"The Unknown Battle of the Great Patriotic War."

Written by V. Zamulin Tankomaster #5, 1999.

Translated and adapted by [email protected]

Part 11.

      After analyzing the battle reports and notes of brigades, corps and Major-General Trufanov's army forward detachment for this period of time, I concluded that a more accurate figure of combat losses for that one day was 218 tanks and SPG's. This figure can be easily confirmed by real combat documents. In any case, the situation was not simple. Practically one third of the army - the shock force of the army - was lost, and the Germans obviously weren't retreating.
         Judging the situation near Prokhorovka, the command of the 4th PzA concluded, that the initial plan of a breakthrough to Oboiani through Psel and encirlement of parts of 69th A in the region Prokhorovka - Belenekhino - Shakhovo - Rzhavetz could not be fulfilled. During the early hours of July 13th Colonel-General Hoth gave the following order to the 2nd SSPzC: "Totenkopf's" panzergrenadiers to dig in, armor to pull back into reserve. All the other forces were to concentrate in "Das Reich's" sector and deliver a blow in the region of Ivanovk-Vinogradovka through Belenikhino, straight toward the group breaking through from Rzhavetz. "Adolf Hitler" was to defend its positions and deliver counterattacks toward Iamki - Pravorot with the goal of helping "Das Reich" and diverting some of our reserves.
         During the 13th of July the situation near Prokhorovka had not significantly changed. The 5th GA continued to advance at the crest on the hill 226,6 with the support of two brigades of 5th GTA that arrived there last evening. In contrast, Rotmistrov ordered his forces to go on the defensive. The army suffered heavy losses and needed time to pull itself together.
         The closing stage of the battle occurred in 14-16th of July. "Das Reich" attacked the units of the 2nd "Tatzinskaya" GTC and the 183rd RD, captured Belenikhino, Vinogradovka and continued its advance. At the same time, "Adolf Hitler" entered Pravorot. The advance of these divisions was part of the 4th PzA's overall offensive along Pravorot - Shopino - Rzhavetz - B. Podiarugi. Hoth intended to break our defenses in the sector of Prokhorovka - B. Podiarugi and by that shut the mouth of this "pocket."
        The command of the Voronezh Front appreciated this threat. To reinforce "Tazinskaya's" sector brigades of the 29th TC of the 69th A, several artillery and destroyer regiments, as well rocket artillery were transferred there.
      On July 15th the 167th ID with the support of "Das Reich's' tanks captured Shakhovo. The "pocket" was tightening, but by the end of the 16th our forces exited this region. The front line was flattened. The 69th A went on the defensive on the line of Storozhevoe - B. Podiarugi. This way, the Germans managed to liquidate this bulge and advance forward. Yet the capture of this territory did not, nor could it determine the results of the summer campaign. On July 14th at a headquarters meeting Hitler ordered the commanders of army groups South and Center to suspend the Citadel offensive. Thus, the fighting on 14-16th of July near Prokhorovka were the last attempts of the German high command to alter the situation to their advantage.
        On the night of July 17th air reconnaissance of 5th GTA recognized retreat of enemy forces from the front lines. The Germans were retreating. Under these circumstances, especially strange is the Voronezh Front's commander's order to put all the forces on a defensive. As can be seen, the front's command not always reacted properly to unfolding developments. First a counterattack is delivered right into the face of the advancing enemy, but then at the most favorable moment for a counterattack, when the enemy started retreating, the forces are ordered to go on the defensive.
       The Prokhorovka battle was over with the Germans' retreat. "The most important result of the defensive operation, in my opinion, was the defeat of the enemy's tank forces, which tilted the balance in armor in our favor, - Marshal A.M. Vasilevsky later recalled judging the conclusion of the first stage of the Kursk battle, - this was largely due to our victory in a large tank battle to the south of Prokhorovka 30km from Belgorod."
        Incontestably, our forces achieved a victory at Prokhorovka - they didn't allow the enemy to reach Oboiani, forced them to abandon their long term plans and in the end, disregarding some success, forced them to retreat their forces back to the starting lines.
        For the sakes of objectivity it should be noted, though, that: because of the overall military-political situation the Germans did not have a real opportunity to win not only in the south, but also in the sector of the Voronezh Front, and in the Kursk battle overall. Our army, being on a defensive, had a superiority in all the main forces over the attacking Germans, even though it should have been the opposite. Behind the backs of the defenders there was Stavka's powerful reserve - the Steppe Front.