The Battle of Kursk - 2007 National History Day Documentary

[DISPENSER4HIRE]

God bless the memory of the warriors who died in that horrific battle.

from the USA

[Phatheya]

First of all: the so called small town of Kursk is in'fact aCity with nowadays 406000 inhabitants.

The RedArmy used nearly 5000 tanks alone and 31k artillery-pieces and 3650 air-planes against 2500/7400\1400 on German side; nearly 2 Million Russian soldiers against 780000 Germans. I think'the numbers speak for themselves.

Knowing of the German attack the Soviet-side opened the battle with its own offensive at 1:20 am with massive artillery-fire into the German assembly area on the fifth of July

[daniellekki]

Frost..brrrrrrrr

[tranmere789]

The battle at Prokhorovka as the largest tank battle in history is simply just a myth. Germans had 92-109 APV's and russians maximum 393 between 10.7-12.7.43 In fact, it is smaller than a battle that took place between the French and the Germans in 1940. In front of Gembloux on May 14-15, two full-strength Panzer divisions (each with about 300 tanks) squared off with two full-strength French Light Mechanized Divisions (each with about 260 tanks).

[tranmere789]

One case involved a major leader in Soviet aviation who pointed out to Stalin that the Red Air Force's aircraft were poorly designed and produced and prone to breakdowns and failure; he was arrested, tortured, and executed—Stalin thus setting a salient example to others. The Marxist-Leninist view of the nature of truth itself reveals it as a political construct whose political objective is always more important than mere actual facts or reality.

[tranmere789]

The myth of Kursk has been surprisingly resilient. Some of this undoubtedly is due to how long it remained unchallenged. Powerful counterarguments have only been published in the last 10 years or so. Even these are somewhat inaccessible: since they've been published by specialty presses they have high price tags and do not show up on the average bookstore's shelves.

[tranmere789]

The Germans did not fail, however, due to a defeat at Prokhorovka. There was no "death ride of the panzers" on July 11 and 12. Nor was there a very big battle on those dates. It's time to put to rest the fanciful notions of waves of Tiger and Panther tanks riding across the dry, dusty plains to do battle with Soviet tanks at point-blank range.

It just didn't happen.

[kozjevime1]

@kingyen WHATEVER YOU SAY, WW2 WAS IN REALITY BETWEEN GERMAN AND RUSSIAN NATION - TWO MAIN NATIONS OF WHITE RACE. TOTALLY IDIOTIC AND BERSERK, SUICIDAL. AND STILL MANY FROM BOTH SIDES DO NOT REALISE THAT THEY ARE CONTINUED TO BE LED TO FINAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE OF WHITE RACE...EXCEPT IF ONE BLEIEVES THAT HOMOSEXUAL ENGLISH OR MONGRELIZED FRENCH CAN HELP LOST CASE OF SO CALLED whitey Race.

[K0ragg]

Soviet forces liberated Romania and Hungary and Bulgaria ?Ahaha,bullshit,we romanians were allies with germany because Ion Antonescu was friend with Hitler we supplied the german forces at Battle of Kurks with lots of men and etc.We were the main source of fuel for the german war machine when germany was losing Ion Antonescu got arrested and Romania became Allied force,the Soviets full of hatred that we fought with them put us in the front lines too battle and then took all the credits,bastards

[kozjevime1]

@K0ragg @kingyen WHATEVER YOU SAY, WW2 WAS IN REALITY BETWEEN GERMAN AND RUSSIAN NATION - TWO MAIN NATIONS OF WHITE RACE. TOTALLY IDIOTIC AND BERSERK, SUICIDAL. AND STILL MANY FROM BOTH SIDES DO NOT REALISE THAT THEY ARE CONTINUED TO BE LED TO FINAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE OF WHITE RACE...EXCEPT IF ONE BLEIEVES THAT HOMOSEXUAL ENGLISH OR MONGRELIZED FRENCH CAN HELP LOST CASE OF SO CALLED whitey Race.

[UncleBlizzard]

Also what movie did u use/

[UncleBlizzard]

This is pretty well done! Did u you Vegas for the old TV effect?

[bobojr456]

Zitadel is pronounced ts-itadel...its not a Z sound.

[SlapahoUK1]

very good!

[905if6was9]

Very good. Excellent to hear about the true turning point of WW2 through an American voice. In the US, we rightfully pay tribute to our amazing heros of D-Day, but we lose sight of the fact that we were but junior partners when it comes to the European war. My father was among those Americans who fought in Africa, and then Italy. Six of my uncles fought also, one in the Battle of the Bulge, two in the Pacific, one of them killed by the Japanese. But the Red Army crushed the Wermacht.

[MrHerbgreen]

I totally agree

[Lumotaku]

@905if6was9 Don't where you get your info at the russians shove this stuff up our ass all the time while pretending nothing happened in the pacific. There were more deaths in the bocage in 1944 during the months after dday than on the eastern front.

[Lumotaku]

THe allies were better than the germans nuff said. 

[jaaackiie126]

This is really good. I actually sat here and watched the whole thing haha. I did NHD this year and came in 3rd for States. Check out my video! I could use some feedback.

[jrnismo87]

long live the soviet union

[seltjorn]

All I can say to the people that are arguing over who where bad (in 2nd place after Hitler's Nazi Regime that is), who did the most in the war etc. is that war is war. It's tough, bloody, brutal , unfair and nobody comes out a winner..they're just on the better end of the outcome of a war (although it's extremely hard to say that any other outcome than Hitler's demise would have been better).

It's better to remember the fallen as a whole, enemies in life but united in death.

Learn from history.

[farmer30303]

very good but there was one mistake that bothered me. I kept hearing you say something like "Where March forces". Its pronounced like "Ver Mack forces"

[MalteseFalcon786]

Well don, VonBlucher130. You're a natural. I'm glad you didn't repeat any of the silly myths that surround Prokhorovka.

[mallcorekidsdie]

A school report? good job, but why the nasily and nervous voice?

[edinhosabadoido]

Go tell a israeli that the only reason for their victory in Sinai was the inferiority of russian equipment and you'll probably get more than some harsh words for answer..

[relentlessaddict98jm]

well if the israeli's can make their own weapons when the arabs just buy them then can you really blame the israeli's for winning, hehehehe soviet stuff is a little cheap and cheerful though;)

[luisamarte2000]

Before 1982 (Merkava I) Israel was using "foreign" tanks such as : M4's, M-48's M-60's, M50/51 (American converted M4 Shermans) Centurion (British) AMX-13 (French) and a lot of captured Soviet-built tanks (T-54/55, T-62)

[relentlessaddict98jm]

well they made their own guns then i do know that much i.e uzi.

[ChrysKane]

"in egypt we do not forget this great brave russian nation who helped us in the darkest hours. "

Russians destroyed you my Egyptian friend.! You went bankrupt from purchasing weapons from these idiot Soviets and lost your army twice! This is why Cosygkin wanted a peace deal desperately- though he could never achieve one , like Carter did in Camp David: The Soviet tank tactics were simply ridiculed in Sinai. Wake up! Can they pay you AID? they cannot even pay their own salaries

[edinhosabadoido]

I'm surprised. After the yankees were kicked out Vietnam, they were quick to justify their defeat claiming that had faced a well equiped army, with modern rifles and lots of SAM sites, instead of a third world guerilla wearing pijamas. In other words, when american allies beat their enemies, it's because of the power of american weaponry, but when americans themselves have a hard time, it must be something else.. like russian and chinese support!

[necroturky]

it was much more that that. it was bad taktics no support from home and an openly hostile media. and in vietnam the communists promised land to the pesants and the americans did'nt. and when the taktics did change it was to late.

[ChrysKane]

"in egypt we do not forget this great brave russian nation who helped us in the darkest hours. "

Were the russian heroes much help in 1967 and 1974, despite of all the brand new weapons they sold Egypt, their thousands of advisors and Soviet pilots in Egyptian planes? When Egyptians fought by the Soviet textbook - Napoleonic style- Israelis fought with imagination.

[screwloose07]

all the Russians had was numbers the Nazis had strategic skills not seen until the late sixty's

[1axman22]

As a soon-to-be NHD veteran, I really enjoyed watching this video. I think your music should be a little quieter, and what was the Tragic part?

[anna62a]

at the beginning, it sounds like you are about to break out laughing, not a good idea. I know you want to add suspense, but your own opinion is good enough. Your presenting a tragic battle, i suggest being serious

[SCARCROW29]

the voice is so gay, like a little nerd

[randall2020]

Spoken like a typical closet queen, you wimp Scarcrow.

[SCARCROW29]

don't be hateing

[kingyen]

the voice is kind of too much.....

[ladyinpink5]

@kingyen- agreed! it was enough to make me change videos

[markuspint]

Without the help of the americans and the english, Russia would have gotten its ass kicked.

[STRLOL]

That's totally not true, To be honest, the majority of the battles in world war II on europe by the number of people were all on the eastern front, about 6 of the top ten most bloodiest battles in history took place in world war II between the Soviet Union and Germany, and near the end of the war, the SU were literally unstoppable

[ramses2509]

a great hourra to the russian heroes who detroyed nazism and fascism, in egypt we do not forget this great brave russian nation who helped us in the darkest hours.

[markuspint]

Russians would have got their asses kicked if it wasnt for the americans and the english.

[indain007]

i thought you can't narrarate a documentry for a national history day project because i am doing a Alexander The Great documentry and the history cordinater said no narrarating.

[jonesgerard]

Russia beat Germany, its historical fact.

[reyter2007]

Its factually wrong. The Soviet Union defeated the Nazis! Thats a fact. It wasnt just Germans and Russians.

[AlexanderTch]

So, you will know how things were according to the guy who was part of it.And once again, you can talk to his wife or to other veterans of battle of Stalingrad. They will tell you the truth.

[urbanstroller]

It was the Soviets who broke the back of the Nazis I think nearly 65% of Hitlers troops fell to Stalins Armies which shamefully is often overlooked by the west. But the Soviets powers were hard core & fanatical too. If you surrendered to the Germans after your release post WWII you were sent to the Gulag for betrayal. Stalin was a monster. Read Anthony Beevors Stalingrad or Berlin both excellent harrowing books.

[AlexanderTch]

No 65%, but 85% of germans forces were destroyed on russian front. 7 out of 8 german divisions fought on eastern front.

[AlexanderTch]

You can find interpreter or I even can translate it for you.

[AlexanderTch]

By the way, if you can read russian I can give you link to book of Zaitsev.You can order book of Zaitsev from russian on-line book stores.

[bootsmens]

Too bad that the narrator ends with the remark that the Soviet victory over the Germans was a victory for "us all". First of all the Soviets committed war crimes on a large scale against German civilians, like raping about a million women in the Berlin area alone, strafing refugees, sinking refugee ships, etc. Secondly with the Soviet victory a 45 year dictatorship over Eastern Europe began.

[AlexanderTch]

Listen. This documentary is stadard western falsification.Russians didn't rape german women, that Goebels tried to tell to civlians to start total war. Stalin issued strict order do not do any crimes against civilians.There were not rapes or killins. There are not any proves of that, only Goebels bullshit.

[bootsmens]

There is plenty proof of warcrimes agains German and Polish civilians, especially women. Even Russian and Ukranian girls that were forced to work for the Germans have become victims of Red Army rapists.

[AlexanderTch]

That was shown in american movies, based on lies. I saw them too. Those movies didnt' show any evidence. Find me a one. You've never seen and facts, just speculations of anti-russian propagand. Find me one evidence, at least one.

[bootsmens]

Ample proof of Red Army warcrimes is given f.i. in the excellent book "Berlin, The Downfall 1945" by Anthony Beevor in which hundreds of official Soviet documents are cited.

[AlexanderTch]

I read that book. It's like fiction. There were not any evidences there. Just fantasies. No any documented events, no photos or video. Those Soviet documents do not contain any proves, and some of those documents even dont' exist. So, dont' lie.

[AlexanderTch]

Besides, there are still many families, whose relatives were killed raped or forced to slavery by nazis. Millions of russian civilians were killed and disappeared. Just go to russia and talk to people and they will also show you photos. Almost each family lost someone because of western army atrocities.

[bootsmens]

Off course the nazi regime was horrible. Apart from some looneys no one denies the horrors of the Nazis in the Soviet Union. This does not excuse however the Soviet war crimes.

[bootsmens]

The Red Army suffered huge casualties in 1942 due to the purging of the officer corps by Stalin in the thirties and Stalin lack of belief (and response) to the invasion in the first days.

[AlexanderTch]

Anoter Nazi propagandistic stamp about purgine of officer corps?How many of them? do you know? Casualties were only becasue Russia was not prepared for war. Stalin belived in victory since the first day.Bullshit about his lack of belive. He didn't leave Moscow even when Germans were 30 kms from it

[AlexanderTch]

And once again, istead of watching Hollywood movies and anti-russian propaganda. Come and talk to real people. My grand-dad was there, and I know many others. Talk and look in eyes of their sons and grandsons. Check if it's nation of murderers and rapists. Or maybe germans were like that and americans.

[bootsmens]

No one claims Russia is a nation of murderers and rapists. I do not think there is any Hollywood movie on the Red Army war crimes (Enemy at the Gates is quite pro-Red Army). Hopefully Russia will come to terms with its past some day.

[AlexanderTch]

Enemy at the Gates is terrible anti-russian movie. Full of lies. Russians once again are shown as stupid morons, drunks. Look at faces of american actors who played Russian. And listen, you care read memories of Zaitsev.His wife, 90+ years old woman is still alive you can write letter to her.

[AlexanderTch]

There were many protests of russian veterans of battle of Stalingrad do not show, to boycot that stupid anti-russian movie.

[AlexanderTch]

By the way, if you can read russian I can give you link to book of Zaitsev.

You can order book of Zaitsev from russian on-line book stores.

[AlexanderTch]

And another thing. My grandfather took part in that war. I asked him that question. He said, atrocities againt civilians were almost impossible. For any crime you could be easily court-marchalled and sentenced to death. Discipline was very strict. There was occastion when soldier was sentenced to death for stealing of chicken from lithuanian peasant.

[markuspint]

He propably was in an artillery battalion, that didnt deal with civilians.

My granddad fought against soviet forces that were trying to occupy Estonia. He killed a communist. But then got captured and sent to siberia for 10 years.

[AlexanderTch]

And at least, try to check different sources of info, with different points of view. I know that westerners are brainwashed by overwhelming anti-russian propaganda. But I am always trying to convince people to think.

[bootsmens]

Check out wikipedia "Red Army atrocities (WWII)".

It is interesting to see how "westeners" discuss openly about Bomber Harris, the holocaust and slave trade, while in Russia Stalin's purge, the Gulag and the Red Army crimes are ignored.

[AlexanderTch]

Wikipedia is american site, it depends on sources.There are no photos, films about russian athrocities. but there are many many documentaries about german atrocities.Gulag? is just another propagandistic mean.Find any evidences, photos, films? where are all those camps with millions? Just Goebels lie

[markuspint]

So if the site was Russian it would be pure gold and pure truth?

Actually you are a brainwashed little pro-Putin kid.

Open your eyes.

[mallcorekidsdie]

seriously. so sick of hearing about concentration camps. i mean the japs did likewise..why didnt we americans punish them furthermore for war crimes?

[Danissmexy]

Your pretty critical im about to do this project and its pretty hard but give him a break seriously

[AlexanderTch]

In fact,russians saves many civilians. There is monument in Berlin, where russian soldier is carrying little german girl that was saved.

[AlexanderTch]

There was not dictatorship in eastern europe. It was building of societies based on cooperation, not competition. It was attempt to keep peace in the world.

[markuspint]

Bullshit.

The small eastern european countries were violently forced to be a part of Soviet Union.

Peace my ass, last Estonian anti-communist fighter was captured in 1978.

Saying that there was no occupation is another Russian lie based on history books written by Putin

[obenany]

Ahoy there- I did NHD too this year. We made a doc about the Great Seattle Fire and took first in the nation... go ahead and check it out. Lots of things you could improve, from my point of view. Check out my channel and drop a message =)

[Reegatron]

Nice,but do urself a favour and get a girlfriend

[CBroadM]

Very good, you dont need a girlfriend, you need to make more videos so today's youth remember that reality of World Wars... especially as we are seemingly closer to being thrust into another conflict spanning the globe...

[a6u5e]

The narrator has a weird pronunciation of the word "Wehrmacht".

[cavalierhorn]

yea i noticed that too, couldn't figure out what he was saying at first

[VictorNikoliavich]

You found very good footage for the documentary(although most of it was not from kursk)

[gqmaster]

what is up

[tjg715]

good stuff...I think this is history. Is this still taught in school?

[wotan20]

Only the Germans with their immense arrogance about their superiority would've attacked an enemy who was <b>both</b> in numerical superiority to them in equipment and manpower, <b>and</i> also entrenched in deep defensive positions. In all honesty, the Germans set themselves up for a huge defeat, and one can shake his head in disbelief about the strategical blunder they made, when they gone into the offensive.

[MrJohnnyCal]

Ok, let's talk strategy. The German Military in WW2 developed the best military strategy that has been used to date. In fact it is still used today by all of the worlds super powers. Also, let's talk about equipment and manpower, Battle of France 1940, the French had heavier tanks and more resources. But who won? Germany won. Also:

[MrJohnnyCal]

Let's also take a look at The Six Day War, Isreal had a comparatively weak military in all aspects, but by using Blitzkrieg like tactics, they were able to cripple Egypt's airforce, and expand their territory by a factor of three. So don't try to impress the internet with your biased, middle school level knowledge of WW2. You honestly have no idea what on Earth you are talking about. I'm going to post my documentary soon, so come on over and learn a thing or two.

[astifan1]

i wouldnt be suprised ifone day we find out that american or british airforce was the one that crushed egypt airforce in 6 day war.we all know that they were helping israel with weapons and info so wouldnt be suprised they intervined directly

[MrJohnnyCal]

@astifan1 WOW more speculation and lack of knowledge, neither America OR UK supported the war, so obviously, there was no intervention. It was all Israel, stop throwing around speculation and expecting us to just take it.

[astifan1]

@MrJohnnyCal lol,usa suports israel on evry their step they make.i wrote in my coment that its possibility,i didnt wrote its a fact coz how could i know.since when americans do things as they say in public,it doesent mean if goverment or president sax something it is tru,just remember bush and "weapons off mass destruction in iraq" that btw egzisted before and was sold to sadam by the same country that bush represented.we all know politics is a bitch,and kind to a ppl wth fat wallet

[MrJohnnyCal]

@astifan1 You speculate about literally everything. USA doesn't support everything that Israel does, we are just allies with them. AND there is literally no evidence to back up this whole idea of England or USA supporting Israel in the 6 Day War. And please, if you want to have a scholarly debate please type in a scholarly manner, it's hard enough to decipher your incompetent ramblings without having to decipher your shitty typing.

[astifan1]

@MrJohnnyCal lol,i can see who is who here by the words to describe other ppl.btw i m doing my best to express myself in english which is not my mother tongue.i would like to see you talk some other language,i bet u cant :)

israel in not american allly,they are your masters,just ask eric cantor-republican leader in congres,he made statement that hisd boss is irraeli primeminister,not obama.its pointless to explain some things to you coz u are to much brainwashed wth jewish media in america

[MrJohnnyCal]

@astifan1 I never used any words to describe you, just your horrendous typing skills, you don't have to be fluent in English to know how to use a keyboard. And I'm actually fluent in Spanish as I lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for three years after having lived in Singapore and Indonesia, so don't try to peg me as some egocentric, national-extremist American. In fact, let's not make this personal at all.

[MrJohnnyCal]

@astifan1 First, you are misquoting a person who has no real power in the government. He said that he would support Israeli interests. And second, of all, HE HAS NO REAL POWER, he simply is the figurehead, the actual GOP doesn't actually support that statement, you'd know this if you had done any sort of legitimate research. And Cantor is the House Majority Leader, the stronger Senate Majority Leader is Harry Reid of the Democratic party. Our government is in no way run by Israel.

[MrJohnnyCal]

@astifan1 If anything, your backwater country, I'm going to guess some Eastern European nation likely has you brainwashed to believe that all Americans are fat, egocentric, pigs who have no understanding of international policy. False. So if i were you, I would think long and hard and find some credible facts to back up your arguments before posting another ignorant post that only proves you have less of an understanding of my government than me.

[wotan20]

Overall a very good and balanced assessment about the Battle of Kursk, and its importance in the wider context of the war. I have a relatively minor disagreement with the narrator: The defeat near Moscow in the end of 41/beginning of 42, was not yet a strategical defeat for the Wehrmacht, although later on Stalingrad and Kursk definitely was. I have another remark:

[tigerbaby120]

Did you move on?

[lonespartan31289]

where did this kid get his info, half of it is wrong. Like troop numbers and the waiting for the tiger and panther tanks. LOL, i cant even finish this.

[rabidratrampage]

What is up with your accent. Makes it lame.

[crufinia]

it should be fake american accent.... i still love the russian accent

[MaraJadeCSI]

Haha Alex... "if you can find it..."

I like your fake British accent. Good stuff. - JG