0705_08: The Long Right Flank - PzC 07 Kursk '43

South Eastern part of the Southern Front, July 5th 1943: The III Panzer Korps was having difficulties around Belgorod. The plan was to cross the Severnny Donets river near Belgorod and then push north east to perform its primary mission of protecting the right flank of Fourth Panzer Army. In fact, close to Belgorod, the 81st Guards Rifle Division contained the German effort, forcing some units to redeploy further south to try their luck there. This they did, achieving several limited bridgeheads, with the 7th Panzer division enjoying the best of the day advancing about 6 Kms. This was ominous to the Soviets whose defense was not ripped apart, but the bridgeheads were a cause for concern. It was equally ominous, maybe even more so, to von Manstein at Army Group South HQ because, as yet, the right flank was unprotected. [Size, small]