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As we all know the Battle of Kursk was the last German offensive on the eastern front. It was a bloody failure and decisively left the initiative and offensive potential in the hands of the Red Army. We also know that Operation Zitadelle was postponed several times in the period May-July 1943. This allowed the Soviets to build up a massive defence in depth with 800 km of barbed wire, hundreds of miles of trenches with a depth of 175 kilometres, one million landmines, 1.3 million men, 3600 tanks and so on. The Germans lost massive numbers to these formidable defences, in part because the people in charge were divided. Some (including Hitler and Guderian) opposed the plan while others supported it. In the end it finally went through in July 1943.

Suppose the battle had taken place in May '43 as planned. At that time the Soviet defences were nowhere near finished and a victory could have happened. Another option was Von Manstein's backhand blow which would have lost the Russians over 1 million men and a lot of tanks.

Alternatively, Hitler could have cancelled the offensive altogether as he was opposed to it anyway, instead ordering a defence. I assume that if nothing happens, Stalin will lose his patience and order an offensive, an offensive which might greatly hurt, while Germany sends a few reinforcements to Sicily to bloody the allies' nose as Hitler was rightfully worried of such an invasion.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Discuss ;).
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