


Kursk shows how a bitter struggle developed between the German and Soviet forces which sucked in huge numbers of tanks and men into a small area, so that it became the greatest armoured battle of the war.

The extensive Soviet defensive preparations are covered in depth, as is the strength of both sides and the new equipment such as the Panther tank that the Germans were using for the first time. The strategic importance of the Kursk salient is considered, and the factors that caused the Germans to delay their offensive, even when the element of surprise had been lost. The book begins with a study of the background to the battle, and a description of events on the Eastern Front before the opening of the offensive, including the decisive battle for Stalingrad that had finished only a few months beforehand.
