The Battle of the Tanks

By: Lloyd Clark

Narrated by: David Baker

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

On July 5, 1943, the greatest land battle in history began when Nazi and Red Army forces clashed near the town of Kursk, on the western border of the Soviet Union. Code named Operation Citadel, the German offensive would cut through the bulge in the eastern front that had been created following Germany's retreat at the battle of Stalingrad. But the Soviets, well informed about Germany's plans through their network of spies, had months to prepare. Two million men supported by 6,000 tanks, 35,000 guns, and 5,000 aircraft convened in Kursk for an epic confrontation that was one of the most important military engagements in history, the epitome of total war. It was also one of the most bloody, and despite suffering seven times more casualties, the Soviets won a decisive victory that became a turning point in the war.

With unprecedented access to the journals and testimonials of the officers, soldiers, political leaders, and citizens who lived through it, The Battle of the Tanks is the definitive account of an epic showdown that changed the course of history.

©2011 Lloyd Clark. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Detailed and well researched

Amazingly detailed account of the World War II Eastern front and the Battle of Kursk. The first part of the book goes into the circumstances that led to Kursk, and the second part goes into fine detail on the actual battle. The numbers of soldiers, aircraft and Tanks involved in this battle is staggering. I had no appreciation before reading this of how large this battle really was, and what the impact of the battle had on the rest of the war in that theater. The author presents the battle from both perspectives, even ending the book with a meeting of infantry soldiers from both sides that fought there. The battle essentially pitted technology & tactics versus numbers and the capacity to produce replacement weapon systems.

Without having a really good understanding of the army components for each of the combatants prior to reading this, some of the information I found to be a little too in depth. I think that people who are familiar with the battles of the eastern front will find the book fascinating.

The narration was excellent.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Little Known Complexity on Eastern Front

Excellent coverage of little known aspects and facts of slaughter on eastern front and causes of German loss. It wasn't just the winter weather as commonly believed by Americans.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A very good history of the battle of Kursk.

I loved the way the author brought the listener into the history of the battle and what came before it. Great book highly recommend this to any world war 2 history buffs.

Detailed analysis of ww2 turning point in the east

Mercy but this was one horrific battle. So many grim, gritty encounters. So many confusing interplays. No wonder westerners have so little understanding of this important, complex battle.

Narration is clear and holds ones interest.

Great book on the battle of Kursk

must audible book for those that want to know details and first hand accounts of the pivotal battle of Kursk. An impartial account.

Excellent and fast paced

An excellent history of the battle of Kursk, with enough background and information about the events leading up to the battle to fit all the pieces together. It also provides, I believe, an unbiased view of both sides of the battle. Hitler is still a jerk.

Excellent

One of the best WW II books about the Eastern Front ever. On par with Cornelius Ryan and possibly eclipsing Anthony Beaver. Great diction and superb story build up. I highly recommend it.

Good enough

Some great big glaring errors but on the whole seems to be fairly accurate. With a audio book it is hard to look at foot notes and go back.

3 of 7 people found this review helpful

Disappointed.

I expected a book on the pivotal battle of Kursk. Instead I got a book that spent about 40% of it on an overview of the war between Germany and Russia from June 1941 to July 1943. Also felt the author was slightly pro Soviet, rarely criticizing the Russian military other than to point out mistakes Stalin personally made. Narrator needs to decide on how to consistently pronounce words used frequently in the audio book, example the word "Zitadelle"

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Don't expect too much<br />

Like a lot of newer history books, the first half is nothing more than an overview of the war. Anyone, getting this will already know much of the overview and should move to the battle itself mid way through. Narrator is good.

1 of 6 people found this review helpful