Chapter 390 Tiger vs. Fortress! A head-on confrontation in Kursk!

[This is a German Tiger tank captured on the Leningrad front.]

【And pulled it back for a thorough inspection and testing. 】

The results were shocking.

[It’s even confusing and totally unbelievable.]

【Because they were facing the Tiger tank. 】

[Even at a distance of only 200 meters, the T34 tank could not penetrate the front armor of the Tiger tank. ]

[Only heavy artillery can deal with this monster. ]

[However, this was a heavy artillery hit on the test range. ]

[The actual battlefield situation is even worse.]

[After conducting a complete test, Soviet Artillery Marshal Voronov had to admit with difficulty:]

"We have no artillery to withstand these tanks."

You can see it with the commentary.

The Tiger tank in the picture was hit by the main gun of the T34 tank, leaving only a groove on the front armor.

It did not cause any effective damage to the tank body.

[In April 1943, from the icy Lake Ladoga to the Sea of ​​Azov in Crimea.]

[The Soviet-German front was stagnant for thousands of kilometers. ]

【Summer is coming. 】

【This is an active season for the German army. 】

[For two years, the Soviet army spared no effort to learn how to fight the German army in the summer.]

[Now it’s time to show the results of the Soviet army’s learning. ]

[But just as the Soviet army was preparing to show its prowess in the summer. ]

[The appearance of the Tiger tank once again aroused doubts from the Soviet army. ]

[Faced with such a terrifying monster, can the frontline soldiers withstand the enemy's attack? ]

[Although the Soviet Union will develop new tanks and artillery specifically for the Tiger tank. ]

【But before the upcoming summer campaign. 】

[It is definitely too late to serve in the next two months. ]

Tianmu gave a map at this time.

It was Kursk.

[The Kursk region is the focus of the Soviet army.]

[This is a salient that penetrates deep into the German lines.]

[It is obvious that the German army will not tolerate the existence of the Kursk salient. ]

【They will launch a fierce pincer attack.】

【Encircle all Soviet troops in the Kursk area.】

The map of the sky is clearly marked.

The Kursk salient is indeed very eye-catching.

So the generals and emperors in ancient times.

After watching it, everyone expressed.

It is indeed impossible to tolerate such a large Kursk salient.

Liu Che analyzed and said:

"The previous Rzhev salient was something the Soviet Union could not tolerate."

"Both the Soviet Union and Germany deployed millions of troops, and the Soviet Union paid the price of 200 million casualties, but they were unable to achieve success."

"And now, this Kursk salient is also a great threat to the German army."

"The German army will certainly take over this area at all costs."

"Otherwise, the German army should just retreat and level the defense line."

"But are we going to abandon thousands of miles of defense along the entire front without a fight?"

"Then don't say it's not Hitler's style."

"Even if I am asked to take command, I will never give up easily."

【To defend against the German army. 】

[The Soviet Union built strong fortifications in the Kursk region.]

[And they planned to wait until the German offensive momentum weakened and then wear them down. ]

【Launch a large-scale counterattack again. 】

[Subsequent Soviet intelligence also confirmed that this assumption was correct.]

[As early as April 1943, the German High Command’s directive document on Operation Citadel appeared on Stalin’s desk.]

[This information comes from an unknown intelligence officer.]

[This person’s real name is still unknown.]

[But everyone speculated that he should be an officer in the German High Command. ] [Operation Citadel, the official plan to attack Kursk. ]

[This also meets the expectations of the Soviet High Command.]

[The German army will launch a pincer attack from the north and south of Kursk.]

[Prepare to cut off the Kursk salient in one fell swoop. ]

[The German Army Group Center attacked from the north, and the Army Group South attacked from the south.]

[The Soviet Union made preparations in advance.]

[But as the German army delayed launching the attack, the Soviet side began to suspect that the German army might change its battle plan.]

……

[In Germany, Hitler convened a military meeting.]

【But many generals were strongly opposed to Operation Fortress. 】

[Field Marshal von Kluge, commander of Army Group Center, publicly objected.]

[Model, who was in charge of the attack from the north, used his usual method of large-scale early reconnaissance to obtain a large amount of aerial reconnaissance intelligence.]

[And pointed out: The Soviet Union has deployed comprehensive defense in the Kursk region. ]

[Model was Hitler's favorite general and a fanatically loyal Nazi.]

[But even so, he still felt that Operation Citadel should be canceled.]

[Model suggested waiting for the Soviet Union to launch an attack first.]

[Then use your own defensive advantage to wear down the Soviet Union's spirit, and then find an opportunity to counterattack. ]

[Guderian, the commander of the armored forces, also expressed doubts about Operation Citadel.]

[As a tank expert, he understood that the current German army was not actually prepared for large-scale battles.]

[The whole fortress operation is too risky.]

[If Operation Citadel fails, it will cause irreparable losses to the entire German army on the Eastern Front. ]

[Against the objections of his generals, Hitler agreed to postpone the action until next month.]

【But Hitler demanded.】

【Once started, it must succeed. 】

[The German army finally decided to carry out Operation Citadel, but gave more time to both the Soviet Union and Germany to prepare.]

[For the German army, during this period of time, more of their new equipment can be put into the battlefield. ]

[For example, the famous Tiger and Panther tanks. ]

[And the Ferdinand self-propelled artillery. ]

[A new type of attack aircraft was also developed, and the ability to attack tanks from the air was strengthened. ]

[The classic Stuka bomber was also equipped with two guns. ]

[Can fire tungsten core shells, increasing the success rate of hitting armored targets. ]

【And the Soviet Union. 】

[After getting more time to prepare, the defense of Kursk was further strengthened.]

[The number of defense lines has reached three. ]

【But there is still a big hidden danger. 】

【That's anti-tank artillery. 】

[Faced with the German army's new tanks, the Soviet army's traditional 45mm artillery was powerless. ]

[Only a 76mm gun can penetrate the armor of a Tiger tank at a distance of 300 meters.]

[However, the Tiger tank was able to destroy Soviet artillery from 2 kilometers away.]

[The lack of firepower can be compensated by new tactics. ]

[The Soviet army will deploy anti-tank artillery in groups on the front line and divide them into several strongholds. ]

[Each stronghold has more than 20 anti-tank artillery pieces and various anti-tank rifles.]

【Can shoot in any direction.】

[The distance between the two bases is no more than 800 meters. ]

【Once the German tanks tried to cross the position. 】

[The Soviet Union's various anti-tank positions were able to shoot at the relatively vulnerable flank armor of enemy tanks.]

While the sky is telling the story.

A very clear battlefield diagram is also given.

Including the direction of the German attack.

And the layout of the Soviet Union's three lines of defense.

The war is imminent, let’s get ready.

The ancient people also started discussing it.

In some popular overpasses, teahouses and other places, some bosses have even opened sales on the spot.

Everyone is wondering who will win or lose in this battle?
(End of this chapter)