WHY did Hitler take the risk of attacking the Red Army at the Battle of Kursk?

That is a question that Mark Healy addresses in his latest book, Zitadelle – The German Offensive Against the Kurst Salient 4-17 July 1943.

It was one of the decisive battles of the Second World War – regarded by some as one of the greatest tank battles in history – and one that Mr Healy, a 55-year-old former teacher of history and co-ordinator of humanities at Uplands School in Parkstone, says has to be looked at in the context of the time.

“What emerges is that Hitler knew the risks he was taking... but he deemed that risk justifiable,” he concludes.

But it was a decision that soon bore the heavy price of defeat by the Red Army.

Mr Healy, who was born in Singapore, started his career in teaching at The Purbeck School in Wareham in 1976 and subsequently taught in schools including Sturminster High, before going to Uplands in 1994.

He has been writing for many years, specialising both in ancient and modern history and has also made a number of films.

He has written about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Syria and, in the modern period, the Battle of Midway.

His previous publications have included Warriors of the Old Testament, Qadesh 1300BC and Panzerwaffe.

Mr Healy, whose wife is assistant head at Ferndown Upper and whose son Ben is also embarking on a career in teaching, had previously written a highly-regarded shorter book about the Battle of Kursk, which centred on a salient the size of Wales.

His latest publication, however, at 400 pages, is his biggest book to date.

“It is a great shame that more people are not familiar with what happened on the Eastern Front,” he said.

“Following its defeat in just over a fortnight, the German Army began its retreat from Russia that only ended in May 1945 with the capture of Berlin by the Soviet Army and the destruction of Hitler’s 1,000-year Reich.”

Through the book (published by the History Press) he seeks to rectify misinterpretation in the battle’s course and significance and it is already being regarded as a major contribution to the study of the battle.

Mr Healy, who lives in Merley, is currently considering a number of outlines for his next book, including a look at the development and use of submarines in the Cold War.