1. And the Red Army Advance
ALSO KNOWN AS THE BATTLE OF KURSK
Operation Citadel
And the Red Army Advance

2. Who was involved in this Battle?
Germany
(Axis Powers)
Soviet Union
(Allied Powers)

3. Why did they clash?
Hitler initiated Operation Citadel to obtain important soviet land and destroy factions of the Red Army.
“Hitler believed the attack would destroy five Soviet armies and thereby prevent the Soviets from mounting any offensives for at least the remainder of the year. Operation Citadel was aimed at eliminating the Red Army at Kursk”

5. What happened
The Russians were not about to give the Germans a break. On August 3, 1943, the Red Army attacked Kursk and overwhelmed the troops that had been on the attack a month earlier. The Germans were on the run.
Hitler ignored pleas for reinforcement, and instead decided to create a defensive line at the East Wall — not to give his troops a place to fall back to and hold, but rather to prevent a retreat. German forces never again threatened Moscow and, from that point on, the Russians seized the initiative and did not let up until reaching Berlin.
Originally, the offensive was to quickly follow the successful recapture of Kharkov, but bad weather, indecision, and distractions on other fronts postponed the attack.When the Germans were finally ready to go, the Soviets had been given time to prepare.
Approximately 570,000 German soldiers faced nearly one million Russians protected by more than 6,000 miles of trenches interspersed with an average of 2,400 antitank and 2,700 antipersonnel mines for each mile of front.

6. Aftermath 50% of 1939 German male population were casualties
Soviet Union is victorious lost 3000 tanks and about 1400 planes

7. Time for a quiz!
Hopefully you’ve been paying attention

8. Who was involved in the Battle of Kursk?
The Soviet Union and Germany

9. Why did Hitler want a defensive line created?
To prevent a retreat

10. Originally, the offensive was to quickly follow the successful recapture of Kharkov, but [blank], [blank], and [blank] postponed the attack
Bad weather, indecision, and distractions on other fronts

11. THANK YOU