Battle of Kursk

The Battle of Kursk was a massive military conflict during World War II. It took place near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the summer of 1943. This battle was fought between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It is recognized as the single largest battle in the history of warfare. Many historians also consider it the most important turning point in the European theatre of the war. It was also the single deadliest armoured battle in history.

The German offensive was known as Operation Citadel. The objective was to perform a double envelopment of the Kursk salient. A salient is a bulge in the battle line that sticks out into enemy territory. German forces planned to attack from the north and south simultaneously. This movement aimed to pinch off the bulge and surround Soviet troops. Adolf Hitler believed this victory would restore German strength and prestige. He also hoped to capture many prisoners for use as slave labour in the German armaments industry.

The Soviet Union was prepared for the German attack due to early warnings. A spy ring known as the Lucy spy ring provided the Soviets with foreknowledge of the German plans. Because they knew the attack would strike the neck of the salient, the Soviets built a defense in depth. This strategy involved creating many deep, layered defensive belts. These layers were designed to wear down the German armoured spearhead. The Soviets also established a large reserve force for use in future counter-offensives.

The battle began on 5 July 1943 with the launch of Operation Citadel. The opening day was the costliest day in the history of aerial warfare regarding aircraft shot down. On 12 July, the German offensive stalled on the northern side of the salient. In response, the Soviets launched Operation Kutuzov against the rear of the German forces. On the southern side, the Soviets also launched powerful counterattacks. One of these led to a massive armoured clash known as the Battle of Prokhorovka.

German leadership had debated the timing of the attack for months. Field Marshal Erich von Manstein had requested more freedom to move his forces. He had previously conducted successful counter-attacks, such as the Third Battle of Kharkov in early 1943. However, the German army faced shortages of infantry and artillery. They had approximately 470,000 men understrength during this period. The Germans also delayed the offensive to wait for new weapons like the Tiger I tank.

External events also changed the course of the battle. While the fighting at Kursk was happening, the Allied invasion of Sicily began. This forced Adolf Hitler to divert troops that were training in France. These troops were meant to be a strategic reserve for the Eastern Front. Instead, they were sent to meet the Allied threat in the Mediterranean. Because of this, Hitler cancelled the offensive at Kursk after only one week. This diversion prevented Germany from maintaining its momentum in Russia.

The Battle of Kursk resulted in a decisive Soviet victory. It was the first time a German strategic offensive was halted before it could penetrate deep into enemy lines. The Red Army's counter-offensives were their first successful summer offensives of the war. Germany suffered heavy losses in both men and tanks. These losses meant the Soviet Union held the strategic initiative for the rest of the war. Some historians refer to this battle as the "last gasp of Nazi aggression."