July 1943

Eastern Front

As the fighting at Ponyri dies down the Red Army begins Operation KUTUZOV, the destruction of the German forces in the Orel bulge. Units of the West and Bryansk Fronts begin probing attacks against the LV, XXXV and LIII Corps of 2nd Panzer Army. The Soviet plan is to force the 11th Guards Army of the West Front through the thin line held by the LV Corps on the northern face of the bulge, while the 3rd and 63rd Armies of the Bryansk Front attack from the Novosil area, striking the XXXV and LIII Corps. Once the German line has been breached, the 3rd Tank Army will punch through and roll into the German rear, threatening the positions of the 9th Army on the southern face of the Orel bulge. For the attack the 11th Guards Army deploys 170,000 men and 50th Army 62,800. The Bryansk Front in total deploys 409,000 men and the Central Front, still heavly committed with the 9th Army, 645,000.

With II SS Panzer Corps attacking west of Prokhorovka, the III Panzer Corps breaks free and pushes up from the south. Leading elements of the 5th Guards Tank Army are arriving near the village and encounters the Germans late in the day. The SS, still attacking all along their line, are unaware of the threat posed by the 5th Guards Tank Army. Hoth's 4th Panzer Army is making great use of its arty and air support despite the deteriorating visibility brought on by clouds of dust thrown up by the explosions and movement of armor. The battles in the skies overhead also intensify as the Soviets slowly but surely gain superiority through sheer weight of numbers.