Posted on Aug 5, 2017
8
8
0
The Battle of Kursk, involving some 6,000 tanks, two million men, and 5,000 aircraft, ends with the German offensive repulsed by the Soviets at heavy cost.
In early July, Germany and the USSR concentrated their forces near the city of Kursk in western Russia, site of a 150-mile-wide Soviet pocket that jutted 100 miles into the German lines. The German attack began on July 5, and 38 divisions, nearly half of which were armored, began moving from the south and the north. However, the Soviets had better tanks and air support than in previous battles, and in bitter fighting Soviet antitank artillery destroyed as much as 40 percent of the German armor, which included their new Mark VI Tiger tanks. After six days of warfare concentrated near Prokhorovka, south of Kursk, the German Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge called off the offensive, and by July 23 the Soviets had forced the Germans back to their original positions.
In the beginning of August, the Soviets began a major offensive around the Kursk salient, and within a few weeks the Germans were in retreat all along the eastern front.
In early July, Germany and the USSR concentrated their forces near the city of Kursk in western Russia, site of a 150-mile-wide Soviet pocket that jutted 100 miles into the German lines. The German attack began on July 5, and 38 divisions, nearly half of which were armored, began moving from the south and the north. However, the Soviets had better tanks and air support than in previous battles, and in bitter fighting Soviet antitank artillery destroyed as much as 40 percent of the German armor, which included their new Mark VI Tiger tanks. After six days of warfare concentrated near Prokhorovka, south of Kursk, the German Field Marshal Gunther von Kluge called off the offensive, and by July 23 the Soviets had forced the Germans back to their original positions.
In the beginning of August, the Soviets began a major offensive around the Kursk salient, and within a few weeks the Germans were in retreat all along the eastern front.
Largest tank battle in history ends - Jul 13, 1943 - HISTORY.com
Posted from history.comPosted in these groups: 
World History
World History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
0
0
0
Yes the most climactic tank battle in WWII took place in the area of Kursk, where the Soviets prepared defensive lines and depth and lured the German Panzer armies to their doom. Of course the losses on both sides were staggering; but the Soviets had a much better capability to replace their forces that the Germans, Hungarians and their allies did.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Interesting. We need to have these kinds of events gain more exposure. Thanks for sharing
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Always an interesting battle to read about. There has been some questioning about how accurate the reports of German losses are, particularly when looking at the contemporary strength reports of the German officers about their losses to their superiors (George Nipe is one of the better known historians pushing this view).
In any event, the battle was a strategic loss for the Germans even if their tank losses were not as bad as reported by the Soviets; they were never again able to have a major strategic offensive initiative on the Eastern front.
In any event, the battle was a strategic loss for the Germans even if their tank losses were not as bad as reported by the Soviets; they were never again able to have a major strategic offensive initiative on the Eastern front.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google