The Black Angels (Pen & Sword Military Classics) by Rupert Butler

Author:Rupert Butler [Butler, Rupert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473809413
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2003-02-12T22:00:00+00:00

The Kursk adventure was code-named Operation Citadel. At the Führer’s headquarters on 1 July 1943 there met a vast assembly of senior commanders: Field Marshal von Kluge, commanding Army Group Centre; Colonel-General Hoth, commanding Fourth Panzer Army; Colonel-General Model, commanding the 9th Army; General of Armoured Troops Kempf; General Nehring, commanding the 24th Panzer Corps; Colonel-General von Greim, commanding the 6th Air Fleet; and General Dessloch, representing the 4th Air Fleet.

One thing that struck all those present, was the extraordinarily mercurial temperament of Hitler. One moment he could be plunged into utter despair, the next be screaming for the blood of his enemy and his own incompetent commanders. Now, faced with a new challenge, his mood was positively jocular. In high good humour he welcomed the company and, rather with the air of a managing-director announcing a surprise bonus, stated: ‘I have decided to fix the starting date of Citadel as 5 July.’

Just four days ahead! There was no real problem there; the forces could be assembled beyond doubt. The main worry was: could such a date in fact be too late? Might not the Russians even now be preparing an especially hostile reception?

Indeed, German intelligence suggested that even now the Russians had moved something like a quarter of their armoured forces into the area of the Kursk bulge; they too had realised that it was a likely place for attack. But might not such an offensive be nothing but a ghastly recipe for annihilation?

Hitler’s good mood did not desert him. He told the generals: ‘I grant you the risks. But, gentlemen, think of the prize! If we can destroy the Russian Army, Stalin will be dealt a terrible blow. More important, the people will be prepared to forget Stalingrad. We will have redressed the balance.’

The generals were won over. On the dawn of action-day the waiting soldiers received a personal message from their Föhrer: ‘Soldiers of the Reich! This day you are to take part in an offensive of such importance that the whole future of the war may depend on its outcome. More than anything else, your victory will show the whole world that resistance to the power of the German Army is hopeless.’

Soon the leading sections of Tiger tanks were roaring ahead and away, knifing through the silver-grey tall grass which was a particular feature of the area. Earlier the Stukas had screamed above Byelgorod, supplementing the shatter of the artillery barrage.

Exact details of strength to this day present something of a problem to the historian: official German sources quoted twenty-seven divisions as German strength, but did not give details of how these were constituted. Soviet intelligence put forward a figure of thirty-three divisions for the Germans, while the number of men was said to stand at 900,000 with 10,000 guns, 2,700 tanks and assault guns and 2,400 aircraft. The Russians claimed to have 1,300,000 men, 20,000 guns, 3,600 tanks and assault guns and 2,400 aircraft. The Russian figures, many military experts still point out, should be treated with caution.

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