The Battle of Kursk in the Soviet-German battlefield of World War II was a very famous tank battle in the military history of World War II. In this battle, the Soviet and German sides participated in the battle. A large number of equipment forces, around the battlefield dominance of the two sides launched an equipment support battle. Therefore, the Kursk tank battle was also considered a watershed in the battle of equipment and strength on the Soviet-German battlefield. After the war, the German army was no longer able to launch a larger-scale offensive battle, and turned to defense and retreat across the board. However, people have always questioned the significance and role of the German army launching this battle. After the successive defeats in the Moscow and Stalingrad battles, why did the German army launch such a crazy offensive campaign? The result of the battle not only brought the German army ahead of time. Entering into strategic defense also made the armored regiment, which the German army is proud of, no longer able to undertake effective strategic strikes. Let's take a look together. What was the purpose and significance of the German army launching the Battle of Kursk at that time?
First of all, the Battle of Kursk was a new way for the German army after several urban fortified battles. The German army wanted to rebuild its morale and find a new combat style based on equipment strike force
Throughout the Soviet-German War, the German army has always implemented the offensive principle of equipment strikes as the main infantry charge and occupation. With the help of the strong German air force, the German army won the early stage of the battle and the victory of the Kiev battle through blitz. Under the influence of a series of victories, the German High Command, which was supposed to concentrate its superior forces on a strategic offensive against Moscow, suddenly dreamed of a three-pronged approach through the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Leningrad, thus bringing the Soviet Union The military forces of the United States were all shattered, but this idea was eventually shattered by reality, and the German head of state had to seriously think about how to continue the next offensive.
Some scholars who study the history of World War II believe that Germany’s launching of World War II is a gamble to continue World War I. In particular, the personal military outlook of the German head of state directly affects the entire direction of World War II. When the German army invaded the Soviet Union, except for a phased victory in the Battle of Kiev, almost all the other major battles ended in disastrous defeat. Therefore, the German army was eager to reverse the disadvantaged situation on the battlefield through a major victory, thus bringing the German army back. Morale adjusted up.
As far as the senior German army is concerned, since the beginning of the war, the German armored force has been dominating the battlefield. If it were not for the lack of logistical support, the German armored force would have entered Moscow long ago. Therefore, when the Battle of Moscow and the Battle of Stalingrad were defeated, the German army formulated a plan for key strikes against Soviet equipment forces, and integrated the armored force of the entire army to launch a tank battle with the Soviet army.
Secondly, the Battle of Kursk was a gathering of the strength of the entire German army, vainly attempting to reorganize the blitz and regain the power of the battlefield.
As far as the process of the Soviet-German battlefield in World War II is concerned, Germany has never stopped reforming and upgrading its equipment, whether it was the beginning of the war or the ongoing battle. Before the Kursk tank battle, the German Tiger tanks had already Deployed troops, this is one of the main battle equipment of the German army looking at the Soviet army, and during the entire Soviet-German War, before the battle of Kursk, the German armored force has not been a strong counterattack by the Soviet army, from this point on In other words, this is the biggest difference that the German army believes is different from the city's offensive and defensive warfare, and it is also an exploration path that the German army is trying to find.
In the previous few battles of the city, whether it was the battle of Moscow or the battle of Stalingrad, the German army did not get any money. On the contrary, the German plan to destroy the Soviet Union in three months was also defeated one by one. Face-slapped, for the German command, this is not only a mistake in strategic command but also a mistake in strategic offensive methods. Therefore, rebuilding the morale of the army through tank battles has become one of the key considerations of German commanders.
The German army is attempting to launch an equipment competition. Now there are several advantages: First, the German heavy industry base has not been affected, although the British Air Force continues to carry out strategic bombings on Germany , DanteThe industrial production in the northern part of the country has not suffered much damage, and the equipment needed on the battlefield is constantly pouring into the front lines. The second is that the armored force of the German army was formed earlier. The German army launched a blitz battle, and the armored force was the first to bear the brunt. Even if the armored force was destroyed by the Soviet army in several battles, it quickly returned to normal after a short repair. The third is that the Soviet army has a large number of tanks but weak strike capability. The German army still hopes to make sudden attacks to achieve the purpose of the campaign.
Third, the Battle of Kursk was a battle of the German army as a trapped beast. Fighting the family will also fight against the Soviet Union. If you succeed, you can continue to complete the Barbarossa plan. Failure can also consume a lot of Soviet equipment.
Looking at the history of Germany's launch of World War II, the fundamental purpose is to plunder resources. However, when the German army formulated the Barbarossa plan, it ignored the most basic fact, that is, the German armored strike force is charging forward, but the logistics supply has been unable to keep up. This not only restricted the advancement of the German army, but also restricted the results of several major German battles.
Therefore, after the defeat of the Battle of Stalingrad, the original attempt to occupy the Caucasus and Baku oil fields was frustrated. The Germans faced a pile of armored forces equal to scrap iron. Launch a large-scale battle to alleviate this dilemma. If you succeed, you can continue to implement the Barbarossa plan and complete the occupation of the Baku oil field. Failure is also a major blow to the Soviet armored forces.
On the other hand, the German army launched the Battle of Kursk, which was also the ultimate blow to the Soviet army by using existing resources. As the main offensive method of the Soviet-German War, blitzkrieg has always been the main combat style advertised by the German army. However, with the defeat of several urban fortified battles, the blitzkrieg theory was shattered by reality. The German army is in the contradiction of how to launch a new offensive, using the tank conference. War has become a new military strike that they hope will bring victory.
Concentrating superior forces and concentrating superior equipment strike forces has always been the main operational requirement of the German army in World War II. Therefore, when the German army was preparing for a show of armor in Kursk, the Soviet army was also secretly accumulating armored forces in Zhukov. As long as the result is not a powerful counterattack in the process, the Soviet army has also received strong support from the British and American allies. From the beginning, the battle became a competition of armored forces between the Soviet and German armies.
However, as a German army, the Battle of Kursk was the last trapped beast of the German army, and it was also the last madness of the German army with all its wealth. As for the Soviet army, not only was it in a state of non-stopping the Germans in terms of momentum and strike strength, but also in terms of backup and material support, the Soviet army also occupies a complete advantage. Therefore, despite the Kursk tank battle, The German army had the advantage of the Tiger tank’s single equipment, but it could not change the overall battlefield situation. In the end, the Soviet army won a major victory in the battle with a larger loss, thus laying a solid foundation for the Soviet army on the Soviet-German battlefield. The basis of power.
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Reference material: "The Complete History of World War II"
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