THe Ultimate Sacrifice - Red Victory

05 JULY 1943, IAKHONTOV STRONGPOINT, 4 KM SOUTH OF BEREZOV, SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE KURSK SALIENT: At the southern flank of the Kursk salient, Colonel Nekrasov's 52nd Guards Rifle Division was deployed between Zadelnoya and Berezov, guarding the eastern shore of the Vorskla River. The sector was on the direct path of General Hausser's powerful II.SS Panzer Korps. Colonel Nekrasov deployed most of his firepower on the first echelon. Supported by anti-tank batteries from the 6th Guards Army's arsenal, majority of the guardsmen concentrated their strength to wear SS divisions down before reinforcements arrive. Russian commander also created a security zone by placing platoon sized outposts several kilometers ahead of the main line of resistance. Those strong points were equipped with anti-tank guns, anti-tank rifles and mortars. At 01:15, on 5 July, Waffen SS troops began recon in force to gather information on the enemy's main trench system. At 03:00, elements of the 3.SS PzG Rgt "Deutschland" (2.SS PzG Div "Das Reich") started their attack on one of the forward strongpoints located at the ruined village of Iakhontov 4km south of Berezov. The attack was spearheaded by Hauptsturmführer Helmuth Schreiber's 10. Panzergrenadier Kompanie. Having no illusions to survive the battle, the soviet guardsmen stood on their way.