Available Formats
Kursk 1943: The Northern Front
By (Author) Robert Forczyk
Illustrated by Steve Noon
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Osprey Publishing
20th September 2014
United Kingdom
General
Non Fiction
Modern warfare
European history
Battles / military campaigns
940.5421735
Paperback
96
Width 180mm, Height 244mm, Spine 8mm
343g
In the summer of 1943, recoiling from defeat at Stalingrad, Hitler conducted a limited objective offensive to eliminate the Soviet Kursk salient. Operating a classic pincer attack of the kind that succeeded during the 1942 Kharkov campaign he hoped that the resulting heavy losses inflicted on the Red Army would give the Wehrmacht time to recover its strength. However, the Soviet anticipation of the attack led to extensive losses on both sides as Soviet anti-tank mines and fierce fighting pushed the Germans back, liberating the German-held Orel in the process. Focusing on the northern front of the battle with Generaloberst Walter Models forces pitted against General Rokossovskys Central Front between 5 July and 18 August, this volume will explore both the German offensive and the Soviet counteroffensive. Using documents from both sides, extensive photographs both contemporary and modern, maps and birds-eye-views this title will shed new light on this often ignored part of the battle.
"The author offers a very detailed and well researched order of battle. His descriptions of the opposing commanders of the major units are very interesting." --IPMS/USA
"Decidedly recommended reading." --Cybermodeler Online
Robert Forczyk has a PhD in International Relations and National Security from the University of Maryland and a strong background in European and Asian military history. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the US Army Reserves having served 18 years as an armour officer in the US 2nd and 4th infantry divisions and as an intelligence officer in the 29th Infantry Division (Light). Steve Noon was born in Kent, UK, and attended art college in Cornwall. He's had a life-long passion for illustration, and since 1985 has worked as a professional artist. He has provided award-winning illustrations for the publishers Dorling Kindersley, where his interest in historical illustration began. Steve has illustrated over 30 books for Osprey.