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German
forces launched a massive offensive at Kursk, in what would be their
last attempt to breach the central front. Three German armies
attempted to press from the Urals to Belgorod, but were halted by
the strength and depth of the Soviet defense, which had achieved
superiority in numbers and equipment.
On July 10,
the German forces were blocked north of Kursk after advancing only
five miles and losing 25,000 men, 200 tanks, and 200 aircraft.
Russian forces began a counteroffensive on July 12, resulting in the
greatest tank battle in history, near the village of Prokorova. The
Germans alone lost 400 tanks in the battle, in which more than 3,000
tanks took part. As the fighting continued, both sides suffered
horrific losses. Kursk, like Stalingrad, marked a watershed on the
Russian front. |
