KURSK 1943 HITLER’S BITTER HARVEST

AN ENGROSSING AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THIS CRITICAL BATTLE

The Battle of Kursk marked a turning point in World War II. Following their defeat at the hands of the Soviets, the Germans were never again able to mount a strategic offensive on the Eastern Front. As such, it has been widely studied and written upon, but there is always room for new interpretations.

Anthony Tucker-jones, with the benefit of newly translated eyewitness testimonies, has chosen to give us an intensely personal account to offer new perspectives. The result is a highly readable book that takes you deep into the planning and implementation of the battle on both sides.

Tucker-jones is able to convey the growing sense of frustration and even desperation among the German High Command as the ideal time for launching Operation Citadel, mid-april, comes and goes while Hitler dithers, refusing to consider a flexible defensive posture and insisting on a bold offensive. Many German generals had a sense of dread as the operation approached: “We’re simply hastening to meet our doom,” said General Alfred Jodl, “but the man who is leading us is our destiny, and one does not escape one’s destiny”.

With the Russians well informed of German plans thanks to intelligence from British sources, Citadel was an offensive operation for less than two weeks before the Russians turned the tables.

Tucker-jones takes you into the heart of the action, but for those unfamiliar with the battle, a more wide-ranging introduction (perhaps accompanied by a map) would have been useful in setting the stage.