Kursk Screenplay

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THE WOLF BY THE EARS: THE BATTLE OF KURSK JULY, 1943 Copyright ©2001 David R. Higgins
TXu 1-030-657 Nov 15, 2001

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SCRIPT: FADE IN: 1. INTRO: NARRATOR As the second winter of the German invasion of the Soviet Union comes to a close in 1943, the German army finds itself occupying essentially the same positions as the previous year. In February, Field Marshal von Manstein’s bold counteroffensive to stop the onrushing Soviets after the fall of Stalingrad has both regained the tactical initiative for his armies and stabilized the southern front, ending with the recapture of Kharkov and Belgorod in mid-March. The advent of rasputitsa, or spring thaw, eventually turns the surrounding countryside into a vast quagmire of mud and the successful German “backhand” blow against the overstretched, Soviet spearheads is finally brought to a halt. Falling short of completely straightening the German lines, an immense bulge measuring 150 by 200 kilometers juts from the Soviet positions around the town of Kursk to the north. Shortly, both begin to marshal their forces and prepare for the coming summer’s campaign season. The sheer size of the salient dominates situation maps and fixates the attention of both the High Command of the German Army, OKH, and Stavka, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, Soviet. Germany, now faced for perhaps the first time with thoughts of an eventual defeat looks here to deliver a decisive blow against the Soviets. A German victory would regain the strategic initiative for the Wehrmacht and essentially stalemate the Soviets. The German reversals at both Moscow and Stalingrad, and more recently the May surrender of 250,000 Axis troops in Tunisia have left the Wehrmacht in a depleted state. In combination with the immense industrial capabilities of the allied powers, the Germans are left with few military options when facing a drawn out war of attrition. A strategic victory in the east during the summer of 1943, even if much more limited in scope than in previous campaigns of Barbarossa and the Caucasus, would buy them much needed time to rebuild and re-establish their fighting force’s credibility. With the eastern front temporarily in stasis, the Germans consider a series of smaller summer offensives intending to wear the Soviets down by capturing large numbers of prisoners, but ultimately, the plan becomes one of complete encirclement and elimination of the enemy forces within the Kursk salient. With an initial May start date successively pushed through June and into early July, Soviet strength has grown considerably larger than what it had been in April. The Soviets further benefit from immense quantities of Lend-Lease material from the United States which adds much needed motorized transport and eases their badly stretched logistical system. British intercepted Enigma transmissions, the “Lucy” spy-ring, detailed partisan reports and enemy POW statements continue to keep Soviet intelligence extremely well informed. As a result substantial defensive positions are created along known or suspected attack routes with the majority of the work coming from thousands of conscripted civilian laborers. A nearly limitless Soviet manpower pool caps the massive buildup by allowing most units to be brought up to strength while concurrently amassing a substantial strategic reserve along the Kshen’ River far to the rear. If the Germans were to ever regain the momentum and continue to offer a viable military force, it would have to be in the summer of 1943. MAIN TITLE: THE WOLF BY THE EARS: THE BATTLE OF KURSK JULY, 1943 2.“DESPERATE GAMBLE” (SUNDAY, JULY 4, 1943) NARRATOR For the German army the last few months of intense training and preparation are ready to be put to the test as the troops of XXXXVIII Panzer Corps move into their advance positions along the Sumy-Belgorod railway and to the west of the Vorskolets river. This powerful force consisting of the 3rd and 11th Panzer Divisions, the reinforced Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland, the 167th Infantry Division, and the 200 factory-fresh Panther tanks of the 10th Panzer Brigade wait expectantly for the signal to move out. Their objective for the coming day is capturing the high ground running through Butovo and Gertsovka and the removal of Soviet forces occupying these forward positions. Supporting XXXXVIII Panzer Corps’s right and left flanks are II SS Panzer Corps and LII Army Corp’s infantry divisions. Capturing this ridge will permit the Germans to see deep into the Soviet defenses and allow for supporting artillery fire during the next day’s primary battle. Weary from weeks of incessant drill and now, under a sustained alert, the Soviet 6th Guards Army’s 22nd and 23rd Guards Corps wait in their positions blocking the main routes to Oboyan and Prokhorovka respectively. Aligned with two divisions to the front and one in reserve and backed up by a wide variety of supplemental units including the 1st Tank Army to the rear, the Soviets present a formidable force designed to meet a variety of contingencies posed by the German Fourth Panzer Army. Four weeks previously, the Red Army pulled back several kilometers in an effort to keep the Germans “blind” to the ongoing Soviet defensive set-up. Infantry and antitank units continue to remain in the forward towns of Butovo and Gertsevka while platoon- sized pickets patrol night-time security positions along the areas in between. EXT.(0400) GERMAN 2ND ENGINEER COMPANY, PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION GROSSDEUTSCHLAND, FORWARD POSITIONS (SOUTH) Soviet star shells rise into the dark, thundering night sky as a squad of Grossdeutschland engineers clear lanes in the Soviet mine field before the hills of Butovo. A few Soviet machine guns sputter in the distance as the rain-soaked engineers probe through the sunflower and corn fields using wire rods and bare hands. With sweat streaming down their faces, the men dig out the mines by hand, remove the detonators, and place them in piles along marked paths back to the German front line. In the distance Soviet loudspeakers broadcast the fact that they know where and when the coming attack will occur in addition to other propaganda. Silhouetted by the breaking dawn, a lieutenant marks off the cleared sections on a map as the dead-tired engineers make their way past hundreds of camouflaged German troops and vehicles. A short distance away a prayer service convenes and a colonel steps forward to read from a list, but the passing engineers barely take notice. [German] COLONEL Soldiers! Today you begin a great offensive whose outcome can have decisive significance for the war. Your victory must even more than before reinforce throughout the world the fact that, in the final analysis, it is useless to render any resistance whatsoever against the German Army... 3. EXT. (1440) SOVIET 73RD GUARDS SEPARATE ANTITANK ARTILLERY BATTALION, 67TH GUARDS RIFLE DIVISION, BUTOVO (SOUTH) Barely visible in their well-camouflaged trenches and blockhouses, Soviet antitank crews and infantry quietly finish their lunches of bread, vegetables, and barley soup. They remain on alert for an expected attack from the now unusually quiet German lines when a thunderstorm rumbles overhead to unleash a heavy downpour that makes the black, treeless topsoil steam and turn to mud once again. Resigning themselves to the downpour and their fate, the shabby gathering of veterans, young boys, old men, and Asiatics recheck their weapons and peer out across the treeless terrain. Tired, yet stern, two Soviet officers stand in the forward trenches and look to the German positions obscured a few kilometers away beyond the Sumy-Belgorod railway. [Russian] SENIOR LIEUTENANT ...Morale remains good, Comrade Major. The protivotankovye opornye punkty (antitank resistance points) are as well situated as possible. Machine pistol ammunition is still low, however. (to the German lines) Strange. It’s been unusually quiet all morning...Last night’s sweeps didn’t detect anything odd- MAJOR Our reconnaissance isn’t always as...inquisitive as it should be. (scoffing) Razvedka Boem (reconnaissance in force)...No matter. Soon, I suspect. Very soon. My primary concern is with these...replacements we’ve received in the last few months. Civilians rounded up and thrown into a uniform- units stripped from the rear echelon...Incessant drill and the threat of a Straf will have to suffice, I suppose. Not that being here’s too far removed...No matter. Our purpose in this forward sector is clear. Erode the Fascist onslaught and die a hero’s death. Ni shagu nazad (not one step backward) They will fight and they will die! SENIOR LIEUTENANT Yes, Comrade Major. (looking to his watch) I’m not sure if we’ll see anything coming this late in the day. It’s been like this since we went to full alert three days ago. Tomorrow perhaps...”Fritz” likes to launch his offensives in the morning...The battalion will need rest soon. The men are becoming fatigued- MAJOR Absolutely not. General Baksov’s orders were clear. Full alert! Full vigilance! We are gvardeytsy (guardsmen) and I intend to see we live up to that title! Maskirovka... (implying the well-camouflaged troops with a wry smirk) As the rain subsides the senior lieutenant’s smartly salutes before walking off to inspect the line of tense, hollow-eyed troops; their loaded weapons at the ready. Suddenly, the faint droning of approaching aircraft grows louder and the Soviet troops scramble into action. Wave after wave of German dive bombers swoop in to attack the Soviet positions while German fighters give them an umbrella of air cover. Emblazed guns, dummy and real, are blown skyward along with trench works and scores of men. Within a few minutes the inferno ceases and the Stukas peel off and fly out of sight. As the startled Soviets emerge from their mangled trenches, a mass of artillery shells begin to rain down on their positions and the Germans commence their attack at the foot of the hills. Led by their battalion commanders, wedge formations of German infantry rush through the cleared mine field lanes. They are closely followed by mounted infantry in half-tracks and assault guns which rapidly zigzag their way forward in support. Interspersed within the advancing groups are assault engineers who quickly work to remove obstacles and sweep for undiscovered mine fields. While Soviet fighters swoop down on the advancing Germans, several intact Soviet groups return murderous small arms fire and call in their own artillery. 4. EXT. (1630) GERMAN XXXXVIII PANZER CORPS (SOUTH) Slogging forward through erupting earth and flying debris, German units begin to consolidate their gains to the treeless, high ground west of Butovo; Very lights arcing along the hilltops. Now possessing an unobstructed view of the enemy defenses to the north, German observers quickly begin setting up observation posts from which to direct artillery fire and air support. Around Gertsovka severe thunderstorms and heavy mortar and antitank fire slow the German advance, but by nightfall they succeed in overrunning the ridge. Soviet units around Butovo are surrounded and resist in hand-to- hand combat for several more hours before being wiped- out. With the fighting tapering off, additional German military and support units begin moving forward to support the new positions and to prepare for the main offensive. 5. “MAILED FIST- THE BATTLE OPENS” (MONDAY, JULY 5) INT. (0200) SOVIET CENTRAL FRONT HQ (NORTH) Amid the subdued activity of the post, a stern Rokossovsky steps to an officer to receive a field phone, a serious Zhukov sitting nearby. [Russian] ROKOSSOVSKY (on phone) Yes...Yes. I understand. Rokossovsky cradles the phone and turns to Zhukov. ROKOSSOVSKY That was General Pukhov. Another yazyk (tongue) was just picked up from a mine-clearing patrol south of Tagino with more “hard” information. Story’s the same as the others we’ve been picking up tonight...The enemy looks to be preparing to go over to the offensive at 0330 -after a short artillery barrage...What shall we do? Inform Stavka or issue orders for the preliminary bombardment ourselves? ZHUKOV (understanding the situation) We can’t waste time. Give the order according to plan, and I will call Stalin and report the information. MALININ I’ll get General Boikov... As Zhukov places the call, those present move into efficient action and the headquarters comes to life. 6. EXT.(0220) GERMAN 292ND INFANTRY DIVISION ASSEMBLY AREA (NORTH) While scores of German infantry settle into their jump- off positions, a few tankers smoke and chat quietly before mounting their waiting vehicles. Spaced throughout the attack zone, German artillery batteries and crews idle along side piles of ammunition and supplies brought forward with horse-drawn supplies. Suddenly, hundreds of Soviet guns fire indirectly into the German assembly positions and create pandemonium from what was a well choreographed deployment. NARRATOR Expending roughly half of 13th Army’s initial complement of artillery shells, the Soviet bombardment essentially delays the German offensive by two hours but does little significant damage. However, the combination of a night attack and a lack of preliminary air and ground reconnaissance force guns into employing an area bombardment with the hopes of hitting specific targets within predesignated zones. Their antitank guns remain silent so as to not disclose their hidden, clustered positions. 7. EXT. (0225) GERMAN I/KG 100 BASE- POLTAVA (SOUTH) As the grayish dawn begins to break, dozens of fully loaded He-111’s clutter the temporary runway as they prepare to take off. 8. INT. (0230) GERMAN FREYA LONG RANGE RADAR STATION (SOUTH) The radar screen is alive with signals as anxious operators frantically make telephone calls to explain the situation. Orders of “scramble” and “disregard schedule” are passed on while antiaircraft guns suddenly open fire in the distance. A moment later, hundreds of droning planes crescendos as the Red Air Force fans out across the German rear areas. 9. EXT.(0235) GERMAN I/JG 52 MOLDERS BASE- BESONOVKA (SOUTH) The orderly air base suddenly comes alive as the alarming news spreads. Scrambling pilots race to their waiting Bf- 109G’s, taxi along the sloppy, dirt tarmac and quickly take off. Scores of German fighters head off to the north and rapidly gain altitude as the first waves of Soviet planes are spotted. 10. INT. (0240) SOVIET 2ND AIR ARMY, YAK-9D (SOUTH) As the antiaircraft fire tapers off, the young Soviet pilot looks to his altimeter reading 10,000’, to his watch and then out the canopy. [Russian] PILOT #1 (to himself) Perfect. Complete surprise... A grin spreads across his face as he gazes out at hundreds of Soviet bombers, fighters and ground-attack aircraft streaming south in rigid formations. Suddenly, the pilot’s elation changes to shock as scores of German fighters race skyward and begin intercepting the first Soviet planes they encounter with alarming success. 11. EXT. OUTSIDE WITH THE DOGFIGHT In the ensuing melee, over a hundred Soviet planes are downed in the first few minutes, while German losses are negligible. Small clusters of bombers peel away to make runs at the closest airfields but do little damage. Not long after, the remaining Soviet planes turn back but continue to be harried by the pursuing German Me-109’s and Fw-190’s. NARRATOR With this single largest air battle of the war, the Soviets limp away after losing more than 120 aircraft out of a total of 417 while the German losses were unusually minor; around 26. This unexpected victory allows the German Fourth Air Fleet’s VIII Air Corps the opportunity to provide tactical air superiority for the entire southern front. 12. EXT. (0330) GERMAN FOURTH PANZER ARMY ARTILLERY POSITIONS (SOUTH) NARRATOR With months of extensive training and preparation behind it, XXXXVIII Panzer Corps moves into final positions around the Sumy-Belgorod railway and the Vorskolets river. Designated to strike due north to take Oboyan Fourth Panzer Army is then to break into the open steppes beyond and link up with the German Ninth Army coming down from the north. The Soviets, aware of this contingency via the spy ring “Lucy” and other intelligence sources, have placed Katukov’s reinforced 1st Tank Army in a blocking position to block this threat. Searching for an alternative breakthrough, Fourth Panzer Army’s commander, Colonel General Hermann Hoth, decides on thrusting northeast to counter Voronezh Front’s reserves first. With help from Army Detachment Kempf on the right, and in particular its III Panzer Corps, the combined German armored units plan to defeat the Soviet forces here before swinging northwest to deal with 1st Tank Army at Oboyan. As this major change of plan occurs without OKH involvement, Hoth inadvertently thwarts Soviet intelligence from “Lucy” and puts Vatutin at a severe tactical disadvantage; a fact compounded by the Soviets’ recent lack of air cover. Spaced among piles of ammunition and shell crates, German artillery crews wait intently by their weapons as a silent count is measured. In unison the command “fire!” immediately precedes a tremendous roar of hundreds of German artillery guns opening up. 13. EXT. (0810) GERMAN 10TH PANZER BRIGADE NORTH OF MASCHTSCHENOJE (SOUTH) In the distance, artillery shells burst over and beyond the main Soviet line as packets of German infantry dart forward in an attempt to take the town of Cherkasskoye. With limited tank support, these troops are quickly pinned down in the swampy, mine-infested terrain. Looking sleek and menacing, scores of closely-packed, factory-fresh Panthers make their way along the valley toward the fighting beyond. A kilometer ahead, a pack of curious Mark III Lee tanks attempt a confrontation but are quickly dispatched. With little armored flank protection, several Panthers are disabled or destroyed by flanking Soviet antitank fire while several more vehicles are jolted to a fiery stop when land mines detonate under their tracks. As more Panthers suffer the same and attempt to extricate themselves from the swampy terrain, they become instant targets for concentrated antitank and artillery fire. This ultimately halts the regiment’s progress and disrupts the formation to the point that German 88mm antitank guns open up in support, but much of the damage has already been done and the dust and smoke make visibility difficult. Amid the confusion a Befehls-Panther comes to a halt as units continue past to help support the disabled vehicles. [German] LAUCHERT (half emerging from the cupola on radio) ...What’s going on! VOICE ON RADIO More land mines! We’ve apparently run through another unswept field. (ricochetting explosion) Damn!...Radio communication continues to be a problem as does command and control. Along the ridge the infantry has been forced to move up without us. Second battalion’s run up against determined antitank fire- Battalion strength... LAUCHERT (into radio) Point 210.7 must be taken as rapidly as possible! First and second battalions will need to link up! (listening) No! No! The vehicles are too bunched up. The attack front must be broadened; no less than fifty meters between each vehicle! The flanks are becoming too exposed...Get what vehicles can be moved out of the enemy’s field of fire. Until further notice the attack is halted. Get some pioneers in there to clear- A suddenly static radio elicits an agitated shake from Major von Lauchert as he scans the distance with binoculars and addresses another radio voice. LAUCHERT I need a battery of Nebelwerfer brought up immediately! We’ll need to lay smoke to the front and- VOICE ON RADIO Panther II-01 hit. Battalion commander seriously wounded. ANOTHER VOICE ON RADIO Gottberg to all- battalion will take orders from me. Snarling, Lauchert’s attention shifts to a fresh cloud of smoke in the near distance. Further beyond, German infantry, still deprived of armored support, continue to advance under heavy enemy fire up the flame-engulfed slopes west of Butovo. 14. NARRATOR While the southern German attack is organized around armor attacking head of infantry, the attack in the north is essentially the opposite. Ninth Army’s commander, Colonel- General Model, reasons that the infantry will initially force openings through which the panzers will race before driving deep into the Soviet rear. As a result, his opening moves see the committal of 9 divisions along a 50 kilometer front; 8 of which are infantry. In an attempt to confuse the Soviets as to the main point of attack, Model orders General Johannes Freissner’s XXIII Corps to make the opening attack into the enemy’s first defensive belt. Striking into the boundary between the Soviet 13th and 48th Armies, Freissner makes for the important road junction of Maloarkhangel’sk, but his forces are driven back with limited success. When the main attack comes from the XXXXVII and XXXXI Panzer Corps, 13th Army’s front eventually gives way up to five kilometers. By 0900 the 20th Panzer Division overruns Bobrik and unhinges the 29th Rifle Corps’ 15th and 81st Rifle Divisions. Soon after, the attack stalls in the face of withering Soviet fire. EXT. (1210) SOVIET 81ST RIFLE DIVISION NEAR BUTYRKI (NORTH) Amid erupting earth and burning vehicles, Soviet infantry attempt a dogged stand against a variety of attacks. Engineer units quickly lay mines along the likely paths of the German attacks while hand grenades and molotov cocktails arc through the air and explode. German artillery and Nebelwerfer rocket fire intermingle with ground-attack aircraft bombing a path for the oncoming infantry. Tigers advance through the dense fields of rye and clover without infantry support while Brummbars pulverize fortified earthworks with point-blank fire. Individual Goliaths slowly move into enemy trenches to detonate with a great explosion. Several more follow behind, but are quickly put out of action by Soviet small arms fire and stop. Lines of hull-down, T-34’s engage the oncoming Germans, but increasing numbers are hit from long-range to become burning, exploding hulks of white flames and oily smoke. Camouflaged clusters of 57mm Soviet antitank guns attempt to knock out the Tigers, but the range is too great. Suddenly, a low rumbling precedes several monstrous Ferdinand self-propelled guns emerging from the German lines to shouts of “Hurra...hurra!”. Concealed in the tall grass a Soviet tank-hunter team’s attention diverts from a chaotic dogfight overhead to a line of enemy armor. From their deep and zigzagging trenches, the lead enemy vehicles steadily drive a wedge toward the Soviet’s rye-covered positions; clusters of infantry clinging to their rear platforms and more walking close behind. [Russian] PRIVATE 1 (mesmerized) Gavno! They’re enormous. The moment of shock quickly subsides as the group readies their camouflaged foxholes, PTRS rifles, molotov cocktails and cluster grenades at arm’s reach. CORPORAL Quiet! Just remember the last few months of training and you’ll be alright. Settle down! Vision slits, tracks- anything that can immobilize it. Bigger guns will destroy it later. Should some tanks end up behind us, you will continue focusing on the ones to the front. Keep your “Ball Charges” at the ready...On my order. They’re through the trenches we vacated this morning. (looking to a target sketch map) 500 meters...The surrounding peteerovtsy (antitank rifleman) will give support- The corporal’s words are abruptly drowned out as a pair of Shturmovik’s scream in low to attack the oncoming enemy formations. PRIVATE 2 “Hunchbacks!” The ground near the approaching German units erupts in sprays of dirt and flame, but the attack misses its mark and the Germans quickly reorganize and continue on. The tension builds as the Germans approach to within a hundred yards. On either side, Soviet small arms and mortar fire open up and the accompanying troops drop from the vehicle’s rear platform and fan out. The fire-fight intensifies and the German infantry and engineers are pinned down, but the Elefants continue on in isolation. To add support, a few Stukas strafe directly in front of the lumbering giants and then disappear beyond a quick series of explosions. Within a few moments, the lead vehicles cautiously rumble past the well camouflaged Soviets as they crouch in their foxholes. CORPORAL Now! Za Rodinu! The tank-hunting unit opens up with its PTRS rifles and lobs several molotov cocktails around and on the giant vehicles. The Elefants let off a few point-blank rounds and huge chunks of earth are blown skyward. As they try to back off Soviet antitank rounds continue pelting their thick sides and front with little effect although several Elefants are disabled after running across uncleared mines. As the armored force continues inexhaustibly on the Germans eventually force the enemy from its positions but always under heavy enemy fire.

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