12 July 1943 marked the day of the greatest tank battle in military history. At 0920 hours 150 Soviet tanks, carrying infantry and moving at high speed, attacked from Prokhorovka with strong artillery support. The Russians broke through the German infantry lines of security and stormed into the Leibstandarte armoured group assembly area on a narrow front, making use of their high speed and firing all weapons. All hell broke loose; jets of flame and tank turrets flew through the air. SS-Sturmbannf�hrer Martin Gro� hastily organized the defense and skillfully led the Leibstandarte panzers in destroying 107 Soviet tanks in a bitter, sustained fight. The Tiger Company, temporarily under SS-Untersturmf�hrer Wittmann, was credited with many of the kills.
At 1000 hours, 13 July 1943, the Leibstandarte armoured group set off to attack the hills northwest of Swch. Oktjabrskij. In half an hour, the panzers reached the foot of the hills, where they faced an anti-tank front installed on the reversed slope. Bolstered by dug-in tanks, the Soviet positions completely commanded the crest of the hill with their firepower. On the same day, German High Command were considering whether to end Operation Citadel.