World War II History

Air Action over Prokhorovka

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According to the official Soviet Air Force history bad weather over the battlefield on 12 July, 1943, forced the Soviets to operate in small groups. At approximately 0840 hours the Second Air Army began their preparatory operations with 200 aircraft.

Single engine Il-2 attack bombers approached the front at 1000 to 1500 meters altitude. Dropping down to altitudes of five to ten meters above ground level they directed nearly horizontal 20 mm cannon fire against their targets and fired RS82 rockets or dropped their 400 kilogram bomb loads. Executing a port turn after passing over their targets, they returned to their targets singly, forming what was called a circle of death. In such a manner they kept the Germans under constant attack for fifteen minutes to half an hour. Twin engine Pe-2 fast attack bombers carried a 7.62 mm machinegun and a 12.7 mm machinegun in the nose and 600 kilograms of bombs.

Fighter cover for the bombers included Yak-1, Yak-7, and Yak-9 fighters. These aircraft were able to out-climb as well as out-turn their opponents. Fully one quarter of all Soviet fighters engaged in this battle were La-5 and La-5F fighters. These machines conducted rocket and hollow charge bomb attacks on German armor before climbing to higher altitude to fly cover for their comrades. Under 4000 meters the La-5 fighters were not inferior to their opponents, using turns to get above the enemy. The Germans considered them the most dangerous threat on the Eastern Front. Ivan Kozhedub, the leading allied ace of the Second World War with 62 victories, flew an La-5 in this battle.

German fighter pilots excelled at high altitude combat so Soviet pilots made sure they lured the Germans down to a more suitable altitude.

The Battle for the Kursk Salient ended the career of the Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber. Large numbers of these aircraft were lost to fighters and anti-aircraft fire, but they were already being replaced by the Focke Wulf 190 single seat fighter-bomber. Organized in fast attack groups they made an impact on the combat by forcing the 29th Tank Corps to change the axis of their attack.

The storms of the afternoon called a temporary halt to battlefield action on 12 July, however, when the storms let up, the fighting resumed. At 2000 hours massive air support helped Totenkopf take Polezhaev.

Although this was the last major offensive operation conducted by the German army on the Eastern Front, for the Luftwaffe fighter pilots on the Eastern Front this was one of their brightest military accomplishments.

Sources: The Soviet Air Force in World War II, Edited by Ray Wagner, Translated by Leland Fetzer, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, NY, 1973

Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War Volumes One and Two, Yefim Gordon and Dmitri Khazanov, Midland Publishing Ltd., Leicester, England, 1998

Jagdgeschwader 54 Gruenherz: Aces of the Eastern Front, Jerry Scutts, Airlife Publishing Ltd., Shrewsbury, England, 1992

Kursk: The Air Action Part 2

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The Soviet changes to the conduct of the air battle were already being implemented on 6 July. Commanders of air units sent personnel forward into the combat zone to act as on-the-ground controllers tasked with directing fighters to areas where they were needed.

In the north 16th Air Army provided 140 aircraft for attacks against German forces located near Podolyan, Saborovka, and Butirki with good effect. Soviet fighters were able to intercept German bomber units before they reached their targets. This forced the Germans to reinforce their air units supporting the drive on Ponyri. By 7 July Soviet bomber units operated in groups of 30 to 40 aircraft which were easier to defend. By 9 July German air units in the northern sector were weakened to the point where the Soviet air force took control of the air.

The same techniques were being used in the southern sector. By 8 July senior Soviet commanders believed that the change in tactics was correct. The air army of the Voronezh Front was used against the German attack against Oboyan while the Southwest Front’s attached air army was used against German forces east of Belgorod.

As noted in previous blogs, the Luftwaffe successfully assisted Grossdeutschland’s entry into Syrtzewo on 8 July and, later in the day, Hs 129 anti-tank aircraft were instrumental in assisting II SS Panzer Corps’ repulsion of Vatutin’s attack down the Prokhorovka Road. On 9 July all available German air power in the southern sector supported the attack up the road to Oboyan and on 10 July a heavy Luftwaffe presence assisted Grossdeutschland’s attack on Werchopenye.

The fierceness of the struggle for control of the air is reflected in the records of the 2nd Air Army. From 5 July to 10 July the 2nd Air Army engaged in 205 air battles claiming 303 enemy aircraft shot down for a loss of 153 machines. It was not unusual for 200 to 300 interceptors to be over the battlefield.

During the night of 10/11 July, in an attempt to isolate the German drive on Prokhorovka, the long range AFLRO and night bomber units launched a series of raids against trains and troop columns on main and secondary roads.

In spite of these efforts the Luftwaffe gained tenuous control of the air over the drive up the road to Prokhorovka on 11 July. At 0630 on 12 July Luftwaffe fighters cleared the air of Soviet aircraft over the battlefield near Prokhorovka and, at 0700 German bombers began their attacks on the Soviet defenses.

Sources: The Soviet Air Force in World War II: The Official History, Edited by Ray Wagner and Translated by Leland Fetzer, Doubleday and Co., Garden City, NY, 1973

The Battle of Kursk, David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 1999

Author: Jack Kruse writes military historical fiction set in World War II. He is currently completing a novel, tentatively titled Cauldron, about the aerial battle of the Kursk Salient, a key confrontation on the Russian front in which German and Soviet fighters and bombers engaged in an intensive series of engagements over the steppes of the Ukraine.

Kursk: The Air Action Part 1

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World War II, Eastern Front, Russian and German Battle for the Kursk Salient.

Activity in the air continued throughout the months prior to the German offensive in July 1943. As military and civilian personnel worked to build the defenses to block German operations on the ground, they also built or renovated 154 airfields for use by the Soviet Air Force. Soviet bombers and fighters hammered German held airfields, transportation networks, communications lines, staff headquarters, and warehouses while the Germans continued their activity against the rail lines near Kursk.

The Soviet 16th Air Army was assigned to the Central Front, the 2nd Air Army to the Voronezh Front, and the 17th Air Army to the Southwestern Front. The 2nd Air Army assisted both the 16th and the 17th Air Armies on both the north pincer and the south pincer as needed. More than 2900 aircraft were available. The Soviets had twice as many fighters as the Germans, but the Germans had 2.4 times the number of day bombers.

The Germans concentrated about half of their first line strength on the Eastern Front for the summer 1943 attack against the Kursk bulge. Their combat aircraft numbered approximately 2,500. The 6th Air Fleet was positioned to attack from Orel. This air fleet included six fighter groups equipped with Fw 190As, two night fighter groups equipped with Bf 110Fs, three bomber groups equipped with Ju 88As, four with He 111Hs, three dive bomber groups with Ju 87Ds, and one squadron each of Hs 129Bs, Ju 87Gs, and Bf 110Gs, all anti-tank aircraft.

The 4th Air Fleet, based at Kharkov and Belgorod, included six groups of Bf 109G fighters, two groups of Ju 88A, and six groups of He 111H bombers. Additionally there were six Ju 87D dive bomber groups,  and four Hs 129B and one Ju 87D anti-tank squadrons. The 4th Air Fleet was assisted by the Hungarian Air Division which included one group each of Bf 109s and Ju 87s, and two squadrons of Ju 88s.

As the German offensive got underway on the north side of the Kursk bulge, driving on Olkovatka, Luftwaffe support missions included 100 to 150 bombers escorted by 60 fighters. Soviet missions flew in groups of six to eight aircraft. Soviet fighters engaged in 76 mass air battles in protection of units on the ground.

In the south the Soviets attempted a pre-emptive attack on German airfields using 132 attack aircraft escorted by 285 fighters. Most of the German aircraft were already in the air. This limited the effect of the Soviet mission. By 0900 hours the Soviet aircraft had landed, rearmed, refueled and were back in the air working over the German ground forces in the Oboyan area. Initially, as in the north, their forces consisted of 6 to 8 aircraft.

That evening the Soviet command reviewed their tactics and a number of suggestions implemented in the days that followed changed the complexion of the air action.

Prokhorovka Pt. 2

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World War II, Eastern Front, Russian and German Battle for the Kursk Salient.

General Vatutin’s attacks began all along the front at 0900 hours as scheduled. General Rotmistrov’s 9th Airborne Division, with Second Guards Tank Corps on its left, struck south in the direction of Komsomolets State Farm against SS das Reich. Against SS Leibstandarte and SS Totenkopf, Rotmistrov threw the 18th and 29th Tank Corps. Rotmistrov believed II SS Panzer Corps possessed scores of Tiger tanks so he ordered his T-34s to attack at full speed, firing on the run, and ramming enemy tanks as necessary. In fact Leibstandarte had only four Tigers and das Reich had one. Totenkopf, on the north side of the Psel River, had ten.

The 18th and 29th Tank Corps raced down a five kilometer wide corridor between the Psel River and the ten meter high railroad embankment to the southeast. Armored vehicles from both sides intermingled firing at one another at point-blank range. Smoke, flames, dirt, and debris filled the air. Under heavy air attack the 29th Tank Corps withdrew briefly, then turned south to take Leibstandarte in the flank, threatening their rear. This threat caused Leibstandarte to withdraw in their turn toward Oktiabr’skii.

Simultaneously, the Soviet 181st Tank Brigade moved along the south bank of the Psel River against Totenkopf’s lines of communication driving Totenkopf’s panzer grenadiers before them.

By noon the German command realized they had failed to reach Prokhorovka. They directed Totenkopf to move along the north bank of the Psel River. A shock group of 100 tanks, supported by close air support, penetrated 52nd Guards Rifle Division’s defenses by 1300 hours.

Heavy rain showers moved into the area in mid-afternoon and the exhausted and emotionally drained units of both armies accepted a brief pause in the fighting.

To the south III Panzer Corps’ 19th Panzer Division, advancing along the south bank of the Northern Donets River, seized Krivitsevo in the late afternoon.

In the west, south of Oboyan, Soviet forces pushed the 3rd Panzer Division out of Werchopenje  and Berezovka into the eastern suburbs by 1700 hours. By this time 3rd Panzer Division possessed fewer than 40 tanks.

Meanwhile, in the center, the 95th Guards Rifle Division halted Totenkopf’s shock group at 1800 hours. Two hours later, under massive air support, Polezhaev was taken.

Sunset at 51 degrees north latitude takes place at 2011 hours on 12 July. By this time II SS Panzer Corps’ SS Leibstandarte captured hill 252.2 less than three kilometers from Prokhorovka. III Panzer Corps, unable to take Alexandrovka, remained 15 kilometers from Prokhorovka, failing to close the gap.

Thunderstorms ended all fighting after dark.

Sources: David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, The Battle of Kursk, University Press of Kansas, Lawrence KS, 1999

Ludwig Heinrich Dyck, “Showdown at Prokhorovka and Oboian”, WW II History, September 2006

George M. Nipe, Jr., “Ribbintrop at Prokhorovka”, WW II History, July 2009

Prokhorovka: Part 1

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World War II, Eastern Front, Russian and German Battle for the Kursk Salient.

The climax of the battle for the Kursk Salient took place near the city of Prohorovka on 12 July 1943. After the Allied landing on Sicily on 10 July Hitler gave tentative approval for the continuation of the drive on Kursk, but everyone involved in the decision knew that the resources needed to meet both threats exceeded Germany’s capabilities.

By now II SS Panzer Corps possessed fewer than 300 armored vehicles and III Panzer Corps had fewer than 200. General Rotmistrov’s 5 Guards Tank Army had five corps with a total of 830 tanks and self-propelled guns. The long eastern flank held by II SS Panzer Corps absorbed much of the armored vehicles of both armies, so the number of tanks, tank destroyers, and self-propelled guns involved in the action at Prokhorovka probably did not exceed 570.

General von Manstein’s orders for 12 July directed 48 Panzer Corps to capture the Psel River crossings south of Oboyan.  III Panzer Corp and Army Group Kempf were to move north to divert Soviet forces from Prokhorovka and, if possible, to join with II SS Panzer Corps to surround the Soviet forces in the pocket between them. II SS Panzer Corps was ordered to move northeast the last few kilometers to take Prokhorovka.

General Vatutin ordered attacks all along the front. Tenth Tank Corps was ordered to move down both sides of the Oboyan road with 100 tanks. Additional forces, including 70 tanks, were directed to strike Grossdeutschland from the west attacking toward Syrtzewo and Lukhanino. On the east General Vatutin ordered General Rotmistrov, commanding the 5th Guards Tank Army, to attack II SS Panzer Corps and III Panzer Corps while holding 212 tanks in reserve.

The heat and humidity of the previous days continued. Increasing clouds and light showers did not initially interfere with movement. German operations began at dawn. In the southeast 6th Panzer Division drove north to take Rzhavets, immediately sending forces across to the northern bank of the Donets by 0500 hours.  The 19th Panzer Division advanced along the south bank of the Donets to take Krivisovo. Vatutin, recognizing the danger to the Prokhorovka position, directed Rotmistrov to send his reserves to the northern Donets to block that threat. Luftwaffe fighters cleared the skies at 0630 and bombers began close support all along the front beginning at 0700. This air activity attracted Soviet fighter response.

The Soviet creeping artillery barrage began at 0810 hours in preparation for Vatutin’s assaults scheduled for 0900.

Sources: David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, The Battle of Kursk, University Press of Kansas, Lawrence KS, 1999

Ludwig Heinrich Dyck, “Showdown a Krokhorovka and Oboian”, WW II History, September 2006

George M. Nipe, Jr., “Ribbentrop at Prokhorovka”, WW II History, July 2009

Kursk: The Southern Pincer Part 3

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One of the key battles on the Eastern Front between Germany and the Soviet Union was the Battle for the Kursk Salient.

Dawn comes early on the Ukrainian Steppes in July. On 10 July, 1943, at 0330 hours the 11th Panzer Division resumed its attack up the Oboyan Road with Gross Deutschland fighting on the left flank west of Werchopenje. Supported by heavy Luftwaffe effort Gross Deutschland took two hills west of the village despite Soviet counter attacks along the Pena River.

Leibstandarte, on II SS Panzer Corps’ left flank, during the night hours of 9/10 July, crossed behind Totenkopf heading for their new concentration points near Teterevino for their attack up the Prokhorovka Road south of the Psel River. Totenkopf, scheduled to kick off at dawn by crossing the Psel River to the north shore to provide flank support for Leibstandarte, found their attack stalled by Soviet opposition, causing General Hauser to delay Leibstandarte’s attack until 1000 hours. Leibstandarte received the go-ahead finally at 1045 hours and Totenkopf finally crossed the Psel River at noon.

By 1300 Leibstandarte cleared the Komsomolets State Farm and, amid scattered thunderstorms, continued east of the farm against dug-in Soviet tanks .

Das Reich, on II Panzer Corps’ right flank, made limited advances, crossing the rail line to Prokhorovka and taking a small village to the south of the city.

Late on 10 July General Hauser ordered the continuation of the attack on Prokhorovka for 11 July.

Shortly after nightfall Vatutin’s 9th Guards Airborne Division entered defensive positions east of Prokhorovka. 33rd Rifle Corps was positioned along the Psel River. General Rotmistrov’s 5th Guards Tank Army reinforced by the 2nd Tank and 2nd Guards Tank Corps backed up this defensive line. These forces included 500 tanks and self-propelled guns.

Vatutin’s rearrangement of his forces was not completed by the morning of 11 July, when Leibstandarte began their advance up the Prokhorovka Road, backed up by the Luftwaffe, which gained a tenuous air superiority over the front. On the left flank Totenkopf expanded its bridgehead over the Psel river, but Das Reich failed to penetrate Vinogradovka, leaving Leibstandarte’s right flank uncovered.

The Soviet 9th Guards Airborne Division brought the German attack to a halt before an immense anti-tank ditch southeast of the Oktiabr’skii State Farm. Leibstandarte captured a hill in the midst of the Soviet defensive lines at 1310 hours, but their efforts reduced their forces to 60 tanks, 10 assault guns, and 20 tank destroyers.

Soviet attacks continued into the evening, but Leibstandarte smashed 2 Tank Corps’ defenses and drove a deep salient into the 9th Guards Airborne Division’s defenses by taking the Oktiabr’skii State Farm.

As evening fell both sides issued their orders for 12 July. 48th Panzer Corps was to take the Psel River crossing south of Oboyan. Army Group Kempf was to continue moving north along the Donets River while II SS Panzer Corps was to move the last few kilometers to Prokhorovka.

General Vatutin ordered General Rotmistrov to attack at 0300 hours on 12 July. 100 tanks were to attack southeast between the Psel River and the Oktiabr’skii State Farm toward the Komsomolets State Farm. An additional 191 tanks mustered in the southern suburbs of Prokhorovka were to attack between the Oktiabr’skii State Farm and Storzhevoe and 120 tanks were to attack Das Reich east of Belenikhino along the rail line.

The scene was set for the climax of the largest tank and air battle of the Second World War.

Sources: Geoffrey Jukes, Kursk: The Clash of Armour, Ballantine Books, Inc., New York, 1969;
David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, The Battle of Kursk, University Press of Kansas, Lawrence KS, 1999

Author: Jack Kruse writes military historical fiction set in World War II. He is currently completing a novel, tentatively titled Cauldron, about the aerial battle of the Kursk Salient, a key confrontation on the Russian front in which German and Soviet fighters and bombers engaged in an intensive series of engagements over the steppes of the Ukraine.

Kursk: The Southern Pincer Part 2

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The Soviet flank attacks across the Pena River against Syrtzewo and Werchopenye attracted German attention. On 8 July the 6th Panzer Regiment was ordered to cross the Pena River and, using assault and anti-tank guns, turn south behind the Soviet 71st Guards Rifle Division. To prepare for this attack German pioneers repaired the bridge over the Pena River at Werchopenye on 9 July.

Meanwhile, the 48th Panzer Corps advanced up the Oboyan Road with Grossdeutschland west of the road and 11th Panzer Division east of the road. All available air power was ordered to provide close support. The attack met very strong Soviet resistance provided by the 6th Tank Corps with the support of the infantry of the 9th Guards Rifle Division. By noon the 48th Panzer Corps reached the high ground south of Oboyan, however, they were not able to take Novoselovka by the end of the day.

Thirteen kilometers to the east II SS Panzer Corps continued to attack north toward Kursk with Totenkopf in the van, Leibstandarte on the west flank and Das Reich holding the east flank assisted by the 167th Infantry Division. By this time General Rotmistrov’s 5th Guards Tank Army had positioned itself in front of the German attack holding the line between Oboyan and just northeast of Prokhorovka, harassing Das Reich on the Prokhorovka Road with the assistance of the 2nd Tank Corps.

By the end of 9th July Totenkopf had reached the Psel River and captured Krasnyi Octiabr. Leibstandarte had crossed the Solotinka River and linked up with the 11th Panzer Division. Army Detachment Kempf, assigned to protect II SS Panzer Corps right flank was now held up nearly 45 kilometers to the southeast by the Soviet 7th Guards Army holding well dug in positions in the Belgorod area.

Soviet General Vatutin shifted forces to his right flank to hold Grossdeutschland’s drive toward Oboyan, depending on the 5th Guards Tank Army and the 69th Army to hold the left flank.

At this point, late on the afternoon of July 9, German General Hoth decided to alter the heading of the II SS Panzer Corps from north toward Kursk to the northeast toward Prokhorovka. He felt that, with the SS Corps and concentrated air support, he could smash the armored threat to his east flank, unlock III Panzer Corps of Army Detachment Kempf and break through the Soviet defenses. With that breakthrough Model’s 9th Army of the northern pincer could resume its attack to complete the encirclement of the Kursk Salient.

Author: Jack Kruse writes military historical fiction set in World War II. He is currently completing a novel, tentatively titled Cauldron, about the aerial battle of the Kursk Salient, a key confrontation on the Russian front in which German and Soviet fighters and bombers engaged in an intensive series of engagements over the steppes of the Ukraine.

Kursk: Southern Pincer Pt. 1

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On the evening of 6 July General Vatutin, commander of the Voronezh front, requested four fresh tank corps and two aviation corps. Stavka, the Soviet high command told Vatutin he needed to use his existing forces. However, they authorized two tank corps for his use, to be available on 8 July.

In the meantime, Stalin ordered Gerneral Konev, commander of the Steppe Front to move the 5th Guards Tank Army forward to the Staryi Oskol area to protect Kursk. They would also be in position by 8 July.

Using the existing second line of defense previously prepared, Vatutin positioned the First Tank Army’s 31st Tank Corps on II SS Panzer Corps right flank, while the 2nd and 5th Guards Tank Corps would be positioned on the left flank. He depended on the 6th Tank and the 3rd Mechanized Corps to stop 48th Panzer Corps’ drive on Oboyan. Voronezh Front’s air power would be used to protect Oboyan while the Southwest Front’s air power would be used against German forces east of Belgorod.

Early on 7 July Hoth’s II Panzer Corps resumed its attack on the Pena and Lukhanino Rivers. The German tanks forced Vatutin to make a second request that Stavka allow him to dig in his tanks into the defensive positions, rather than launch an armored attack. This time Stavka allowed him to do so.

Leibstandarte’s First SS Panzer Regiment, First Panzergrenadier Regiment, and SS Das Reich pushed up the Prokhorovka road, peeling off two panzer grenadier regiments to cover their extended flanks.

On 8 July 500 German tanks with supporting infantry and artillery struck toward Oboyan. With Luftwaffe support Grossdeutschland broke into Syrtzewo just after noon, then continued their attack toward Werchopenye.

A Soviet counter attack from the flank near Werchopenye allowed the Soviets to reach the Pena River at Syrtzewo and Werchopenye by evening. As a result, Vatutin ordered his forces to prepare new defenses north of Werchopenye and across the Oboyan road to the Psel River.

In the east II SS Panzer Corps reoriented its attack away from Prokhorovka and toward Kursk, unaware that Vatutin had already commanded his forces to fall back in that area, while setting up an attack down the Prokhorovka road against II SS Panzer Corps. Vatutin’s attack went in piecemeal against SS Totenkopf’s and Das Reich’s advances. As the day progressed, with assistance from Hs 129 anti-tank aircraft armed with 30 mm cannon, Vatutin’s attack was blunted.

Orders for Grossdeutschland  for 9 July were to take the high ground south of Oboyan and wheel to the west to drive the Soviet forces out of Werchopenye. In the east Hausser’s II SS Panzer Corps was to continue its drive north toward Kursk, spearheaded by 283 tanks and assault guns.

Source: The Battle of Kursk, David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, University Press of Kansas, 1999

Author: Jack Kruse writes military historical fiction set in World War II. He is currently completing a novel, tentatively titled Cauldron, about the aerial battle of the Kursk Salient, a key confrontation on the Russian front in which German and Soviet fighters and bombers engaged in an intensive series of engagements over the steppes of the Ukraine.

Kursk: The Northern Pincer

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As Model’s attack against Rokossovsky’s Central Front developed, the Second and Ninth Panzer Divisions became engaged in a massive tank battle west of Ponyri Station. The Russian 29th Rifle Corps’ 307th Rifle Division blocked the Panzer drive. This four-day battle cost Model heavily. He lost 20% of his armored striking force on the first day alone. Model continued to push against the second defense belt at Ponyri. Repeated thrusts were repelled; however by the evening of 6 July, 1943, the Germans succeeded in taking the western half of Ponyri.

Model’s attack toward Ol’kovatka to the west was expanded on 8 July by the addition of the Second Panzer Division. Repeated attacks against the 17th Guards Rifle Corps failed to take the city. The Soviets had adopted a ‘stand or perish’ philosophy that seemed to enhance their defenses.

At Ponyri the reinforcement of the attack by the addition of the Tenth Panzer Grenadier Division began to make encroachment against the frantic Soviet opposition. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory. Early on the morning of 11–12 July the Western and Bryansk fronts probed the Orel salient. With the success of the morning probe, General Bagramian, part of Sokolovsky’s Western Front, committed the First and Fifth Tank Corps. These thrusts south from Ul’ianovo threatened to take Model in the rear and cut his supply lines.

Recognizing the threat, Model withdrew four divisions from his attack to meet the new threat. After an advance of barely 18 kilometers, Model’s assault was foreclosed.

Sources: “Kursk: The Clash of Armour”, Colonel G. A. Koltunov, History of World War Two Magazine; The Battle of Kursk, David M. Glantz & Jonathan M. House, University Press of Kansas, 1999

Author: Jack Kruse writes military historical fiction set in World War II. He is currently completing a novel, tentatively titled Cauldron, about the aerial battle of the Kursk Salient, a key confrontation on the Russian front in which German and Soviet fighters and bombers engaged in an intensive series of engagements over the steppes of the Ukraine.