Instead, we get huge, front-encompassing maps which often don’t feature what is being mentioned at the time, and sometimes don’t show towns that are mentioned in the text at all. Of course, you can’t expect a map on every page, but there should have been one per major action, at least. If there is a criticism to be made, it’s in the lack of sufficient maps. He uses a great deal of quotes from common soldiers, which adds to the feeling of the gritty, almost WWI-style combat. The author has a great ability to write non-fictional narrative, which can escape some historians. The book itself is very well-written, with a great sense of drama, without being overly fictionalized. Without understanding the tenuous position of the Wehrmacht in the summer of 1942, following the halts at Moscow and Stalingrad, the reader doesn’t grasp how much hinged on the German assault. It's backstory that I know fairly well, but it's well stated, and really is necessary to understand the true import of Kursk. No one is forcing you to read the bits you don't want to read.įor myself, I liked the backstory. To these people, I'd like to point out that there is a handy little thing called a 'table of contents'. First, I'd like to address those who complain that the first third of this book is not about Kursk, but in fact covers the period after WWI for both Germany and Russia, Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of Moscow, and the Battle of Stalingrad.

Kursk tank battle movie