1943 Beginning of the Battle of Kursk

75 years ago, on July 5, 1943, the Battle of Kursk began - one of the largest battles of World War II, which lasted until August 23. German troops during Operation Citadel tried to encircle and destroy the Soviet armies in the Kursk salient, but failed. During the subsequent counter-offensive, the Red Army liberated Orel, Belgorod and Kharkov. The Germans retreated to the Dnieper.

Nevertheless, Soviet losses in killed and wounded during the Battle of Kursk were the highest in the entire war, and the ratio of losses in this battle was one of the most unfavorable for the Red Army. After Kursk, the Germans did not undertake offensives of strategic importance on the Eastern Front.