ϟϟ-Panzergrenadier-Division „Leibstandarte ϟϟ“ March 10 1943

Light and medium Reconnaissance Panzers of the Leibstandarte SS

SS-Kampfgruppe Witt before entering Kharkov

Despite the battering its units were taking, the Soviet High Command, moved further troops into the sector, sending an armoured corps into the area south of Kharkov to block any German moves towards the city. The Red Army units facing SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf and the Das Reich to their south, suddenly found that SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser had moved the Leibstandarte SS into their rear, blocking any retreat. The Totenkopf and Das Reich began to push the enemy inexorably northwards against defensive positions rapidly established by the Leibsatandarte SS. Large parts of 4th, 22nd and 15th Soviet Tank Corps were destroyed. A further 61 tanks, 225 guns and 9,000 dead were left on the icy battlefield. The Soviet Sixth Army were totally crushed and the last major obstacle before the gates of Kharkov was removed. Credit: British authors Gordon Williamson and Tim Ripley. Top image: Leibstandarte's battle groups on the Belgorod road running into Kharkov the day before they launch their assault on March 11 1943. For most of the day, the advance down this axis was held up by road-blocks and fierce Russian resistance on the outskirts of the city. SS-Kampfgruppe Witt - II.Bataillon of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 - spent long hours waiting for the road-blocks to be cleared. The commanders of Panzer III n°555 and Panzer II n°588 scout the horizon with their binoculars. Clearly, they are in no immediate danger as one of the crewman of n°559 takes time to read a newspaper. Credit: After The Battle №112. c. Bundesarchiv. Bottom image: SS-Standartenführer Fritz Witt and SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Meyer consult a map of the area and plan their next operation from Northeast of Kharkov. Both photos by war correspondent SS-KB Johan King. c. Bundesarchiv.