THE WOLF BY THE EARS: THE BATTLE OF KURSK JULY, 1943
...
...Suddenly, the faint droning of approaching aircraft grows
louder and the Soviet troops scramble into action. Wave after
wave of German dive bombers swoop in to attack the Soviet positions
while German fighters give them an umbrella of air cover.
Emblazed guns, dummy and real, are blown skyward along with trench
works and scores of men.
Within a few minutes the inferno ceases and the Stukas peel off and
fly out of sight.
As the startled Soviets emerge from their mangled trenches, a mass of
artillery shells begin to rain down on their positions and the Germans
commence their attack at the foot of the hills.
Led by their battalion commanders, wedge formations of German infantry
rush through the cleared mine field lanes. They are closely followed
by mounted infantry in half-tracks and assault guns which rapidly
zigzag their way forward in support. Interspersed within the advancing
groups are assault engineers who quickly work to remove obstacles and
sweep for undiscovered mine fields. While Soviet fighters swoop down
on the advancing Germans, several intact Soviet groups return murderous
small arms fire and call in their own artillery.
As the mist gives way to the morning sun, the flat, wide
open spaces stretching up beyond the initial Soviet
defenses become apparent. Platoon-sized wedges of Tiger
tanks roll irresistibly forward to lead an assortment of
half-tracks, Mark III’s, and IV’s that fan out to the
sides and rear.
Suddenly, the relative calm is shattered as one of the
lead Tigers takes a series of antitank shells to the
turret and hull, but it emerges unscathed. The other
vehicles quickly move into advantageous positions as more
rounds fall among the group advancing along the Belgorod-
Oboyan road.
Hella good, with Elefants being knocked out by Soviet Anti Tank Infantry
units with Molotovs and PTRS rifles...