2007-08-08 19:42:19 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I presume you're talking about the German perspective??? Some items come to mind, Hitler threw in the latest models of Tigers which were not battle ready, ie, teething problems on their tracks, etc....all against Guderian's advice. The Ferdinand (Elephant) was too slow and was easily outflanked. the main problem for the Germans was the echeloned defence by the Red Army, there was no way the Germans could win a battle of attrition. The flower of the Werhmact and SS armoured Divisions were decimated at Kursk.....a veritable death ride.
2007-08-08 20:44:50 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a (code)-word, "Ultra" . The German High Command's codes had been broken. Both the Brits and the Americans were reading the German mail, and passing on the info to the Russians.
Ivan knew when and where the Germans were coming, and had months of time to prepare the ground along the twin attack paths.
Even with the extra time to prepare, the Russians still took a beating. The Germans started with 2,700 tanks, and around 800,000 infantry and artillery. Ivan had over 1.3 million infantry and artillery, and 3,500 tanks in the salient by the time the Germans could attack, all heavily entrenched.
The losses were staggering for the defenders. 1,600 Russian tanks flamed; over 180,000 infantry/artillery killed or captured.
The Germans? They lost 50,000 infantry and some 200 tanks.
The aircraft situation was worse: The Germans lost some 10% of their air forces, mostly to AAA fire. The Russians lost damn near half the airplanes that took to the skies.
The Germans "lost" because they failed in their plans to cut off and destroy nearly one-fifth of the Russian Army. They lost because their industrial base was getting clobbered by British and American air in the Fatherland, and couldn't replace their battle losses as easily as the Russian could.
Mostly, they lost because of Ultra -- Ivan could see them coming, and they didn'[t realize that just yet.
wsulliva
2007-08-16 23:31:55 · answer #2 · answered by wsulliva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The biggest problem for the Germans at Kursk was that the Soviets knew the attack was coming. Therefore, they massed enough troops and were prepared to meet the onslaught. The Soviet troops had enough time to establish killing zones for their massed anti-tank guns.
Equipment problems also plagued the Germans. The Panther tank (probably the finest tank in the war) was new and suffered many "teething" problems. The Ferdinand (or Elephant) tank destroyer was a poor design: a powerful gun, but no machine gun to defend itself from enemy infantry.
2007-08-09 13:20:07 · answer #3 · answered by wichitaor1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the Germans it was over-extended supply lines. Tanks are tremendous guzzlers of petrol. Add to that the overconfidence of some Panzer commanders. They had forgotten the old axiom: Hubris is followed by nemesis.
The Germans had also forgotten that the Russian soldier will fight like hell to defend the "Rodina" (Holy Mother Russia).
2007-08-09 02:55:21 · answer #4 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Germans had Hitler. It was well known by the allies that Hitler was their secret weapon. Had he been able to check his ego; listen to his generals and take advice; Europe would be a vastly different place.
2007-08-14 06:37:42 · answer #5 · answered by angella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For who the Nazi's or the Commies
Sort of a win win for us
2007-08-15 22:08:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think do to lack of sleep every body was tired and everything went wrong
2007-08-09 02:45:26 · answer #7 · answered by ACIDBURN 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋