What is zitadelle?

Zitadelle is a German word which means "Citadel" or "Fortress". In history, Zitadelle is mostly associated with the Battle of Kursk that took place between the German army and the Soviet army in July-August 1943 during the Second World War. The battle was fought in the Kursk salient of the Eastern Front. The German war plan was to attack the Soviet positions by encircling the Soviet forces with their armored divisions. The main German objective was to capture the city of Kursk, which was an important railway and communications center, and to disrupt the Soviet supply lines to the front.

The German army launched a massive offensive against the Soviet positions on July 5, 1943, with the main thrust in the northern sector of the salient. The Soviet forces, however, had anticipated the German plan and had strengthened their defenses. The Soviet commanders had also prepared a series of defensive belts for the German onslaught, which included minefields, anti-tank ditches, and trenches.

The battle went on for almost two months and resulted in one of the largest tank battles in history, with over 10,000 armored vehicles involved. Despite initial successes, the German offensive stalled due to the superior Soviet resistance and the German inability to break through the multiple Soviet defense lines.

The battle of Kursk ended on August 23, 1943, with the Soviet forces emerging victorious. The event is seen as the turning point of the war in Europe as it marked the end of the German offensive capability. The Zitadelle battle is considered one of the most significant events of the Second World War, and it is still studied today by historians and military strategists.