The Tigers are Burning Author:Martin Caiden The battle of Kursk broke the back of the German army in 1943 and changed the entire course of World War II. It began on July 5, 1943, with a massive attack by the Nazis -- committing the bulk of their armor, troops, and aircraft in Russia -- against the Soviet forces defending the Kursk area. The battle raged and seesawed back and f... more »orth for fifty days.« less