![]() ![]() The battle was marked by German Stuka Ju-87D “tankbuster” warplanes, armed with 37mm cannon, destroying Soviet tanks and Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik “flying tanks” attacking German panzers with bombs and guns. The Soviets, beginning to master mobile warfare, noted the buildup of the German forces and began to plan their own counterattack. ![]() By July 11 it had bogged down and the Soviets counterattacked. Two large German pincers would involve the Ninth Army attacking from the north and the Fourth Panzer Army in the south. The Soviets had 3,600 tanks and 1.3 million soldiers. The Nazis amassed 3,000 tanks, including the Panthers and Tigers, and 1,800 tactical aircraft. Kursk would be the largest tank battle of the war. Both countries had developed the heaviest tanks the world had ever seen, and were now pitting them against each other. The T-34 and KV-1 heavy tanks were easier to manufacture, more reliable, and less complicated than their German counterparts. The Soviets' ability to turn out large numbers of quality tanks in a short time was a key factor in building up a large force that turned the tide against the Germans. The Führer hoped it would be a “beacon of victory that would shine around the world.” His generals pleaded for the operation to be called off, since the Soviets knew of the buildup.įinally, Hitler approved Operation Zitadelle (Citadel). Hitler himself vacillated over the time and place of the attack. Due to production delays, the new Panzer pzkpfw Mark V Panthers and Mark VI Tigers were not coming off the lines in time for a planned assault. ![]() Adolf Hitler in the spring of 1943 realized that he had to crush the Red Army before it completely surpassed the Wehrmacht in size and quantity.īut at OKH there was considerable disagreement on how to do that. If this bulge could be eliminated, a great encirclement could be accomplished on the scale of the 1941 battles. ![]() At the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviets held a salient near the town of Kursk, 125 miles north of Kharkov. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |