Editing Georgy Zhukov (section)

==== Battle of Kursk ====

[[File:Жуков и Конев.jpg|thumb|left|Zhukov and [[Ivan Konev]] during the Battle of Kursk, 1943]]
Zhukov was a [[Stavka]] coordinator at the [[battle of Kursk]] in July 1943. He was considered the main architect of the Soviet victory together with Vasilevsky.<ref>{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=Geoffrey |title=Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939–1953 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven, CT |date=2006 |pages=159 |isbn=0-300-11204-1}}</ref> According to Zhukov's memoirs, he played a central role in the planning of the battle and the hugely successful offensive that followed. Commander of the Central Front [[Konstantin Rokossovsky]], said, however, that the planning and decisions for the Battle of Kursk were made without Zhukov, that he only arrived just before the battle, made no decisions and left soon afterward, and that Zhukov exaggerated his role.<ref name="ReferenceB">Военно-исторический журнал, 1992 N3 p.&nbsp;31.</ref> A sense of the nature of the beginning of Rokossovsky's famous World War II rivalry with Zhukov can be gathered from reading Rokossovsky's comments in an official report on Zhukov's character:<ref>{{cite book|last=Kokoshin|first=Andreĭ Afanas'evich|title=Soviet Strategic Thought, 1917–1991|year=1998|publisher=MIT Press|page=43}}</ref>

<blockquote>Has a strong will. Decisive and firm. Often demonstrates initiative and skillfully applies it. Disciplined. Demanding and persistent in his demands. A somewhat ungracious and not sufficiently sympathetic person. Rather stubborn. Painfully proud. In professional terms well trained. Broadly experienced as a military leader... Absolutely cannot be used in staff or teaching jobs because constitutionally he hates them.</blockquote>

From 12 February 1944, Zhukov coordinated the actions of the [[1st Ukrainian Front|1st Ukrainian]] and [[2nd Ukrainian Front|2nd Ukrainian]] Fronts.{{sfn|Zhukov|2003|p=205}} On 1 March, Zhukov was appointed the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front until early May following the ambush of [[Nikolai Vatutin]], its commander, by the anti-Soviet [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]] near [[Ostroh]].{{sfn|Zhukov|2003|pp=209–217}} During the Soviet offensive named [[Operation Bagration]], Zhukov coordinated the [[1st Belorussian Front|1st Belorussian]] and [[2nd Belorussian Front|2nd Belorussian]] Fronts, and later the 1st Ukrainian Front as well.{{sfn|Zhukov|2003|p=222}} On 23 August, Zhukov was sent to the [[3rd Ukrainian Front]] to prepare for the advance into Bulgaria.{{sfn|Zhukov|2003|p=246}}