Well, actually the tactic used by the Panzers were a bad one. Youu're right there. First, because if the Tigers get close into action, they become awkward beasts and lose their advantages, into close combats with the super fast T-34s they had a tremendous lack of power. Beside, with the heaviest and slowest tanks at the front you make all the Panzer attack slower. Marks III and IV as well as Panthers should have gone at the front to make a faster attack, protected by the long range of the Tiger's cannons.

Could Von Manstein have suceeded? Partially. He would have been able to controll all the Southern sector. But Model was not advancing anymore, beside he was having tremendous losses in infantry, tanks and guns, because the Russians were a bit more prepared in the North and Model did not have so many tanks as Hoth.

And we have discussed that of the codes... I think that the Western Allies did help, but very little in telling the Russians about the offensive in Kursk, but the 90% of the intelligence job was done by Soviet spies. That is why they could reinforce the bulge and bring more and more troops, dig trenchers and place 300 artillery pieces per mile!!!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun