1. DISCLAIMER
None of the swastikas are intended for the promotion of Nazi ideas, mannerisms, or actions. They are strictly for representation of the German offensives or Nazi Germany during the Battle of Kursk.

2. Other Disclaimer
Flag inaccuracies are caused by rotating the country balls and/or reflecting them. Alex was too lazy to remake another tank facing the other way.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to draw a swastika?”
-Alex

3. Battle of Kursk/Operation Citadel
By Tlyler Glall, Slami Blening, Allex Plark (and Bigness Slerbian green card holder Ian Kelley)

4. Thesis
The Battle of Kursk ended in a decisive defeat of the German military, allowing Soviet forces to begin their slow march on Berlin that ultimately led to Germany’s defeat in World War II.

5. Background Happened in July and August of 1943
Occurred a few months after the Battle of Stalingrad
The German code name Operation Citadel
Soviet Operation Rumyantsev and Operation Kutuzov
USSR knew about offensive and raised defenses around Kursk
Additionally, Luftwaffe weakened from Battle of Britain and poor weather slowed German offensive
Sami

6. Background, con’d.
One of the German groups broke through a Soviet line of defense but could not continue until later because of the time of year (it was winter)
The Field Marshal wanted to attack ASAP, but Hitler wanted to wait
Waited… bad mistake!
Sami

7. German Motivations Limit Soviet potential for attack
Take more control of the Eastern Front
Finally break through Soviet defensive line
Take Soviet prisoners

8. Soviet Motivations
Don’t get beat
Please don't get beat
Start to push Germany back to Berlin

9. Map

10. Map

11. Map

12. Statistics
Russia had a bigger army. By a lot. Wasn’t even close (Not to say that the USSR outnumbering people ever helped much, though).
2.5 : 1

13. Battle in the North
Germany threw a lot of tankus and planes and artillery at the Soviet army on the northern front
Lead by Günther von Kluge
The Red Army was able to counter the German offensive pretty easily
Germany definitely lost the battle in the north
1 - 0

14. 1.5 - 0.5 Battle in the South Germany did a little better in the south
Erich von Manstein and Army Group South
They had a couple of tanku divisions and advanced slowly but consistently
They eventually encircled the Soviet divisions
The Soviet forces played defense a lot, no decisive defeat
Voronezh front and Operation Rumyantsev
Battle of Prokhorovka
Sami

15. BATTLE OF KURSK, 1943. COLORIZED.

16. NAZI TAAAANNNKUUUUUUUUUS
Panzer III
NAZI TAAAANNNKUUUUUUUUUS
Panzer IIIs
Panzer IVs
Ferdinand self-propelled-artillery
Pz. V Ausf. D (Panther)
Pz. Kpfw VI (Tiger I)
Overall idea: Germans had a lot of tanks that were good, but the Soviets just had more
A column of Panzer III tanks advance at Kursk
Tiger I
Panzer IV
Panther damaged at Kursk
Panzer IV Ausf G and crew: Kursk July 1943
Ferdinand SPA

17. SOVIET TANKUUUUS
T-34: has a large tank gun and was the main tank in the battle, very maneuverable compared to the Nazi tanks and had continually worked effectively against German armor
Despite superior Panthers and Tigers, closed in and maneuvered amidst the german tanks.
84,070 built over the war
~ $350k

18. Ending Allies happened to be invading Sicily at that moment
Hitler removed part of the force that was helping the offensive succeed to go help in Italy
Basically terminated the entire operation
They later moved the rest of the tankus down to fight the Anglo-American offensive as well
Needs me the help

19. Overall Takeaways Germany waited to attack after getting ready
They attacked on two fronts, northern and southern
They used a lot of tankus, specifically Panzer IIIs and IVs
They got destroyed in the north, but were doing pretty well in the south
Hitler transferred some of the divisions into Italy
They had to call off Operation Citadel, even though they might have broken through the Soviet line of defense
Takeaways

20. Impact
Strategic success for Soviets, allowed them to begin their offensive towards Berlin
USSR gained “operational initiative” on the Eastern Front
Germany couldn’t launch any more offensives on the Eastern Front
Hitler lost trust in his commanders
Stalin was the opposite, he trusted his generals more and rarely overruled decisions as the USSR recovered from the Great Purge

21. The Real Battle
scum of earth
ich not
∞ - 0

22. Works Cited
"Battle of Kursk Map." Battle of Kursk: Eastern Front N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr
"Battle of Kursk, 5-13 July 1943." History Study Center. Proquest LLC, n.d. Web. 05 Apr
Cooke, Tim, Adrian Gilbert, Tony Hall, Robert Jackson, Chris McNab, Donald Somerville, Robert Stewart, and Ian
Westwell. History of World War II. Vol. 2. New York: Marshall Cavendish, Print.
Cowley, Robert. "Battle of Kursk." History.com. A&E Television Networks, Web. 04 Apr
Keegan, John. World War II: A Visual Encyclopedia. London: PRC Pub., Print.
"The Kursk Salient." History Study Center. Proquest LLC, n.d. Web. 05 Apr