In the summer of 1942 Hitler sought a decisive battle that would turn the struggle on the Eastern Front in the Germans’ favour. Large numbers of the newly-designed Panther and Tiger tanks were rolling off the production lines, and Hitler was convinced that, with appropriate numbers, German armour could turn the tide against the advancing Soviets. On the 5th July 1943, the German army launched Operation Citadel. Attacking with a force of 3000 tanks and assault guns, the Germans faced a well dug-in force of more than 3900 Soviet tanks. What followed was the largest tank battle the world has ever seen, with heavy casualties on both sides in this titanic clash of arms.