Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E
Battle of Prokhorovka
Almost like clockwork, at 06:30 hours both the Leibstandarte SS panzers and the Soviet 24th Tank Corps were waved forward by their commanders. The SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 Deutschland of the Das Reich Division was lined up as well advancing northwards on the south side of the Leibstandarte SS. In the morning haze, the Waffen-SS Panzer crews spotted a mass of Soviet tanks directly in front of them. Two Soviet tank corps faced the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS in an area little more than 8 km by 8 km. In the ensuing fighting, the outnumbered Leibstandarte inflicted heavy casualties on the Soviets as they continued to surge forward, the 50 or so SS Panzers started to pick off the Soviets tanks for almost no loss thanks to their long-range gunnery skills. The field was soon littered with burning Soviet T-34s and T-70s. More were following behind in a second wave, along with hordes of Red infantry. The SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich likewise was facing tough opposition against the weight of 2nd Guards Tank Corps. Image: A Tiger I crew taking a break before the action in July 1943. The massive Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E will remain forever a symbol of the formidable German Panzer formations of World War II. Fair use.