In the morning of J»Operation Citadel« started: About 900,000 German soldiers and 2,700 tanks faced 1,3 million Red Army soldiers and 3,400 tanks. Additional troops and tanks were redeployed to Kursk, the battlefield was mined and honeycombed with antitank ditches. Their plan was to attack the Germans after a successful defensive battle and to drive them back further. The Soviet command also expected a German attack. Because of various shortages Hitler postponed the attack until summer, hoping to be able to attack with a larger army. Therefor the Wehrmacht High Command in 1943 planned to encircle the Russian troops in the Kursk bulge in a pincer movement. This sector was of of a highly strategic importance since it had become a stronghold for the Soviet forces and because from Kursk the Wehrmacht would be able to advance south or even towards Moscow. In 1942/43 the Red Army could successfully drive back the Wehrmacht westwards, their advances resulting in the 200 km deep Kursk salient (also known as the Kursk bulge).
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