Prior to Kursk, Model had anticipated the possibility of a Soviet attack into the Orel Salient, and had (without OKH's knowledge) constructed extensive defensive works to meet such an attack.
Inden slaget ved Kursk havde Model forudset muligheden for et sovjetisk angreb ind i frontfremspringet ved Orel og havde (uden at OKH vidste det) bygget omfattende defensive stillinger for at kunne imødegå et sådant angreb.