I received an interesting e-mail from Dr. Albert L. Weeks (author of the excellent book 'Stalin's Other War. Soviet Grand Strategy 1939-1941') yesterday, informing me about an article about the Battle of Kursk.

The article has been published in "Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye" published in the Russian Federation. The Author is Col. Vladimir Safir.

Col. Safir confirms the exaggerations made in the memoirs of then Lt-General Pavel Rotmistrov, claiming to have destroyed some 400 German tanks during the Kursk-engagement.

Prof. Weeks can certainly send you the complete article in electronic format, provided you have cyryllic characters installed on your PC (just contact him at AWeeks11@comcast.net). I'm sure he will help you.

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Originally posted by WWII=interest:
Was there a Soviet Tank Corps in and around the city of Kursk itself? If so, how combat effective was it? Or was it just a Tank HQ?
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Givne no reply I will toss this in, I see nothing on the maps of the battle I have (Glantz's map books of the thing and several books, including the Soviet AAR on the battle).

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Originally posted by Tangoj:

There were Tank corps to the north, and along the southern edge, ans some to the rear, but nothing in the exact vic of Kursk.

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Thats what I thought, but when discussing what other tank forces the Soviets had left, this was brought up.

BTW, Chris, I was looking through Amazon UK for Kursk books, and yours came up second on the book list, due out for Octboer 31 for around 27 pounds. Congrats!

Thanks for the information. I was not aware of this article. I will send him an email this week.

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PS: Prof. Newton did not find it necessary to reply to my enquiries about the origin of the Fellgiebel manuscript quoted in his book.

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Well, its not too critical, as I am pretty certain that I already have it. The way the author mentions the Chief of Staff of the Fourth Panzer Army does lead one to conclude that he is the author.

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Maybe he was p-off because I mentioned that he even misspelled Adolf Hitler and Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler thoughout his otherwise excellent book.

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Well, you know, authors are like that (or maybe he was busy).

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Originally posted by WWII=interest:
Was there a Soviet Tank Corps in and around the city of Kursk itself? If so, how combat effective was it? Or was it just a Tank HQ?

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Sorry for the delay in response, but we've been pretty busy trying to get some reports out the door.

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Originally posted by Tangoj:
There were Tank corps to the north, and along the southern edge, ans some to the rear, but nothing in the exact vic of Kursk.

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Originally posted by WWII=interest:
Thats what I thought, but when discussing what other tank forces the Soviets had left, this was brought up.

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Well considering that they had stopped the German offensive in the north and still had forces in the Steppe Front....there were a lot available, including 9th TC (Kursk), 19th TC (Central Front), 16th TC (Central Front), 3rd TC (Central Front), 11th Tank Bde (Central Front), 29th Tank Bde (Central Front), 150th Tank Brigade (Central Front -- 60th Army), 4th Gds TC (Steppe Front), 1st MC (Steppe Front), 93rd Tank Bde (Steppe Front), 3rd Gds MC (SW Front), and a few spare infantry armies (27th, 53rd and 47th)..and then there was the 3rd Guards Tank Army that was thrown into the offensive in the north after 12 July.

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BTW, Chris, I was looking through Amazon UK for Kursk books, and yours came up second on the book list, due out for Octboer 31 for around 27 pounds. Congrats!

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Well, I know nothing about this. After having to take a two-month break to concentrate on contracted work, I am back to work on the book and am currently editing Chapter 11 (6 July)out of 30. I am shooting to finish editing by the end of the year.

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
Thomas,

Thanks for the information. I was not aware of this article. I will send him an email this week.

Well, you know, authors are like that (or maybe he was busy).

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No "cheap shot" intended. I assumed that Mr. Titura's remark "Maybe he was p-off because..." was light-hearted and my remark was offered in a similar vein. Sorry if you took offense, but none was intended.

I did receive two e-mail from Prof. Newton in the meantime. The issue is settled.

Prof. Newton wrote the following "Dear Thomas
Probably I was WAAAY too vituperative in my response, but I have been repeatedly burned by people assuming (sometimes in public forums) that I did not respond to their emails for a protracted period of time. The problem is that the DSC.EDU domain was accepting the emails but not parceling them out to me. I have come to discover that this is far more frequent than most people believe.
...
Sorry if I offended, and I appreciate your kind comments otherwise.

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....but I have been repeatedly burned by people assuming (sometimes in public forums) that I did not respond to their emails for a protracted period of time.

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On the other hand, it is safe to assume that I am sitting on people's emails for protracted periods. I am not sure what the crime is here.

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
I am back to work on the book and am currently editing Chapter 11 (6 July)out of 30. I am shooting to finish editing by the end of the year.

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Well, the year end has come ...

... and the crowd awaits with baited breath!

Any update for your fan club?

Editing Chapter 15 now.

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mk 1:
[b] Well, the year end has come ...

Editing Chapter 15 now.

As always, the problem is not the editing, but finding the time to edit. You will note that we finally had to cave in and start looking to add staff. Its been a busy year.[/B]

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I for one continue to wait patiently (sort of!)
I truly am looking forward to your book with great anticipation.

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Originally posted by Steve+:
I for one continue to wait patiently (sort of!)

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Thanks. I was hoping to get this done two years ago!

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I truly am looking forward to your book with great anticipation.

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Well, it gets a little slow and thick at times. We may have to do some more editing for the fighting from the 9th - 11th of July. We shall see.

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
I was hoping to get this done two years ago!

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As I understand it, Adolf said the same thing in about that same week you are now editing!*

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Anyhow, almost finished with Chapter 15.

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But please do keep your adoring public informed of your progress. Your fans await with patience, but ever growing anticipation.

Ever consider a first-run book signing for your forum-friends?

-Mark 1

Having read quite a few books available on the Kursk topic (except for yours Mr Lawrence)I have to remark with some discontent, that non of them address the issue of buildup and an earlier attack sufficiently. I have found this to be truly disturbing as almost all of the books nearly mention the buildup for the offensive instead of showing in detail, how each side raced to achieve combat readiness. I think that the gap existing in this subject allows a lot of maneuver.

Seeing how we are getting questions emailed on this to us...I guess I need to post an update.

Basically for March through May of this year, no progress was made on the book as I was too busy with work and not quite willing to completely ignore my family during the weekends.

I have started back to work on it, having completed my edit of Chapter 15 and am now working on Chapter 16 (out of 30). This Chapter covers the actions of the SS Panzer Corps, III Panzer Corps and Corps Raus from 9 to 11 July (leading up to Prokhorovka).

Once this final edit is complete, then I will be incorporating the graphics and sending out the manuscript for review.

I am still shooting to complete the edit this year, but it is entirely dependent on available time, some that is often scarce. At this stage, there is no reason to try to rush.

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
Kursk Book Status:

Seeing how we are getting questions emailed on this to us...I guess I need to post an update. ...

I am still shooting to complete the edit this year, but it is entirely dependent on available time, some that is often scarce.

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Checks calendar as year closes in on its final month...

Watches clock ticking on wall...

Holds breath in anticipation...

Hold off planning for 2005 in anticipation of needing a bit of free time to read...

Well, perhaps not exactly true word-for-word, but its the general picture that counts. Hoping to hear (actually read) about good progress on our favorite upcoming book.

-Mark 1

Sorry to have to keep you waiting. I have been "intensely" involved in other work here (in particular Iraq) that has pretty much taken all my time. As such, I have done virtually nothing on completing the book since July. Now unless someone surprises me by giving me another contract I can't refuse (which is most contracts, as there is no $$$ in writing books), my workload will decline to reasonable levels in February and I expect to get back to the book. That means that I could complete the draft in the middle of 2005. Of course, like all potential dates, it really is dependent how much "real work" (i.e. work that pays) that we have, and that is not always under my control, either way. The problem for the book is that the last couple of years business picture here has been positive. If that had not been the case, the book would have been done two years ago.

Sorry to have to keep you waiting, but thank you for your patience.

Chris

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
Sorry to have to keep you waiting, but thank you for your patience.

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You are quite welcome for the patience, but please don't forget my unbridled enthusiasm as well.

So I'll have to wait. Woe is me. I'll manage.

You can make it all up to me (and you other local fans) by comming up with a scheme for a book-signing for your virtual fan club. But that too can wait. Rather have your wisdom in the book without the sig, than your sig without the wisdom in the book.

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Originally posted by Mk 1:
You are quite welcome for the patience, but please don't forget my unbridled enthusiasm as well.

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No doubt the constantly missed potential promise dates kills the enthusiam some. But...the 1,000+ page manuscript does exist and we are about 2/3rds the way through editing it. Then there is peer review and graphics and final editing and formating...and it is good to go.

[quote]...book signing for your virtual fan club.[/qoute]

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Originally posted by Chris Lawrence:
No doubt the constantly missed potential promise dates kills the enthusiam some. But...the 1,000+ page manuscript does exist and we are about 2/3rds the way through editing it. Then there is peer review and graphics and final editing and formating...and it is good to go.

[quote][b]...book signing for your virtual fan club.[/qoute]

We will work out something for the 2 or 3 patient people in this "virtual fan club".[/B]

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how was the progress during the first Quarter of 2005?

I'm really looking forward to the publication of your book!

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Originally posted by Thomas Titura:
I'm really looking forward to the publication of your book!

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See, Chris? You say you will make "arrangements" for the 2 or 3 people in your virtual fan club.* But I count AT LEAST 4 or 5! Your fame preceeds you.

(Sheesh, and this guy says there are no $$$'s in books! He's writing a blockbuster here ... probably already pre-sold the entire first printing! he he he)

-Mark 1

*Blitzkreig, by the way, blitzkreig.
(Tanks in advance)