More than 100,000 individuals were awarded orders and medals, and 231 individuals received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.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. It involved over four million soldiers, more than 69,000 artillery pieces and mortars, over 13,000 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, and up to 12,000 aircraft on both sides.Soviet losses amounted to 254,470 permanent casualties and 608,833 wounded or injured.The soldiers demonstrated courage, endurance and heroism during the Battle of Kursk. Why Was Battle of Kursk a Turning Point in WW2?During the defensive battle, it was planned to bleed the enemy's strike groups and create favorable conditions for a Soviet counteroffensive, followed by a general strategic offensive.The Battle of Kursk was one of the decisive and largest battles of World War II. After analyzing the situation, the Supreme High Command (Stavka) made the decision to temporarily switch to defense in the Kursk area. The enemy forces numbered:The German command placed particular hope in the use of new combat equipment such as Tiger and Panther tanks, Ferdinand assault guns, Focke-Wulf-190A fighters, and Henschel-190A and Henschel-129 ground attack aircraft.Soviet military intelligence was able to discover the Wehrmacht's preparations for a major offensive on the Kursk salient in time. The operations included: Operation CitadelThe German command planned to launch a strategic offensive operation ('Citadel') in the summer of 1943 to defeat Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, seize the strategic initiative, and turn the tide of the war in their favor. The Battle of Kursk (also known as the Kursk Bulge) took place from July 5 to August 23, 1943, and consisted of three strategic operations conducted by the Red Army in the Kursk salient.The goal was to thwart a major German offensive and defeat the enemy's strategic grouping.

Battle of kursk panther tanks