Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk, fought in July 1943, was a significant military engagement during World War II between German and Soviet forces. Initiated by German commanders Erich von Manstein and Günther von Kluge, the offensive aimed to demonstrate Germany's continued military capability following its losses at Stalingrad. The battle unfolded on two fronts, with German forces facing well-prepared Soviet defenders who had superior numbers in both armor and artillery. Despite initial success in breaching Soviet defenses, the German advance was hindered by fierce resistance, and by the third day, their progress effectively stalled.
A key feature of the battle was the massive tank confrontation at Prokhorovka, marking one of the largest tank battles in history. Ultimately, the Red Army, led by commanders Konstantin Rokossovsky and Nikolai Vatutin, managed to leverage its greater reserves, resulting in severe losses for both sides. The battle concluded with Adolf Hitler calling off the German offensive on July 13, 1943. The Battle of Kursk is widely regarded as a turning point in the Eastern Front, as it represented the last major German offensive against the Soviet Union, shifting the momentum in favor of the Red Army.
Battle of Kursk
Type of action: Ground battle in World War II
Date: July 5-15, 1943
Location: Kursk (approximately 250 miles northeast of Kiev, Ukraine)
Combatants: 700,000 Germans vs. 1.3 million Russians
Principal commanders: German, Field Marshal Erich von Manstein (1887–1973), Field Marshal Günther von Kluge (1882–1944); Soviet, General of the Army Konstantin Rokossovsky (1896–1968), General of the Army Nikolai Vatutin (1900–1944)
Result: The German forces failed to eliminate the Kursk salient and had to stop their offensive
The German offensive at Kursk, led by Erich von Manstein and Günther von Kluge, was intended to demonstrate to the Allies that even after the losses at Stalingrad, the German army was still capable of mounting a major offensive. On the first day, German forces, including several Schutzstaffel (SS) divisions, attacked on two fronts. The well-prepared defenders enjoyed numerical superiority in armor, support aircraft, and field pieces. Although the Germans managed to break through the first of several lines of Soviet defenses, they found themselves slowed down by unexpectedly strong Soviet resistance. Although the Red Army, led by Konstantin Rokossovsky and Nikolai Vatutin, sustained severe losses, it enjoyed the advantage of greater reserves. By the third day of the battle, the German advance had bogged down. On July 12, some 1,200 tanks were involved near Prokhorovka in what was the largest tank battle of the war. On the following day, Adolf Hitler called off the offensive.
Significance
The Battle of Kursk was a turning point of the war. It was the last major offensive mounted by the German forces against the Red Army.
Resources
Dunn, Walter S., Jr. Kursk: Hitler’s Gamble, 1943. Westport, Conn.: Prager, 1997.
Glantz, David M., and Jonathan M. House. The Battle of Kursk. Modern War Studies Series. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1999.
Piekalkiewicz, Janusz. Operation “Citadel.” Kursk and Orel: The Greatest Tank Battle of the Second World War. Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 1987.
The War in Europe. The War Chronicles: World War II series. Documentary. A&E Home Video, 1983.