Comments on: Creating Kursk: General Rotmistrov’s Portrait http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bobe http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-870057 Bobe Fri, 08 Feb 2013 04:34:06 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-870057 Rotmistrov's inflation of german tanks losses maybe saved his head(great excuse for sure) STALIN was not happy with the catastrophic losses of ROTMISTROV'S tanks, he commented some words about it, don't know exactly, but were tragic words.? Another great point about PROKHOROVKA is that false version of T34 rushing towards the enemy and the great soviet victory, etc.. the soviet tanks created so much dust that the visibility was very poor or none at all, add that the smoke from burned T34s, so they just kept pushing forward and when they encountered the germans they were decimated. Some t34 tank commanders that survived tell(today) a different story about PROKHOROVKA, it was a real nightmare for them, poor visibility, choking with smoke, horror of driving through a cemetery of soviet tanks,etc..Not exactly what was painted by the soviet propaganda during and after the war. Rotmistrov's inflation of german tanks losses maybe saved his head(great excuse for sure) STALIN was not happy with the catastrophic losses of ROTMISTROV'S tanks, he commented some words about it, don't know exactly, but were tragic words.? Another great point about PROKHOROVKA is that false version of T34 rushing towards the enemy and the great soviet victory, etc.. the soviet tanks created so much dust that the visibility was very poor or none at all, add that the smoke from burned T34s, so they just kept pushing forward and when they encountered the germans they were decimated. Some t34 tank commanders that survived tell(today) a different story about PROKHOROVKA, it was a real nightmare for them, poor visibility, choking with smoke, horror of driving through a cemetery of soviet tanks,etc..Not exactly what was painted by the soviet propaganda during and after the war.

]]> By: Erik H http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-569854 Erik H Mon, 23 May 2011 03:54:13 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-569854 The author of the article are right about the fact that the german losses during the Prokhorovka battle were largely exaggerated by the russians after the war. Although annoying it is of minor importance in the sense that the losses inflicted upon the germans especially in the panzer and mechanized units were more than sufficient to stop the germans in their tracks. So, although it is important for historical reasons to present the material as accurate as possible it does not change anything regarding the strategic success the russians achieved. On the contrary one can ask: If the germans couldnt handle such a relatively small loss in tanks and armoured vehicles, how on earth could there be any hope of strategic success in operation Citadelle for them? A guy like general Guderian clearly foresaw this. So ironically although lesser armoured losses gives more credit to the germans in a tactical sense it makes the strategic situation look even more disdaint. The author of the article are right about the fact that the german losses during the Prokhorovka battle were largely exaggerated by the russians after the war.
Although annoying it is of minor importance in the sense that the losses inflicted upon the germans especially in the panzer and mechanized units were more than sufficient to stop the germans in their tracks.
So, although it is important for historical reasons to present the material as accurate as possible it does not change anything regarding the strategic success the russians achieved.
On the contrary one can ask:
If the germans couldnt handle such a relatively small loss in tanks and armoured vehicles, how on earth could there be any hope of strategic success in operation Citadelle for them?
A guy like general Guderian clearly foresaw this.

So ironically although lesser armoured losses gives more credit to the germans in a tactical sense it makes the strategic situation look even more disdaint.

]]> By: Michael Storm http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-378353 Michael Storm Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:37:30 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-378353 about the panthers. only the GD division even had panthers at Kursk, yet myths persist of them serving with II SS Panzerkorps during Zitadelle. who wrote all this crap? about the panthers. only the GD division even had panthers at Kursk, yet myths persist of them serving with II SS Panzerkorps during Zitadelle. who wrote all this crap?

]]> By: David Luck http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-327528 David Luck Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:35:16 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-327528 Good to see Kursk de-bunked. By the summer of 1943, Russian production of main battle tanks outstrips Germany's by a 10::1 ratio. Not game over...but game all but over. Good to see Kursk de-bunked. By the summer of 1943, Russian production of main battle tanks outstrips Germany's by a 10::1 ratio. Not game over…but game all but over.

]]> By: Skip Franklin http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-305485 Skip Franklin Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:53:31 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-305485 Greatest Tank Battle I'd have to look at the Arab-Israeli wars, 1967 and 1973, North Africa in World War II, and at Operation Desert Storm for some possibilities. There are some others like Operation Goodwood and the Wacht am Rhein in 1944. Greatest Tank Battle

I'd have to look at the Arab-Israeli wars, 1967 and 1973, North Africa in World War II, and at Operation Desert Storm for some possibilities. There are some others like Operation Goodwood and the Wacht am Rhein in 1944.

]]> By: Dave T http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-301696 Dave T Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:01:22 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-301696 Dr. C, If Prokorovka was not the greatest tank battle of the war, then what was? I do not ask this sarcastically or in a challenging tone, just wondering. Dr. C,
If Prokorovka was not the greatest tank battle of the war, then what was? I do not ask this sarcastically or in a challenging tone, just wondering.

]]> By: Bill Nance http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-299853 Bill Nance Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:29:33 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-299853 Well, Prokorovka was not all of Kursk, just a part. I can see why Hitler was nervous, as Kursk represented the best chance the Germans had to regain any sort of initiative on the Eastern Front, even if it was a mere "straightening of the line." In essence, he might have seen the battle as a test to see if the Germans could ever restart their offensive attitude towards the Soviets. The delay of the operation to await the Panther also played into this role. Also, Hitler was what we in the military call a "geardo". That is, he had a fetish for using the newest and coolest toys right away. Thus, he had the new Panther and wanted to use it RIGHT NOW. Well, Prokorovka was not all of Kursk, just a part. I can see why Hitler was nervous, as Kursk represented the best chance the Germans had to regain any sort of initiative on the Eastern Front, even if it was a mere "straightening of the line." In essence, he might have seen the battle as a test to see if the Germans could ever restart their offensive attitude towards the Soviets.

The delay of the operation to await the Panther also played into this role. Also, Hitler was what we in the military call a "geardo". That is, he had a fetish for using the newest and coolest toys right away. Thus, he had the new Panther and wanted to use it RIGHT NOW.

]]> By: Jeff Dare http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-299735 Jeff Dare Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:00:01 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/creating-kursk-general-rotmistrov%e2%80%99s-portrait.htm#comment-299735 Robert., that is an interesting take on the Kursk battle. If Kursk was a minor operation as you seem to be implying, are you suggesting that Hitlers quotes of his "stomach churning" whenever he thought of the operation are incorrect ? Why did Hitler delay the start date of the operation several times to await the availability of the new Panther tank ? This doesn't seem to align with your "writing down" of Citadelle to a "minor operation". Robert., that is an interesting take on the Kursk battle. If Kursk was a minor operation as you seem to be implying, are you suggesting that Hitlers quotes of his "stomach churning" whenever he thought of the operation are incorrect ? Why did Hitler delay the start date of the operation several times to await the availability of the new Panther tank ? This doesn't seem to align with your "writing down" of Citadelle to a "minor operation".

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