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2 unusual facts about Battle of Kursk


Giffard Le Quesne Martel

In his autobiography, Martel describes advising the Soviet High Command, Stavka, to allow the Germans to strike first at the Battle of Kursk.

Kurt Sametreiter

Sametreiter was awarded his Knight's Cross during the Battle of Kursk in the tank Battle of Prokhorovka where he was a platoon commander in the 3rd Company, 1st Panzerjäger Battalion of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH).


Alexander Rodimtsev

The 32nd Guards Rifle Corps was an element of the 5th Guards Army, which was a part of the Steppe Front (commanded by Marshal Ivan Konev), and engaged SS Panzer divisions at the Battle of Kursk.

Alfred Schneidereit

In November 1943 Schneidereit's Division was returned to the Eastern Front for the Battle of Kursk where he was wounded twice more and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st class and the Knight's Cross from Adolf Hitler.

Dieter Kesten

During the Battle of Kursk, Das Reich had been transferred south to oppose the Russian counterattack across the Mius River, and destroyed 391 tanks and (Samokhodnaya ustanovka (self propelled guns)) from 30 July to 21 August 1943.

Ivan Ladyga

In April 1943, he was a senior aide to the chief of intelligence of the 18th Guards Rifle Corps of the 13th Army of the Central Front in the Battle of Kursk where he was involved in the defensive battles in the area west of Station Ponyri, the counterattack at Sevsk, Konotop, and Priluki.

North Caucasian Front

At the time of the Battle of Kursk in August 1943, during the long series of engagements known as the Battle of the Caucasus, the Transcaucasian Front included the Black Sea Group of Forces consisting of the 46th, 18th Desant, 47th, 56th Armies, and the 5th Air Army as well as the 13th and 16th Separate Rifle Corps.

Sylvester Stadler

The Knight's Cross was upgraded with Oak Leaves following the Battle of Kursk (the Eichenlaub – Nr. 303 – was presented to Stadler personally by Adolf Hitler).


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