Battle of Brody (1941)

Battle of Brody (1941)
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

Movements of the 11th Panzer Division during the Battle of Brody
Date23–30 June 1941
Location
Result Tactical German victory
Belligerents
 Germany  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Nazi Germany Ewald von Kleist
Nazi Germany Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz
Soviet Union Mikhail Kirponos
Soviet Union Maksim Purkayev
Soviet Union Nikolai Vashugin 
Soviet Union Ivan Muzychenko
Soviet Union Mikhail Potapov
Units involved
Strength
750 tanks[1][2] 3,500 tanks[1]
Casualties and losses
Heavy (forces rendered non-operational)

The Battle of Brody (other names in use include Battle of Dubna, Battle of Dubno, Battle of Rovne, Battle of Rovne-Brody) was a tank battle fought between the 1st Panzer Group's III Army Corps and XLVIII Army Corps (Motorized) and five mechanized corps of the Soviet 5th Army and 6th Army in the triangle formed by the towns of Dubno, Lutsk and Brody between 23 and 30 June 1941. It was one of the most intense armored engagements in the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, and some say that it may surpass the more famous Battle of Prokhorovka.[3] It is by far the battle with the largest number of tanks participating (incorrectly, the Battle of Prokhorovka, part of the Battle of Kursk, is seen as the biggest tank battle).[4] It is known in Soviet historiography as one of the "border defensive battles". Although the Red Army formations inflicted heavy losses on the German forces, they were outmanoeuvred and suffered enormous losses in tanks. Poor Soviet logistics, German air supremacy and a total breakdown in Red Army command and control ensured victory for the Wehrmacht despite overwhelming Red Army numerical and technological superiority.

  1. ^ a b Popel 2001, p. 414.
  2. ^ Sołonin 2007, pp. 528–529.
  3. ^ Christopher A. Lawrence (May 12, 2018). "Was Kursk the Largest Tank Battle in History?". Dupuy Institute. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "The Battle of Brody: The Biggest Tank Battle Ever (And It's Been Completely Forgotten)". 20 March 2017.