ϟϟ-Panzergrenadier-Division „Totenkopf“ in the Battle of Kursk

Knight's Cross holder SS-Oberführer Hermann Prieß

SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf moments before attack

SS-Totenkopf Panzergrenadier inspect a knocked out T-34

SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser was determined to press forward the attack and ordered the II.SS-Panzerkorps to wheel northwestwards in a coordinated attack. Their objective was to seize the crossings over the River Psel and breach the Soviet third line. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf led the advance on the western flank battling through the 52nd Guards Rifle Division pakfronts, while SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS was forming the spearhead. In the late morning the Totenkopf broke the back of the Soviet defence and was able to make big gains. However, in the afternoon large Soviet counterattacks by 2nd Guards Tank Corps battered the division's right flank. Wave after wave of Soviet tanks surged forward, with some attacks involving more than 300 tanks. They were picked off one-by-one by the SS-Panzers and Panzergrenadiers picked off those that came too close and shot any tank-ridding infantry on their hulls. Thousands of Soviet infantrymen were mown down by well aimed artillery fire that was called down within a few hundred meters of the Waffen-SS new frontline. Top clip: Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf SS-Oberführer Hermann Prieß observe the battlefield at Kursk in early July 1943. He was promoted to SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS on July 15 1943. Prieß would go on to become one ​of Nazi Germany's most highly decorated soldiers. He was one of the elite few to be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Swords – an honour that was awarded to only 159 men of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces during World War II. Middle clip: the armoured fighting vehicles of the Totenkopf carrying SS-Panzergrenadiers in the run-up to a combined-arms attack during Zitadelle in July 1943. Bottom clip, taken on a later occasion, shows a SS-Panzergrenadier of the Totenkopf carefully inspect a knocked out Soviet T-34 on the Eastern front. Footages: Die Deutsche Wochenschau.