victory of World War II. Kharkov had originally been captured on October 25, 1941, but had fallen to the Soviets in February 1943, following the German defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad. Led by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, the Germans counter-attacked and after destroying Soviet spearheads, retook the city in bitter street fighting. The II SS Panzer Korps, equipped with heavy Tiger tanks, played a significant role. It comprised the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and Das Reich divisions, ...