Battle of Kursk
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The Battle of Kursk, also called the Battle of the Kursk Salient, was a major World War II Eastern Front battle between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the summer of 1943. It ended in a Soviet victory and is described as the single largest battle in the history of warfare and the deadliest armoured battle in history. The opening day, 5 July, was the costliest day in aerial warfare by aircraft shot down. The German offensive Operation Citadel began on 5 July, aiming to pinch off the Kursk salient with simultaneous attacks from north and south. After it stalled in the north, on 12 July the Soviets launched Operation Kutuzov against the German rear and powerful counterattacks in the south, including the armoured clash at Prokhorovka. On 3 August, the Soviets began the second phase, the Belgorod–Kharkov offensive, Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev. Germany hoped to weaken Soviet offensive potential for summer 1943, capture prisoners for slave labour, and restore Hitler's prestige. The Soviets had foreknowledge from the Lucy spy ring and built a defence in depth. The battle was the final German strategic offensive on the Eastern Front; because the Allied invasion of Sicily began, Hitler diverted troops and cancelled the offensive after a week. Germany's losses ensured Soviet strategic initiative for the rest of the war.
Sources
- US Army Center of Military History — WWII (public domain)
- Wikidata Q130861 — Battle of Kursk
- Wikipedia — Battle of Kursk (CC BY-SA 3.0)