The German massed a strong strike force against the sector containing Ponyri Station in the Battle of Kursk.
Most details from Lexicon der Wehrmacht although supplemented by Remson and Anderson (2000).
German Order of Battle at Ponyri Station
- XXIII Corps
- 78. Sturm-Division Juni 1943
- Sturm-Regiment 14
Sturm-Regiment 195
Sturm-Regiment 215
Granatwerfer-Bataillon 5
Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189
Flak-Abteilung 293
Artillerie-Regiment 178
Pionier-Bataillon 178
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 178
Sturm-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 178
Kommandeur der Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 178
- Sturm-Regiment 14
- 78. Sturm-Division Juni 1943
- XLI Panzer Corps
- 656th Heavy Panzerjäger Regiment
- Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 653: 49 x Ferdinands
Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 654: 45 x Ferdinands - Sturm-Panzer-Abteilung 216: 45 x Brümmbärs (attached to 86 and/or 292 Division)
- Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 653: 49 x Ferdinands
- 86. Infanterie-Division
- Infanterie-Regiment 167
Infanterie-Regiment 184
Infanterie-Regiment 216
Artillerie-Regiment 186
Pionier-Bataillon 186
Feldersatz-Bataillon 186
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 186
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 86
Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 186
Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 186
- Infanterie-Regiment 167
- 292. Infanterie-Division 1944 (and presumably 1943)
- Grenadier-Regiment 507
Grenadier-Regiment 508
Grenadier-Regiment 509
Division-Füsilier-Bataillon 292
Artillerie-Regiment 292
Pionier-Bataillon 292
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 292
Divisionseinheiten 292
- Grenadier-Regiment 507
- During Kursk the following were attached to 86 and/or 292 Division
- 177th Sturmgeschütz Brigade
244th Sturmgeschütz Brigade
- 177th Sturmgeschütz Brigade
- 18. Panzer-Division 1943 Ostfront
- Panzer-Abteilung 18
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 52
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 101
Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 18
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 88
Heeres Flak Artillerie Batterie
Panzerjäger Abteilung 88
Pionier Bataillon 98
Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 88
Panzer-Versorgungstruppen 88
- Panzer-Abteilung 18
- 10. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
- Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 20
Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 41
Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10
Panzer-Abteilung 7
Artillerie-Regiment 10
Panzerjäger-Bataillon 10
Pionier-Bataillon 10
Feldersatz-Bataillon 10
Panzergrenadier-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 10
Nachschubtruppen 10
- Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 20
- 656th Heavy Panzerjäger Regiment
78th Sturm Division
The 78th Sturm Division itself had a special organization with almost as many armored vehicles as a Panzer Grenadier Division. In addition it was accompanied by an Armoured Engineer Company (either the 811th or 813th) equipped with Goliath midget tanks used for breaching minefields.
656th Heavy Panzerjäger Regiment
According to Remson and Anderson (2000) all Ferdinands were in this regiment. They give 45 to 654 Battalion and 49 to 653 Battalion, although they give the total as 90. For some reason Lexicon der Wehrmacht specifies 653 Battalion as having Tigers, but perhaps this was after they gave up their Ferdinands.
18th Panzer Division
During Kursk the 18th Panzer Division contained 72 more conventional vehicles including 5 Pz II, 10 Pz III kz, 20 Pz III 75, 5 Pz IV kz, and 3 Pz Bef Cmd, and also the 101st Panzer Grenadier Regiment.
10th Panzer Grenadier Division
During Kursk 10th Panzer Grenadier Division had an exceptionally powerful artillery complement: seven artillery battalions, a Nebelwerfer regiment, a heavy mortar battalion and an assault gun battalion.
References
Lexicon der Wehrmacht [German]
German language site similar to Wendel, M. (2005).
Remson, A. and Anderson, D. (2000). Mine And Countermine Operations In The Battle Of Kursk, Final Report. U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.
A great resource. This is the primary source of my historical background. It was available on-line but disappeared with Geocities.
Wendel, M. (2005). 292. Infanterie-Division. Axis History Factbook. On-line http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3882.
In regards to; According to Remson and Anderson (2000) all Ferdinands were in this regiment. They give 45 to 654 Battalion and 49 to 653 Battalion, although they give the total as 90. For some reason Lexicon der Wehrmacht specifies 653 Battalion as having Tigers, but perhaps this was after they gave up their Ferdinands.The ferdinands were converted from Porsche designed chassis’ intended for the heavy tank project which ended up as the Tiger. Reference works will designate between the two Tiger prototype designers- Henschel and Porsche.