Battle of Kursk: The Soviet Victory That Shaped WWII’s Outcome
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The battle started on July 5, 1943, when the Nazis launched an attack on the Soviet salient around the city of Kursk.
Above: Forces of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army units launch an attack near the village of Prokhorovka during the Battle of Kursk.
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The battle started on July 5, 1943, when the Nazis launched an attack on the Soviet salient around the city of Kursk.
Above: Forces of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army units launch an attack near the village of Prokhorovka during the Battle of Kursk.
© Sputnik / Victor Kinelovsky / Go to the mediabank
German soldier sits next to a destroyed SIG.33 150mm heavy infantry gun.
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German soldier sits next to a destroyed SIG.33 150mm heavy infantry gun.
© Sputnik / Mark Redkin / Go to the mediabank
The Nazis sought to cut off and destroy the Soviet troops in the salient. The Soviet command, however, had other ideas.
Above: Soviet soldiers march towards their deployment areas during the Battle of Kursk.
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The Nazis sought to cut off and destroy the Soviet troops in the salient. The Soviet command, however, had other ideas.
Above: Soviet soldiers march towards their deployment areas during the Battle of Kursk.
© Sputnik / Peter Bershtein / Go to the mediabank
Soviet soldiers disembark from a tank during the Battle of Kursk.
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Soviet soldiers disembark from a tank during the Battle of Kursk.
© Sputnik / Ryazanov / Go to the mediabank
Unbeknownst to the Nazi strategists, the Soviet leadership figured out their plans and prepared accordingly.
Above: Destroyed German armor seen at the site of the Battle of Kursk.
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Unbeknownst to the Nazi strategists, the Soviet leadership figured out their plans and prepared accordingly.
Above: Destroyed German armor seen at the site of the Battle of Kursk.
© Sputnik / Israel Ozorski / Go to the mediabank
The advancing Nazi German forces marched straight into a network of minefields and anti-tank defenses, suffering heavy losses before the Red Army troops launched their counterattack.
Above: Soviet combat engineers sweep the area for mines in the aftermath of the Battle of Kursk.
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The advancing Nazi German forces marched straight into a network of minefields and anti-tank defenses, suffering heavy losses before the Red Army troops launched their counterattack.
Above: Soviet combat engineers sweep the area for mines in the aftermath of the Battle of Kursk.
© Sputnik / Olga Lander / Go to the mediabank
Having successfully repelled the Nazi German offensive at the Kursk salient, the Soviets on August 3, 1943, launched an offensive of their own, codenamed "Polkovodets Rumyantsev."
Above: Soviet flight crew confirm their orders during operation "Polkovodets Rumyantsev."
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Having successfully repelled the Nazi German offensive at the Kursk salient, the Soviets on August 3, 1943, launched an offensive of their own, codenamed "Polkovodets Rumyantsev."
Above: Soviet flight crew confirm their orders during operation "Polkovodets Rumyantsev."
© Sputnik / Olga Lander / Go to the mediabank
The Soviet operation was a resounding success, with the advancing Russian troops driving the Nazis from Belgorod and liberating Kharkov.
Above: Soviet troops move along the roads of the liberated Kharkov.
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The Soviet operation was a resounding success, with the advancing Russian troops driving the Nazis from Belgorod and liberating Kharkov.
Above: Soviet troops move along the roads of the liberated Kharkov.
© Photo : Public domain
The liberation of Kharkov on August 23, 1943, marks the official end of the Battle of Kursk.
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The liberation of Kharkov on August 23, 1943, marks the official end of the Battle of Kursk.
