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The result of the victory of the Red Army in the Kursk battle. Kursk Arc

Kursk battle (Battle on the Kursk Arc), which lasted from July 5 to August 23, 1943, is one of the key battles of the Great Patriotic War. In Soviet and Russian historiography, it is customary to divide the battle of three parts: a Kursk defensive operation (July 5-23); Orlovskaya (July 12 - August 18) and Belgorod-Kharkov (August 3-23) offensive.

During the winter onset of the Red Army and the previously followed by the vermhtack counteroffensive, in Eastern Ukraine, a ledge was formed in the center of the Soviet-German front to 150 and a width of up to 200 kilometers, facing the Western side (the so-called "Kursk arc"). The German command decided to conduct a strategic operation on a Kursk ledge. For this, it was developed in April 1943, a military operation was approved under the codenamed "Citadel". Having information about the preparation of the German fascist troops to the offensive, the bid of the Supreme Commander decided to temporarily move to the defense on the Kursk arc and during the defensive battle to bleed the shock groups of the enemy and create favorable conditions for the transition of Soviet troops in counteroffensive, and then in the overall strategic offensive .

For the operation "Citadel", the German command focused on a plot of 50 divisions, including 18 tank and motorized. The grouping of the enemy numbered, according to Soviet sources, about 900 thousand people, up to 10 thousand guns and mortars, about 2.7 thousand tanks and more than 2 thousand aircraft. Air support for German troops rendered the forces of the 4th and 6th air fleets.

The TGK rate to the beginning of the Kursk battle was created by the grouping (Central and Voronezh fronts), which had more than 1.3 million people, up to 20 thousand guns and mortars, more than 3,300 tanks and sau, 2650 aircraft. The troops of the central front (commander - General of the Army Army Konstantin Rokossovsky) defended the Northern Fast Kursk Speakers, and the Troops of the Voronezh Front (Commander - General Army, Nikolai Vatutin) - South FAS. The troops, which occupied the protrusion, relied on the steppe front as part of the rifle, 3 tank, 3 motorized and 3-cavalry buildings (commander-General Colonel-General Ivan Konev). The coordination of the FRONT Action was carried out by representatives of the Marshals of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov and Alexander Vasilevsky.

On July 5, 1943, German shock groups according to the "Citadel" plan began an offensive to Kursk from the regions of Eagle and Belgorod. From the Eagle side, grouping under the command of General Field Marshal Gunter Hans von Klev (Army Groups "Center"), from Belgorod - Grouping under the command of General Field Marshal Erich von Manstein (Operational group "Cempf" of the Army Group "South").

The task to reflect the occurrence from the Eagle was assigned to the troops of the central front, from Belgorod - the Voronezh Front.

On July 12, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe railway station Prokhorovka, 56 kilometers north of Belgorod, the largest oncoming tank battle of the Second World War occurred - the battle between the advancing tank group of the enemy (the Operational Group "Cempf") and the Soviet troops applying. On both sides, up to 1,200 tanks and self-propelled plants took part in the battle. The fierce battle lasted all day, in the evening the tank carriages together with the infantry fought in hand. In one day, the enemy lost about 10 thousand people and 400 tanks and was forced to move to defense.

On the same day, the troops of the Bryansky, central and left wing of the Western fronts began the operation of "Kutuzov", which had the goal to defeat the Oryam's Orlovsk group. On July 13, the troops of the Western and Bryansky fronts broke through the defense of the enemy in Bolkhovsky, Khatynnetsky and the Oryol destinations and advanced to a depth of 8 to 25 km. On July 16, the troops of the Bryansky front came on the turn of the River Olesnya, after which the German command began to remove their main forces on the initial positions. By July 18, the troops of the right wing of the Central Front completely eliminated the enemy's wedge in the Kursk direction. On the same day, the troops of the steppe front were introduced into the battle, which began the persecution of the receding enemy.

Developing the offensive, the Soviet land forces, supported by the air of the forces of the 2nd and 17th air armies, as well as aviation of long-range Aviation, by August 23, 1943, the enemy rejected the enemy to 140-150 km, freed Eagle, Belgorod and Kharkov. According to Soviet sources, Wehrmacht lost in the Kursk battle of 30 selected divisions, including 7 tanks, over 500 thousand soldiers and officers, 1.5 thousand tanks, more than 3.7 thousand aircraft, 3 thousand guns. The losses of the Soviet troops surpassed German; They amounted to 863 thousand people. Under the Kursk, the Red Army lost about 6 thousand tanks.


From Kursk and Eagle

War brought us

to the most enemy gates

Such, brother, business.

Someday we remember this

And it will not believe himself,

And now we need one victory, One for all, we will not stand at the price!

(words of the movie from the movie "Belorussky Station")

TOw. rustic battle, according to historians, was a turning point inGreat Patriotic War . In battles, more than six thousand tanks took part in the battles. There was no such thing in world history, and probably no longer be. The actions of the Soviet fronts on the Kursk Dug were led by Marshals Georgy KonstantinovichZhukov and Vasilevsky.

Zhukov G. K. Vasilevsky A.M.

If the Stalingrad battle forced Berlin for the first time to plunge into mourning tones, then Kursk battlefinally announced the world that now the German soldier will only retreat. There will be no more native native land to the enemy! No wonder all historians, both civilians and the military converge in a single opinion - battle on Kursk Arci finally predetermined the outcome of the Great Patriotic War, and with it, and the outcome of the Second World War.

From the speech on the radio Prime Minister of Great Britain W.Cherchillya : I readily recognize that most of the allied military operations in the West in 1943 could not be implemented in the form and while they were implemented if notheroic, magnificent feats and victories of the Russian army , which protects its native land undergoing a petroom, unprovised attack with unprecedented energies, art and devotion, protects terrible price - the price of Russian blood.

No government in the history of mankind would be able to survive after such severe and cruel wounds that Hitler inflicted Russia ...Russia not only survived and recovered from these terrible wounds, but also caused a German military machine to death. This could not make any other power in the world. "

Historical parallels

Kursk confrontation occurred 05.07.1943 - 08.23.1943 at the original Russian land, over which the Great Prince Alexander Nevsky once held his shield. His thing is a warning of Western conquerors (who came to us with a sword) about the emergence of the Russian sword who met their onslaught. It is characteristic that the Kursk arc was something like a battle, given by Prince Alexander Teutonic knights on the Chief of the Lake 05.04.1242. Of course, the armies and the time of these two battles are incommensurable. But the scenario of both battles in something similar: the Germans were trying to break the battle order of the Russians in the center of the center, but were crushed by the offensive actions of flanks. If pragmatically try to say that the Kursk arc is unique, a summary will be as follows: an unprecedented in history (before and after) operational and tactical density per 1 km Front.- Read more on

Kursk battle - the beginning.

"... On the eve of the Kursk battle, we were transferred to the city of Eagle on the eve of the Kursk battalion. By that time, nothing left of the city, I remember only two surviving buildings - the church and the station. On the outskirts of someone preserved some sheds. Brears of the broken brick, not a single tree in general a huge city, constant shelling and bombing. At the temple there was a priest and several women who remained with him. In the evening, our entire battalion together with the commanders gathered in the temple, the father began to serve the prayer. We knew that we had the offensive the next day. Remembering their relatives, many cried. Scary…

We, the girls-radio buttons were three. Other men: Signs, coils. Our task is to establish the most important thing - communication, without communication. How many alive of us can not say, at night we were scattered across the front, but I think that a little. We were very big losses. I have kept me ... "( Osharina Ekaterina Mikhailovna (Mother Sofia))

That all began! Morning July 5, 1943, silence over the steppes lives the last moment, someone prays, someone writes the last lines of letters with his beloved, someone just enjoy another moment of life. A few hours before the German offensive on the position of the Wehrmacht, the wall of lead and fire fell.Operation "Citadel" Received the first hole. Over the entire front line, an artillery strike was inflicted in German positions. The essence of this warning strike was not even so much in the damage of the enemy, as in psychology. Psychologically durable German troops went to the attack. The initial plan was not working. For the day of persistent battles, the Germans were able to move 5-6 kilometers! And these are unsurpassed tactics and strategies whose savvy boots trampled European Earth! Five kilometers! Each meter, each centimeter of the Soviet Earth was given an aggressor with incredible losses, with inhuman labor.

(Volynkin Alexander Stepanovich)

The main blow of the German troops came in the direction of Maharkhangelsk - Olkhovatka - Gnilets. The German command was striving to go to the coupie along the shortest path. However, broke the 13th Soviet army failed. The Germans were thrown to 500 tanks, including a new development, a heavy tank "Tiger". Disorientate Soviet troops with a wide front of the offensive never happened. The retreat was perfectly organized, the lessons of the first months of the war were taken into account, besides, the German command could not offer something new in offensive actions. And it was no longer necessary to count on the high martial spirit of the Nazis. Soviet soldiers defended their country, and warriors - the heroes were simply invincible. How not to remember the Prussian King Friedrich II, who first said that the Russian soldier can be killed, but it is impossible to win! Maybe listen to the Germans to your great ancestor, there would be no catastrophe, called the World War.

Just six days existed operation "Citadel", six days German parts tried to move forward, and all these six days the resistance and courage of a simple Soviet soldier broke all the plans of the enemy.

July, 12 Kursk Arche found a new, full-fledged owner. The troops of the two Soviet fronts, Bryansky and West began an offensive operation to German positions. This date can be taken for the beginning of the end of the Third Reich. From this day, until the end of the war, the German weapons no longer know the joy of victories. Now the Soviet army was the offensive war, the war is liberated. During the offensive, the cities were liberated: Eagle, Belgorod, Kharkov. German attempts to counteratact did not have any success. No longer the power of weapons determined the outcome of war, and its spirituality, its purpose. Soviet characters freed their land, and nothing could stop this strength, it seemed that the earth itself helps the soldiers, go and go, freeing the city outside the city, the village of the village.

Kursk battle is the greatest tank battle.

Neither before, nor after, the world did not know such a battle. More than 1,500 tanks on both sides throughout the day on July 12, 1943, heard the hardest battles on the narrow heel of the land near the village of Prokhorovka. Initially, inferior to the Germans as tanks and in quantities, the Soviet tankers covered their names of infinite glory! People burned in tanks, drove out on mines, the armor could not withstand German shells, but the battle continued. At this point, nothing existed, neither tomorrow, nor yesterday! The dedication of the Soviet soldier, once again surprised the world, did not allow the Germans to win the battle itself, nor strategically improve their positions.

"... We suffered on the Kursk arc. Our 518th fighter regiment broke. The pilots died, and those who remained alive, sent to re-form. So we hit the airaster, began to repair aircraft. We repaired them in the field, and when bombing, and when shelling. And so until we were mobilized ... "( Kustov Agrippina Ivanovna)



"... Our artillery guards anti-tank fighter division under the command of Captain Leschina was on the formation and military exercise since April 1943 near Belgrade of the Kursk region on the development of new military equipment - anti-tank guns 76 caliber.

I took part in the battles on the Kursk arc as the head of the division wound, which ensured the connection of the command with batteries. The command of the division ordered me and other artilleryrs at night to bring the remaining technique from the battlefield, as well as the wounded and killed fighters. For this feat, all survivors were awarded high government awards, the dead were awarded posthumously.

I remember well, on the night of July 20, 1943, on the night of July 20, 1943, we quickly went on the path to the village of Ponyary and began to occupy firing positions in order to delay the fascist tank column. The density of anti-tank funds was the highest - 94 guns and mortars. Soviet command, rather accurately determined the directions of German strikes, managed to focus on them a large number of anti-tank artillery. At 4.00 a rocket signal was given, and the art preparation began, which lasted about 30 minutes. German tanks T-4 "Panther", T-6 "Tiger", self-propelled guns "Ferdinand" and other artillery mortar guns in the amount of more than 60 stems rushed to our combat positions. An unequal battle was started, our division took part in it, which destroyed 13 fascist tanks, but all 12 guns with the calculation were crushed under the caterpillars of German tanks.

From one-sex I remember the guard of the senior lieutenant Azarov Alexey - he hit 9 enemy tanks, for which he was awarded a high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Commander of the second battery, Guard Lieutenant Cardabaylo shot up 4 enemy tank and was awarded the Order of Lenin.

Kursk battle was won. In the most convenient place for the offensive, the German army was waiting for a trap, which was able to split the armored fist of fascist divisions. There was no doubt about the victory, before the start of the defensive operation, the Soviet military leaders planned further offensive ... "

(Sokolov Anatoly Mikhailovich)

The role of intelligence

From the beginning1943 in the interception of secret messages to the command of theGitler army and secret directives. Hitleravasy was more often mentioned Operation "Citadel". According to the memoir. Mikoyana, March 27, he was in common details of the general details. V. Stalino German Plans.12 Apron Table Stalin Loe Translated from the German Accurate Text Directive No. 6 "On Plan of Operation" Citadel "" of the German Supreme Command, cursed by all the services of the Wehrmacht, but not yet signed by Hitler, who signed it only three days later.

There are several versions regarding sources of information.

Central Front

Command CF inspects a shot down by German technique. In the center Commander FrontK. K. Rokossovsky and commander16th S. I. Rudenko. July 1943.

V. I. Cossacks - Commander of the artillery-central front, saying the terminart prepared mentioned that she:

it was composite and, in essence, the dominant part of the overall counterpropitation, pursued the goal - to rip the offensive of the enemy.

In the Tsc (13a) band, the main efforts were focused on suppressing the artillery grouping of the enemy and observation points (NP), including artillery. This group of objects amounted to more than 80% of the planned targets. Such a choice was explained by the presence of powerful anti-artillery anti-artillery in the army, more reliable data on the situation of his artillery grouping, relatively small bandwidth of the expected strike (30-40 km), as well as the high density of the combat order of the first echelon divisions of the TsC, which caused them Great sensitivity (vulnerability) to artillery strikes. Applying a powerful fire strike in German artillery positions and NPs managed to significantly weaken, disorganize the artephite artery preparation and ensure the survivability of the army's first echelon troops to reflect the impact of attacking tanks and infantry.

Voronezh Front

In the WF strip (6 Gv. A and 7 GW. A) the main efforts were aimed at suppressing infantry and tanks in the areas of their probable location, which was about 80% of all affected objects. This was determined by a broader band of the likely strike of the enemy (up to 100 km), greater sensitivity of the defense of the first echelon troop to tank strikes, fewer means of fighting enemy artillery in the Army of WF. It was also not expelled that on the night of July 5, a part of the enemy's artillery will change its firing positions during the movement of the combat efforts of the 71st and 67th GW. SD. Thus, VF artilleryrs first of all sought to cause damage to tanks and infantry, that is, the main power of the German attacks, and suppress only the most active enemy batteries (reliably explored).

"We will stand like Panfilovtsy"

On August 17, 1943, the Army of the Steppe Front (SF) approached Kharkov, tolding the battle on its outskirts. Vigorously operated 53 A Managarov I. M., and especially its 89 GW. CD Colonel M. P. Seryugina and 305 SD Colonel A. F. Vasilyeva. Marthal G. K. Zhukov in his book "Memories and Reflections" wrote:

"... The most fierce battle turned on the height of 201.9 in the field of the field, which was captured by the consolidated company of the 299th Rifle Division consisting of 16 people under the command of Senior Lieutenant V. P. Petrishchev.

When only seven people were left alive, the commander, referring to the fighters, said: - Comrades, we will stand at a height as the Panfilovtsians were stood at Dubosekov. Let's die, but do not depart!

And not retreated. Heroic fighters kept height before the approach of the division parts. For the courage and the heroism of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the senior lieutenant V. P. Petrishchev, the younger lieutenant V. V. Zhenchenko, the senior sergeant G. P. Polykhanov and Sergeant V. E. Breshusov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. The rest were awarded orders. "

- Zhukov G K. Memories and reflections.

Battle's move. Proordian

The closer the date of commencement of the "Citadel" operation was approaching, the harder it was to hide its preparation. Already a few days before the start of the offensive, the Soviet command received a signal that it will begin on July 5. From the reports of intelligence, it became known that the opponent's offensive was scheduled for 3 hours. Headquarters of the Central (Commander to. Rokossovsky) and Voronezh (Commander N. Vatutin) Fronts decided to produce an artillery on the night of July 5 counter preparation. It began in 1 hour. 10 min . After the hum of cannonade verse, the Germans could not come to themselves for a long time. As a result of the artillery counter preparationby areas of concentration of impact groups of the enemy, German troops suffered losses and began the offensive by 2.5-3 hours later scheduledtime. Only after some time, German troops were able to start their own artillery and aviation training. The attack of German tanks and infantry compounds began about half of the sixth in the morning.


The German command pursued the target of the shock to break through the defense of the Soviet troops and go to the coupie. In the center of the central front, the main blow of the enemy took the troops of the 13th army. On the very first day, the Germans introduced up to 500 tanks here. On the second day, the command of the troops of the central front caused a part of the 13th and 2nd tank armies and the 19th tank corps on the advancing group. The offensive of the Germans here was detained here, and on July 10, it was finally broken. For six days, the fighting enemy wedged into the defense of the central front wax only 10-12 km.

"... Our part is located in a deserted village of Novolipitsa, 10 to 12 km from the advanced position, and engaged in the active combat training and construction of defensive borders. The proximity of the front was felt: in the west, artillery thickened, lighting missiles broke out at night. Over we often conducted air battles, shot down airplanes. Soon, our division, as well as the neighboring compounds, equipped in the main cadets of military schools, turned into a well-trained "Guards" combat unit.

When a Hitler's offensive began on July 5 in the direction of Kursk, we were transferred closer to the front line to spare items to be ready to reflect the onslaught of the enemy. But we did not have to defend themselves. On the night of July 11, we changed the spots and needed in the rest of the holiday on one of the bridgeheads on the west shore of Zhoshi near the village of Vyzhi. On the morning of July 12, after a powerful artillery training, an attack on the city of Eagle (in the place of this breakthrough, the Vizhi village is 8 km from Novosil, after the war, a monument was built).

Memory retained many episodes of heavy battles unfolding on Earth and in the air ...

On the team quickly pop up from the trenches and with the cries "Hurray!" Attack enemy positions. The first losses from the enemy bullets and on minefields. Here we are already in well-equipped enemy trenches, we act with machine guns and grenades. The first killed German is a red-haired guy, with a gun in one hand and a telephone wire Motkey in another ... quickly overcoming several lines of trenches, freeing the first village. There was some enemy headquarters, warehouses of ammunition ... in field kitchens still a warm breakfast for German soldiers. Following the infantry that has done his own business, there were tanks in a breakthrough, which, shooting with the go, famously rush past us forward.

In the following days, battles were carried out almost continuously; Our troops, despite the counterattacks of the enemy, were stubbornly moved to the goal. Before the eyes and now, the fields of tank battles, at which sometimes there was light from dozens of flaming machines. Unforgettable battles of our fighter pilots - there were few them, but they bravely attacked the wedges "Junkers", who tried to bomb our troops. It is remembered to the deafening crackle of the protruding shells and mines, fires, a disheveled earth, the corpses of people and animals, the resistant smell of gunpowder and gary, constant nervous tension, from which short-term sleep did not save.

In battle, the fate of a person, his life depends on many accidents. In those days, cruel fights for the eagle saved me several times precisely a pure accident.

During one of the marches, our hiking column was subjected to intense artillery shelling. On the team, we rushed into the shelter, the roadside ditch, lay down, and suddenly, in two or three meters from me, a projectile is stuffed in the ground, but does not explode, but only shines the earth. Another case: on a hot day, already on the approaches to Eagle, our battery has active support for the coming infantry. All mines are spent. People are very tired, scary you want to drink. Straights in three hundreds of us sticks out a well caravel. Starshina orders me and one more fighter to collect bowlers and go beyond water. We did not have time to spray and 100 meters, how the flurry of fire fell into our positions - the mines of heavy six-solid German mortars rumbled. The enemy's sight was accurate! After a raid, many of my comrades died, many were injured or controversial, part of the mortar filed. It seems that this "outfit for water" saved me life.

A few days later, there were great losses in the lively strength and technique, our part was removed from the fighting area and was located in the forest, east of the city of Karachev, for recreation and re-formation. Here, many soldiers and officers for participating in hostilities under the eagle and the liberation of the city received government awards. I was awarded the medal "for the courage."

The defeat of the German troops on the Kursk arc and the high assessment of this routine feathers were very pleased, but we could not and cannot forget our combat comrades who are no longer with us. We will always remember the warriors who gave their lives in the nationwide Patriotic War, fighting for the freedom and independence of our Fatherland! .. "(Leap Aleksandr Evgenievich)

The first surprise for the German command both on the southern and northern wing of Kursk protrusion was that Soviet soldiers were not afraid of the appearance on the battlefield of new German tanks "Tiger" and "Panther". Moreover, Soviet anti-tankartillery and guns of tanks, buried to the ground, opened an effective fire on German armored cars. And yet, the thick armor of German tanks allowed them in some areas to pierce Soviet defense and wed up into combat orders of parts of the Red Army. However, the rapid breakthrough did not work. Overcoming the first defensive line, the German tank units were forced to seek help to saperes: all spaces about between the positions were densely mined, and the passages in minefields are good praisedartillery. While the German tank worms were waiting for sappers, their combat vehicles were exposed to massive fire. Soviet aviation managed to keep the domination in the air. Soviet attack aircraft appeared over the battlefield of the battlefield - famous IL -2.



"... the heat became very strong, suway. From the heat to hide nowhere. And during the battle the Earth stood on end. Tanks Prut, artillery crepts with a squall fire, and from the sky "Junkers" and "Messerschmitts" attack. I still can not forget terrible dust that stood in the air and penetrated, it seemed in all the cells of the body. Yes, plus to the same smoke, nothing, soot. On the Kursk arc, the fascists threw against our army new, more powerful and heavy tanks and self-propelled guns - "Tigers" and "Ferdinand". Shells of our guns ricotheli from the armor of these machines. I had to use more powerful artillery guns, guns. We already had a new 57-mm anti-tank guns of the ZIS-2, improved artillery guns.

I must say that even before the battle, on tactical teachings we were told about these new Hitler cars and showed their weak, vulnerable places. And in battle had to take practice. Attacks were so powerful and strong that our tools were rake, and they had to cool with wet rags.

It happened that it is impossible to knock down from the shelter. But, despite the permanent attacks, incessant battles, we found the strength, excerpt, patience and gave fire to the enemy. Only the price was very expensive. how many soldier Died - not to count anyone. Survived very little. And every expensive worthy rewards ... "

(Tishkov Vasily Ivanovich)

Only for the first day of the battles, the grouping of the model, acting on the northern wing of Kursk speakers, lost up to 2/3 of the 300 tanks participating in the first strike. Soviet losses were also great: only two companies of the German "tigers", who defended the central front forces, were destroyed for the period 5 - 6 July 111 T -34 tanks. By July 7, the Germans, moving a few kilometers ahead, came to a large settlement of Ponyry, where a powerful battle between shock parts 20, 2 and 9- j.germantanksdivisionsfromconnectionssoviet 2- j.tankand 13- j.armies. Outcomeof thisbattlebecameextremelyunexpectedforgermancommand. Losingbefore 50 thousand. humanandabout 400 tanks, northshockgroupingwasforcedstay. Promulusforwardtotalon the 10 15 kM, Modelintotalrubbedshockpowerselftankspartsandlainedcapabilitiescontinueoffensive. Toptimeon thesouthwingkurskspeakereventsdevelopedbyinomascenario. TO 8 julydrumsdivisionsgermanicmotorizedconnections« GreatGermany» , « Reich» , « Deadhead» , leibstandarta« AdolfHitler» , severaltanksdivisions 4- j.tankarmyGotaandgroups« Cempf» didonewatchinsovietdefensebefore 20 andmorekM. OffensiveinitiallyshlindirectionpopulatedpointOboyan, butthen, as a resultstrongcounteractionsoviet 1- j.tankarmy, 6- j.guardsarmyandothersassociationson theit isplot, commandinggrouparmies« South» backgroundMansteinadopteddecisionhiteasternindirectionProkhorovka. Exactlyw.of thispopulatedpointandriedmostgreattankbattleSecondworldwar, inwhichfrombothpartyadoptedparticipationbeforeThousandsTwo hundredTanksandself-propelledguns.


BattleunderProkhorovkaconceptinmanycollective. Fateopposingpartydecidednotperonedayandnoton theonefield. Theatrecombatactionforsovietandgermantanksconnectionsrepresentedlocalitysquaremore 100 kv.. kM. ANDtopnotlessexactlythis isbattleinmanydeterminedallsubsequentmovenotonlyKurskbattle, butandallsummercampaignon theEasternfront.

"... the policeman drove us, 10 adolescents, with shovels and led to a big oak. When they came to the place, they saw a terrible picture: between the burnt coat and the barn were shot. Many have faces and clothes. They were poured by gasoline before burning. Aside, lay two female corpses. They pressed their children to the chest. One of them hugged the child, wrapping a small hollow one's fur coat ... "(Arbuzov Pavel Ivanovich)

Of all the victories of 1943, she was decisive in providing a rooted fracture during the Great Patriotic War and 2nd World War, who completed the liberation of the Left-Bank Ukraine and the defendant of the enemy defense at the Dnieper at the end of 1943. The German fascist command was forced to abandon offensive strategy and move to defense on the front. He had to transfer troops to the eastern front of troops and aircraft from the Mediterranean Theater of Military Action, which facilitated the landing of the Anglo-American troops in Sicily and Italy. Kursk battle was the celebration of Soviet Military art.

In a 50-day Kursk battle, up to 30 enemy divisions were defeated, including 7 tanks. The total losses of the German fascist troops were killed, severely wounded and missing, over 500 thousand people, the Soviet Air Force finally won domination in the air. The successful completion of the Kursk battle was promoted by the active actions of partisans on the eve and during the period of the Kursk battle. Applying strikes on the rear of the enemy, they fed to 100 thousand soldiers and opponent officers. The partisans produced 1460 towers on the railway line, brought over 1000 locomotives and crushed over 400 military echelons.

Memories of the participants of the Kursk Arc

Ryzhikov Grigory Afanasyevich:

"Thought you still won!"

Grigory Afanasyevich was born in the Ivanovo region, 18-year-old was called in the ranks of the Red Army in 1942. Among 25 thousand, recruits were sent to Kostroma to the 22nd training team to study "military science." In the rank of younger sergeant went to the front in the ranks of the 17th motorized rifle Guards Red Birth Brigade

"They brought us to the front," recalls Grigory Afanasyevich, "unloaded. The railway, apparently, far from the front line was, so we walked on foot, we fed only with hot food. They walked day and night, did not know what we were going to Kursk. They knew that at war, to the front, and where exactly - did not know. We saw that a lot of equipment goes: cars, motorcycles, tanks. German fought very cool. It would seem, he has a hopeless position, but still not surrender! In one place, the German house was chosen, even the beds were with cucumbers and tobacco, apparently, they were going to stay for a long time. But we did not intend to give them our native land and had hot battles for all days. The fascists resisted stubbornly, but we went ahead: sometimes it does not shift over a whole day, and sometimes weans and half a kilometer. When they went to the attack, shouted: "Hurray! For home! For Stalin!" It helped us raise the martial spirit. "

Under Kursk Grigory Afanasyevich was the commander of the machine gun department, one day he had to sit down with a machine gun in rye. She was flat in July, high, and so reminds of peaceful life, home comfort and hot bread with a ruddy crust ... But wonderful memories crossed the war with the terrible death of people burning tanks, burning villages. So I had to trample our soldier's boots, pass on her heavy wheels of cars and ruthlessly overturn her ears, wound on the machine gun. On July 27, Grigory Afanasyevich was wounded in his right hand, and was sent to the hospital. After recovery, he fought at Yellow, then in Belarus, and twice was injured.

Ince the victory was already in Czechoslovakia. Our soldiers triumphed, sang under the harmony, and the entire columns of the captured Germans went past.

The junior sergeant of the Ryzhikov was demobilized from Romania in the fall of 1945. He returned to his native village, worked in the collective farm, got a family. Then came to the construction of the Gorky hydroelectric station, from where they came to build and Votkinskaya HPP.

Now Grigory Afanasyevich is already 4 grandson and great-grandchildren. He loves to work on the garden plot, if health allows, vividly interested in what is happening in the country and the world, it worries that at the Olympics "our not very lucky." Grigory Afanasyevich modestly assesses his role in the war, says that he served "like everyone else", but thanks to exactly such people, as he, our country won the great victory so that the following generations could live in a free and peaceful country.

Telenev Yuri Vasilyevich:

"Then we did not think about the awards."

All his pre-war life Yuri Vasilyevich lived in the Urals. In the summer of 1942, his 18-year-old, called to the army. In the spring of 1943, by completing the accelerated course of the 2nd Leningrad Military Infantry School, evacuokedgo then to the city of glazes, the junior lieutenant Yuri Telnev was appointed commander of the platoon of anti-tank guns and sent to the Kursk arc.

"In the front of the front, where the battle was to happen, the Germans were on an elevated area, and we are at low, in sight. They tried to bomb us - the strongest arthnyet lasted okolo hour, there was a terrible roar around, not heard voices, so I had to scream. But we did not give up and answered the same: shells exploded on the side of the Germans, tanks burned, allwolf smoke. Then our impact army went to the attack, we were in the trenches, they stared through us, then we went behind them. Started crossing through OKU, transferred only

infantry. The Germans began to shoot in terms of crossing, but since they were suppressed and paralyzed by our resistance, they shot randomly, unexpected. Crossing the river, we joined the fighting Released settlements where the Nazis still remained "

Yuri Vasilyevich proudly says that after the Stalingrad battle of the Soviet soldier was only for victory, no one doubted that we still defeat the Germans, and the victory in the Kursk battle became another proof of this.

In a Kursk arc, the junior lieutenant of the calf from the anti-tank gun was hit by the Henkel-113 enemy plane, called the "Kostl" people, for which he was already awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War. "We did not think about the war about the awards, and the mods were not so," I remembers Yuri Vasilyevich. In general, he considers himself a lucky person, because he was wounded under Kursk. If wounded, and not killed - already great happiness for infantry. After battles of whole regiments, there was no profit or platoon."The young were," says Yuri Vasilyevich, - Beshabashny,in 19 years, nothing was afraid, got used to the danger. Yes from bullets and do not bother if she is yours " . After the injury, he was sent to the Kirov hospital, and when he recovered, again went to the front, and until the end of 1944 he fought on the 2nd Belarusian front.

Before the new 1945, Lieutenant of the Telnev was demobilized due to the hardest injury. Therefore, the victory met already in the rear, in Omsk. There he worked as a Warward at school and studied at the music school. A few years later, he moved to Votkinsk with his wife and children, and later in a very young Tchaikovsky, where he taught in a music school and was a tool customizer.

Volodin Semen Fedorovich

For a long time, the events of those days will be remembered when the fate of the war was decided on the Kursk arc, when the Rota of Lieutenant Volodina held the small block of land between the Birch Hill and the village of Solomki. From the fact that I had to survive the young commander on the first day of the Kursk battle, the retreat was remembered the strongest: and not the very moment, when the company who beat six tank attacks, left the trench, and for inna night road. He walked at the head of his "company" - twenty surviving soldiers remembering all the details ...

About an hour "Junkers" was continuously bombed by the village, barely flew away by one party, as another appeared in the sky, and everything was repeated first - a deafening crash of the bombs, whistling fragments and thick, suffocating dust. The fighters chased fighters, and the roars of their engines, like a moan, laughed at the earth, when he began to beat the German artillery and on the edge of the forest, before the buckwheat field, a black tank rhombus appeared again.

There was a heavy and smoky military dawn ahead: an hour later, the battalion will take defense at high spirits, and another hour later, everything will begin: the air raid, the artillery cannonade, rapidly passing boxes of tanks; Everything will happen again - the whole battle, but with a big fierce, with a victoric thirst for victory.

Already seven days later they had to see other crossings, other copies off the coast of Russian rivers - the scopes of broken German cars, the corpses of German soldiers, and he, Lieutenant Volodin, will say that this is a fair retribution that the fascists deserved.

Volynkin Alexander Stepanovich

In August 1942, a 17-year-old parenchyek was called up to serve in the ranks of the Red Army. He was aimed at studying the Omsk infantry school, but Sasha could not finish him. He signed up by a volunteer, and combat baptism accepted under the Vyazvah Smolensk region. An intelligent guy immediately noticed. Yes, how not to notice a young fighter, who has a faithful eye and hard hand. So, became Alexander Stepanovich Sniper.

"- I cannot remember the fight on a Kursk arc without shudder - to horror! The sky is tightened by smoke, burned at home, fields, tanks, combat positions. Thunder cannons on both sides. And in such a squall fire, - recalled veteran, - fate faithped me. I remember such Case: We, three sniper chose the position on the slope of the ravine, started digging the trenches, and suddenly - a flurry of the fire. We quickly got into one half of the dug up. The owner of the trench below, I fell on him, and the neighbor fell on me. And here - The queue from the large-caliber machine gun on our shelter ... The owner of the trench - immediately to death, the fighter who was needed by me, wounded, and I remained unharmed. Fate is visible ... "

For the fight on a Kursk arc from Alexander Stepanovich Medal"Over the courage" - awards most revered among front-line.

Osharina Ekaterina Mikhailovna (Mother Sofia)

"... On the eve of the Kursk battle, we were transferred to the city of Eagle on the eve of the Kursk battalion. By that time, nothing left of the city, I remember only two surviving buildings - the church and the station. On the outskirts of someone preserved some sheds. Brears of the broken brick, not a single tree in general a huge city, constant shelling and bombing. At the temple there was a priest and several women who remained with him. In the evening, our entire battalion together with the commanders gathered in the temple, the father began to serve the prayer. We knew that we had the offensive the next day. Remembering their relatives, many cried. Scary…

We, the girls-radio buttons were three. Other men: Signs, coils. Our task is to establish the most important thing - communication, without communication. How many alive of us can not say, at night we were scattered across the front, but I think that a little. We were very big losses. My Lord has kept ... "

Smetanin Alexander

"... For me, this battle began with retreat. We receded several days. And before decisive fighting, breakfast brought us to the crew. For some reason I remember him well - four crushers and two misappropriate watermelons, they were still white. The best then we could not provide. At dawn on the horizon from the Germans, huge black smoke clubs appeared. We stood without movement. Nobody knew anything - neither Roat, nor a comvy. We just stood. I saw the machine gunner and saw through a hole in two and a half centimeters. And I saw only dust and smoke. And then the tank commander commands: "Saint, Fire". I started shooting. For whom, where - I do not know. Watch at 11 am we were commanded "forward." We rushed forward by shooting on the go. Then there was a stop, we brought shells. And again forward. Screens, Palf, Smoke - That's all my memories. I would lie if I said that everything was clear to me then - the scale and value of the battle. Well, the next day, July 13, we got into the right side of the projectile. I got 22 fragments in the leg. That was my kursk battle ... "


Oh, Russia! With a hard fate country.

I have you, Russia, like a heart, one.

I'll tell you a friend, I will say and enemy -

Without you, like without a heart, i can not live!

(Julia Drunina)

Kursk battle (summer 1943) radically changed the course of World War II.

Our army stopped the offensive of the fascists and irrevocably took into their own hands the strategic initiative in the future during the war.

Wiremchta plans

Despite the huge losses, by the summer of 1943 the fascist army was still very strong, and Hitler intended to take revenge for his defeat. To revive the past prestige, a large victory was needed at any cost.

To do this, Germany conducted total mobilization, strengthened the military industry, mainly due to the possibilities of the occupied territories of Western Europe. This, of course, gave the expected results. And since there was no second front in the West, the German government all its military resources sent to the Eastern Front.

He managed not only to restore his army, but also to replenish it by the latest samples of military equipment. The largest offensive operation "Citadel" was carefully planned, which attached a huge strategic value. To implement the plan, the fascist command chose a Kursk direction.

The task was as follows: to break through the defense of Kursk speakers, reach the Kursk, to surround it and destroy the Soviet troops who defended this territory. All the forces were sent to this idea of \u200b\u200bthe lightning defeat of our troops. To smash the millionth grouping of the Soviet troops on the Kursk ledge, surround and take the Kursk was planned literally in four days.

This idea is set out in detail in the order No. 6 of April 15, 1943 with a poetic conclusion: "The victory under Kurk should appear torch for the whole world."

Based on the data of our intelligence, the plans of the enemy became known in the rate regarding the direction of its main strikes and the timing of the offensive. The rate was carefully analyzed by the situation, and as a result it was decided that it was advantageous for the campaign with a strategic defensive operation.

Knowing that Hitler will occur only in one direction and will focus here the main shock forces, our command has come to the conclusion that it is defensive battles to teleate the German army, destroy her tanks. After that, it will already be advisable to crush the enemy, breaking its main grouping.

This was reported in the Marshal 08.04.43: "Understand" the enemy on defense, knock out his tanks, and then introduce fresh reserves and move into a common offensive, finishing the main forces of the Hitlerians. Thus, the beginning of the Kursk battle rate deliberately planned to make defensive.

Preparation for battle

From mid-April 1943, work began on the Kursk ledge began to create powerful defensive positions. Spear trenches, trenches and shelling cellar, built dots, prepared firing positions, observation points. Having finished work in one place, they moved on and again began to dig, build, repeating the work in the same position.

In parallel, they prepared for the upcoming battles and fighters, conducting training classes approximate to the present battle. This was written in his memoirs a member of these events B. N. Malinovsky in the book "Fate did not chose". During these preparatory work, he writes, received combat replenishment: people, technique. Our troops at the beginning of the battle amounted to 1, 3 million people here.

Steppe Front

Strategic reserves, consisting of compounds already participating in battles for Stalingrad, Leningrad and other Battles of the Soviet - German front, were combined first in the backup front, which 15.04.43. Called the Steppe Military District (the commander I. S. Konev), and later - already during the Kursk battle - 10.07.43, he began to be called the Steppe Front.

It entered the troops of the Voronezh and Central Fronts. The front command was entrusted to Colonel-General I. S. Konev, who after the Kursk battle was the Army General, and in February 1944 - Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Kursk battle

The battle began on July 5, 1943. Our troops were ready for her. The fascists performed fire raids from the armored train, the bombers were fired from the air, the enemies dumped with leaflets, in which they tried to intimidate the Soviet fighters to the upcoming terrible onset, arguing that no one would be saved in it.

Our fighters immediately entered the battle, earned Katyusha, went to meet the enemy with his new "tigers" and "Ferdinands" our tanks and self-containers. Artillery and infantry destroyed their cars on prepared mine fields, anti-tank grenades and just bottles with a combustible mixture.

In the evening of the first day of the battle, the Soviet Informbüro reported that 586 fascist tanks and 203 aircraft were destroyed on July 5 in battle. Until the end of the day, the number of shot down enemy aircraft increased to 260. Until July 9, fierce battles went.

The enemy undermined his strength and was forced to order temporarily to stop the offensive to produce some changes in the initial plan. But then the battles resumed. Our troops managed to still stop the German offensive, however, in some places the enemy broke through our defense ongoing 30-35 km.

Tank Battle

A huge role in the fracture of the Kursk battle in the area of \u200b\u200bProkhorovka played a large-scale tank battle. It was involved and with that, and on the other hand, about 1,200 tanks and self-containers.

The coloded valiant was shown in this battle by General 5th GW. P. A. Rothmistrov P. A. Rotmistrov, General of the 5th Guards Army A. S. Zhdanov and heroic resistance - all personnel.

Thanks to the organization and courage of our commander and fighters in this cruel battle, the offensive plans of the fascists were finally buried. The forces of the enemy were exhausted, he had already introduced his reserves into battle, did not switch to the stage of defense, and the offensive had already stopped.

It was a very convenient moment for the transition of our troops from defense to counteroffensive. By July 12, the enemy was buried, and the crisis of his occurrence. It was a turning point in the Kursk battle.

Counteroffensive

On July 12, the western and Bryansk fronts went to the offensive, July 15 - the central front. And on July 16, the Germans have already begun to take their troops. Then in the offensive, the Voronezh Front turned on, and on July 18 - the steppe front. The retreating enemy was pursued, and already by July 23, our troops restored the position that existed to defensive fights, i.e. Returned as if to the starting point.

For the final victory in the Kursk battle, the massive introduction of strategic reserves was necessary, and at the most important direction. The steppe front suggested such tactics. But the rate, unfortunately, did not make the decision of the steppe front and decided to introduce strategic reserves in parts and not at the same time.

This led to the fact that the end of the Kursk battle was delayed in time. From July 23 to August 3, a pause came. The Germans retreated on pre-cooked defensive frontiers. And our command took time to study the defense of the enemy and streamline the troops after the fighting.

The commander understood the enemy of their prepared positions will not leave, and will fight until the latter, just to stop the offensive of the Soviet troops. And then our offensive continued. There was still a lot of bloody fights with huge losses on both sides. The Kursk battle lasted 50 days and ended on August 23, 1943. Wehrmacht's plans completely failed.

The meaning of the Kursk battle

History showed that the Kursk battle became a turning period during the Second World War, the initial point towards the transition of the strategic initiative to the Soviet Army. Lost in the Kursk battle of half a million people and a huge amount of combat technology.

This defeat of Hitler influenced the situation internationally, because it made the prerequisites for the loss of allied cooperation in Germany. And ultimately, the struggle on the fronts was greatly eradiced, where the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition were fought.

Dates of the Kursk Battle 05.07.1943 - 08/23/1943. The Great Patriotic War has 3 significant events:

  • Liberation of Stalingrad;
  • Kursk battle;
  • Taking Berlin.

Here it will be about the greatest tank battle in modern history.

Battle for Kursk. Situation before the battle

In front of the Kursk battle, a small success celebrated Germany, who managed to seize the cities of Belgorod and Kharkov again. Hitler, seeing short-term success, decided to develop it. The offensive was scheduled for a Kursk arc. The protrusion embedded in the depths of the German territory could be surrounded and seized. The operation approved on May 10-11 was called "Citadel".

Forces side

The advantage was on the side of the Red Army. The number of Soviet troops was 1. 200,000 (against 900 thousand from the enemy), the number of tanks is 3500 (2700 in Germans) units, guns - 20,000 (10,000), 2,800 airplanes (2.500).

The German army was replenished with heavy (Middle) tanks "Tiger" ("Panther"), self-propelled installations (SAU) "Ferdinand", Foke-Wulf 190 aircraft. In the innovation from the Soviet side, the gun "Zver wort" (57 mm), capable of punching the "Tiger" armor, and anti-tank mines that caused them a significant damage.

Plans by Party

The Germans decided to apply a lightning strike, quickly capture the Kursk protrusion, and then continue the large-scale offensive. The Soviet side decided at the beginning to defend themselves, inflicting the counterdashers, and when the enemy is existed and exhausted, go to the offensive.

Defense

Managed to figure out that Kursk battle It will begin 05/06/1943. Therefore, at 2:30 and 4:30, two half-hour artillery counterdasters were held in the central front. At 5:00, the enemy's guns responded, and then the enemy moved to the offensive, having a strongest pressure (2.5 hours) on the right flank in the direction of the village of Olkhovka.

When the attack was repulsed, the Germans strengthened on the left flank. They managed to even partially surround two (15, 81) Soviet divisions, but the front did not succeed (promotion of 6-8 km). Then the Germans attempted to capture the Stony station to control the railway eagle - Kursk.

170 Tanks and SAU "Ferdinand" broke through the first line of defense on July 6, but the second survived. On July 7, the opponent came close to the station. The 200-mm windshield armor became impenetrable for Soviet guns. Station Ponyry managed to keep at the expense of anti-tank mines and powerful raids of Soviet aviation.

The tank battle of the village of Prokhorovka (Voronezh Front) lasted 6 days (10-16). Almost 800 Soviet tanks confronted 450 tanks and an enemy saau. The general victory was behind the Red Army, but more than 300 tanks were lost against 80 from the opponent. Middle tanks T-34 with difficulty opposed heavy "tigers", and light T-70 was generally unsuitable in open locality. Here is from here and such losses.

Offensive

While the troops of the Voronezh and Central Fronts beat off the attack of the enemy, parts of the Western and Bryansky fronts (July 12) went into the attack. For three days (12-14), leading heavy battles, the Soviet army was able to move to 25 kilometers.

Battle date July 5, 1943 - August 23, 1943 This battle entered into modern history as one of the most bloody battles of World War II. She is also known as the largest tank battle in the history of mankind.
Conditionally battle on the Kursk arc can be divided into two stages:

  • Kursk defensive (July 5 - 23)
  • Orlovskaya and Kharkov-Belgorod (July 12 - August 23) offensive operations.

The battle lasted 50 days and nights and influenced the entire subsequent course of hostilities.

Forces and means of confront

Before the start of the battle, the Red Army concentrated an unprecedented army: the Central and Voronezh Front counted 1.2 million soldiers and officers, over 3.5 thousand tanks, 20 thousand guns and mortars and more than 2,800 aircraft of different types. The reserve contained a steppe front of the number: 580 thousand soldiers, 1.5 thousand tanks and self-propelled artillery plants, 7.5 thousand guns and mortars. His aircover has exercised over 700 aircraft.
The German command was able to tighten the reserves and to the beginning of the battle, it was placed by fifty divisions with a total number of over 900 thousand soldiers and officers, 2,700 tanks and SAU, 10 thousand guns and mortars, as well as approximately 2.5 thousand aircraft. For the first time in the history of World War II, the German command used a large number of its latest technology: tiger tanks and Panther, as well as heavy self-propelled installations - Ferdinand.
As can be seen from the given data, the Red Army has had an overwhelming superiority over the Wehrmacht, while in defense it could promptly respond to all the offensive actions of the enemy.

Defensive operation

This battle phase began with the proactive massive artillery preparation of the Red Army in 2.30 night, in 4.30 it was repeated. German artillery preparation began at 5 am and the first divisions went to the offensive in the offensive ...
During the bloody fighting, German troops have advanced by 6-8 kilometers throughout the front line. The main attack had to be at the station Ponyry - the key railway assembly of the Orel-Kursk line and the village of Cherkasy - on the site of the Belgorod - Oboyan. In these areas, German troops managed to move to the station Prokhorovka. It was here that the largest tank battle of this war occurred. On the part of the Soviet Union, 800 tanks were participated in the battle under the command of General Zhadov, against 450 German tanks under the command of the ObristGruphenfürera SS Powl Hauser. In battle at Prokhorovka, Soviet troops lost about 270 tanks - German losses amounted to over 80 tanks and SAU.

Offensive

On July 12, 1943, the Soviet command began the operation of "Kutuzov". In the course, after which, after the bloody battles of the local value, the troops of the Red Army on July 17 - 18 signed the Germans to the defensive line "Hagen" east of Bryansk. The fierce resistance of German troops continued until August 4, when the Belgorod group of fascists was eliminated and Belgorod was released.
On August 10, the Red Army began an offensive in the Kharkov direction, and on August 23, the city assault took place. Urban battles continued until August 30, but the Day of Liberation and the end of the Kursk battle is considered on August 23, 1943.

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