Battle of Kursk

Battle of Kursk

The Battle Of Kursk was one if the few unsuccessful bouts for the German’s offensively.  The Germans trying to get around the huge army that is the soviet union is are hard task but when the strategical idea to split what already seemed like small troops against the Soviets, the Nazis went in fighting. They where no match for the Russians because before the German’s could get into the formations necessary and actual carry out the plan, they where ready for them, in a offensive position. Soon after the invasion of Sicily on the Germans, the Italian threat seemed to narrow, Adolf Hitler called the entire operation off. The new learned failure for the Germans shifting the power on to the Eastern Front to fight the Soviets.

After fighting until March 1943 the Nazi’s finally make some positive head way. This move broke the consistent Soviet offensive that had already crushed Sixth Army at Stalingrad. During the spring the conditions where to brutal to do anything more, both sides not knowing what to do. One order from Manstein urged an offensive attack on Kursk salient, just after the ground had once again dried out. The objective was to create as much havoc as humanly possible so the Soviet army wouldn’t be able to come back from it. Hitler agreed with Manstein’s idea but didn’t execute the attack until July,  because  a max number of produced tanks had gotten to the eastern Front. With this time Hitler is able to make sure they will not loose again. He starts planing the routes and laying down minefields, he works on different tactical regards to the plan. Multiple flanks.


July 5 is when the Nazis attacked both sides of the Soviets are and started the biggest battle of WWII so far. Unfortunately for the Germans there Ninth Army, had faced so problems with the insane amounts of Soviet soldiers that where flooding the area. Farther south the Germans attained the success they had been looking for.  So even though the Germans got position they failed to gain the ability to operate freely. Soviet defenses both gain and lost something that day. The Germans took the fighting with the air that day and bombed the Soviet army.

Holy 12, Soviets press forward to attack the Orel salient and challenge the Ninth Army directly. Unfortunately for the Germans because of Sicily the Italian threat was gone so there where no supports for the Ninth Army. This was a major let down for the Germans marking one of the first invasions where the Soviets had out rightly won.