The Battle of Kursk was fought between July 5 and August 23, 1943, on the Eastern Front during World War II. It began when Nazi Germany launched Operation Citadel, a major offensive against Soviet forces around the city of Kursk.

The battle marked a major turning point on the Eastern Front. Germany hoped to regain the initiative after its defeat at Stalingrad, but the Soviet Union successfully stopped the offensive and launched powerful counterattacks. After Kursk, Germany was largely forced onto the defensive for the rest of the war in the East.

The Battle of Kursk is widely regarded as one of the largest tank battles in history. The fighting around Prokhorovka became one of the most famous tank engagements of the war, and the largest tank battle in world history.