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The Battle of Kursk Controversial and Neglected Aspects

Author : Valeriy Zamulin
Editor : Stuart Britton
Translator : Stuart Britton

The Battle of Kursk Controversial and Neglected Aspects

Digital Editions

eBook (epub)  13.54MB

£14.99 Available for immediate download

eBook (pdf)  5.38MB

£14.99 Available for immediate download

Details

General - Pages : 416 | Images : 154 photos & 8pp colour maps

Paperback - Date of Publication : 15th March 2022 | Size : 245mm x 170mm | ISBN : 9781915113054 | Helion Book Code : HEL1488

Hardback - Date of Publication : 15th June 2017 | Size : 245mm x 170mm | ISBN : 9781911512370 | Helion Book Code : HEL0777

eBook - ISBN : 9781804511169

In this book, noted historian of the Battle of Kursk Valeriy Zamulin, the author of multiple Russian-language books on the Battle of Kursk and Destroying the Myth: The Tank Battle at Prokhorovka, Kursk, July 1943: An Operational Narrative takes a fresh look at several controversial and neglected topics regarding the battle and its run-up. He starts with a detailed look at the Soviet and Russian historiography on the battle, showing how initially promising research was swamped by Party dogma and censorship during the Brezhnev area, before being resumed with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Zamulin then transitions to discussions of how the southern shoulder of the Kursk bulge was formed, preparations for the battle on both sides, and the size and composition of Model’s Ninth Army. He then examines such controversial topics as whether or not the II SS Panzer Corps was aware of the pending Soviet counterattack at Prokhorovka, and the effectiveness of the Soviet preemptive barrage that struck the German troops that were poised to attack. Zamulin also discusses whether or not General Vatutin, the Commander-in-Chief of Voronezh Front, erred when arranging his defenses. Zamulin also takes a look at how the myth of 1,500 tanks colliding on a narrow strip of farm fields became perpetuated in Soviet and foreign history books, when in fact it was impossible for the 5th Guards Tank Army’s tanks to attack in massive wave after wave due to the constrictions of the terrain. Zamulin also reveals incidents of the battle that were long kept “behind the curtain” by Soviet censorship. For example, the 183rd Rifle Division defending the Prokhorovka axis was repeatedly struck by friendly aircraft, and a Soviet tank counterattack overran the positions of one of its battalions. Zamulin discusses other cases of fratricide in the Voronezh Front, including the death of one of the 1st Tank Army’s foremost tank commanders in a friendly fire incident. In the process, he reveals that a wave of suicides swept through the junior command staff of the 5th Guards Tank Army immediately prior to the famous counteroffensive on 12 July 1943. All in all, Valeriy Zamulin with this collection of essays and articles, two of which have been reprinted from the Journal of Slavic Military History, makes a new contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this pivotal, epochal battle of the Second World War.

 

“I'm sure that official documents chronicling Soviet involvement in various significant WW2 battles were heavily "edited" - the main thing to consider is that we are now able to read an accurate account of the Battle of Kursk. A brilliant piece of WW2 Soviet military history.” Books Monthly

“ … All in all, Valeriy Zamulin with this collection of essays and articles, two of which have been reprinted from the Journal of Slavic Military History, makes a new contribution to our knowledge and understanding of this pivotal, epochal battle of the Second World War...if I ever lose this book I would have to go out and buy another copy pronto. Five Mr Mushroom Heads for being educational as well as a great read. *****” Army Rumour Service

“Strongly recommended both for the wargamer and the historian - and for the latter, an informative diagnosis of how Soviet history was written.” Miniature Wargames

“ … “This book is standard fare for a Helion & Company volume, meaning that it is an excellent work with eight pages of colored maps and many pictures from during the war. The author is as meticulous with his writing as with his figures and statistics. Anyone looking for what actually happened at Kursk without the legends and stories should look no further than this work and the author's 'Demolishing the Myth'. These books should be required reading for anyone who wants to know the real truth about the battle of Kursk.” A Wargamer’s Needful Things blog

“ … For those students of history that wish to delve deeper into some of the lesser known aspects of the battle, read on! Helion has maintained its extremely high quality of publications and Stuart Britton has once again translated and edited a deeply engaging and readable work.” War History Online

"[The author] is able to utilize archival information in both the US and Russia related, respectively, to German and Soviet units, and offer an in-depth discussion that contextualizes and offers a critical analysis of actions undertaken by both sides." World War II and Other Book Reviews

"Valeriy Zamulin’s decades-long research has focused on what Russians call “The Great Patriotic War” and specifically on the Battle of Kursk. Since the opening of Soviet archives following the end of the Cold War, revisionist historians like Zamulin have been working to correct errors and misrepresentations infesting the historical re-cord of events connected with combat on the Eastern Front." ARMOR Magazine

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