A Clash Of Titans

The Battle of Kursk: The Largest Tank Battle in History

A Clash of Titans

The Battle of Kursk was a turning point in World War II. Fought from July 5–August 23, 1943, it was the largest tank battle in history, involving over 1.3 million troops, 6,000 tanks, and 4,000 aircraft.

Prelude to the Battle

After the German defeat at Stalingrad, the Soviet Union took the initiative on the Eastern Front. In the winter of 1942-1943, the Red Army launched a series of offensives that pushed the German army back into Ukraine and Belarus. In response, the Germans planned a major offensive codenamed Operation Citadel. The goal of the offensive was to encircle and destroy the Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, a bulge in the Soviet lines that the Germans had captured in the summer of 1942.

The Battle of Kursk

The battle began on July 5, 1943, with a massive German attack on the northern and southern flanks of the Kursk salient. The Germans initially made significant progress, but the Soviet defenses held firm. On July 12, the Germans launched a second attack, this time on the center of the salient. The attack was met with fierce Soviet resistance, and the Germans were unable to make any headway. The battle reached its climax on July 18, when the Germans launched a massive tank offensive against the Soviet defenses. The Soviet tanks, however, were better equipped and had better tactics than the German tanks, and they were able to repel the German attack. By August 23, the German offensive had failed. The Soviets had successfully defended their positions, and the Germans had suffered heavy losses. The Battle of Kursk was a major turning point in the war, and it marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.