l12 kursk

Question 1

why did hitler want to attack kursk

Answer 1

potientally trap and destroy 5 russian armies inside salient and provided time for germany to strengthen forces in the east

Question 2

why were the russians better prepared for the battle than the germans

Answer 2

the british had cracked the german code and sent the information to russia and russia had 2x men and artillery and more tanks and aircraft+ 500000 men and 1500 tanks in reserve

Question 3

key events of the battle

Answer 3

4:30am 5th july 1943 start of kursk
germans were at first sucessful in pushing russians back due to clear weather
battle turns attritional and stalin waits for a better time to strike the germans
12th july citadel is called off and ger is vulnerable to counterattack

Question 4

why is the battle significant

Answer 4

germans unable to launch another offensive in eastern front
germans unable to replace men and tanks
first time in the war where germany stopped from making a major breakthrough with an offensive