July 1943

Eastern Front

Model throws more divisions into his attack but Rokossovsky in turn places reinforcements into the line, preventing the Germans from achieving a breakthrough. The III Tank Corps moves forward to Ponyri while XVII Guards Rifle Corps bolsters 13th Army. The XIX and XVI Tank Corps move west and northeast of Olkhovatka to block any possible German penetration of the first defense belt.

As the fighting develops the 2nd Panzer Division repels a fierce counterattack by the XVI Tank Corps. A massive arty duel also erupts between 13th Army and 9th Army. Having fended off the Soviet counterattack during the morning, German armor deploys to attack Olkhovatka. The 9th and 2nd Panzer Divisions move up to attack. Despite the commitment of massive forces, the Germans can not break through the Soviet lines. After heavy fighting the XXIII Corps is held up before Maloarchangelsk. The 9th and 18th Panzer, 86th and 292nd Infantry Divisions push south toward Ponyri. So far Model's units have advanced no more than 6 miles but suffer over 10,000 casualties.

The 4th Panzer Army, supported by the VIII Air Corps, continues to attack with its XLVIII and II SS Panzer Corps. The II SS Panzer Corps becomes embroiled in bitter fighting, but units of the SS Das Reich Division manages to break through at Luchki, opening a gap in the 6th Guards Army defenses. The SS then pushes 10 miles along the road to Kursk. With 6th Guards clearly in difficulty, Vatutin begins to move the 1st Tank Army to its support, a move later criticized as the Soviet armore is drawin into a battle of attrition, rather than being held back to deliver a counter-blow after the German are exhausted. The XLVIII Panzer Corps remains stuck in its positions despite repeated attacks which result in fierce fighting.

Beith's III Panzer Corps fights its way slowly northeast of Belgorod. The 19th Panzer Division, supported by 168th Infantry Division, is embroiled in bitter fighting, a battle that rages for the next 3 days. The 7th Panzer Division also advances leaving the 106th and 320th Infantry Divisions of XI Corps to guard its flank. Heavy fighting erupts as the Soviet Volchansk Group attacks XI Corps. The Soviets are themselves unable to break the German front line.

The Stavka orders the 5th Guards Tank Army of Koniev's Steppe Front to move to the aid of the Voronezh Front. This formation will arrive at the small village of Prokhorovka in the next few days, where it will meet the II SS Panzer Corps.