The Battle of Kursk, a campaign on the Russian Front of World War II, was fought in July and August 1943 by the armies of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It is generally considered to be the largest combat involving armored forces in history. The two German forces intended to meet near the Russian city of Kursk, thereby pinching off and surrounding a huge concentration of Soviet troops. The Soviets, however, were alert to the buildup of German forces, and had made very extensive preparations to meet an assault. Citadel bogged down and the Soviets counterattacked.