The counterattack at Kharkov prompted Hitler to order a new offensive against Kursk. However, the failure of a major German offensive force in Russia to break through clearly shows that the Soviets are now beginning to win their great patriotic war.
By January-February 1943, the Soviet military offensive had advanced deep into the German-occupied territories and rapidly occupied the Kharkov region, threatening Dnipropetrovsk at the same time. In the northern part of this breakthrough, the German Army Group Center held out near Oryol, while in the south, Manstein's Army Group South also had better defensive positions. Manstein now had several tank armored divisions, including the well-equipped and powerful Waffen-SS. He was ready to launch a counterattack against the Soviet attackers, who were located between the fortifications of these positions.
Battle of Kharkov
In the second half of February, Manstein's tank forces attacked the Soviet vanguard near Dnipropetrovsk. By the end of the month, four Soviet mechanized tank corps (each equivalent to a German panzer division) had been crushed by Peter, and the survivors had been forced to retreat to the Donetsk region.
Before the spring thaw, after taking advantage of the geographical advantages of the last few days of icy ground, Manstein's tank troops then rushed to the Kharkov region and occupied the place on 16 March. Hitler was invigorated by this major reconquest of lost territory, and even before the fall of Kharkov, he gave the order to launch a new offensive and fought the Soviets to the death in the larger Soviet salient area centered on Kursk in the north.
Operational base camp
Although the Germans may have paid more than 500,000 casualties in the winter, Hitler was confident that they would be able to regain their strategic positions on the Eastern Front. At the same time, it was necessary to prepare for a possible Anglo-American offensive at any time during the year. It was clear that the German troops, especially their tank units, were still superior in battle to the Red Army. Hitler also believed that if the new Tiger and Cheetah tanks were put into use, they would certainly be able to build a stronger battle line for the Germans.
The German plan for the IX Corps was for Marshal Gunter von Kruger's Army Center to attack the northern flank of the Soviet salient, while the Fourth Panzer Division from Manstein's Army Group South would enter the southern flank. Initially, Hitler was ready to launch an offensive in May, but he delayed the plan until more new tanks were fully equipped.
For Stalin's part, Zhukov and the chief of the general staff, Alexander Vasilevsky, decided to first defend themselves, but also to prepare to launch an offensive to the north and south of Kursk. With the help of spies and other intelligence agencies, the Soviets had a good understanding of the Germans' plans, so they massively strengthened the defense of their threatened areas.
The German offensive began on 4 July, but from the beginning it was met with fierce resistance. In the north, the NINTH Army, along with seven tank armored divisions, took the lead in attacking, but only a little progress was made. The Soviets then began to put their reserves into service. On 9 July, Krueger told Hitler that he would not be able to make a breakthrough. On the 12th, the Soviets began their offensive north of Oryol, and Kruger was forced to retreat.
On the southern front, for the Germans, the situation seemed to be showing signs of improvement. In the first few days, the German Fourth Panzer Division advanced about 35 kilometers, inflicting heavy losses but inflicting more casualties on the enemy. On the day of the 12th, a large tank battle took place in the area near the town of Prokhovka. Again, although the Soviets suffered heavier losses in the battle, they were numerically superior from the beginning and were therefore well able to withstand such an outcome.
On 13 July, hitler cancelled his plans for a further offensive, when the breakthrough had not been achieved and the Anglo-American offensive against Sicily was deepening. Immediately afterwards, the initiative on the Eastern Front finally and permanently fell into the hands of the Red Army.