
North of the salient, the German 9 th Army under Colonel-General Model encountered resistance and conditions more similar to trench warfare than the Blitzkrieg they were used to.

While the Germans massed tanks, airplanes, and artillery, the Red Army built impressive fortifications, and was very well prepared when the Panzers finally started rolling on the 5 th of July. Such big preparations against an obvious target did not go unnoticed by the Soviets. Hitler gambled all resources on this battle and his insistence on having the newest tank models, the Panther and the Tiger, on the battlefield in force delayed the offensive. Germany badly needed a quick success for several reasons: shorten the frontline, free up forces against the inevitable invasion of Western Europe, and to keep her fledging allies in the camp. It chose the most obvious target: the bulge in the front line around the city of Kursk. Operation Citadel was to be the major German offensive on the Eastern Front in 1943.

Such is the essence of this war - only forward. During this moment they do not have any choice, there is no possibility to recede. The world of the soldier is narrowed to an edge of his sword, the world of the marksman - to the face of the enemy.


Plunge into the atmosphere and war events in Afghanistan in 1983!
