Erich- start wherever you want! Kursk has enough aspects that this thread could go in many directions. Take your pick!
The numbers for Kursk are something I'll look into. Some newer sources suggest that losses on both sides were not as high as previously thought. I'd certainly be interested in trying to verify, or at least come close to, some of the actual numbers.

Good analysis, Friedrich. That was the main problem with Kursk. Earlier encirclements were based mainly on the mobility of panzers and the disorganization of the enemy. Kursk was a pitched battle- encirclement tactics did no apply, yet the germans tried to force that method. The delays impsed on the attack date also played a huge factor. Had Kursk been launched in April, as originally planned, the russians would have been in a tough spot. The germans would have had some (although not much) element of suprise. And more important, the two-month delay in launching Kursk gave the russians plenty of time to fortify the salient.

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Seriously, all today is missing is free cotton candy and the annual Bay State Hooker Parade to make it any better.