Kursk: The Biggest Tank Battle in History

The Battle of Kursk

The Battle of Kursk, also known as the Battle of Kursk Panzerschlacht, or Battle in the Kursk Bulge, was one of the largest tank battles in history and a turning point in the Eastern Front of World War II.

Background

The battle took place in July 1943, near the city of Kursk in the Soviet Union. It was the largest and costliest single battle of the Eastern Front and one of the largest and most important of the entire war.

The German Wehrmacht launched Operation Citadel, a massive offensive designed to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front, while the Soviet Red Army launched Operation Kutuzov and Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev in response to counter-attack the German advance.

The Battle

The battle began on July 5, 1943, with a massive German offensive. However, the Soviet defenders were able to repel the initial German attacks, and the battle settled into a bloody stalemate.

On July 12, the Soviets launched their counteroffensive, Operation Kutuzov. The counteroffensive was successful, and the Soviet forces were able to push the Germans back to their starting positions.

Aftermath

The Battle of Kursk was a major defeat for the Germans. It marked the end of their offensive operations on the Eastern Front and allowed the Soviets to regain the initiative.

The battle also had a significant impact on the balance of power in World War II. It proved that the Soviet Union was capable of defeating the German Wehrmacht, and it gave the Allies a new sense of confidence.