The Russian Front - The Battle of Kursk

The Battle of Kursk took place on Sunday 11th October 2004 in Newark, Nottinghamshire. The scenario dealt with the German offensive on the northern flank of the Kursk salient.

Map of the battlefield.

The Germans

The German Order of Battle included:

• 9th Army (Reserve Units)

  • 14. Panzer-Division

  • 20. Panzer-Grenadier-Division

• XXXXIst Panzer Corps

  • 10. Panzer-Division

  • 6. Infanterie-Division

  • 81. Infanterie-Division

• XXXXVIth Panzer Corps

  • 460 Arko

  • 31. Infanterie-Division

  • 102. Infanterie-Division

  • 113. Infanterie-Division

  • 207. Infanterie-Division

• XXXXVIIth Panzer Corps

  • 104. Arko

  • Panzer-Lehr-Division

  • 5. Panzer-Division

  • 16. Panzer-Division

  • 72. Infanterie-Division

The Russians

The Russian Order of Battle included:

• 2nd Tank Army

  • 16th Tank Corps

  • 23rd Tank Corps

• 13th Army

  • 5th Artillery Penetration Division

  • 12th Artillery Penetration Division

  • 27th Guards Rifle Corps

  • 48th Rifle Corps

  • 57th Rifle Corps

  • 67th Rifle Corps

• 70th Army

  • 1st Guards Artillery Division

  • 19th Rifle Corps

  • 28th Rifle Corps

A Russian account of the battle

Day 1 - 4th July 1943

05:00
The battle opens.
The Red Air Force ordered to support 19th Rifle Corps (70th Army) at Tireika.

08:00
13th Army report attack at Arkangeliskoe. Red Air Force sent to reconnoitre and provide fighter cover.

10:00
Fighters sent to give air cover to artillery South of Tireika.

12:00
Major air attack by the Red Air Force North of Arkangeliskoe. Radio intercept “We have found the Russian Air Force, Ahhhhh” confirms that the attack was a total success.

14:00
13th Army reports heavy attack at Ponyri. Red Air Force sent to give air support.
70th Army report that, despite heavy losses, Panzer Lehr about to break through at Tireika, and that the Army commander was about to pull the gun line back in the face of the imminent loss of the position to the Panzer Divisions.

16:00
Heavy enemy attacks West of Ponyri.
Little enemy activity in front of Plotka. Artillery division at Plotka transferred to support the Corps at Ponyri.
Red Air Force ordered to launch a massive air attack between the railway track and river to the West of Ponyri.

18:00
The heroic Red Air Force reports significant air victories.
70th Army reports Panzer Lehr destroyed as a combat force.
German infantry have entered combat. Second wave moving up, may make contact before nightfall.
A German Infantry Division takes our position East of Tireika after particularly stubborn resistance by two heroic rifle regiments of 19th Rifle Corps. They did their duty and their country reveres their immortal exploit.

20:00
Night.
Red Air Force reports all bomber squadrons are operational; fighter squadrons have suffered some losses. Command of ground attack units and most of fighters delegated to Army commanders.
13th Army now holds a line just North of Ponyri.
70th Army has pulled back to positions built by the heroic and selfless labour of the engineers midway between Tireika and Molotychi.

Day 2 - 5th July 1943

06:00
Dawn.
13th Army reports air battles in the vicinity of Ponyri.

08:00
All units holding.
The remnants of 19th Rifle Corps still under attack. The General commanding has to be discouraged from personally attacking the enemy with his pistol.
Heavy fighting in the vicinity of Ponyri.

12:00
19th Rifle Corps, having vowed to die rather than retreat, did so with unparalleled courage.
13th Army reports major enemy forces North and North West of Berezovets, and requests air support. The Army commander later says his army is under pressure across the whole sector, but holding with heroic efforts. Many units exhausted. He expects to be able to hold for a further four hours.
Red Air Force reports the destruction of a Ferdinand unit.
70th Army reports that isolated elements of 19th Rifle Corps continue to fight with individual and collective heroism.
Two German infantry divisions destroyed.
28th Rifle Corps has lost two infantry divisions in two hours to Hitlerite tanks.
The artillery division is under attack.
The situation is extremely grave.
All air support committed.
A Nazi Infantry Corps is reported on the left flank of 2nd Tank Army.
Medium bombers committed to support 13th Army North and North West of Berezovets and 70th Army at Molotychi.

14:00
NKVD sent to 70th Army to encourage commanders.
The commander of a regiment in 13th Army whose stubborn and heroic deeds held up a complete Panzer Division is made a Hero of the Soviet Union.
2nd Tank Army launches a heroic counter attack.
16th Tank Corps reports the loss of three quarters of its tanks and two thirds of its infantry.

16:00
70th Army is still holding the Nazi Panzer Divisions, although the Army Commander reports that German armour is visible from his command post. He vows to fight to the last.
13th Army report not much left. The heroic defenders of Ponyri are encircled.
2nd Tank Army reports 23rd Tank Corps is counter attacking; 16th Tank Corps suffered heavy casualties.
Large numbers of Hitlerite infantry are following up 5th Panzer.

18:00
Marshall Rokossovsky reports German breakthroughs in both 13th and 70th Army sectors to STAVKA. A final note says that he is not able to face the gulag again. Commissar signals STAVKA “The Front Commander has shot himself”.

A transcript of incomplete notes left by Marshall Rokossovsky. Researched and edited by John Armatys