The Red Army moves to the offensive

22nd July 1943: After Hitler calls off 'Operation Citadel' the Russians begin to reveal the massive strength they now have, especially in artillery

A destroyed German panzer at Kursk

The Red Army's greatest strength was its artillery, a battery commander in the field.

The Red Army now moved on to the offensive.

Manstein had bitterly complained that the Germans had called off their 'Citadel' offensive too early - before he had a chance to smash the Soviet Army reserves, which he believed were within his reach. Yet everything now suggested that the Russians had had plenty more in reserve.

No sooner had the German offensive at Kursk run out of steam than the Red Army launched its own offensive. Although they had sustained considerable losses at Kursk, far greater than the Germans, they counted for little against the enormous forces they still had available to throw into battle.