On the way to Belgorod (1 Viewer)

[redhugh]

The name Belgorod is the Slavic for "white city", the vicinity being rich in limestone. The settlement was first mentioned in 1237, when it was ravaged by the hordes of Batu Khan. In 1596 it was refounded by the order of Boris Godunov as one of numerous forts set up to defend Southern borders from the Crimean Tatars.After the Russian border was moved further south, the fortress fell in disrepair and the town was assigned to the Government of Kursk. Peter the Great visited it on the eve of the Battle of Poltava, and a dragoon regiment was stationed in the town until 1917.
During the great Battle of Kursk, the village of Prokhorovka in Belgorod Oblast was a stage of the largest tank battle in history (July 12, 1943).

The Panzergrenadier Division Grossdeutschland, a newly re-equipped division was attached to Von Knobelsdorff’s XXXXVIII.Panzerkorps and the German Fourth Panzer Army of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth, and was to take a major role (paired with the SS-Panzerkorps) in Operation Citadel, the battles to sever the Kursk salient.

In June, 1943, XXXXVIII.Panzerkorps moved via Belgorod to the Oboyan area to take part in the massive operations against the Kursk Salient.

 

[Njja]

Sharp pictures, love the convoy.

Njja

 

[Spitfrnd]

Stunning photos and impressive set of items, thanks for showing.

 

[redhugh]

SS-Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps, included, 1st SS Panzergrenadier Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Division Das Reich, 3rd SS Panzergrenadier Division Totenkop and was to form the spearhead of Generaloberst Hoth's 4.Panzer-Armee, tasked with breaching the southern flank of the Kursk salient.

The II.SS-Panzerkorps was moved north to Belgorod in preparation for the upcoming Summer offensive, Operation Citadel. The II.SS-Panzerkorps reached its assembly areas on 28 June and began preparing for the assault. The attack was set for 5 July.

 

[Njja]

It just keeps getting better and better!

Njja

 

[sv288]

Cool pictures of the Russian T-34.

 

[The Lt.]

A very nice addition to the Diodramas Thread redhugh featuring a well written story line supported with great photos............The Lt.

 

[redhugh]

The railyard was protected by low sided flak wagons . The Heavy railway Flak batteries using 88's.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Holy smokes !!! That is a great display that you have there

What kind of space does it occupy ? I assume the railway is LGB ??

 

[Harrytheheid]

RH,
That is an amazing set of photos.

More please.

Cheers
H

 

[redhugh]

The Soviet partisans were coordinated and controlled by the Soviet government and modeled on that of the Red Army. Operation "Rails War", August 3 - September 15, 1943. A major operation of partisan formations against the railroad communications intended to disrupt the German reinforcements and supplies for the Battle of Kursk and later the Battle of Smolensk. It involved concentrated actions by more than 100,000 partisan fighters from Belarus, the Leningrad Oblast, the Kalinin Oblast, the Smolensk Oblast, the Oryol Oblast and Ukraine within an area 1000 km along the front and 750 km wide. Reportedly, more than 230,000 rails were destroyed, along with many bridges, trains and other railroad infrastructure. The operation seriously incapacitated German logistics and was instrumental in the Soviet victory in Kursk battle.
The Germans ran regular "Antipartisan trains"

 

[debrito]

RH,
Unbelievable, you have the talent of putting together different sets and manufactures, it is a very nice montage, loved....
What is the scale of your train?

Rod.

 

[redhugh]

Armour and troop concentrations were built up by both sides with the Russians amassing 1,300,000 men, 3,600 tanks, 20,000 artillery pieces and 2,400 aircraft. The Germans also assembled a formidable fighting force which was slightly smaller with 900,000 men 2,700 tanks 2,000 aircraft. As well as the three premier Waffen SS divisions taking part.
Although German losses were quite high Russian losses were higher with the 6th Guards Army (which had borne the brunt of the assault) suffering very high losses and by the 11th July the battle hung in the balance. Things did not look promising for the Germans for two reasons.


The defeat of the Afrika Korps meant that the invasion of Sicily was imminent and units that were badly needed on the eastern front would have to be transferred to the western front to bolster the defenses in Italy. The second reason and more alarming to the German forces at Kursk was the arrival of the 5th Guards Army in the salient.


When the Allies landed in Sicily Hitler called von Kluge and Manstein to his headquarters and declared that he was calling Operation Zitadelle off. von Manstein was furious and argued that one final effort and the battle could be won. Hitler would have none of it particularly as the Soviets had launched a new counter offensive in the Orel sector. It was decided the Leibstandarte would be transferred to Italy and Sepp Dietrich would personally escort the deposed Mussolini's mistress Clara Pettachi to him after Skorzeny's rescue of the Duce from Gran Sasso. Sepp Dietrich was duly disgusted!
On the 15th July, Rokossovsky's Central Front struck at the Orel bulge and by 5th August Orel was liberated. The Germans withdrew to the partly prepared Hagen line at the base of the salient. To the south of Kursk the Russians re-grouped and by 3rd August another offensive opened up and Belgorod was liberated on the same day as Orel. The attack forced a 40-mile gap in Army Group South between 4th Panzer Army and Army Detachment Kempf. On the 11th August the last battle of Kharkov began and by 20th August the Germans were forced to withdraw. The Germans from then on would be fighting defensive battles all the way back to the frontiers of the Reich and into the Reich itself.

 

[redhugh]

Thanks for the comments, I had a lot of fun with this one The train wagons are a mixture of marklin maxi (gauge one) ,which I got for cheap on ebay and USA Trains make the bigger flatcars and depressed centre flat cars. The USA train flatcar was luckily a perfect fit for the V2 rocket in both length and width. I have a couple of WWII web photo's which I tried to base the wagons on and will post them up over the next week for reference.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Thanks for the comments, I had a lot of fun with this one The train wagons are a mixture of marklin maxi (gauge one) ,which I got for cheap on ebay and USA Trains make the bigger flatcars and depressed centre flat cars. The USA train flatcar was luckily a perfect fit for the V2 rocket in both length and width. I have a couple of WWII web photo's which I tried to base the wagons on and will post them up over the next week for reference.

Unbelievably cool setup! You have moved to the head of the class!!

 

[theBaron]

That is a fantastic display! I like your camera angles, too, you put the viewer right in the action.

So, you have an exhibition hall attached to your house, then....

 

[UKReb]

A large lexicon full of superlatives cannot adequately describe your set-up. That is just an unbelievable dio. I am in awe, top marks and it really should be in the Imperial War Museum.

Reb

 

[aujj65]

I would like to add my "Two Thumbs Up" to the above comments and that is quite a selection of rolling stock you have there!

Jeff

 

[panda1gen]

Me too, much appreciated, great set up and story, thanks for posting.

 

[Warrior]

Brilliant all around Colin, incredible is more like it. Reminded me in some ways of the scenes from Stalingrad when the Germans were moving into the shattered city limits..............