July 1943

Although Hitler may have had much cause for concern after Germany's horrific defeat at Stalingrad, he was by no means ready to give up his struggle against the Soviet Union. After all, the defeat of communism and the supposedly subhuman Slavic peoples of the Soviet Union had always been a central goal of Nazi ideology.

Trying to gain the initiative in the East, in July 1943 the German Army unleashed a new offensive against the front of Kurks. The area was highly defended by the Soviets and the greatest tank battle stopped the war's tide and change the fate of the East front. Due the hight losses, the Wermacht never regain the initiative, sealing the fate of the war.

The destruction of the Sixth Army at Stalingrad at the beginning of 1943 was a disaster for Germany. However, Manstein was able to restore the front in southern Russia, which allowed Hitler to plan for a new offensive on the Eastern Front.