Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk is the most important part of the strategic plan for the summer-autumn campaign of 1943, it includes: the Kursk strategic defensive operation (July 5 - 23), the Oryol (July 12 - August 18) and Belgorod-Kharkov (August 3 - 23) strategic offensive operations ... The battle lasted 49 days.
The actions of the Soviet fronts on the Kursk Bulge were led by Marshals Georgy Zhukov and Alexander Vasilevsky.
On the Kursk Bulge, near the village of Prokhorovka, the largest tank battle in history took place, which lasted 6 days. The battle brought together 800 tanks on each side. The best tank models of World War II were on the battlefield: the Soviet T-34 tank and the German Tiger. In this battle, the "St. John's wort" was tested - a new Soviet 57-millimeter cannon that pierced the armor of the "Tiger". One of the innovations was the use of light anti-tank bombs, which are capable of removing an enemy tank from battle.
The actions of the Soviet fronts on the Kursk Bulge were led by Marshals Georgy Zhukov and Alexander Vasilevsky.
On the Kursk Bulge, near the village of Prokhorovka, the largest tank battle in history took place, which lasted 6 days. The battle brought together 800 tanks on each side. The best tank models of World War II were on the battlefield: the Soviet T-34 tank and the German Tiger. In this battle, the "St. John's wort" was tested - a new Soviet 57-millimeter cannon that pierced the armor of the "Tiger". One of the innovations was the use of light anti-tank bombs, which are capable of removing an enemy tank from battle.
Results and significance of the Battle of Kursk
As a result of the battles in the region of the Kursk salient, German troops lost 30 divisions, including 7 tank divisions, over 500 thousand soldiers and officers, 1500 tanks, and 3 thousand guns. After which the enemy had to go over to strategic defense. The most important result of the Battle of Kursk was the collapse of the offensive strategy of the Wehrmacht.
The defeat of the Wehrmacht at Kursk had a decisive influence on the entire further course of the war. This was later recognized by the German generals - participants in the hostilities on the Eastern Front. "As a result of the failure of the Citadel offensive," wrote G. Guderian in his memoirs, "we suffered a decisive defeat. The armored forces, replenished with such great difficulty, were incapacitated for a long time due to heavy losses in people and equipment. Their timely restoration to conduct defensive operations on the Eastern Front, as well as to organize defense in the west in case of the landing, which the Allies threatened to land next spring, was called into question ... and there were no more calm days on the Eastern Front. Th initiative completely passed to the enemy ... After the collapse of the Citadel plan, the Eastern Front took all its forces from France. "
As a result of the battles in the region of the Kursk salient, German troops lost 30 divisions, including 7 tank divisions, over 500 thousand soldiers and officers, 1500 tanks, and 3 thousand guns. After which the enemy had to go over to strategic defense. The most important result of the Battle of Kursk was the collapse of the offensive strategy of the Wehrmacht.
The defeat of the Wehrmacht at Kursk had a decisive influence on the entire further course of the war. This was later recognized by the German generals - participants in the hostilities on the Eastern Front. "As a result of the failure of the Citadel offensive," wrote G. Guderian in his memoirs, "we suffered a decisive defeat. The armored forces, replenished with such great difficulty, were incapacitated for a long time due to heavy losses in people and equipment. Their timely restoration to conduct defensive operations on the Eastern Front, as well as to organize defense in the west in case of the landing, which the Allies threatened to land next spring, was called into question ... and there were no more calm days on the Eastern Front. Th initiative completely passed to the enemy ... After the collapse of the Citadel plan, the Eastern Front took all its forces from France. "
Yugra for the front
In the Battle of Kursk, one of our fellow countrymen, Vasily Efimovich Konovalov, was killed. He was born in 1912 in the settlement of Mega, Surgut district. Drafted into the army on July 17, 1941. He served as a scout in the 2nd Rifle Separate Battalion of the 125th Separate Rifle Brigade of the 7th Rifle Corps. The 125th Infantry Brigade was formed in the winter of 1941-1942. in the Chernushinsky district of the Molotov region. In early June 1942, the brigade arrived at the Western Front.
Vasily Konovalov distinguished himself in the Rzhev-Sychevsk offensive operation, which took place from July 30 to August 23, 1942, on August 15, he and the squad leader destroyed 5 Nazis, captured the bunker and the enemy machine gun, from which he subsequently fired. On August 16, in a battle for the village of Gorki, he captured an enemy bunker. On August 18, in the battle for the village of Nazaryevo, he carried out the wounded battalion commander from the battlefield under enemy fire. For courage and courage he was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
In 1943, Vasily Efimovich Konovalov was appointed squad commander of the 49th rifle division. In the summer of 1943, the 49th division took part in the Battle of Kursk (the destruction of the German Oryol group of forces). On July 22, units of the 212th rifle regiment destroyed 75 soldiers and officers, 3 vehicles. During the offensive of the 212th Infantry Regiment on July 23, in a forest belt west of the village of Aleskseevsky, our fellow countryman Vasily Efimovich Konovalov was mortally wounded. Burial place of the hero: Kaluga region, 1 km east of the village of Barsuki.
Vasily Konovalov distinguished himself in the Rzhev-Sychevsk offensive operation, which took place from July 30 to August 23, 1942, on August 15, he and the squad leader destroyed 5 Nazis, captured the bunker and the enemy machine gun, from which he subsequently fired. On August 16, in a battle for the village of Gorki, he captured an enemy bunker. On August 18, in the battle for the village of Nazaryevo, he carried out the wounded battalion commander from the battlefield under enemy fire. For courage and courage he was awarded the Order of the Red Star.
In 1943, Vasily Efimovich Konovalov was appointed squad commander of the 49th rifle division. In the summer of 1943, the 49th division took part in the Battle of Kursk (the destruction of the German Oryol group of forces). On July 22, units of the 212th rifle regiment destroyed 75 soldiers and officers, 3 vehicles. During the offensive of the 212th Infantry Regiment on July 23, in a forest belt west of the village of Aleskseevsky, our fellow countryman Vasily Efimovich Konovalov was mortally wounded. Burial place of the hero: Kaluga region, 1 km east of the village of Barsuki.