By the fourth day of the battle for the Kursk salient, Model hoped to capture the heights around the village of Teploye and put a major dent in the Soviet second line of defence.
After initial skirmishing, 4th Panzer-Division mounted an all-out attack with Kampfgruppe Burmeister, supported by the last three operational Tigers from schwere Panzer-Abteilung 505, panzergrenadiers, artillery and Stukas.
The Soviet defenders were well prepared and heavily entrenched behind deep minefields and supported by dug in tanks from 79th Tank Brigade.
Here, a platoon of PzKpfw IVs from Panzer-Regiment 35 and a single Tiger I attack a Soviet held hill, defended by dug in tanks and anti-tank guns. Despite heavy German bombardment and Stuka attacks, the Soviet defence remains unbroken. Three Pz IVs were destroyed during the attack and many others damaged. The Soviets lost at least four T-34s and one KV-1 in this action, plus a number of anti-tank guns.
Unable to break through, the battle at Teploye was to symbolise the high-water mark for Model's forces.


From: Osprey Publishing's- Campaign 272, Kursk 1943

PRICE: £550.00 (unframed)
SIZE: Image approx. H 31 cm x W 46 cm (H 12 x W 18 inches)
MEDIUM: Watercolour and gouache