March 1943

Eastern Front

The Grossdeutschland Division and SS Panzer Corps launch a full-scale attack upon Belgorod, throwing back 69th Army and taking the town. The Stavka immediately move up the 6th Guards Army (formerly 21st Army) to support the failing 69th while the 1st Tank Army assembles at Oboyan.

The loss of Belgorod ended the German counteroffensive in the Ukraine. The onset of the spring thaw brought movement to a halt and prevented Manstein from continuing his drive north to re-establish a strong junction with Army Group Center. Despite this, Manstein had pulled off an amazing feat, restoring the German southern wing and inflicting a salutary lesson upon Stalin and the Stavka.