Kursk

On 5 July 1943, both the Wehrmacht and their Waffen-SS counterparts stood poised ready to go into action, the pre-dawn light was shattered by a massive German bombardment. The artillery barrage was so intense that in no less than one hour German gunners had hurled more shells than they had used in both Poland and the Western campaigns put together. Despite this violent bombardment, Soviet artillery responded with equal ferocity that soon confirmed what all Germans feared: the attack was not a surprise. All over the front, Soviet artillery crews fired at known German artillery positions that caught the German gunners in the open.

Within hours of the artillery bombardment, three Waffen-SS divisions were engaged in the opening stages of the greatest armoured clash in history. The task of the SS. Panzer-Korps was to advance via Beresov and Sadeynoye, and breaking through the first defensive belt. Between Lutchki and Jakovlevo was the second line of Russian defensive positions, and when these were destroyed the advance would follow in a general northeastern direction. For this operation the l67. Infanterie-Division would form part of the SS Korps and would guard the left flank.

The 'Leibstandarte's' first attack went well, and their armour soon encircled enemy units that were destroyed with supporting grenadiers. The 9. Kompanie of the 'Leibstandarte's' 2.SS. Panzergrenadier-Regiment captured two hills west of Byelgorod and took five fortified positions with explosive charges. The soldiers of the 'Totenkopf' division too wasted no time and smashed onto a series of strong Soviet defence lines. At the same time the 'Das Reich' division made considerable progress, and infiltrated enemy lines in front of them.

By evening of the first day of the attack 'Totenkopf', with its new Tiger tanks leading the advance had reached the second Russian defensive belt and managed to capture the village of Yakhontovo and taken an important command post of the Soviet 69th Army. Both the 'Leibstandarte' and 'Das Reich' had done equally as well. With their Tigers and Panzer.IV's they had penetrated some 13 miles into the Russian defences.

By 7 July, the advance of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS seemed more promising than ever. German forces had managed to smash its way through more than 30 miles of Russian line, whilst in some areas they were equally successful despite enduring bitter fighting. German battle reports confirmed that given the amount of Soviet prisoners taken and the damage inflicted on their lines, it appeared that the Germans were poised on the edge of victory. However, they had not even yet encountered the main enemy positions. The fact that they had advanced at such speed had enabled the Russians to take full advantage of attacking the German flanks.

The initial phase of the Soviet defensive action at Kursk was often crude, messy and costly, but in a tactical and operational sense it achieved its objectives. During the days that followed the Red Army, despite continuing to incur huge losses in both men and weaponry, deprived the Germans of even tactical superiority. Against the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS they constantly strengthened their defences through reinforcement, skilfully deploying mobile armour and anti-tank reserves to compensate for the high losses. Within days the Russians had managed to ground down many of the Wehrmacht units, including those in the SS. Panzer-Korps, and threw its offensive timetable completely off schedule. It was here on the blood-soaked plains at Kursk that for the first time in the war the Red Army had savagely contested every foot of ground and was finally on an equal footing. Through sheer weight of Soviet strength and stubborn combat along an everextending front, the German mobile units were finally being forced to a standstill.

On 9 July, the SS. Panzer-Korps renewed their offensive against very strong enemy forces. In the vicious battle that ensued, the SS received a series of sustained attacks, but fanatically held their ground. Although they were in danger of being cut-off and encircled, they received orders to push forward and attack Soviet troops northeast of Beregovoy. During the advance, 'Das Reich' guarded the eastern flank of 'Totenkopf' and Leibstandarte. En route it became embroiled in thick bitter fighting in a huge tank battle in the hills around Prokhorovka on 12 July. Here the Soviet 5th Guard and 5th Guard Tank Armies clashed with the powerful armoured SS units consequently resulting in the climax of operation 'Zitadelle'. Throughout the attack the professionalism and technical ability of the SS was second to none. During the heavy fighting SS troops were often able to turn the balance even when the Russians had overwhelming superiority in numbers. In spite of the losses the units were imbued with optimism and continued to deliver to the enemy heavy blows.

During the climax of the battle both the 'Totenkopf' and 'Leibstandarte' attacked, whilst 'Das Reich' remained on the defensive, repelling a number of armour and infantry attacks. Although Russian losses in both men and equipment far exceeded the German, their losses could be replaced. German losses, however, except where armour could be recovered, were total. Within less than a week of Zitadelle being unleashed both sides had lost several hundred tanks and thousands of troops. While the Red Army was able to repair and replace its losses, the SS divisions had to struggle on with what they had left at their disposal. Constantly, the soldiers were being slowly ground down in a battle of attrition. The Russians had committed no less than seven corps, with more than 850 tanks and SU-85 assault guns. Wave upon wave of Russian T-34 tanks poured a storm of fire onto the SS positions. When the Soviet tanks ran out of ammunition, the crews often physically rammed the German tanks. Dismounted tanks crews then set about destroying the Panzers on foot using all weapons at their disposal, including grenades and mines.

Heavy battles of attrition were fought along many parts of the front, but it was the elite Waffen-SS soldiers that were taking the brunt of the fighting. Everywhere enemy troops charged Wehrmacht and SS positions, turning these once mighty soldiers from attackers to desperate defenders. Whole German regiments had no sooner attacked and captured an important position, when it was repeatedly struck by waves of Russian tanks and mounted infantry and compelled to go over to the defensive.

By 13 July, the Germans were unable to make any further...