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The Battle of Kursk

4th July 1943

The biggest tank battle of the Second World War and the battle resulted in a severe crisis for Nazi Germany’s war machine in Russia.

By the summer of 1943, the Russians had steadily advanced east. However, a bulge had occurred south of Orel and north of Kharkov. At the centre of this bulge was Kursk. It was here, and to eradicate this bulge in preparation for a push east, that the Germans centred their attack in what was called ‘Operation Citadel’. If this bulge was not taken out, then there was every chance that the Russians would use the troops they had stationed there to launch an attack on the Germans at Orel and Kharkov – but attacking behind them, thus trapping the Germans between two Russian forces.


Battle of Kursk 1943 at Pen and Sword Books Back to Anniversaries