Images of Kursk: History's Greatest Tank Battle, July 1943

by Nikolas Cornish

Contains more than 300 photographs, many from Russian archives and previously unpublished Features firsthand accounts from Russian and German soldiers and presents details on the air action Includes biographical information about the main German and Soviet commanders Images of Kursk is an illustrated account of a pivotal battle on the Eastern Front during World War II. At Kursk, the Germans threw 900,000 men and 2,500 tanks against 1,300,000 soldiers and 3,000 tanks of the Red Army in a savage battle of attrition. Unlike many pictorial accounts of the war on the Eastern Front, Images of Kursk draws upon both German and Russian archive material. All the photographs of the Red Army at Kursk, moreover, are previously unpublished images. The book begins with the build-up of forces before the battle and then illustrates the offensive by two German army groups against the Kursk salient. The images convey the true scale, intensity, and horror of the fighting as the Germans tried in vain to batter their way through the Soviet defensive systems. A chapter is devoted to the climactic battle at the village of Prokhorovka, in which 1,000 tanks engaged each other furiously at point-blank range. With authoritative text and extended captions, Images of Kursk is an enthralling pictorial record of the battle that shifted the strategic initiative on the Eastern Front to the Red Army for good. Written in an informative yet exciting style, it will appeal to military specialists and laymen alike.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, War, World War II

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2002

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many books by ex-German generals about why they lost the war (it was Hitler's fault) that it was refreshing to read something that sounded like the Soviet view. While it may not have been, it sure gave the Russians a lot of credit for taking back their territory. The book was mainly pictures and most were new to me so I enjoyed studying them. Two things that I carried away to share with those interested was how the Russians won the battle. They started learning from past mistakes, but they also viewed life cheap. They just kept sending in more and more guys (and dogs) till they swamped the Germans. The other thing was that the Germans did put up a pretty good fight. A German Tiger tank could knock out a dozen Soviet tanks or so, time after time and the Russians just kept on coming! To give an idea of the magnitude of the size of the battle, the Soviets could send in another 450 tanks in every skirmish and still not outright beat the Germans but rather whittle them down. Kursk was said to be the real turning point in the war on the Eastern Front. This book helps to explain why.

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic information, ok pictures, with some mistakes in the captions. Images of Kursk as a title misleads, its more about a general overview text than a focus on just pictures.