Deadend for Eicke - Red Victory

11 JULY 1943, HILL 266.6, PSEL RIVER, 10 KM WEST OF PROKHOROVKA: Paul Hausser's II.SS Panzer Korps had been slowly carving its way before a stiff enemy resistance since the German attack on the Kursk salient was started on 5 July. Despite heavy losses, 3rd SS PzG Div. "Totenkopf", the left wing of the Korps, reached Psel River on 9 July. At the dawn of 10 July, elements of the Panzergrenadier Regiment "Theodor Eicke" crossed the Psel River and attempted to capture the high ground east of the Kliuchi village, Hill 226,6. The hill was defended by the troops from the 153rd Guards Rifle Regiment. Brutal fighting continued for the rest of the day and at the midnight Waffen-SS regiment held the southern slopes of the hill and a small position east of Kliuchi. During the night of 11-12 July, both sides finalized their preparations for the next day. According to Hausser's orders for the II SS Panzer Corps, the Totenkopf Division was to gain control of the rest of Hill 226,6 before advancing along the ridge to cut the Prokhorovka-Oboian road and provide flank protection for the "Leibstandarte" for its attack on Hill 252,2. The German troops were finalizing their deployment for the attack at the dawn of 11 July. Panzers were moving to the assembly areas under the protection of the infantry. At 07:00 forward posts came under artillery fire which was followed by a heavy tank attack. The tanks were part of Bakharovs' 18th Tank Corps which had been sent to capture Hill 226,6 and crush the fragile bridgehead at the northern shore of the Psel River.