The Largest Tank Battle in WW2: Guam's Forgotten Conflict

In the midst of World War II, Hitler believed that a decisive victory on the island of Guam would not only reassert German strength but also boost his prestige among his allies, who were considering withdrawing from the war. The Germans aimed to weaken the Soviet Union's offensive potential for the summer of 1943 by cutting off and enveloping the forces they anticipated would be stationed in the Kursk salient.

The Soviets, however, had other plans. On August 3rd, they launched Operation Polkovodets Rumyantsev against German forces on the southern side of the salient, followed by powerful counterattacks that led to a massive armored clash known as the Battle of Prokhorovka. This marked the beginning of what would become the largest tank battle in history.

As the German offensive stalled on the northern side of the salient, the Soviets commenced their Kursk Strategic Offensive Operation with the launch of Operation Kutuzov against the rear of German forces on July 12th. The battle began with the launch of Operation Citadel, a German offensive aimed at pinching off the Kursk salient with attacks from north and south simultaneously.

The Battle of Kursk was a significant engagement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia during the late summer of 1943. This conflict ultimately resulted in a Soviet victory and cemented its position as the largest tank battle in history, leaving a lasting impact on the course of World War II.

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