Battle of Prokhorovka

Significance

The Battle of Prokhorovka was fought on 12 July 1943 as part of the wider Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front, 87 kilometres southeast of Kursk. The engagement brought the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army, commanded by Pavel Rotmistrov, into direct collision with the German II SS-Panzer Corps under Paul Hausser, constituting one of the largest tank engagements in history. As a component of the Battle of Kursk, Prokhorovka formed part of the Soviet effort to blunt the German summer offensive and deny the Wehrmacht the operational initiative it sought on the Eastern Front. Recorded Soviet casualties stood at 3,563, reflecting the intensity of the armored clash.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (8)