1. Operation Citadel: THE BATTLE OF TANKS
By: Mitchell S, Hari M, Avi R, Mark M, Ben R

2. THESIS
Operation Citadel, being the last major German offensive on the Eastern front, was a great factor in the outcome of the war in in its entirety. The operation greatly diminished chances of the Germans winning again on the Eastern front. The fact that the Soviets had won this battle had helped them advance and capture Berlin, a crucial turning point in the war.

3. Background Info: German Offensive
To regain prestige that was lost from Battle of Stalingrad
Germans postponed attack multiple times to stack up on tanks
Allowed Soviet Union to gain control of certain areas

4. Timeline for the Battle of Kursk
April 15: Hitler orders Operation Citadel
July 16: German offensive ends and forced to retreat
May 3: Operation Citadel supposed to begin
July 5: Operation Citadel begins
March 27: Soviet intelligence finds out about possible invasion at Kursk
April 12: Soviet start setting up defenses at Kursk
July 12: Soviet counterattack starts
August 23: Soviet counterattack ends

6. Tactics: U.S.S.R. (FORTIFICATION):
In the 4 months leading to the offensive, General Zhukov was able to heavily fortify the area surrounding Kursk in order to insure that German troops would not be able to push farther. The
Soviets could then launch a full frontal attack on the Germans. The Soviets’ primary goal was to mount a counteroffensive to the German strike.
Germans (STRIKE AND EXPLOIT):
The Germans' goal during Citadel was to pinch off a large salient (wanted to vulnerable area in which the enemy can surround the enemy from 3 sides) in the Eastern Front that extended 70 miles toward the west (HistoryNet).
The Germans used separate army groups to attack from the north, right, and left flank of the Bulge.

7. Tactics U.S.S.R (Fortification) Germany (Strike and Exploit)
4 months of setting up defenses
mines, trenches, and barbed fences
Counter-offensive capabilities
Germany (Strike and Exploit)
Pincer attack
To take out bulge in Eastern Front
3-pronged

9. Erich von Manstein
German field commander and mobile warfare strategist from World War II
Very talented German Marshall
Commanded the 56th Panzer Corps in the invasion of the Soviet Union
Managed to take 430,000 Soviet prisoners and nearly captured Leningrad
He won a decisive victory in the Third Battle of Kharkov before commanding the southern pincer of the massive Kursk Offensive
He was VERY angry after Hitler called off the offensive and believed the Germans could’ve won

10. Georgy Zhukov Soviet career officer in the Red Army
Lead the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe
Liberated the Soviet Union and nations occupied by Nazi powers
Conquered Berlin
Most decorated general officer in the history of the Soviet Union and Russia.

11. Gunther von Kluge
German field marshal who was one of Adolf Hitler’s ablest commanders on the Eastern Front during World War II.
Successfully led an army in the Polish, French, and early Russian campaigns.
Was largely successful in containing the massive Soviet offensives against his forces.
Hitler dismissed him because he was suspicious that Kluge was involved in an assassination plot or that he was contacting the allies.

12. Konstantin Rokossovsky
Leader of the Soviet Central Front
He always fought under Zhukov
He counter-attacked the Germans in the north area of Kursk:
Defended until the Germans wore themselves out and then attack when they’re weak
29 Jun 1944-Konstantin Rokossovsky promoted Marshal of Soviet Union

13. Outcomes and Casualties:
Germany
Lost!
Hitler ends attack here because of Allied forces landing; began withdrawal on July 17
German losses=70,000 troops killed and captured; 2,950 tanks and 1,400 aircraft
Southern Sector: had 300,000 men and about 600 tanks left
Soviet Union
Won!
Red Army was able to push the Germans out of the Soviet Union
U.S.S.R. Losses= around 300,000 troops killed and captured;
Had nearly 1 million men in the region, including reserves, and many more tanks

14. Legacy:
Since Operation Citadel was the BIGGEST tank war in history, there were great developments the build of tanks. Some of these developments are still used today when building modern tanks.
“After their defeat at Kursk, the Germans never again looked like they might win the war on the Eastern Front, the theater that held the key to overall victory in the war” (TheDailyBeast).
Due to this, Germany wouldn’t have won the war that may have ultimately changed the course of history
Kursk was the last straw that decided Germany’s fate in the war
since Germany was militarily “impaired” for the wars afterwards

15. Works Cited:
"Battle of Kursk: Germany's Lost Victory in World War II." History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Battle of Kursk Germany’s Lost Victory in World War II Comments. HistoryNet, 12 July Web. 11 Mar
“Erich Von Manstein." HISTORY. N.p., 28 June Web. 12 Mar
"Gunther Von Kluge." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 12 Mar
"History of Russia." History of Russia. Genesis Framework, Web. 17 Mar
Overy, Richard. "Soviet-German War." BBC News. BBC, Web. 11 Mar
Parada, George. "Erich Von Manstein!" Achtung Panzer! Achtung Panzer!, Web. 25 Mar
Polmar, Norman, and Thomas B. Allen. World War II: The Encyclopedia of the War Years, New York: Random House, Print.
Roberts, Andrew. "WWII’s Greatest Battle: How Kursk Changed the War." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 8 Aug Web. 23 Mar