During the Second World War the importance of the tank in offensive and defense operations became vital to the war effort. In 1941 and in 1942 the German Panzer corps rumbled unchallenged into the vast Soviet frontier. However these victories would be offset by the brutal Russian winters. In 1943 the largest tank battle every fought was in the city of Kurst in the USSR. For Germany this battle Code name "Operation Citadel" had as its main objective to offset the defeat at Stalingrad and slow down Soviet offensive operations for at least a year. However when the battle was over, Germanys last offensive weapons in the east were depleted. The Germans would never again launch any more offensive operations in the east.

http://library.thinkquest.org/16650kurs_r4.htm