In the Battle of Prokhorovka, the German command sought to encircle and destroy Soviet forces that had breached their defensive line in the Kursk, Orel, and Belgorod regions.
Conversely, the Soviet command aimed to encircle the enemy grouping.
Over 1,000 tanks and self-propelled artillery units were involved in combat from both sides.
Most Brutal Tank Battle in History
On the morning of July 12, the Red Army began an artillery barrage to try to soften up enemy forces. The First SS Panzer Division rushed to defensive positions. Soviet tank men, equipped mostly with older T-34 tanks with 76mm guns, proved outmatched against the new Tigers. This disparity became especially painful as tanks rushed into close-quarters combat, with the Tigers' 88 mm shells easily penetrating the T-34s' armor. All that was left for the Soviets was to rely on their tanks' superior speed and maneuverability. Enemy artillery and bombardment by hundreds of enemy aircraft quickly turned the offensive into a meat grinder.
Fighting in the area continued until July 16, with each side failing to break through the other's defenses. However, the Germans exhausted their offensive potential, and Army Group South abandoned its plans to break through to Kursk.
Significance of Battle of Prokhorovka
The Prokhorovka events significantly influenced the Soviet forces' victory in the overall Battle of Kursk, which was one of the decisive and largest battles of World War II.
After the Battle of Kursk, the balance of power on the Eastern Front shifted dramatically in favor of the Red Army, creating favorable conditions for a general strategic offensive. Germany and its allies shifted to defense on all fronts of World War II, marking the beginning of the collapse of the fascist bloc.