Battle of Kursk
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The battle of Kursk was the last deciding battle on the eastern front and would be the largest tank battle known to man. In 1943 the tides of war were starting to change favor and allied forces were on the advance on all fronts. In Russia the front line began to restabilize after the Russian counter attack lost steam. As the front line begun to stabilize both forces drew up plans for a new offensive. The German were planning to strike in the south and north of a huge bulge in the center of their lines in hope of cutting off an entire Russian army and changing the favor of war back to them. The Russians had planned to nearly do the same as the Germans but only in hope of flattening the line and for a possible break through in the Pripyat marshes. The battle was set for 5th of may but had been postponed several times due to threats in Italy, and waiting for newer vehicles. The Russian intelligence agency had been warned of German build up in the sector and begun to do the same. On July 5th the battle begun with Russian artillery fire on German lines causing shock and chaos for the Germans. after the initial bombardment German spearheads broke through in north and southern lines with only small successes. As the Germans gained more land the 4th panzer army encountered the 5th guards army in a eight hour battle near Prokhorovak in which the largest tank battle occurred. The battle had ended in a draw with neither forces achieving their main goals and after a few more days of fighting the battle was called to an end on July 16th due to insufficient resources for the Germans and an allied invasion of Sicily.
Battle of Iwo Jima
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The war on both the European front and the pacific front were clearly showing that victory was close. Iwo Jima was a small island near the Japanese homeland and would be the first actual Island that is part of the Japanese homeland to be invaded. With Iwo Jima being so close to the Main homeland the Americans saw it as a strategically important point to capture so that bombers would have a shorter distance to travel.