THE PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE BATTLE OF KURSK, VOL ONE

◗ Valeriy Zamulin

◗ Helion (2021)

◗ £39.95

◗ 565 pages (softback)

◗ ISBN:9781914059223

◗ helion.co.uk

This is a mammoth description and analysis of the strategic, operational and tactical challenges faced by both sides prior to the actual battle. Part One covers the German plans for both the northern and southern flanks of the salient, mainly in terms of the detailed allocation of forces and equipment; Part Two covers the Soviet defensive plans, from Army level down to the integrated systems of minefields, anti-tank, artillery fire, etc.Various tables show German equipment holdings (such as numbers of tanks by type) at divisional level. I assume that Volume Two will provide similar details for the Soviets: this current volume mainly details guns and mortars.

There are only seven maps, but critically (and unbelievably) there are no chapters or even sub-headings, so if you discover a key piece of information, make notes on a separate sheet otherwise you’ll never find it again. Surely any sensible author would have reorganised the material by chapter themes – strategic options; tactical doctrine; equipment and forces, etc.

So: a superb amount of material, badly presented, but well worth the heavy going.