FRONTLINE FIELDS OF THUNDER : WEHRMACHT PERSPECTIVE #2 THE SEVERSKY DONETSK

During the workers and peasant' Red Army Offensive at Central and Voronezh Fronts In The Winters of 1942 a wedge was formed, Penetrating deeply in to enemy Positions. The German and Soviet commands a like tried to use it as a bridgehead for a large-scale offensive Operation to obtain strategic initiative for the summer and autumn campaign and ultimately turn the war in their favour. As early as April 15, 1943 Hitler had aproved Operation provided for two head-on strikes at the base of the wedge towards Kursk, in order to surround and crush the soviet troops in the area. The operation was planned as a "single lunge", to ensure quick and decisive succes. The best Wehrmact tank divisions and SS fielda troops with four year combat experience were earmarked for Citadel Operation. Their particular strenght was a large number of the newest Tiger and Phanter Tanks, Heavy assault Ferdinand guns and other advanced weapons. For their part, the Red Army command, taking into account the fatogue of the troops and lack of weapons and other hardware, decided not to attack the enemy. Instead, they opted for taking full advantage of mounting strong in-depth defences. The Commander in Chief's Headquarters' plan provided for concentrating the main forces to the north and south of Kursk, where, according to the intelligence, the German were expected to strike massive blows. The main forces of the Central and Voronezh fronts were supposed to exhaust the enemy inndefensive battles and then mount a counter-offensive, creating conditions for smashing the enemy forces at the flanks.