Kursk: The Waffen-SS Swan Song

Kursk: The Waffen-SS Swan Song

When the two most powerful armies in the world clashed on what became known as the Battle of Kursk, the German Waffen-SS were at its peak. Highly trained and equipped with the latest warfare technology (at least on paper), the elite 2nd SS-Panzer Corps was to spearhead the expected German summer offensive of July 1943: Operation Citadel.

After 11 days of fighting, and despite massive losses in men and material, the Soviet Army managed to bring to a halt the colossal German envelopment movement, both on the North and south pincers.

In one of a sequence of photos, a SS-Panzer-grenadier’s MG-team (from the 1st SS-Pz-Div ‘LAH’) climbs the bank of an anti-tank ditch, the gunner’s eyes looking for signs of the enemy.

Note the face-mask at his neck: meant to provide camouflage, it was seldom, if ever, used by the soldiers in combat because it hampered visibility, especially when on the move. The loader behind the gunner wears his mask rolled up on its helmet.

Photographer: KB Johan King, attached to the SSLAH.

Original: US National Archives