| Hi Easy-8.
The second article you linked to is a partial rebutal of the first article you linked to, particularly with regard to the use of the German panzer reserves to continue Zitadelle. Myth #8 deals with this claim and I generally agree with the author's conclusions.
The fact of the matter is that Kursk exhausted the bulk of the German Panzer formations. Nevermind that the Wehrmacht inflicted heavy casualties on the Red Army for relatively light casualties of their own, at the end of the battle the Germans had little option but to withdraw and regroup. Despite their heavy losses, the Red Army still had sizeable operational reserves which they then used to push the Germans back. This was the crucial difference between each army - one had almost no operational reserves whereas the other had significant operational reserves.
So it's inaccurate IMO to ever term Kursk as Germany's lost victory. It never was or never could be. What it did achieve was to blunt the Soviet counter-offensive and gave time for the Germans to withdraw. The only possible victory in the East at that time would have been to follow Manstein's 'Backhand Blow'. Otherwise, the Wehrmacht would have been best served to follow Guderian's advice and not attack in the East in 1943 at all.
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"An Emperor is subject to no-one but God and justice."
Frederick 1, Barbarossa
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