Eighty-two years ago today, on July 5, 1943 (June 4, 1943), the Battle of Kursk broke out. After the Battle of Stalingrad, the Soviet-German battlefield was temporarily silent, and both sides were preparing for new battles. In January 1943, Germany announced a general mobilization of the whole country to replenish front-line troops and military industry, and to redistribute raw materials, fuel, and electricity to strengthen military production. The German High Command planned to launch a summer offensive code-named "Fortress", with the Kursk Assault Force as the main force, to improve the situation on the battlefield. For this campaign, Germany mobilized 900,000 troops, 10,000 artillery, 2,700 tanks and automatic artillery, and more than 2,000 aircraft. The Soviet High Command, aware of the strategic intentions of the German army, prepared the dominant army, artillery, tanks and aircraft, and was ready to stand ready. On the morning of July 5, 1943, a large number of Germans, coordinated by aircraft and tanks, began the attack, which was stubbornly blocked by the Soviets from the beginning. The German Orel Corps attacked from The North Face of Kursk, losing tens of thousands of people and hundreds of tanks. It was not until July 10 that they advanced 10-12 kilometers. No longer able to advance, they had to turn to defense. In the southern part of Kursk, the two sides engaged in several fierce tank battles. The Germans advanced 35 kilometers, but under the tenacious resistance of the Soviets, they had to retreat on July 15. On July 12 and 15, the Soviets turned to counterattacks in the north and south of Kursk, and the Germans were losing ground. On August 5, the Soviets successively recaptured the important cities of Orel, Kharkiv, Donbass, and Kiev. To this end, Moscow fired its first salute. The German "fortress" plan was completely bankrupt.