On July 5th 1943 the climactic battle that sealed the fate of Nazi Germany began. The Battle of Kursk was a slugfest that both sides knew would be decisive. It included the greatest tank battle in history, but from the German perspective was a battle that should not have been fought. This is an older article of mine but should be of interest to anyone that studies war and its consequences. Peace, Padre Steve+
The Battle of Kursk was the climactic battle on the Eastern Front from which the Germans never recovered. It was a battle that should not have been fought, at least at the time that it was fought. It was high risk operation with minimal payoff should it succeed. A while back I posted an “alternative history” of this entitled “Operation DACHS.” I have also posted articles on events leading up to Kursk, one on Stalingrad and the other on Manstein’s counter-stroke. In a sense this is a trilogy with an alternative scenario included.
The German Situation and Dilemma in April 1943
The Germans faced a dilemma in April 1943. Manstein’s brilliant counter-stroke had turned what could have been disaster into an opportunity to salvage prospects for the Eastern Front. The German action had “repaired its front, shattered the hopes of the Allies, and nipped the Russian spearhead.”[i] Unfortunately…
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