Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Battle of Kursk" Oil on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29¢ Battle of Kursk 1943 Se-tenant Pair issued July 5, 1993. Soviet Russia ... the nation Adolf Hitler considered Germany's most deadly enemy. In 1941, the fascist dictator launched Operation Barbarossa -- the German invasion of Russia. For two years, Hitler's war machine relentlessly hammered at the Soviet Union. But in early 1943, with the Soviet victory at Stalingrad, the tide turned. Enraged over this ruinous defeat, Hitler ordered a counterattack against Russian forces at Kursk and dispatched a massive Panzer force to the city. His trump cards were Germany's fearful new armored weapons -- the Tiger and Panther tanks. Soviet forces, recently victorious at Stalingrad, were well-prepared for the vengeful German onslaught at Kursk, with a strong defensive perimeter and numerical superiority in both armor and men. On July 5, the battle began with a German pincer movement from the north and south. The Germans suffered great losses of both men and machinery but made little progress. A week later, the Russians initiated a counteroffensive which ultimately forced the enemy to retreat. More than two million soldiers and 6,000 tanks were engaged at Kursk, considered the greatest tank battle of the war. Image Size: 14.25 x 34.25 in. Overall Size: 18.25 x 38.5 in. Unframed. (B14235 / B14236)