Dates of the Battle of Kursk 1943-05-07 - 1943-23-08. The Great Patriotic War has 3 significant events:
- Liberation of Stalingrad;
- Battle of Kursk;
- Taking Berlin.
Here we will focus on the greatest tank battle in modern history.
Battle of Kursk. The situation before the battle
Before the Battle of Kursk, Germany celebrated a small success, having managed to re-capture the cities of Belgorod and Kharkov. Hitler, seeing a short-term success, decided to develop it. The offensive was planned at the Kursk Bulge. A ledge cut into the depths of German territory could be surrounded and captured. The operation, which was approved on May 10-11, was named Citadel.
Forces of the parties
The advantage was on the side of the Red Army. The number of Soviet troops was 1,200,000 (versus 900,000 for the enemy), the number of tanks - 3,500 (2,700 for the Germans) units, guns - 20,000 (10,000), 2,800 (2,500) aircraft.
Promotional video:
The German army was replenished with heavy (medium) tanks "Tiger" ("Panther"), self-propelled guns (ACS) "Ferdinand", aircraft "Focke-Wulf 190". An innovation from the Soviet side was the St. John's wort cannon (57 mm), capable of penetrating the Tiger's armor, and anti-tank mines, which inflicted significant damage on them.
Parties plans
The Germans decided to deliver a lightning strike, quickly capture the Kursk salient, and then continue their large-scale offensive. The Soviet side decided first to defend itself, inflicting counterattacks, and when the enemy was exhausted and exhausted, go on the offensive.
Defense
It was possible to find out that the Battle of Kursk would begin on 1943-06-05. Therefore, at 2:30 and 4:30 the Central Front conducted two half-hour artillery counterattacks. At 5:00 the enemy's guns answered, and then the enemy went on the offensive, exerting strong pressure (2.5 hours) on the right flank in the direction of the village of Olkhovatka.
When the attack was repulsed, the Germans intensified the attack on the left flank. They even managed to partially encircle two (15, 81) Soviet divisions, but they failed to break through the front (advance 6-8 km). Then the Germans attempted to seize the Ponyri station in order to control the Orel - Kursk railway.
170 tanks and self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" broke through the first line of defense on July 6, but the second survived. On July 7, the enemy came close to the station. The 200mm frontal armor became impenetrable for Soviet guns. The Ponyri station was held back by anti-tank mines and powerful Soviet air raids.
The tank battle near the village of Prokhorovka (Voronezh Front) lasted 6 days (10-16). Almost 800 Soviet tanks opposed 450 enemy tanks and self-propelled guns. The overall victory was for the Red Army, but more than 300 tanks were lost against 80 from the enemy. Medium tanks T-34 barely resisted the heavy "Tigers", and the light T-70 was generally unsuitable in open areas. Hence such losses.
Offensive
While the troops of the Voronezh and Central Fronts were repelling enemy attacks, units of the Western and Bryansk Fronts (July 12) went over to the attack. Within three days (12-14), fighting heavy battles, the Soviet army was able to advance up to 25 kilometers.
And from July 15, the Central Front began an offensive. After 10 days, the Red Army captured the Oryol bridgehead, and on August 6, the city of Oryol.
The Voronezh Front, with the support of the reserve (Steppe Front), liberated Belgorod on August 5. Then the resistance of the Germans increased. They inflicted counterattacks on the outskirts of Kharkov (Bogodukhov, Akhtyrka), even making a local breakthrough. However, the general situation has not changed.
August 23, when Kharkov was taken, is considered the day of the end of the Battle of Kursk, although the fighting in the city ceased on August 30.
After the Battle of Kursk, World War II entered its final phase.