This book is unique in that it draws upon indepth research in both the german and russian archival records. For decades the battle of kursk has been widely believed to be the largest tank battle in history. The maximum depth of the german advance was 812 kilometres 5. Because of its mammoth size, the battle for prokhorovka fascinates historians and gamers despite the fact it was a tactical draw and was pretty wasteful for the germans as the kursk offensive had already petered out. The battle of kursk was a second world war engagement between german and soviet forces on the eastern front near kursk 450 kilometres or 280 miles southwest of moscow in the soviet union, during july and august 1943.
Unternehmen zitadelle, on 5 july, which had the objective of pinching off the kursk salient. Prokhorovka is remembered as the largest ever tank battle. Yobo wargames publisher and lead developer, lance craner, loves the old, simple cardboard games of yore. It is a military history of a world war ii battle called kursk. The article above features additional images sourced from the net for educational, nonprofit purposes only. Aberdeen books is listing a midoctober release for the massive new book on the topic, kursk. This was research that was begun in the 1990s, after the soviet union had fallen. Martijn lak journal of slavic military studies about the author valeriy nikolaevich zamulin, a phd candidate, is a leading russian scholar of the battle of kursk.
The battle of prokhorovka is the first definitive account of the largest tank battle in history. Jul 27, 2017 in this book, noted historian of the battle of kursk valeriy zamulin, the author of multiple russianlanguage books on the battle of kursk and destroying the myth. The battle of prokhorovka was steeped in soviet legend and myth for many decades. However by 1943 the german army was on the brink of disaster. Stuart britton a groundbreaking book when first published in russia in 2005, now valeriy zamulins study of the crucible of combat during the titanic clash at kurskthe fighting at prokhorovkais available in. Prokhorovka at kursk is not the biggest tank battle. This book has been in the making for long, long time way back in the 90s when the dissolution of ussr allowed the dupuy institute access to soviet docs. The battle of prokhorovka, however for some reason the author failed to correct his earlier mistake and titled this follow up as the largest clash of armor in history which the kursk or prokhorovka battle never was. Battle of prokhorovka, the tank battle at kursk, the largest clash of. The tank battle at kursk, the largest clash of armor in history. The biggest single volume book on military history ever published. Jun 24, 2019 demolishing the myth, the tank battle at prokhorovka kursk, july 1943 steven has been published numerous times over in the historical field, both online and in a scholarly journal with an article entitled. Tmp prokhorovka and the myth of the largest tank battle. David glantz 1999 book the battle of kursk is an example.
The battle of kursk occurred in july 1943 around the soviet city of kursk in western russia, as germany launched operation citadel, hitlers response to his. Driving back the soviet voronezh front s desperate defense, under command of soviet general nikolai vatutin and future soviet leader nikita khruschev, the fight culminated in the famous tank battle at prokhorovka. Prokhorovka, kursk, operation citadel, eastern front. Aug 23, 2017 it turns out that prokhorovka is not the biggest tank battle of ww2, or of all time. Jun 02, 2010 the battle of prokhorovka 12 july 1943. The german offensive against the kursk salient 417 july 1943.
Demolishing the myth, the tank battle at prokhorovka kursk, july the globe at war. Oct 17, 2016 the flat ground south of prokhorovka just to the west of the modern road and the belgorod to kursk railway line was the deployment position for the liebstandartes seventy tanks and self propelled guns healy has ii ss panzer corps fielding a total of 294 tanks and self propelled guns on the 12th july p. The tank battle at kursk, the largest clash of armor in history hardcover june 1, 2019 by. This was research that was begun in the 1990s, after the soviet union had fallen, when the dupuy institute was able to gain access to. Recent evidence seems to show that the actual so called clash of armor was very different and was in many ways a soviet propaganda ploy. Due to the tremendous expense of publishing this book, it is being done in a small print run. The best single book on the subject is glantz and house the battle of kursk. Tank battles of ww2 the battle of prokhorovka, kursk 1943 duration. Valeriy zamulin is a former deputy director and director of research at the prokhorovka battlefield park museum, 19962009.
Battle of prokhorovka by christopher lawrence, 9780811738071, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In particular, the fighting at prokhorovka on the 12th july is often reported to have involved anywhere from 1200 to 2000 tanks clashing at pointblank. The battle of kursk occurred in july 1943 around the soviet city of kursk in. Preparing for the showdown the soviets prepare the armies line up the battle plans the germans move up. The german invasion of the ussr in 1941 was, at first, a smashing success. Kursk taming the tigers fast play rules for the battle of prokhorovka 1943 by matt fritz.
Kursk the battle of prokhorovka the cadillac version nearly. This the one book on kursk that anyone interested in the battle must own, and. The greatest battle of the second world war, ebook. This book is unique in that it draws upon indepth research in. Its critical feature that sets it apart from other narratives of the battle is that it doesnt leave out operation kutuzov, the russian riposte offensive in the north against the similar orel salient. For 12 days, nearly 3 million men, 8000 tanks and 5000 planes will compete in a melee dantesque. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book focuses on the german offensive in the south of the kursk salient that was the high point of the battle of kursk. This book is basically a revision of the authors illresearched earlier work published on 2015, kursk. Kursk, the battle of prokhorovka, is finally at the printers. A study of the battle of kursk at prokhorovka, one of the largest tank engagements in world history, which led to staggering losses imncluding nearly 200,000 soviet and 50,000 german casualties within the first ten days of fighting. I have proof read all three drafts of the book over the last ten years or so and i can tell you that it is quite a book. In the collective russian memory it was the turning point of the battle of kursk when the infamous liebstandarte ii ss panzer division was stopped in its tracks.
Drawing on both german and soviet sources, david m. Apr 23, 2018 for decades the battle of kursk has been widely believed to be the largest tank battle in history. What if the germans took prokhorovka at the battle of kursk. The battle of prokhorovka chris lawrence heya armor enthusiast, i want to introduce what some would consider to the the definitive book on the battle of kursk, by chris lawrence. A groundbreaking book when first published in russia innow valeriy zamulins study of the crucible of combat during the titanic clash at kursk the fighting at prokhorovka is available in english. No, operation citadelle was not a bad idea, and hitler did not compromise german chances. In july 1943, german forces launched a massive attack. Demolishing the myth, the tank battle at prokhorovka kursk, july 1943 steven has been published numerous times over in the historical field, both online and in a scholarly journal with an article entitled. In this video well look at the numbers, and also the only. An operational narrative takes a fresh look at several controversial and neglected topics regarding the battle and its runup. The battle of prokhorovka was the largest tank battle of all time. This point of view is immortalised on the battlefield in the form of the iconic prokhorovka bell tower and the recently installed art works in front of the impressive local. Zamulin has written a book that will be the standard on the prokhorovka battle for many years to come. Taking place on the eastern front, the engagement was part of the wider battle of kursk, and occurred when the 5th guards tank army of the soviet red army attacked the ii sspanzer corps of the german wehrmacht in one of the largest.
The battle of kursk was a decisive nazisoviet tank battle at prokhorovka, which went on for days, wreaked massive destruction on both sides, and turned the tides of the war from then on the nazi army was in retreat, with the soviets hot on their heels. In addition to the present book, he has written over 60 articles and two other books on the subject of the battle of kursk published in russia. Booktopia has battle of prokhorovka, the tank battle at kursk, the largest clash. The tank battle at kursk, the largest clash of armor in history guilford, ct. This book is about the largest battle of the eastern front of the wwii that involved. Dyck was first published in world war ii history magazine september 2006 and republished on september 2016 at warfare history network. Prokhorovka at kursk is not the biggest tank battle of the.
The battle of prokhorovka is often referred to as the largest tank. The battle began with the launch of the german offensive operation citadel german. He is the author of more than 60 scholarly works, including six books, in both the russian and english languages, which have attracted great interest among scholars and history buffs. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the operational events on both salients.
He has already released a free game, operation typhoon, making his trial attempt to judge the popularity of trips down memory lane for the pc, ios and android. Based on the latest american, german and russian works, this book deconstructs the vision of the battle of kursk, dismantles myths and legends. In this book, noted historian of the battle of kursk valeriy zamulin, the author of multiple russianlanguage books on the battle of kursk and destroying the myth. Aug 15, 2019 the battle of kursk was one of the defining moments of world war ii. Near the city of kursk on the eastern front, hundreds of soviet tanks. The battle of kursk was the first time in the second world war that a german strategic offensive was halted before it could break through enemy defences and penetrate to its strategic depths. An operational narrative by valeriy zamulin, stuart britton isbn. It turns out that prokhorovka is not the biggest tank battle of ww2, or of all time. This book is very screennum option huge folio of christopher a.
Soviet and german units around prokhorovka on the night of 11 july. The battle of kursk was one of the defining moments of world war ii. New kursk book kursk, the battle of prokhorovka axis. Thunder at prokhorovka a combat history of operation citadel kursk, july 1943 by david schranck, hardcover book with dustjacket, new copy. The battle of prokhorovka hardcover november 20, 2001 by christopher lawrence author. Another myth is that the battle of prokhorovka was the turning point not really, the northern attack had already failed and the germans had already lost more than they could afford.
The battle of prokhorovka was fought on 12 july 1943 near prokhorovka, 87 kilometres 54 mi southeast of kursk in the soviet union, during the second world war. By christopher lawrence, huge oversized hardcover book with dustjacket, perhaps the largest military book ever published, 1662 pages. Winner of the australian speech pathology book of the year. A visual examination of the battle of prokhorovka researchgate. A week later, the soviets counterattacked, sparking a huge clash of tanks at prokhorovka, the largest armor battle in history, pitting more than 600 soviet tanks against some 300 german panzers. The waffen ss panzer units with their fearsome tiger and panther units were able to achieve high losses verse. All units are presented at only their divisionallevel, except for soviet tank corps. In particular, the fighting at prokhorovka on the 12th july is often reported to have involved anywhere from 1200 to 2000 tanks clashing at pointblank range, resulting in the destruction of up to 1200 vehicles.
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