Death Ride ETO (id:#57959)

Heat of Battle (Waffen-SS II: The Fuhrer's Fireman ID: FF13)   [next]   [previous]

Kursk, USSR 1943-07-30 (4 others)

Overview:

Operation Citadel had burnt itself out like a bonfire on 15 July. Von Manstein’s 6th Army, which contained the three powerful SS Panzer Divisions of the II SS Corps, remained inside the southern arm of the failed operation. The Soviets planned to cut the head of this formation off with a powerful counterattack into the flank of the 6th Army from the east. The assault came on 17 July and, by the evening of the 18th, a bridgehead was established over the Mius River. The 23rd Panzer Division was ordered to attack and crush the bridgehead on the 19th, but was stopped cold at the base of Hill213.9. The Russians fortified this hill mass prior to Citadel and, from this defense network, inflicted heavy losses on the 23rd Panzer. The next 10 days saw both sides attacking and counterattacking with no side able to gain an advantage. During this time, the 3rd SS Panzer Division “Totenkopf” went through a short rest and refit and received 22 T-34 tanks. Von Manstein ordered the II SS Panzer Corps to attack the bridgehead.

Defender: Russian (Elements of 4th Guards Mechanized Corps)  

Errata (source)