• Introduction
• Kursk defensive operation
• Oryol the offensive operation
• Belgorod-Kharkov operation
• Conclusion
• Literature

Introduction

Kursk battle (on July, 5th 1943 - on August, 23rd 1943, as Fight on the Kursk arch, German offensive Operation "Citadel" it also is known. Unternehmen Zitadelle) on the scope, involved forces and means, intensity, results and militarypolitical consequences, is one of key battles of the Great Patriotic War. Kursk fight proceeded forty nine days - from July, 5th till August, 23rd, 1943. In the Soviet and Russian historiography it is accepted to divide battle into three parts: Kursk defensive operation (on July, 5-12th); Oryol (on July, 12th - on August, 18th) and Belgorodsko-Kharkov (on August, 3-23rd) the offensive operation.

Conducted with the purpose of blowing off the large offensive of the German troops in the district of the Kursk ledge and creation of favourable terms for passing to counter-offensive. In an operation participated army Central, Voronezh and Steppe fronts. During battle actions were additionally entered management of Steppe front, managements 5 by household troops, 27, 47 and 53th common to all arm, 5th the tank of household troops and 5th air armies, five tank and one mechanized corps, nineteen divisions and one brigade. Within the framework of this operation a front defensive operation on Орловско-курском direction and front defensive operation are conducted on Belgorod-Kursk

It was known from intelligence reports, that the offensive of opponent is assigned for a 3 o'clock of morning, July, 5. As a result beforehand conducted by the soviet troops of artillery preparation on the districts of concentration of shock groupments of opponent the German troops sustained losses and carried the prearranged time of treading on 2,5-3 hours later. Intending a ram blow to break through the defensive of soviet troops and go out to Kursk, the German command already in the first day entered in a battle the basic forces intended for an operation "Citadel".

In the stripe of Central front the basic blow of enemy was accepted by the troops of 13th army. In the first day the German command entered here in a fight to 500 tanks. On the second day a command inflicted a counterblow the troops of Central front on the coming groupment of opponent. In a counterblow took part part of forces 13th and 2th tank armies and 19th tank corps. A large help to ground forces was rendered by the aviation of 16th air army. The offensive of Germans was detained, and on July, 10. More heavy situation was folded on south front of the Kursk arc. Here an opponent trod on two directions - on Oboayn and Korochy. The main shots of enemy assumed 6th, 7th household troops, 69th and 1th tank to the army. In the first day an opponent entered in a battle to 700 tanks and the assault instruments supported by an aviation. But already to the end of July, 9 the German offensive began to fizzle out. Meeting a rebuff, an opponent carried main efforts on прохоровское direction, trying to take Kursk a blow from a southeast. A soviet command, unriddling his intention, decided to inflict a counterblow on the wedged hostile groupment. Voronezh front increased backlogs of Rate (5th the tank of household troops and 5th household troops armies and two tank corps). on July, 12 the largest tank battle) of Second world war, in that on either side to 1200 tanks participated and self-propelled instruments, happened in the district of Prohorovka. Both sides were born under Prohorovka by heavy tolls, however the most powerful shock groupment.

On the scope and tension the Kursk defensive operation, first stage of the Kursk battle, is one of the largest battles of Second world war. During the defensive fights of army Central and Voronezh fronts bled white, and then stopped the offensive of shock groupments of fascist army and created favourable terms for passing to counter-offensive on орловском and Belgorod-Kharkov directions. The Hitler plan on the defeat of soviet troops in the Kursk ledge suffered a complete shipwreck.

Oryol the offensive operation