Km leaving the 8th army flank exposed, in Jan. 44 it was the only formation with a foothold on the southern banks of the river Dnieper.
True to the form Hitler refused to let it withdraw to safety, and it was only a matter of time before the Soviet high command close the net around it.
Inside the pocket artillery General Wilheilm Stemmermann was not going to repeat the mistake of field Marshall von Paulus at Stalingrad, and he immediately prepared to follow Manstein orders (to escape), there was no time to lose.

