An accessible volume on the Red Army at the largest tank battle ever
seen * Complete with 600 illustrations, including an 8 page gatefold depicting
the brigades in battle formation
On 5th July 1943, the Wehrmacht launched Operation Citadel. Attacking
with a force of 3,000 tanks and assault guns, the Germans faced a well dug-in
force of more than 3,900 Soviet tanks, with another 1,500 tanks in reserve. The
tanks advanced with as many as 50 vehicles packed together per kilometre of
line. What followed was the largest tank battle the world has ever seen, with
both sides suffering heavy casualties.
On 11th July, three SS divisions attempted to break through the
Soviet lines. Facing them were the newly-deployed Soviet 5th Guards Tanks Army.
It was the Germans’ last chance for a potential breakthrough on the Eastern
Front. The battle raged all day, with German attack followed by Soviet
counterattack. By nightfall the Germans had lost more than 300 tanks and the 5th
Guards Tanks Army 50 percent of their strength. Despite their heavy losses, the
Soviet defenders had achieved their aim: the German attack had been halted and
all hope of their regaining the initiative lost.
5th Guards Tank Army at Kursk has an eight-page gatefold depicting one
of the brigades from the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army in an innovative and fresh
manner. This brigade is shown in battle deployment, with reconnaissance units,
advance companies, the main body, the brigade command section, plus all the
supporting engineers, signallers and artillery to provide a visual guide to
exactly how many tanks and other armoured vehicles were advancing on 11th
July.
The book itself is broken down by these sections, looking at each
component part of the brigade in turn, their structure, equipment and what they
did on 11th July.
