Original subtitles

Hey,

hey, hey.

Heat. Heat.

It was in July 1943 that the Russian

city of Kursk bore witness to the

largest tank battle in history. The

outcome of the battle was crucial. It

put an end to Hitler's offensive power

on the Eastern Front.

At Kursk, the Soviet army would draw the

German forces into a deliberate battle

of attrition designed to grind down

Hitler's last remaining attacking

strength in the east.

The German staff officers could see the

danger, but the furer was blind to it.

On the 10th of May 1943, the architect

of Germany's tank forces, General Heinsk

Goden became engaged in a heated

conversation with Adolf Hitler regarding

Hitler's decision to attack at Kursk.

Gdderion is reported to have asked, "How

many people do [music] you think even

know where Kursk is? It is a matter of

profound indifference to the world

whether we hold Kursk or not. Why do we

want to attack in the east at all this

year?

To this Hitler replied, you're quite

right. Whenever I think of this attack,

my stomach turns over.

Gderian strongly advised Hitler [music]

to remain on the defensive, but Hitler

was determined. He would go ahead with

the attack.

Gderrion was not alone in his

apprehension. Almost to a man, Hitler's

generals had advised him to adopt a

defensive posture on the Eastern Front

during 1943.

The last two years had cost them dearly,

and they needed a chance to rest and

regroup. Hitler's decision to attack

would seriously damage his forces and

remove any hope the Germans had of

regaining the initiative in the eastern

theater. By draining away the German

tank strength, the short but intensive

battle of Kursk would tip the scales of

World War II decisively in the favor of

Soviet Russia.

On the 1st of September 1939, Hitler's

forces smashed through the Polish

frontier.

This prompted Britain and France to

officially declare war on Germany 2 days

later.

Hitler hoped to avoid this outcome as he

never expected the western governments

to go to war over Poland.

Poland was obliterated in a matter of

weeks when Hitler used the blitz creek

tactic to gain control of the country.

Before Hitler could continue advancing

eastwards, he knew he would first have

to deal with his enemies in the west. By

May 1940, the German troops turned their

offensive [music] westwards.

The war with the west was drastically

different to that with Poland as the

forces facing the Germans were modern

and well equipped. However, the British

and French armies were still relying on

tactics used during the First World War

and were totally unprepared for the

superior skills and strategy of the

Germans.

Within weeks, Hitler took control of

Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and

France. The British managed to escape

across the channel at Dunkirk, but were

in no position to fight back.

Full of confidence after the great

victories of 1939 and 1940, Hitler

pushed ahead with his plans to invade

Soviet Russia in 1941.

He held a deep contempt for the Soviet

Union and boasted that we just have to

kick in the door and the whole rotten

edifice will come crashing down.

The gains made during the invasion of

Russia in June 1941 confirmed Hitler's

optimism as a disorganized and poorly

led Red Army retreated in complete

confusion.

However, the first winter in Russia gave

the German soldiers a sharp taste of

what lay in store for them.

battered but unbowed, the German forces

just managed to avoid total collapse.

For the next 18 months, the front lines

seessawared back and forth as both sides

wrestled for control of the towns and

cities. The southern region in

particular saw some of the biggest and

most damaging battles for both sides.

Ferocious battles for Sevastapole, Kiev,

Rosstov, and Stalingrad consumed vast

amounts of men and materials as control

of the towns and cities swayed from side

to side.

In February 1943, the total defeat at

Stalingrad was a disaster for the

Germans. But a switch to the strategic

defensive might just have brought enough

time to regain the initiative in 1944.

But Hitler was adamant. He would attack.

By mid 1943, [music]

the focus of attention would once more

be in the south of Russia, where the

Germans were to make one more attempt to

gain the decisive edge. This was to be

the last great gamble in the east, a

high noon for Hitler and his hopes for

victory.

Confident after the stunning victories

over Poland in 1939 and the Western

Allies in 1940, Hitler pushed ahead with

his ultimate goal of defeating Soviet

Russia in 1941.

His generals had advised him to wait for

German forces were not strong enough at

this stage of the war. They needed more

time to prepare. Hitler instead mounted

the biggest land invasion in history.

Like his previous campaigns, Hitler

expected quick victory and the mobile

warfare tactic was employed once again.

By the winter of 1941, however, it was

apparent that the war in Russia would be

difficult and take far longer than

anticipated.

The Russians launched a massive

counteroffensive during this first

winter and almost succeeded in defeating

the Germans. Hitler himself issued the

order to stand fast and hold the ground

already won. The success of this policy

convinced Hitler that he knew better

than his generals. But when it was

repeated, the policy of holding on was

to prove disastrous.

The crushing defeat of the German sixth

army at Stalenrad affected Hitler deeply

as it came as a direct result of his

refusal to allow a withdrawal.

Now he planned the Kursk offensive to

regain the initiative and save his

reputation.

Unlike Hitler, the ruthless dictator of

the USSR had no formal military

experience. A politician first and

foremost, he was prepared to do almost

anything to maintain his position of

power.

Stalin was responsible for the purges of

the Red Army in 1937, which severely

hampered their fighting capabilities in

the early stages of the German invasion.

The loss of so many commanders prevented

the Red Army from fighting cohesively.

Nevertheless, Stalin knew how to

manipulate people and situations to his

own advantage.

Once the German invasion began, he

quickly rallied the population behind

him. Despite the fact that he had been

systematically killing countless numbers

of his own people, he played on their

love of mother Russia. and even within

the army. He ensured that the power of

the political commisa was limited during

these crucial early stages. He was

astute enough however to listen to his

generals and took their advice many

times. He put the brilliance of

commanders like Zukov and Kf to good

use. Playing one against the other to

ensure maximum results.

Quick to take the glory for any

successes and ruthless enough to ensure

his troops and people would not dare to

question him, he saw his nation through

to ultimate victory over the Nazi

invaders.

By the spring of 1943, the German army

and German nation were still in deep

shock over the defeat at Stalingrad.

This defeat was their first major

reverse of the war, and the famed

tenacity of the Russian soldier had been

decisively proved.

The Russian offensive launched

immediately after Stalingrad presented

the very real danger that the German

army would be pushed back even further.

Honey,

[screaming]

fast reactions from von Mannstein

and the effective use of the fighting

capabilities of the German army. forces

finally halted the Russian attack.

The stunning victory at Karkov achieved

against the odds became known as von

manstein's miracle. The desperate men of

Army Group South had at last contained

the Soviet advance.

Further north, Army Group Center had

held fast and halted the Russian

advances near Orel.

In between these two areas, the Soviet

advances had created a huge enemy bulge

which held large amounts of Soviet men

and materials. In the middle of the

bulge lay the town of Kursk.

Keen to capitalize on the victory at

Kov, Hitler wanted to regain the

initiative in the east, von Mannstein

drew up a plan that provided for a

similar action to Karkov, where the

German army had first given up ground

and had then quickly counterattacked

when the Russian lines of supply became

overstretched.

Characteristically, Hitler rejected the

withdrawal phase of the plan, but

approved the attacks towards Kursk.

This part of the plan was developed by

Colonel General Zeitzler who gave it the

final draft cenamed Zitadel.

The plan was to advance from the north

and south [music] towards Kursk and trap

the Soviets in a huge pocket. This

pocket could then be systematically

destroyed.

To make the plan work, however, the

attack would have to be launched quickly

before the Russians had time to prepare

defenses. The initial plan had May as

the start date, but various delays

forced the start date back to July, by

which time the Russians had prepared

defensive positions that would present

the Germans with formidable obstacles.

The Russian victory at Stalingrad had

shown that the mighty German army could

be defeated.

The seemingly endless resources of

Russia in both men and machines could

and would be sacrificed to ensure the

ultimate goal was achieved.

The Russian offensive launched after

Stalingrad had been intended to build on

the recent successes. But what was not

expected was the ability of the German

soldier to recover quickly.

The Russians suffered a surprise defeat

at Karkov in March 1943, just one month

after the surrender at Stalingrad.

Stalin was keen to advance further, but

Zukov and others persuaded Stalin that a

defensive posture was more suitable at

this stage of the war.

The Russians were also fully aware of

the German plans as they had been

receiving information from the Lucy spy

ring. This reliable source was fed from

Bletchley Park in England. The

scientists [music] working at this top

secret location had broken the secret

German enigma code at the start of the

war and had been watching developments

very closely [music] ever since. They

passed information to the Soviets via an

intricate web of contacts situated in

Switzerland.

Although the Russians never knew the

true source of the information, they

came to rely upon its accuracy.

They were therefore given the dates of

the planned German attacks in advance

and began to prepare accordingly.

Massive defensive belts were constructed

with the sole purpose of the destruction

of German armor and men. Zukov, the

master tactician, also gathered strong

reserves that would be unleashed when

the time was right. This well-prepared

trap would be the launch pad for the

defeat of Germany in the east.

Gyorgi Zukov gained his first military

experience under the Tsarist army during

World War I.

>> [music]

>> He actually changed sides during the war

and joined the communists during the

revolution in 1917.

Zukov served in various positions after

the war and became an early expert in

the use of armor. He managed to escape

the purges of 1937 that cost so many

their lives. His first real success came

against Japan at Khalkkin Gaul during

1939 and he then played his part in the

successful defense of Lenengrad. He was

given the responsibility for the defense

of Stalingrad in late 1942 when he

planned and executed the first major

defeat [music] of the German army.

Zukov was a quick-tempered man who

intensely disliked those who failed

[music] in their duty.

Constantin Rokosovvski was one of the

Soviet advisers during the Spanish Civil

War. He was also caught up in the purges

of 1937.

He escaped death but did spend a period

in prison. He was called back into

service to help in the defense of Moscow

in 1941 and also had the control of the

dawn front during the stalingrad battle.

He was in command of the central front

during the battle of Kursk.

Pavlra Mistrov was also an early

advocate of tank warfare. He first had

command of the Russian seventh tank

corps and was involved in the fighting

around Rosstov and Stalingrad where he

formed his tactical ideas.

It was Rott Mistrov who first suggested

the use of complete armoronly

formations. This tactic was adopted and

he subsequently gained command of the

fifth guard's tank army. A very able

commander, Rott Mistrov had the

appearance of a quiet school teacher,

but the mind and determination of a

brilliant military tactician.

Ivan Confv, born in 1897, served the Zar

during the First World War as an NCO. By

1917, he had become a communist and

joined the Russian Revolution, serving

as a political commisar.

He then joined the Red Army and

graduated successfully from the Fritary

Academy.

In August 1941, he served in the

Transcaucasian military district inside

the Smalins sector. In October 1941, he

became commander of the Khalin front and

helped to resist the German drive

towards Moscow.

Conv made a name for himself as an

aggressive and highly competent

commander regarded by many as second

only to Zukov. He was the perfect man to

command the step front during the Kursk

offensive.

Kurt Zeitzler served as an infantryman

during World War I and continued his

military career during the interwar

years. In 1934, he transferred to the

newly created tank section, which was

one of a number of changes brought in

under Hitler. By 1939, he had risen to

the rank of colonel, his forte being

organization and mechanized warfare. He

held various staff positions during the

first two years of the war and by 1942

he was serving in the west under von

runstead. He played a significant role

in the allied defeat at DEP during that

year bringing him to the attention of

Hitler. A month after DEP, he was

promoted to general and became the chief

of staff. His approach to older generals

sometimes caused him problems with

fellow officers, for he always spoke his

mind, even clashing with Hitler on a

number of occasions.

He tried in vain to make Hitler see

sense at Stalingrad.

It was Zeitler who drew up the plans for

the Kursk offensive and its Pinsir

attacks.

Although some of the other generals

voiced their concerns, Zeitler pushed

enthusiastically for the plan which was

finally approved by Hitler. Its

consequences would prove disastrous for

Germany.

Eric von Mannstein, the commander of

Army Group South, is acknowledged as one

of the most able German commanders of

the Second World War. His military

experience dated back to World War I

where he fought on the western and

eastern fronts. Before the end of the

war, he had reached the rank of captain.

By the time Hitler came to power in

1933, von Mannstein was a left tenant

colonel with the German general staff.

Further promotions followed until the

outbreak of World War II when he held

the rank of left tenant general. Before

the start of the war, he had been

responsible for suggesting the use of

the assault gun that was to become known

as the Stern Gushuts, a machine that was

to play a significant part in Germany's

conduct of the war.

He was closely involved in planning the

various opening campaigns. The

successful plan for the attacks in the

West in 1940 are also thought to be the

brainchild of von Mannstein, although

Hitler later claimed them as his own.

Von Mannstein had a gift for determining

the enemy's intentions and identifying

their weaknesses. [music]

He held various field commands from the

start of the war with Russia in 1941 and

successes included the defeat of the

fortress of Sevastapole.

However, the longer the war in Russia

dragged on, the more Hitler and vonstein

differed over its execution.

Hitler was obsessed with holding

positions to the last man and von

Mannstein tried in vain to change

Hitler's tactical reasoning.

By the start of July 1943, von Mannstein

was in overall command of Army Group

South, which played the major role in

the execution of Plan Zitadel.

Herman Hoth, born on the 12th of April

1895, served in the first world war. He

remained in the German army and by 1936,

Hoth was a divisional commander.

He commanded the 15th Panza Corps during

the invasion of Poland and on the 27th

of October 1939 was awarded with the

Rutroys for his service.

Hoth went on to lead the 15th Panza

through the successful French campaign

of 1940.

He then led Panza Group three, later

renamed the Third Panza Army towards

Leningrad and onto Moscow, where he

almost succeeded in his mission.

By 1942, Hoth was commander of the

fourth Panzer Army and in action at

Stalingrad. His mission was to get the

trapped Sixth Army out of the city, but

the task was virtually impossible and he

failed. Hoth and his fourth Panza army

went on to be involved at the heart of

fighting at Kursk.

[music]

Army Group Center under Fonluga also

played a significant role in the plans

for Kursk. To the north of the salient,

Fonluga's army group would serve in the

ninth army that would provide one of the

two great pincers designed to snuff out

the Soviet salient.

Valter Modell also gained his early

experiences during World War I,

attaining the rank of captain. Like von

Mannstein, he had served in the interwar

German army in various staff and field

postings, including a stint as a

lecturer on tactics and history. He

continued in various posts in the early

stages of World War II, and by mid 1940

held the rank of Lieutenant General when

he was also given command of the Third

Panza Division. Although he was an

infantry man through and through, he

quickly made it his job to explore the

potential of tank warfare.

Modell constantly visited the front

lines and always took a keen interest in

the welfare of his men.

His division was involved in the Titanic

encirclement at Kiev and also the

attacks towards Moscow.

Modell firmly believed in the concept of

lightning war and his successes did not

go unnoticed by Hitler. By the start of

1942, he was in command of the 9inth

Army with the rank of colonel general.

He was given the task of attacking in

the reeerv sector in southern Russia.

The bloody battles here would last for

almost a year. By spring 1943, his 9inth

army was well placed to take part in the

Kursk offensive.

[music]

Hitler knew just how vital the coming

battle would be and placed a great deal

of faith in the new tanks developed for

the offensive. General Heins Gudderion

had been recalled and appointed to a new

position of inspector general of the

armored forces especially for the Kursk

battle.

The purges of 1937 upon the army by

Stalin had left a weak and poorly led

force.

Around the start of 1941, however, the

army was undergoing a reorganization.

When the Germans launched their attack

in June of that year, they caught the

Red Army offguard.

The initial advances by the Germans cut

deep into the Russian rear areas. In

many cases, the Germans found themselves

advancing eastwards and also defending

westwards as the retreating Russians

caught up with them.

There appeared to be no effective

organization or control over the mass of

Russian soldiers in the early stages.

As the first winter set in, however, the

first signs appeared that things were

not going to go Hitler's way.

Better adapted to the climate and

countryside, the Russian army quickly

launched their first offensive that

almost succeeded in overrunning the

German army. The main drawback for the

Red Army was the constant interference

by political commisa who instilled fear

into every soldier.

Often commanders were reluctant to take

key decisions without clear instructions

from much higher up.

This directly affected the course of the

fighting and may have contributed to

some of the Red Army's defeats.

>> The Russian soldier was also dealing

with new tactics being employed by the

Germans. What was more, the Red Army

suffered many problems of supply and the

loss of vital industrial regions and the

relocation of factories further east hit

production hard.

As the war progressed, the Red Army

became better equipped and more able to

cope with the superior skills of the

German army.

The Red Army's sheer weight of numbers

of both men and materials was beginning

to turn the tide in their favor by mid

1943.

The Russian soldier had the backup of

plentiful tanks and planes, and they did

not appear in the bewildering array of

different types used by the German army.

The most widely used battle tank was the

T34.

This tank made its battlefield debut in

1941, soon after the Germans poured over

the Russian border. The Germans have no

prior knowledge of the T-34, and they

quickly learned to respect it. The

T-34's design, which remained largely

unchanged throughout the war, was simple

and crude, but highly practical. It had

excellent sloping armor which although

only 45 mm thick increased its

protective capabilities.

It had wide tracks that were well suited

to the Russian countryside and the worst

of the Russian winter. The armaments on

the version used at Kursk were a 76 mm

dualpurpose main gun backed up with

three 7.62 mm machine guns.

It was powered by a very reliable diesel

engine and gave a top speed of 33 mph.

It weighed around 26 tons and had a

fiveman crew.

The downside was the poorly designed

turret that had to be traversed by hand.

It was also very cramped with

rudimentary radio communications.

Fighting alongside the T-34 was the KV1.

This was a heavier tank weighing in at

over 43 tons, which also had a five-man

crew.

The reliable diesel engine produced a

top speed of 22 mph.

The armor protection was 110 mm thick,

and like the T-34, its main gun was a 76

mm weapon backed up with three 7.62 mm

machine guns.

It carried more than adequate ammunition

supplies and had excellent suspension.

Unfortunately, it also had a poorly

designed turret and complex gun sighting

mechanism. The crews that manned them

were poorly trained, and these faults

conspired to ensure that the KV1 would

never have the impact of its more famous

stablemate.

Kursk is famed for its large tank

battle, but equally as ferocious was the

aerial war that raged overhead.

Like their tank forces, the Russians

used a few simple designs for their

aircraft that were practical and

produced in large numbers. The IL2 was

one of these. It would see a great deal

of action around Kursk.

Over 36,000 of these aircraft were

manufactured before the end of the war.

The IL2 was a ground attack plane and

was an excellent performer at low

levels.

Top speed was around 250 mph.

The main armaments were two 37 mm

cannons and two 7.62 mm machine guns,

plus one rear-facing machine gun for

added protection. It could also carry

[music] up to 600 kg of bombs.

As it was best suited to low-level

attacks, the construction allowed for a

certain amount of armor protection to be

included. The main areas protected were

the underside, cockpit, and fuel tanks.

From its introduction in 1941, the plane

was involved in most of the fighting on

the Eastern Front.

Although the Red Air Force pilots could

not match the skills of the Luftvafa

aces, this plane and its pilots did play

a significant part in the defeat of the

Third Reich.

[music]

The Nazi propaganda machine had

described the Russians as subhuman.

The German army advanced into Russia

with the belief that they were up

against an incapable army, poorly led

and badly equipped.

The first 6 months of the war produced

evidence that this was indeed the case.

However, as 1942 began, the Red Army

started to show its true abilities. Its

men were able to cope with the extreme

weather fluctuations, sustaining

themselves on meager rations and living

off the land. They had excellent

defensive skills, something that the

Germans quickly learned to their cost.

They also had simple but highly

effective equipment that was designed

for the punishing weather. The Russian

Achilles heel was their poor leadership

and fear of their political masters. The

tactics employed paid no heed to the

cost in human lives, and penal squads

and summary executions were widely used

in an attempt to gain objectives.

The overriding motivation of many of the

men was their love of mother Russia.

Despite all of the hardships and demands

placed upon them, their resilience and

determination would see them through to

victory. [cheering and screaming]

The German army of World War II was

arguably one of the most efficient the

modern world has seen. Superbly led by

capable leaders such as Gudderion, RML,

Modell, and Vonmanstein, they achieved

victory after victory in the first years

of the war.

The army was extremely professional and

very aggressive.

Expert training saw the vermark employ

new and farthinking tactics with

devastating results. These tactics

helped them defeat numerically superior

enemy forces and secure almost

impossible objectives. For 2 years,

their combined tactics and training

would take them from Poland to the

shores of France

and then onto the banks of the Vular at

Stalingrad, defeating every enemy along

the way.

A major problem was that the Vermachar

had to contend with incessant infighting

at higher levels. This sometimes

resulted in unclear objectives, most

notably during the war with Russia.

Without doubt, being led by a dictator

such as Hitler, whose military

experience and abilities were limited,

also had its effect on the final outcome

of the war.

Masters at the art of counterattack and

equally adept in attack or defense, the

German army was however a worthy

opponent to any foe. Despite an ever

decreasing supply of resources and

multiplying difficulties, they remained

resolute and focused on their tasks.

The heavy defeat at Stalingrad had

deeply affected them and the fact that

they quickly recovered and managed a

stunning victory at Kov is evidence of

their capabilities.

Contrary to popular belief, by the start

of July 1943, the German army was far

from defeated.

The arrival of the formidable T34 onto

the battlefield caused the Germans to

revive some of their pre-war plans for

heavier tanks. One of the results was

arguably the best tank of [music] World

War II.

The Panzer Mark 5 or Panther weighed in

at 45 tons. It had a five-man crew

protected by 120 mm sloped armor.

This tank was armed with a superb 75 mm

L70 main gun with two 7.92 mm MG34

machine guns as backup. It could produce

a top speed of 30 mph.

It was rushed through production to

ensure that it was ready for the Kursk

offensive.

Hitler placed great hopes on the Panther

and delayed the start of the battle to

allow for its production.

The early models were plagued with

mechanical breakdowns that would have

serious consequences for the troops at

Kursk. But once the design problems were

rectified, the Panther tank became an

excellent weapon.

The Panza Mark 6, better known as the

Tiger 1, was designed to put the Germans

ahead of the Russians in tank design.

The result was a machine that weighed in

at a huge 55 tons. Its fiveman crew was

well protected by 110 mm thick armor.

Unlike the Panther, the Tiger 1 had the

more conventional flatsided armor that

wasn't as effective as sloped armor, but

it was so thick that it was virtually

impervious to any weapon on the

battlefield.

The Tiger's main armament was the

phenomenal 88 mm gun, capable of

destroying anything it [music] came

across at ranges up to 2,000 m.

The close support weapons were the

standard two MG34 machine guns. The 21 L

engine produced a [music] top speed of

24 mph.

The first large-scale deployment of

[music] the Tiger tank was at Kursk when

approximately a hundred were used.

They were placed mainly with the elite

formations of the Vaffan SS and the

Gross Deutsland Division. The Tiger

would quickly earn a fearsome reputation

and would play its part in helping the

Germans smash through the extensive

Russian defenses during Zitadel.

This heavy tank destroyer appeared after

Ferdinand Porsche's design for the Tiger

1 was turned down. The Porsche firm was

so confident that their design would be

chosen that they had begun to produce

their version, but production stopped

when Hitler's decision was announced.

Rather than waste those that had already

been constructed, they were put to use.

Hitler had also ordered the design of an

assault weapon that could mount the

longer L71 version of the 88 mm gun. The

Tiger 1 was incapable of doing this, so

the 90 Porsche chassis were chosen. The

resulting weapon, Ferdinand, weighed in

at a colossal 68 tons and required a

crew of six men. The armor protection

was provided by 200 mm of steel plate.

The top speed was only 12 mph.

The Ferdinand was rushed through the

production stage with very serious

consequences for the crews manning them

and the infantry who were relying on

them during the fighting.

During the design stage, the need for a

close quarter defense machine gun was

overlooked. The suspension was not

adequate to support the weight of the

tank destroyer with the result that the

vehicle easily bogged down. These flaws

helped to ensure that the battlefield

debut of the Ferdinand was a failure. 40

of the 80 machines which took part in

the battle were lost to the enemy within

the first 3 days.

One other important new development made

its arrival known during the Kursk

offensive. The Stooka dive bomber had

played its part in the early victories

of the German army. It became an

excellent psychological weapon and

instilled terror again and again.

However, as the war progressed, this

slow aircraft was quickly outclassed by

the faster enemy planes. The Stooka had

undergone a few modifications since its

first introduction in 1937.

The standard version available in early

1943 could reach a speed of around 255

mph.

The armament was two 7.92 mm machine

guns situated on the wings with a

further rear-facing machine gun. It

could carry up to 1,800 kg of bombs.

The Stooker was widely used and during

March of 1943, testing took place on a

new anti-tank version. Two 37 mm flack

cannons were fitted to the underside of

the plane in place of the bomb load.

It was soon found that this weapon was

very accurate and effective for

destroying enemy tanks. Although the

pilots had to go into a shallow dive and

get within close range of their targets,

making them vulnerable to anti-aircraft

fire.

The use of this new weapon became the

responsibility of some of Germany's best

known pilots. Among them, Hans Olrich

Rudell, an accomplished airman who held

Germany's highest award for bravery.

Rudel and the pilots like him put the

new tank busting variant to good use and

quickly chockked up a high number of

enemy tank kills.

The restrictions imposed on Germany

after the First World War included a

limit on the size of her army. Although

painful for the Germans, this

restriction would have noticeable

benefits when war finally broke out

again. The selection process was

rigorous and only the best candidates

were chosen. As the political situation

changed and the army expanded, these

carefully chosen men moved up the ranks

and passed their skills down to many

others. Another

[music]

result of the inter war restrictions was

that even the most junior soldier was

trained to take the place of his

superior. With some brilliant tacticians

and military minds leading them and

supplied with good equipment, the German

army of 1939 was a truly formidable

opponent.

unleashed into Poland in September of

that year. The skills learned were put

to good use. Quick, decisive campaigns

followed one after the other over the

next 18 months. The average German

soldier that crossed the Russian border

in June 1941 was a well-trained, battle

experienced and very capable man.

Determined and professional, the German

soldier of World War II would prove his

ability again and again.

April 1943 saw the German army in

desperate need of recuperation after

their recent victory at Kov. The Russian

army was also in danger of outrunning

its own extended supply lines. These two

factors resulted in a period of relative

quiet over the Kursk region. But as

German intentions became clear, the

Russians began an intensive program of

[music] defensive measures that were

designed to trap and blunt the German

armor. Thousands of anti-tank guns were

built into defensive lines in great

depth, and millions of anti-tank mines

were laid.

Both sides prepared for the coming clash

throughout May and June 1943.

Expectations were high. Both believed

that they could achieve a decisive

victory. But the commanders of both

sides were apprehensive.

They could sense the importance of the

forthcoming clash and could see how its

outcome would affect the future course

of the war.