It is well known that the Prokhorov battle won the Red Army, but few people know that it lasted not one, but as many as six days, and the tank battle on July 12, 1943 was only its beginning. But who won the victory in him - the Rothmisters or Hawsser? Soviet historiography declares a unconditional victory, delicately silent about the price that the tankers of the 5th Guards Tank Army paid for it. German historians put forward their own arguments: in the evening July 12, the battlefield remains behind the Germans, and the ratio of losses is clearly not in favor of the Red Army. Modern Russian researchers also have their vision events that took place in July 1943. Let's try to figure out who won in this battle. As an evidence base, we will use the opinion of the candidate of the historical sciences V. N. Zamulina - in the past employee of the Museum "Prokhorovsky Field" and, perhaps, the largest specialist in the history of the Kursk battle.

To begin with, it should be dealt with the main myth of the Soviet era - the number of tanks directly participating in the battle. The big Soviet encyclopedia, referring to the works of Soviet military leaders, leads a number of 1500 tanks - 800 Soviet and 700 Germans. In fact, from the Soviet side, only the 29th and 18th tank corps of the 5th Guards, Lieutenant General Rothmistra, were included in the 5th Guards Lieutenant General Lieutenant General (2).

It is more difficult to give a quantitative assessment of the forces of the German side. The composition of the II Tank Corps SS included three motorized divisions. As of July 11, 1943, the Motorized Division "Leibstandard CC Adolf Hitler" was in the ranks of 77 tanks and SAU. MOTORIZED SS Division "Dead Head" - 122 and Motorized SS Division "Das Reich" - 95 tanks and SAU of all types. Total: 294 cars (1). The position in the center (before the station Prokhorovka) was held by Leibstandart, his right flank covered the "Das Reich", the left - "dead head". The battle occurred on a relatively small area of \u200b\u200bthe area with a width of up to 8 kilometers, crossed by ravines and limited on the one hand, the Pwell River, on the other - railway embankment. It is necessary to take into account that most of the Division of the Dead Head Division solved the tactical tasks for the mastery of the River Pwell, where the defense of the infantry and artillery of the 5th Guards Army were determined, and the Das Reich Division Tanks were behind the railway canvas. Thus, the Soviet tankers opposed the Division "Leibstandart" and an unidentified number of Division's Division Tanks (on the site along the river), as well as the Das Reich division on the left flank of the coming. Therefore, to indicate the exact number of tanks that participated in the reflection of the attack of two tank buildings 5 \u200b\u200bGW. That is not possible.

Before attack, on the night of July 11th to 12 July. Due to the fact that the 5th GW. That twice changed the initial positions for the attack, her command, focusing the forces in the area of \u200b\u200bthe station Prokhorovka, did not conduct intelligence - there was no time. Although the current situation also urged: the day before, on July 11, the SS divisions were outstrudied by Soviet infantrymen and swore in a semi-kilometer from the southern outskirts of Prokhorov. Having tightening artillery, they created a powerful defense line in one night, strengthened on all tanker hazardous directions. About three hundred guns, including reactive mortars and anti-aircraft guns 8.8-cm Flak 18/36, were involved in a stretch of 6 kilometers long. However, the main German "Kozyrem" on this section of the front was 60 of the Division of the Lakebstandart division, most of which were in the reserve for the morning (behind the anti-tank moat at a height of 252.2).

Self-propelled guns of the SS division "Das Reich" are fire at the positions of the 183rd SD in the Belhenikhino region.
July 11, 1943
Source: http://militera.lib.ru/h/zamulin_vn2/s05.gif.

At 5 o'clock in the morning, before the onset of the 5th GW. That, Soviet infantry tried to knock out the SSEsovtsy from positions, but, hitting the German artillery hurricane fire, retreated severe losses. In 8.30, the team sounded: "Steel, Steel, Steel," and Soviet tanks began nomination. The rapid attack, as it seems to many to this day, the Soviet tankists did not come out that day. At first, the tanks had to wade through the combat proceedings of infantry, then - carefully move forward on the passages in minefields. And only then, in sight of the Germans, they began to unfold into combat orders. In total, the first echelon operated 234 tanks and 19 SAU of two buildings - the 29th and 18th. The nature of the area forced to gradually introduce the forces into battle - in places of pinpalonno, with significant time intervals (from 30 minutes to one and a half hours, which, as it turned out later, allowed the Germans to destroy them alternately). The main task for Soviet tankers was mastered by a powerful node of German defense - the Oktyabrsky state farm, to get the opportunity for maneuver.

From the very beginning, the fight has acquired an extremely fierce character. Four tank brigades, three batteries of self-propelled installations, two rifle regiments and one battalion of the motorized rifle brigade by the waves rolled into German rejection, but, meeting powerful resistance, again went back. Almost immediately after the start of the attack, the active bombings of the Soviet troops began with groups of German dive bombers. Given the fact that there was no aviation cover for the arrivals, this sharply worsened their position. Soviet fighters appeared in the sky with a large delay - only after 13.00.

Attack of the 18th TC Brigades in the village of Andreevka. July 12, 1943
Source: http://militera.lib.ru/h/zamulin_vn2/36.jpg.

The first, the main blow of two Soviet buildings, which looked like a single attack, continued to about 11.00 and ended with the transition to the defense of the 29th TC, although the units of the 18th TC continued to attempt to take the state farm, bypassing it from the flank. Another part of the tanks of the 18th Corps, supporting the infantry, occurred on the right flank and led battles in the villages on the river bank. The purpose of this tank group was to strike into the junction between the positions of the Division of the Lakebstandart and Dead Head. On the left flank of the troops, the tankers of the 32nd tank brigade of the 29th TC were made along the railway cloth.

Soon the attacks of the main forces of the 29th building resumed and continued to about 13.30-14.00. Tankists still knocked out the SSEs from the Oktyabrsky, while the colossal losses underlined - up to 70% of technology and personnel.

By this time, the battle acquired the character of individual fights with the anti-tank defense of the enemy. There were no unified management from Soviet tank workers, they attacked in these directions and conducted fire on tanks and artillery positions of the enemy, who appeared in the shelling sectors of their guns.

"... stood such a roar that blood flowed from the ears. The solid roar of motors, the clanging of the metal, the roar, explosions of the shells, the wild grinding of the burst of iron ... From the shots, the towers folded into the stop, twisted the gun, the armor was blocked, the tanks burst. We lost the feeling of time, did not feel either thirst, nor heat, nor even shocks in a tight cockpit. One thought, one desire: still alive, Bay enemy. Our tankers who choose from their broken cars were looking for enemy crews on the field, also remaining without equipment, and beat them out of pistols, collapsed in hand. I remember the captain, which in some frenzy climbed on the armor of a shot down by the German "tiger" and beat the hatch with a hatch to "smoke" from there with Nazis ... " (GSS GS I. Pengzhko).

Already by noon, the Soviet command became clear - the plan of the counterpart fell.

At this time, the German division "Dead Head" of the River Psle The German division of the Eastern Coast of the River, pulled the artillery and opened fire on the impact wedge of the 18th TC, which acted on the right flank of the coming Soviet troops. Watching the promotion of the housing and solving the idea of \u200b\u200bthe Soviet command, the Germans took a number of counterattacks using compact tank groups with the support of artillery, aviation and motorcycles. Began fierce oncoming battles.

Source: http://history.dwnews.com/photo/2014-01-31/59393505-44.html

It is part of the 18th corps that carried the most profound and massive breakthrough in the lane by the German defense, going to the rear of the position of the Lakebstandart. The headquarters of the 2nd TK SS reported about the situation: "The cooler forces, 2 shelf with about 40 tanks, attacked our parts east of Vasilyevka, through the adorable, Mikhailovka, Andreevka, then, turning to the south, advanced to the region of the north of the Komsomolets. Position restored. Obviously the intention of the enemy by attacking the guard in the direction of the bend of the railway line and from the north in the direction of the Komsomolets state farm to cut our forces nominated to the northeast. "

Attack of Soviet tanks and infantry in the area of \u200b\u200bProkhorovka, July 1943
Source: http://history.dwnews.com/photo/2014-01-31/59393505-49.html

Real maneuverable battles of tank groups broke out after the compounds of the 18th and 29th TC pushed the SSEs to the south-western height skates 252.2. This happened about 14.00-14.30. Then the groups of the tanks of both Soviet buildings began to break through the west of Andreevka, in Vasilyevka, as well as to the height area 241.6, where fierce oncoming tank battles also occurred at small distances. On the left flank, individual groups of Soviet tanks broke out along the railway - also in the southwestern direction.

"... The situation has begun to the limit,- recalled the former platoon platoon commander of the 170th TBR, at that time Lieutenant V. P. Pruhkhov. - The combat orders of the troops were mixed, to accurately determine the front line was not possible. The atmosphere changed hourly, even every minute. The brigades came, they stopped, then five times back. It seemed that the battlefield was closely not only tanks, BTRs, tools and people, but also to projectiles, bombs, mines, and even bullets. Their swollen souls flew, crossed and intertwined in death. The terrible blows of armor-piercing and podkaliber shells were shocked, punching and lived with armor, gave out huge pieces of her, leaving gaping failures in armor, crushed and destroyed people. Burned tanks. From the explosions broke off and flew to 15-20 meters five-tailed towers. Sometimes the upper armor sheets of the tower broke out, highly swept away. Flapped with hatches, they tumbled in the air and fell, putting fear and horror on the surviving tankers. Often, the entire tank was collected from strong explosions, at the time turning into a pile of metal. Most tanks stood motionless, mournfully lowering guns, or burned. Greedy flame lifts licked hot armor, raising black smoke clubs. Together with them, tankers were burning, failing to get out of the tank. Their inhuman screams and plenty of help shook and flew the mind. The lucky ones who have selected from the burning tanks, rode the ground, trying to knock down the flame with overalls. Many of them overtook the enemy bullet or fragment of the projectile, taking their hope of life ... The opponents were worthy of each other. They fought desperately, rigidly, with a volatile ability. The situation was constantly changing, was confusing, unclear and uncertain. The headquarters of the buildings, the brigades and even battalions often did not know the positions and conditions of their troops ... "

By 15.00 the forces of both Soviet tank buildings were dried. The brigades remained in the ranks of 10-15 cars, and in some and less. However, Constridar continued, since the Soviet command of all levels received orders not to stop and continue the offensive. It was at that time that the greatest danger of the transition of the German tank parts into a counteroffensiveness was arose, which puts jeopardy the entire outcome of the battle. From this point on, the attack continued mainly the infantry with the support of small groups of tanks, which, naturally, could not change the course of battles in favor of the coming.

Judging by the consensions with the advanced, the fighting ended between 20.00 and 21.00. However, on the farm, the battles continued even after midnight, and it was not possible to keep his Soviet troops.

Scheme of combat operations in the forefront of the onset of the main condrudar grouping of the front on July 12, 1943

It is difficult to find a person who has never heard about Prokhorovka. Fights at this railway station, which lasted from 10 to 16, 1943, became one of the most dramatic episodes of the Great Patriotic. By the next anniversary of the battle near Prokhorovka Warspot publishes a special project, which will tell about the background and the main participants of the battle, as well as with the help of an interactive map, will introduce with little learned battles that took place on July 12 to the west of the station.

To the west of Prokhorovka. Interactive Card.

Fights in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Oktyabrsky and height of 252.2

On July 12, 1943, the main blow to the west of the station Prokhorovka was applied by the 18th and 29th tank corps of the 5th Guards Tank Army of Lieutenant General P. A. Rothmistrov. Their actions were maintained by part of the 9th Guards Airborne Airborne and the 42nd Guards Rifle Division from the 5th Guards Army of Lieutenant General A. S. Zhadova.

It was assumed that the strength of the Soviet troops with simultaneous blows from the north and south will cover the Oktyabrsky Association area. After that, by rapid and decisive actions, in this place, our tanks together with infantry should break through the defense of the enemy and continue the offensive. But the following events looked somewhat different.

As part of two tank buildings of the Red Army, there were 368 tanks and 20 SAU. But to put them in the course at the same time, having wrapped on the enemy avalanche of steel cars, there was no possibility. Expand the large number of armored vehicles in the area prevented terrain. Blocked the path of tanks, in front of the Oktyabrsky state farm from the river toward Prokhorovka, a deep beam has extended, supplemented by several spurs. As a result, the 31st and 32nd tank brigades of the 29th case fell on a plot of up to 900 meters wide between the rail and beam. And the 25th tank brigade attacked the enemy south, separated from the railway line of the railway.

The 181th tank has become an advanced brigade of the 18th tank corps moving along the river. The beam prevented the deployment of the 170th Brigade, and she had to send it to the railway area, putting it in the 32nd Brigade. All this led to the fact that the tanks brigad were introduced into battle in parts, groups of 35-40 cars, and not at the same time, and with an interval from 30 minutes to an hour.

Who confronted the advancing tanks of the Red Army in this important section of the front at the Oktyabrsky and height of 252.2?

The part of the German division "Leibstandart" was located on the site between the Psöl River and Railway. At an altitude of 252.2, the infantry battalion was secured on armored personnel carriers from the 2nd Panzergrenadirsky Regiment. At the same time, German infantrymen are located in trenches, and the BTR-s concentrated height. Nearby occupied the position of the Division of self-propelled Gaubitz - 12 "Vesz" and 5 "Hummels". At the highest and in its feedback, anti-tank guns were installed.

Two other battalions of the 2nd Barzhargrenadirsky regiment, reinforced with assault and anti-tank guns, took defense in the Oktyabrsky Occorder. For 252.2 height and state farm, most of the combat-ready tanks from the composition of the Division tank shelf are located: about 50 pz IV with a long-term 75-mm gun and several more tanks of other types. Part of the tanks was highlighted in the reserve.

The division flank between the river and the state farm covered the interoffalon, who had ten "MARDERS". In the depths of defense in the region of the height of 241.6 were the positions of the Gaubic Artillery and Six-Child Jet Mortar.

At 8:30 am on July 12, after Katyusch volley, our tank workers went to the offensive. The first to altitude 252.2 who were on their way, 26 "Thirties" and 8 Su-76 of the 29th Tank Corps were released. They were immediately met with fire of German anti-tank guns. Several tanks were shot down and tanned. Tankers, opening fire, began to actively maneuver and move towards state farm. The crews of a knockdown tanks, without leaving the combat vehicles, shot on the enemy - until the new hit forced to get out of the burning tank or die in it.

From the north in the direction of Oktyabrsky, 24 T-34 and 20 T-70 tanks were promoted from the 181st Brigade. Like the height of 252.2, our tanks were met with strong fire and began to carry losses.

Soon the remaining tanks of the 32nd brigade appeared near the height of 252.2. The commander of the 1st tank battalion Major P. S. Ivanov, having seen the burning brigade tanks, decided to bypass the dangerous area. With a group of 15 tanks, he restrains the railway and, moving south of her, rushed to the state farm Komsomolets. As the group of our tanks appeared, the Oktyabrsky state farm has entered into battle, and part of the forces tried to knock down the Germans from a height of 252.2.

By 10 o'clock in the morning in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Council, the tanks of the four of our tank brigades and 12 self-propelled plants have already participated in the fight. But it was not possible to quickly take the Oktyabrsky - the Germans resisted stubbornly. Assault, self-propelled and anti-tank enemy instruments led strong fire on numerous goals on the battlefield. Our tanks maneuvered, removing from the state farm and approaching him and time from time to time to stop for the placement of fire. At the same time, the number of baked Soviet tanks of the area of \u200b\u200bthe Counsel and height of 252.2 increased. Missed losses and Germans. At 11:35, the tanks of the 181st brigade were for the first time to break into the Oktyabrsky state farm, but since the defense of the Germans was not suppressed, the fight continued.

Already by 10 o'clock, German tanks began to pull up to the advanced and enter into battle with our tanks. During the reflection of our first attacks at an altitude of 252.2, several German "fourth shows" were shot and burned. German tank workers who have lost their losses were forced to move back to the return rods of height.

By 13:30, the joint actions of our tankers and motorized rollers from the team of the 18th and 29th buildings of the state farm Oktyabrsky was completely liberated from the enemy. However, the further development of the onset of the 5th Guards Tank Army in the October section - the height of 252.2 did not occur. To detain our tank corps, the Germans threw large strengths of aviation against them. The raids were made for several hours with groups from 8 to 40 aircraft.

In addition, the Germans conducted counterattacks with the participation of their tanks. Parts of our troops that occupied defense in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Counsel, in the afternoon, beat several opponent's counterattacks.

Both sides suffered large losses during the battle in the area, especially in the technique. About 120 tanks and selfinterpowers of the 18th and 29th tank buildings were chopped and burned in the Oktyabrsky and height of 252.2. The Germans lost their shot down and burnt 50% of the tanks participating in this battle, as well as two SAU "Grill", five "Vesz", one "Hummel", more than 10 armored personnel carriers, about 10 anti-tank guns. There were losses among other types of weapons and techniques.

No less fierce battles turned over under Prokhorovka and on other front sites.

Fighting in the area of \u200b\u200bthe farmhouse

The fierce battles in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Khutor's farmhouse continued throughout the previous day (July 11). Persistently defending it, the division of the 169th tank and the 58th motorized rifle team of the 2nd tank corps together with the infantry chains of the 285th rifle regiment, all attacks of the enemy were charged. You could not take the witching on July 11, the Germans could not. However, the infantry of the 1st Panzergrenadirsky Regiment, reinforced about 12 "MARDERS", managed to capture the forest and height to the north of the watchdog.

At 8:30 am, the 25th Tank Brigade of the 29th Tank Corps of the Red Army passed on the offensive. In addition to the existing 67 tanks, it received eight saough, of which 4 SU-122 and 4 SU-76. The actions of the brigade supported the infantry of the 9th Guards Division. According to the task, the brigade had to step in the direction of the guard of the guard and Ivanovo set, to reach the depth of the opponent's defense, after which be ready to further develop the offensive.

The first to the attack of about 30 "Thirties" with the target of infantry on board were followed. Already at the very beginning of the movement, our tanks fell under the aiming and tight fire of "Marders" and anti-tank guns of the 1st Panzergrenadirsky regiment.

The infantry was covered by mortar volley and fixed. Having lost a few tanks with chopped and burnt, "thirty-worse" returned to the initial positions.

At 10 am, the attack resumed - this time by the forces of the whole brigade. The battalion on T-34 and 4 Su-122 occurred ahead. Following them moved 36 T-70 and 4 SU-76. When approaching the watchdog tanks and SAU brigades were again met with the strongest fire from the eastern outskirts of the forest. Calculations of German anti-tank guns and crews "Marders", accumulating among the vegetation, led a destructive fire from ambushes. In a short time, many of our tanks and self-propelled goods were chopped and burned.

Parts of combat vehicles still managed to break into the depths of the defense of the enemy, but here they were waiting for them. Leaving the Ivanovo Vyselovsky's area, the division of Volodin's brigade was greeted by the fire of the Division of Division "Reich". Loss of significant losses and having no support for neighbors, tankers were forced to retreat.

By noon, the remaining 6 T-34 and 15 T-70 focused on the southeast of the watchdog. All self-containers who supported the brigade were shot down by this time or burned. In this unsuccessful battle for himself, the crews of our tanks and SAU acted courageously and desperately, the episodes of battle were spoken about eloquently.

One of the self-propelled joints under the command of Lieutenant V. M. Kubaevsky received a hit and caught fire. Her crew continued to shoot on the enemy, until shells ended, after which the self-propelled flame went to the taran of the German tank. At the time of the collision, SAU exploded.

In another self-propeller, under the command of Lieutenant D. A. Erin, as a result of German shells, the caterpillar was interrupted and the sloth was broken. Despite the fierce fire on a self-propelled gun, Erin got out and repaired the caterpillar, after which he brought a damaged car from the battle and sent it to the location of the repairmen. After 4 hours, the sloth was replaced with a new one, and Erin immediately went again into battle.

Lieutenants of Vostrikov, Pichugin, Slautin and Junior Lieutenant Shaposhnikov who fought on the T-70, died in battle, continuing to shoot around the enemy of burning tanks.

Relaxing all the attacks of the 25th Brigade, the Germans themselves switched to the offensive on the watchdog, gradually increasing the power of their blows. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe day, from the south-west direction, the farm was attacked by the battalion of the 3rd Panzergrenadirsky Regiment of Division "Reich" with the support of ten assault guns. Later from the north in the direction of the farm, 14 tanks and infantry of the Division "Leibshantand" were hit. Despite the stubborn resistance of our troops, by 18 o'clock the Germans captured watchdogs. However, further adversary promotion was stopped.

A small plot in the Watchdow region turned out to be the only one on which during the day on July 12, parts of the two German divisions "Leibstandart" and "Reich" managed during the attacks to move forward.

Fights in the area of \u200b\u200bSmall Polyana farm and Kalinin

At the auxiliary direction, the 2nd Guards Tank Corps was assumed to the South Watchtower on July 12. In front of his commander Colonel A. S. Budyan was raised a difficult task. The offensive actions of the brigade of his corps were to sow the forces of the Division "REYIX" on the sector of the Casual Polyana - Kalinin and deprive the opponent of the possibility of transferring troops to the direction of the main strike of the 5th Guards Tank Army.

A rapidly changing atmosphere has made changes to the preparation of the hull to the offensive. At night, the divisions of the German 3rd tank corps south of Prokhorovka managed to break through the defense of the 69th Army and go to the village of Rustz. To block a German breakthrough, the connections and parts of the 5th Guards Tank Army were used, which were in reserve or preparing to advance to the west of Prokhorovka.

At 7 am, one of the three tank brigades was displayed from the 2nd Guards Corps and was transferred to counteract the German 3rd tank corpus. Of the 141 tanks at the disposal of the Burdean remained only about a hundred. It was weakened by the combat capabilities of the case and deprived him of the reserve commander.

The warning guardsmen Division "Reich" has more than a hundred tanks and sau, as well as 47 anti-tank guns. Yes, and by the number of personnel, Division "REYIX" twice was superior to the attachment to attack her tank corps.

Part of the forces of Division "Reich" took defense, while the other part was in a state of waiting. The Division Bronugroup, which consisted of tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry on armored personnel carriers, was assigned to the advanced and resided in willingness to act depending on the situation.

Understanding the complexity of the situation, Burdean asked to transfer the time the start of the transition of the corps in the offensive and received permission. Only at 11:15, there are two tank brigades of the building, which counted 94 tanks, began to attack the Division of Rayich.

The 25th Guards Tank Brigade struck in the direction of the Casual Polyana. Having met the strong resistance of the enemy, our tank workers were able to master only the forest south of the village. Further promotion of the brigade was stopped by the fire of anti-tank guns.

Having passed into the attack from the area of \u200b\u200bBelenihino through the positions of the infantry of the 4th Panzergrenadirsky Regiment, 28 T-34 and 19 T-70 from the 4th Guards Tank Brigade entered into battle for Kalinin. Here our tankers faced with about 30 tanks of the 3rd battalion of the 2nd Tank Regiment of SS. Among the tanks of the enemy there were eight trophy "thirty holders" used in the Division "Reich". After the loss of several tanks, the commander of the Krasnoarmeysian brigade stopped the attack and ordered his tankers to take defense at 600 meters southeast Kalinin.

South Kalinin, on the line of the farmers Ozersky and Kohschevsky, broke out the battalions of the 4th GW of the motorized rifle brigade of the Bordean Corps. Further promotion of our infantrymen was stopped by mortar fire.

The transition to the attack of the parts of Raikha on the right flank of the division and the seizure of the watchdog was seriously reflected in the position of the 2nd Guards Tank Corps. The first received an order to move back and cover the open right flank of the building of the 25th Brigade. And after the statement of mastering the Germans of Watchdog at 18:00, the Burondean ordered the Guards 4th tank and the 4th motorized rifle brigades to move back to its original positions. By the outcome of the day on July 12, the 2nd Guards Tank Corps was forced to go to the defense at the Benchenikino previously occupied by the border - Vinogradovka.

With its actions during the day of the Brigade of the Burdown Corps, the attention of a number of parts of the Division "REYIX" was attracted. Thus, they did not allow to use the larger forces of the Division "Reich" for the offensive and help to neighbor - the Lakebstandart Division, which beat the attack of our two tank buildings.

Fight for Sovzhoz Komsomolets

At about 9 o'clock in the morning, the 1st battalion of the 32nd tank brigade was published in the height area of \u200b\u200b252.2. His commander Major P. S. Ivanov saw beaten and burning "thirty-seater" of the 2nd Battalion of the Brigade before him. Wanting to save tanks and trying to fulfill the task set in front of him, Ivanov decided to make a maneuver and coop the height of the left. By ordering the crews of 15 tanks following him, Major Railing the railway and continued the offensive along the railway mound. Germans who did not expect such a maneuver from our tank workers, did not have time to do anything. The tanks of the first battalion, led by the "thirteen" commander, at high speed continued to move into the depths of the opponent's defense.

Already by 9 o'clock, our tanks reached the Assistant Komsomolets and captured him. Following the tankers, the infantry of the first battalion of the 53rd motorized rifle brigade broke into the state farm. Quickly defeating the few forces of the Germans, which were in state farm, our tank workers and motorized rifles occupied defense in the Komsomol and its surroundings.

It was the first success and the deepest breakthrough of the Defense of the Division "Leibstandart" at a distance of 5 kilometers, achieved by our tankers in the morning of July 12.

In an effort to eliminate the resulting threat, the Germans, using the divisions of our troops that were located nearby, cut off the group of our tank workers and motorized rollers from the main forces of the 29th tank corps.

Soon the area of \u200b\u200bthe state farm was covered with artillery and mortar fire. The enemy's infantrymen went to the attack, trying to beat off the OSOZ Komsomolets back. Gradually, the power of German strikes increased, armored vehicles were introduced into battle. Communicating the defense in a busy turn on the strengthening and tanking tanks, our fighters were able to reflect the first attacks of the enemy.

Once surrounded by Major Ivanov reported on this radio commander of the brigade. A group of tanks sent immediately to the rescue counselors of the state farm. They also crossed the railway and moved to the state farm bypassing the height of 252.2. But they could not get to the Komsomol. All tanks were shot down by the enemy's fire on the approach to the state farm.

Left without support, the division of the 29th corps was able to hold out in the Komsomol several hours. The Germans were constantly attacked, and our tankers and motorized rifles beat off one attack after another. Five times the state farm passed from hand.

Gradually, inequality in the power began to be felt. After all the tanks, including the tank of the Combat, were shot down, the motorized stages were forced to leave the state farm and with the fight to move to the Yameki area, breaking out of the environment.

To achieve the development of success achieved by the seizure of the Soviet Arch Republic, the Komsomolets still at the very beginning of the offensive, the forces of the 29th tank corps failed. However, while the fight continued for the state farm, she distracted attention and part of the Lake -andandart Division forces from the battle on the front line.

After two hours of the day, the main hopes for the further development of the offensive Commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army associated with the actions of the 18th Tank Corps ...

Fight in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Andreevka

In approximately in the area of \u200b\u200bthe day of the day, the commanders of the Brigad of the 18th Tank Corps received the task of General B. S. Baharov to continue to develop the offensive along the southern shores of the Psöl River. The 110th tank brigade, which was in reservation, was aimed at Mikhailovka. The 181st and 170 brigade with joint actions with the Churchillian regiment and with the support of the infantry of the 9th and 42nd Guards divisions and the 32nd motorized rifle brigade of the case were to capture Andreevka. Then two tank brigades had to turn south and strike into the Defense Depth of the Lakebstart Division.

The 181st Tank Brigade has advanced to Mikhailovka. Here she connected with the Techilla Tank Group from the 36th Separate Guards Regiment and the infantry of the 127th regiment of the 42nd Guards Rifle Division.

At the same time, the Tanks of the 170th Tank Brigade, and the infantry of the 23rd Guards Regiment of the 9th Guards Airborne Division, were put forward from the Oktyabrsky region.

With the German side, the resistance to our troops was provided by the divisions of the Division of the Lakebstandart Division and the 6th Panzergrenadirsky Regiment of the Devision "Dead Head".

Tanks MK. IV "Churchill" of the 36th Guards Individual Tank Regiment

The onset of the group of our troops along the river went slowly. The enemy covered Soviet infantry with volley from Gaubitz and mortars, forcing her to lay down. Crews of Tanks "Churchill", the number of which at this point ranged from 10 to 15 units, had to act independently.

For a fracture of the situation, General Major Bahaharov introduced the 32nd motorized brightest brigade into battle. The joint actions of the compounds and parts of the 18th Tank Corps and the Rifle Regiment of the 42nd GW of the Division to three o'clock the day Avdeevka was released.

The 170th and 181th brigades turned to the south and began to step in the direction of height 241.6. By this impact of the brigade sought to disseminate the defense of the Lakebstandart Division on the site between the Psöl River and the Railway.

The remaining forces of the 18th Tank Corps with the support of the infantrymen of the 42nd GW of the Division continued to adopt along the river. To six o'clock in the evening they managed to capture Vasilievka.

At this turn, the offensive of our troops was suspended. The commander of the "Dead Head" German Ply sent to strengthen the infantry of the 6th Panzergrenadirsky Regiment part of the tanks and assault guns of the division. After receiving a reinforcement, the Germans began to move in counterattacks and tried to beat off the village left back. However, parts of the 18th Tank Corps and the 42nd Guards Division are firmly held by the reached frontiers in the area of \u200b\u200bVasilievka.

Fight in the height area 241.6

The 181st and 170th brigades, unfolding on the plot between the two ravines, began to step in the southern direction. Overcoming the veil, exposed by the divisions of the Division of the Division "Labishtandard", our tanks together with the infantrymen began to go through the defense of the enemy. The commander of the Division "Leibstandard" Vish, who was at that time at a height of 241.6, had perfectly seen the happening. He ordered a group of reserve tanks led by four "tigers" to move towards the approaching Soviet tanks and the counterattack to stop their offensive. The fire fight between the German and Soviet tanks began. Several tanks of two of our brigades were shot.

Skill maneuvering on the battlefield and using the folds of the terrain, most of our tanks still managed to break through to the height area of \u200b\u200b241.6. Here the crews "TirtyTvenchy" and the T-70 saw the positions of the Gaubic batteries of the Artillery Regiment of the Leibstandart. Taking advantage of the opportunity, tankers began to destroy the German guns nearby. German artilleryrs were shocked by the sudden appearance of our tanks and began to hide in shelters.

The picture of the events happened well convey memories of one of the participants in those events - minlose, a military personnel from the 3rd division, equipped with 150-mm Gaubes:

"The T-34 Tower seemed again. This tank promoted relatively slowly. Against the background of the horizon, the silhouettes of the Red Army soldiers who killed on it were clearly identified. At a distance of 20 or 30 meters, he followed the second, then the third and fourth. Perhaps their crews did not believe that our two 150-mm cannons could open fire on them. Two separated from other artillery guns were face to face with these agile tanks. But the soldiers on these tanks also did not shoot for a while. T-34 reached the forest edge. It seemed to me that I was at the same time heard the clear commander's voice of the officer of our battery of the Unth-signed Provers and the deaf risks of our guns. Who could believe it? Russian tanks continued to move. None of them took off into the air, did not even be shot down. Neither a single shot! Even a single scratch! Even the soldiers were still sitting on top. Then they attacked jumping down. This meant that now the battle for our two guns is practically lost. This time, luck was not on our side. And before our artilleryrs were able to recharge guns and shoot again, all the tanks turned their towers and opened fire on our positions with their fragmentation shells without a break and compassion. They seemed to be sighted by the hail of their shells every turn. Shardings were simply wounded over our shelter. The sand fell asleep us. What protection was the trench in the ground! We felt safe, hiding in this Russian land. The land hid everyone: both of their enemies. The fire stopped suddenly. There were no commanders and orders, no screams and moans. Silence ... "

Soviet tanks managed to destroy several German hardhery haubs together with part of their calculations. It was one of the deepest and efficient breakthroughs of the 5th Guards Tank Army in the depths of the opponent's defense on July 12. However, this time the success failed.

Having tightening the reserves, including from the composition of the neighboring division "Reich", the Germans were able to stop the offensive of Soviet tanks and put losses them. Tanks of two of our brigades were forced to return to the area of \u200b\u200bAndreyevka.

Fights in the area of \u200b\u200bfarm keys

On the plot north of the Psöl River on July 12, fierce battles of compounds of the 5th Guards Army with parts of the division "Dead Head" unfolded.

The fighting began at dawn. Already at 4 in the morning, put forward from the area of \u200b\u200bthe farm fun in the south direction, attacked the enemy a consolidated battalion from the divisions of the 51st and 52th Guards Rifle Divisions. Our infantrymen with the support of the fire of mortars and Katyusch quickly reached the German positions in the area of \u200b\u200bBarakov, north of the Klyuchi farm. Guardsmen entered the nearby battle with German infantry from the 1st battalion of the 5th Branzergrenadirsky Regiment. The commander of the division "Dead Head" German is predicted to eliminate the threat to crossing and providing the area of \u200b\u200bthe upcoming attack urgently ordered to enter the tanks into battle. By that time, the German River Battalion of the 3rd Tank Regiment of the CC (about 40 tanks) managed to another bank.

The Germans divided their strength. The first group of 18 tanks together with the Grenadlers counteratocated our consolidated battalion. The second group of 15 tanks accompanied by infantry headed to the height of 226.6.

Having broken through the combat order of the consolidated battalion, the Germans tried to capture the fun, but they met stubborn resistance. In this area, two of our rifle regiments were defended from the 52nd and 95th GW of Rifle Divisions with the support of artillery and Katyush.

Once under a gun, machine-gun and mortar fire, German infantry faced. According to the remaining without infantry, the tanks opened our guns. Several German tanks were chopped, and two burned. The effect of fire on the division of the "dead head" participated in the attack was intensified - they soon were covered with several volley "Katyush". After that, the Germans had to stop the attack and move back to its original positions.

At the same time, for several hours, there was a fight in the vicinity of keys. The consolidated battalion, skipping the tanks through his position, did not depart, and defended in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Barakov. The resistance of the guardsmen was so fierce and stubborn that even the crews of a shot down burnt German tanks were thrown as ordinary infantry. Only by 9 am, the Germans were able to knock out our shooters and capture the barracks.

On this, fighting directly in the area of \u200b\u200bthe keys ended.

The Germans continued to transfer armored vessels on the bridgehead and focused their shock forces to the south of the height of 226.6. The first priority of the upcoming onset of the division "Dead Head" bypassing Prokhorovka from the flank was the seizure of team heights of 226.6 and 236.7 and settlements, which were near them.

Fight for height 226.6

The height of 226.6 was closest to the bridgehead and was important for both sides. The holding of height allowed our troops to observe crossing over the psel and the movement of the enemy forces in the district. For the Germans, the seizure of the height was a decisive condition for the development of the offensive.

The first battles for height began early in the morning.

At 5:25 am, a group of 15 German tanks (1st battalion of the 3rd tank shelf) with the support of infantry from the farm area keys put forward to the east to a height of 226.6. Bringing the front edge of the defense of the 155th GW of the Rifle Regiment, Tanks and Grenades burst into height. Our guards joined the Middle Fight, the places passed to hand-to-hand fights in trenches. After the fierce two-hour battle, the Germans were forced to retreat. At the same time, German tanks did not move away far away, but were located on the southwestern slopes and began fire from the place of height defenders.

While there was a fight, the main German forces accumulated south of the height in the willingness to go to the offensive as focused. The tanks of the 2nd battalion of the 3rd tank shelf and armored personnel with Grenadiers and Sapiers tightened in this area. They also hurried to join the remaining on the go after the morning battle at the funny tanks of the 1st battalion.

The concentration of German troops was carried out in sight of our soldiers and did not go unpunished. While the German tanks were waiting for attack, many of their crews left their fighting vehicles to relax. Suddenly, the area south of the height was covered with the Volani Katyush. Tankers are lucky: they managed to hide from flying around the fragments under the tanks. The German sapper, who was at this moment in his armored personnel carriers, was nowhere to hide, and they suffered great losses. The beginning of the attack was delayed.

Only at 10:30 am, an attack of height forces of 42 tanks began with the support of infantry. The fight immediately accepted a fierce character. The divisions of the 155th GW of the Rifle Regiment and the 11th Motorized Relocked Brigade opened fire in German infantry and forced her to heal. However, without having a sufficient number of anti-tank funds, our shooters were difficult to fight German tanks. An hour later, by 11:30, most of the German tanks broke through the ridge of height. German tank workers began to fire focus from guns and machine guns at the positions of our troops at height. Once under the onslaught of superior enemy forces, the infantry of the 155th GW of the regiment began to move away from the height. The Germans began to tighten additional forces to height.

For three hours, being surrounded and seaside, the battalions of the 11th motorized rifle brigade led a heavy battle at an altitude of 226.6. Three hours of the day, under the pressure of the enemy and spending ammunition, motorized rifles with small groups, under the cover of fire and mortars, began to exit from height in the northern and eastern directions.

Having lost a few tanks pagging and loss in infantry, the Germans captured height. At the same time, mastering in the second half of the day alone closest to the river height, the Germans lost a precious time, losing the chances of a breakthrough of the defense of the 5th Guards Army in the rash of the Psöl River.

Having tightening the additional infantry forces and tanks to the height of 226.6, part of the division "Dead Head" continued the offensive. At the same time, the main blow was applied to the north at a height of 236.7 and bypassing the height in the northeast direction. The aim of auxiliary strike was a funny farm.

Fights in the area of \u200b\u200bthe farm fun

A few hours after the reflection of the morning attack of German tanks and infantry, fierce battles resumed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe farm fun.

At 15:15 thirteen German tanks, breaking through the defenses of the 155th GW of the Rifle Shelf at a height of 226.6, attacked the position of the 151st regiment on the approaches to the fun. Stripping on the intensive fire of our artillery, the crews of German tanks stopped the attack and, unfolding, moved back to the height area.

At 16:10 followed the next attack of German tanks. This time, six German tanks, with the support of the infantry, managed to break through the armor of the regiment. Between the infantry of both sides, a fight in the trenches was faced, the places passed to the hand-to-hand. The crews of German tanks from guns and machine guns led the fire in the emphasis and ironing caterpillars the position of the Guardsmen. Under the head of the enemy, the division of the 155th GW The shelf began to move. At this moment, the Germans were close to grab the fun.

Nevertheless, this did not happen. The opponent's attack was repulsed by the joint efforts of the infantrymen of the 290th Guards Rifle Regiment and the fire supported their guns of the 95th Guards Rifle Division.

So without taking the farm fun, the Germans were forced to stop attacks in his direction and moved to height of 226.6.

Fight in the height area 236.6

The height of 236.6 was the highest point with which the entire area of \u200b\u200bcombat operations turned out to be perfectly visible in the rapid of the Psöl River. Already from early morning at the observation point, equipped at the height, there was a commander of the 5th Guards Army Lieutenant General A. S. Zhadov. He personally followed the events on the battlefield. After capturing the heads of the height of 226.6 and accumulate their strength in the area, the situation here became more and more dangerous. The threat of the defense breakthrough of the 5th Guards Army was created.

Zheadov applied every effort to not give the division "Dead Head" to escape from a bridgehead. He perfectly understood that the tanks of the enemy could be stopped, only creating a strong anti-tank barrier on their way. In the height of 237.6 and west of it turned out all the guns of the artpol and the anti-tank division of the 95th GW of the Rifle Division. Additional forces tightened to the breakthrough site. North of the height of 237.6 took the defense of the 6th GW of the Airborne Division on the reserve. All her guns were put on open positions in readiness to fight with German tanks. Already from 13:00, eight 45-mm guns of the 6th GW of the VDD turned at an altitude of 237.6. Over the next four hours, they participated in battle with German tanks. At the same time, 122-mm warm-up of the 6th Guards Division was the fire on the enemy infantry, which was advancing behind the tanks.

The commander of the division "Dead Head" Hermann decided in the afternoon, still try to fulfill the task assigned to his division: to seize the command heights and break into the road suitable for Prokhorovka from the North-West. By 16:00 in the region of the height of 226.6, the Germans concentrated more than 70 tanks and assault guns, several dozen armored vehicles to the infantry regiment. German aviation was preparing to actively support the actions of tanks and infantry.

Soon about 30 tanks and assault implements with the support of infantry attacked the height of 236.7. About 30 tanks, accompanied by armored vehicles with infantry, hit in the northeast direction, seeking to achieve the roads of Prokhorovka - Kartash. Our artillery officers entered the fierce fight with German tanks.

At the beginning of the battle, the main blow of German tanks assumed the artillery of the 95th Guards Rifle Division. The picture of the events happened well convey the memories of the commander of artillery 95th GW of the division of Colonel N. D. Seberko:

"Understanding the established situation, the commander of the division threw all the cash and reserves into battle: the penalty company, car guns and other units, and most importantly - attracted all artillery to combat tanks. For shooting, the entire 233rd GW was derived. AP under the command of GW. Lieutenant Colonel A. P. Revina. The regiment commander managed to quickly output and open the fire by all cannon batteries, leaving only the warm batteries on the closed fighter positions. Also was thrown into battle the entire 103rd GW. Optad under the command of Major P. D. Boyko. ... Major Boyko has always been in the thick of the battle, skillfully led the divisions and inspired the fighters and commanders with his personal example. "

In addition to the tanks, the position of our artillery batteries were attached to the strikes of German bombers.

Joint actions of artillery 95th GW of Division and other parts to eight o'clock in the evening, all attacks of German tanks were repulsed. Despite the use of significant forces of tanks operating with the support of infantry and aviation, the division "Dead Head" was not able to completely break through the defense of the troops of the 5th Guards Army and escape from the bridgehead. Thus, the execution of a German plan for breakthrough to Prokhorovka was completely torn. At the same time, the division "Dead Head" suffered serious losses in tanks during the battle in the rapid of the Psöl River.

Only the fire of artillery of the 95th Guards Rifle Division during July 12, 24 German tanks were be charged and three burned.

Prehistory and participants of the battle

July 5, 1943, the Kursk battle began. The army groups of the Wehrmacht army group army caused a strongest blow to the southern Fasim of Kursk Arc. Initially, the Germans forces by the 4th Tank Army were striving to step in the northern direction along the Belgorod - Kursk highway. The troops of the Voronezh Front under the command of Nikolai Fedorovich Vatutin met the enemy by persistent defense and were able to suspend his promotion. On July 10, the German command, trying to succeed, changed the direction of the main strike on the Prokhorovka.

There were three Barzhargrenadirsk divisions of the 2nd Tank Corps of the SS: "Dead Head", "Leibstandart" and "Reich". They were opposed by the troops of the Voronezh Front, on which the 5th Guards Tank and the 5th Guards Army was transmitted from the reserve.

To stop the opponent's offensive and defeat its compounds, on July 12 N. F. Vatutin decided to apply powerful counterdads in German positions. The main role at the same time was assigned to two new armies. The main blow in the area to the west of Prokhorovka was to apply the 5th Guards Tank Army.

However, on July 10 and 11, events occurred, complicating preparations for the Condrudar. In particular, the 2nd Tank Corps SS was able to approach the Prokhorovka, and one of his divisions - the "dead head" - was able to create a bridgehead on the northern shore of the Psöl River. Because of this, part of the forces intended to participate in Conitary, Vatutin had to be introduced to the battle. On July 11, two divisions (the 95th Guards and the 9th Guards Airborne Airborne) from the 5th Army entered into battle with the 2nd SS tank corps, blocking him the path to Prokhorovka and blocking the forces of the Germans on a bridgehead. Due to the promotion of the Germans, the initial areas of the joints of the armies to participate in the counterdown had to be moved east. This was the greatest influence on the troops of the 5th Guards Tank Army - the tanks of the two tank buildings (18th and 29th) had to be unfolded in a close area between the Psöl River and the Railway. In addition, the action of tanks at the very beginning of the upcoming occurrence prevented a deep beam, stretching from the river to Prokhorovka.

By the evening of July 11, as part of the 5th Guards Tank Army, taking into account the two tank corps (the 2nd Guards and 2nd Tank) attached to it, there were more than 900 tanks and SAU. However, not all of them could be used in the battles to the west of Prokhorovka - the second tank corps put himself in order after participating in stressful battles on July 11 and could not take active participation in the upcoming counterdard.

Changing the setting at the front also imposed his imprint to prepare for the counterdown. On the night of July 11-1 on July 12, the divisions of the German 3rd tank corps managed to break through the defense of the 69th Army and go to the Prokhorov destination from the south. In the event of the development of success, German tank divisions could reach the rear of the 5th Guards Tank Army.

To eliminate the threat created, on the morning of July 12, it was necessary to allocate and send a considerable part of the forces to the place of breakthrough, including 172 tanks and SAU of the 5th Guards Tank Army. It sprayed the forces of the army and left her commander of General Paul Rothmistrova with a slight reserve of 100 tanks and SAU.

July 12 to 8:30 in the morning - the time of the beginning of the counterdad - to the west of Prokhorovka were ready to go to the offensive only about 450 tanks and sau, of which approximately 280 in the area between the Psöl River and the railway.

On the part of the 5th Guards Army, on July 12, the actions of the Tankists had to have two divisions. The two other divisions of the Army A. S. Zhedov were going to attack the part of the division "Dead Head" on the North Coast of the Psöl River.

The 2nd Tank Corps SS, despite the losses incurred in previous battles, still remained strong enough and was ready for active actions, and both to defense and the offensive. As of the morning, 18,500 personnel were 18,500 people in two divisions of the hull, and the Lebstandart has 20,000 people.

For a whole week, the 2nd Tank Corps has continuously participated in fierce battles, and many of his tanks, having received damage, were in repair. Nevertheless, the body still has had a significant amount of combat-ready armored vehicles and was ready for active actions, both both defense and the offensive. On July 12, the corps division could use about 270 tanks in battle, 68 assault tools and 43 "Mardera".

The hull was preparing to apply the main blow from the bridgehead on the Psöl River. Division "Dead Head", using most of its 122 combat-ready tanks and assault guns as a taran, with the support of aviation was to master the raw river Psöl and go to Prokhorovka from the North-West. Liebestard's watchtandart, who was located on the site between the Psöl river and the farmhouse, was held by holding his position on the left flank and in the center, the attack on the right flank to seize the watchdog, after which to be ready to support the action of the division "Dead Head" to capture the progehore strike from south -Waspad. The Division "Reich", which was south of the "Leibstandard" received the task of holding his position in the center and on the right flank and step on the left flank.

On July 12, the Troops of the Voronezh Front held Conterdis. This event has become a culmination moment of Prokhorovsky battle.

The main battles west of Prokhorovka turned in the following areas:

• the main forces of the 18th, 29th tank buildings of the 5th Guards Tank Army, as well as the 9th and 42nd Guards Divisions of the 5th Guards Army, took part in the area between the PsEl River and Railway. and with the German part of the Division "Lebstandard" and "Dead Head";
• the 25th Tank Brigade of the 29th Tank Corps, Parts and Division of the 9th Guards and 183 Rifle Divisions, as well as the 2nd Tank Corps participated in the area of \u200b\u200bthe watchdog on the south of the railway. with the German part of the Division "Leibstandard" and "Dead Head";
• in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Casual Polyana and Kalinina, Kohschevsky and Ozersky, the Brigades of the 2nd GB of the Tank Corps participated, and with the German part of the Division "Reich";
• To the north of the Psöl River on our part, the compounds and part of the 5th Guards Army participated, and with the German part of the division "Dead Head".

The constant change in the situation and the difficulties arising from the preparation of the counterdard led to the fact that it was not at a predetermined scenario. On July 12, fierce battles unfolded from Prokhorovka, in which the Soviet troops attacked on some sites, and the Germans were defended, and on others everything happened up to the opposite. In addition, the attacks were accompanied by counterattacks on both sides - it lasted throughout the day.

The main goal of Consturian on this day did not reach - the strike forces of the enemy were not crushed. At the same time, the promotion of the troops of the German 4th tank army in the direction of Prokhorovka was finally stopped. Soon, the Germans stopped holding the "Citadel" operation, began to take their troops to the initial positions and transfer the part of the forces to other parts of the front. For the troops of the Voronezh Front, this meant victory in Prokhorov battle and their defensive operation.

A detailed picture of the war to the west of Prokhorovka on July 12 is reflected on the interactive map.

Sources and literature:

1. TsAMO RF.
2. BA-MA Germany
3. Nara USA.
4. Materials of the site memory of the people https://pamyat-naroda.ru/
5. Materials site feat of the people http://podvignaroda.mil.ru/
6. Vasilyeva L. N., Yolovka I. G. in the sight of Prokhorovka. In 2 tons. T. 2. - Moscow; Belgorod; Prokhorovka: Constant, 2013.
7. Zamulin V. N. Classified Kursk Battle. Unknown documents testify. - m .:, 2008
8. Isaev A. V. Liberation 1943. "From Kursk and Eagle the war brought us ...". - M.: Eksmo, Yauza, 2013
9. Nipe, George M. Blood, Steel, And Myth: The II.ss-Panzer-Korps and The Road to Prouchorowka. Stamford, CT: RZM Publishing, 2011
10. Vopersal W. Soldaten - Kämpfer - Kameraden - Marsch und Kämpfe der SS-Totenkopf-Division - Band IIIB, 1987
11. LEHMANN R. THE LEIBSTANDARTE. Vol. III.WINNIPEG: J.J. Fedororowicz, 1993.
12. Weidinger O. Das Reich. Vol. IV. 1943. Winnipeg: J.j. FedorOrodeicz, 2008.

A large-scale tank battle near Prokhorovka was the defensive phase of the Kursk battle. This confrontation with the use of armored vehicles of the two strongest army at that time - Soviet and German - still considered one of the largest in military history. The command of the Soviet tank compounds was carried out by Lieutenant General Pavel Alekseevich Rotmistrov, and German - Paul Hawsser.

On the eve of the battle

In early July 1943, the Soviet leadership became known that the main blow to the Germans would have to the Oboyan, and the auxiliary would be directed to shorter. In the first case, the offensive was carried out by the second tank corps, which included the SS division "Adolf Hitler", "Dead Head" and "Reich". They were able to break through the two lines of Soviet defense in a few days and approach the third, located ten kilometers south-west of Prokhorovka railway station. She was at that time in the territory of the Oktyabrsky Oktyabrian region.

German tanks under Prokhorovka appeared on July 11, while the resistance of one of the Soviet rifle divisions and the second tank corps at the same time. Seeing this situation, the Soviet command sent additional forces to this area, which could finally stop the enemy.

It was decided on the need to apply a powerful counterdard aimed at the complete destruction of the SS armored corporation corps in the defense. It was assumed that three guards and two tank armies would take part in this operation. But a rapidly changing situation introduced their own adjustments to these plans. It turned out that only one 5th Guards under the command of A. S. Zhadov, as well as the 5th tank army, headed by P. A. Rothmistrov, will participate in Constraudar from the Soviet side.

Full-scale offensive

In order to though a little tighten the forces of the Red Army, focused on the Prokhorov direction, the Germans prepared a blow in the area of \u200b\u200bthe position of the 69th Army, performing from Rust and heading north. Here, one of the fascist tank corps began to occur, trying to break through from the south side to the desired station.

So began a full-scale battle under Prokhorovka. The date of it began - the morning on July 12, 1943, when the headquarters of the 5th tank army P. A. Rothmistrov received a message about the breakthrough of a significant grouping of German armored vehicles. It turned out that about 70 units of enemy technicians, having come from the southwest, traveled to the villages and rust and rapidly moving on.

Start

In order to stop the enemy, a couple of summary detachments were formed, which were commissioned to command General N. I. Trufanov. The Soviet side was able to put up to hundreds of tanks. The newly created detachments had to almost immediately rush into battle. The whole day in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Market and Rustza continued the bloody battle.

Then almost everyone understood that the battle under Prokhorovka decided not only the outcome of this battle, but also the fate of all parts of the 69th Army, whose troops were in a semiring of the enemy environment. Therefore, it was not surprising that Soviet soldiers showed truly mass heroism. Take at least a feat of the anti-tank suspension of Art. Lieutenant K. T. Pozdeev.

During the next attack in the direction of his position, a group of fascist tanks with machine gunners on board with a number of 23 cars rushed. The unequal and bloody battle. The guardsmen managed to destroy 11 tanks, thereby not allowing the rest to embed into its own combat order. It is necessary to say that almost all the warriors of this platoon died.

Unfortunately, it is impossible in one article to list the names of all the characters who took the tank battle under Prokhorovka. Briefly, I would like to note at least a few of them: Private Petrov, Sergeant Cheremian, Lieutenants Panarin and Novak, Voinorfeldsher Kostrikova, Captain Pavlov, Major Falut, Lieutenant Colonel Goldberg.

By the end of the next day, the consolidated detachment was able to knock out the fascists and take the settlements of the market and rust under their control. As a result of the nomination of part of the Soviet troops, it turned out to fully localize the success that a little earlier reached one of the German tank buildings. Thus, with their actions, the Trufanov detachment ripped the major offensive of the fascists and prevented the threat of an opponent's call in the rear of the 5th Tank Army of Rothmistrova.

Fire support

It cannot be said that battles on the field under Prokhorovka were held solely with the participation of tanks and self-propelled guns. Artillery with aviation also played here not a latter role. When early in the morning on July 12, the strike group of the opponent began an offensive, the Soviet attack aircraft attacked the tanks that were part of the SS division "Adolf Hitler". In addition, before the 5th Rotmistrova's tank army began to apply counterdorm forces of the enemy, artillery preparation was carried out, which lasted about 15 minutes.

During heavy battles in the rash. Psle 95th Soviet Rifle Division opposed the Tank Group of the SS "dead head". Here our military supported the 2nd air army under the command of Marshal S. A. Krasovsky. In addition, long-range aviation worked in the area.

Soviet attack aircraft and bombers managed to reset the enemies on the heads of several thousand anti-tank bombs. Soviet pilots did everything to maintain ground parts. To do this, they caused crushing strikes on large clusters of enemy tanks and other armored vehicles in the area of \u200b\u200bsuch villages, like Pokrovka, dirty, Yakovlevo, small beacons, etc. At the time when the battle took place near Prokhorovka, dozens of attack aircraft, fighters and bombers were in the sky . This time, Soviet aviation had undoubted superiority in the air.

Advantages and disadvantages of combat vehicles

Kursk arc under Prokhorovka began to gradually turn out of the overall fight into individual tank duels. Here, opponents could show each other not only their skills, but also knowledge of tactics, as well as demonstrate the possibilities of their tanks. German parts were mainly equipped with medium tanks T-IV of two modifications - H and G, in which the thickness of the armored housing was 80, and the towers are 50 mm. In addition, there were also heavy tanks T-VI "Tiger". They were equipped with 100-millimeter armored corps, and their towers had a thickness of 110 mm. Both tanks were equipped with rather powerful long-tire guns of 75 and 88 mm caliber, respectively. They could break through the Soviet tank almost anywhere. The exception was only heavy armored vehicles IC-2, and then at a distance of more than five hundred meters.

The tank battle near Prokhorovka showed that Soviet tanks were largely inferior to German. It concerned not only the thickness of armor, but also the power of the guns. But the T-34 tanks, the former in the arms of the Red Army, exceeded enemy both speed and maneuverability and passability. They tried to embry on enemy combat orders and from close range to shoot the opponent's side armor.

Soon the combat orders of the warring sides were mixed. He is too tight accumulation of cars and too short distances deprived German tanks of all the advantages of their powerful guns. Tesne from a large accumulation of technology interfered with the other to perform the necessary maneuvers. As a result, armored vehicles came across each other, and often their sleeves began to explode. At the same time, their torn towers took off a few meters in height. Smoke and soot from burning and exploding tanks stood the sky, because of this, the battlefield was very bad visibility.

But the technique was burning not only on Earth, but also in the air. Discarded aircraft were divered and exploded right in the thick battles. Tank crews of both enemy sides left their burning cars and boldly entered the hand-to-hand fight with the enemy, to the way with the automata, knives and even grenades. It was a real terrible meal from human bodies, fire and metal. According to the memoirs of one of the eyewitnesses, everything burned around, there was an unimaginable noise, from which the ears were sick, apparently, it should look like hell.

Further running of battle

By the middle of the day, July 12, intense and bloody battles were also in the region of the height of 226.6, as well as near the railway. There fought the fighters of the 95th rifle division, who tried with all their forces to prevent all attempts by the "dead head" to break through in the northern direction. The second tank corpus was able to oust the Germans to the west of the railway and start quick promotion to the farms and Kalinin.

And at that time, the advanced parts of the German division "Reich" advanced, while taking a guard guard and a Benechino station. At the end of the day, the first of the SS divisions received a powerful reinforcement in the form of artillery and aviation firing support. That is why "dead head" managed to break through the defense of two Soviet rifle divisions and go to the farms of Polezhaev and cheerful.

The enemy tanks attempted to go on the road Prokhorovka - Kartashka, but they still stopped the 95th Infantry Division. Only one heroic platoon, which was commanded by Lieutenant P. I. Spade, destroyed seven Hitler's tanks. In battle, he received a difficult wound, but despite this, he took a bunch of grenades and rushed under the tank. For his feat, the lieutenant twelve was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the USSR.

The tank battle near Prokhorovka, held on July 12, led to significant losses both in the SS division "Dead Head" and in the "Adolf Hitler", thereby applying a big damage to their combat capabilities. But despite this, no one was going to get out of the battle or retreat - the enemy was resisted. Germans also had their own tankers-aces. Once somewhere in Europe, one of them managed to split alone as a whole column consisting of sixty units of cars and armored vehicles, but he died on the Eastern Front. This proves that Hitler sent here to fight the selected soldiers, from which the Division of the SS "Reich", Adolf Hitler and Dead Head were formed.

Retreat

By evening, the situation in all areas was difficult and the Germans had to enter into battle all available reserves. During the battle, the crisis has occurred. In contrast to the enemy, the Soviet side also introduced his last reserve into battle - hundreds of heavy armored vehicles. These were kv tanks ("Klim Voroshilov"). On this evening, the fascists still had to retreat and continue to go to the defense.

It is believed that it was 12 July that was the turning point of the famous Kursk battle, which was waiting for the whole country. This day was marked by the onset of parts of the Red Army, which are part of the Bryansky and Western fronts.

Unfulfilled plans

Despite the fact that the tank battle near Prokhorovka was played by the Germans on July 12, the fascist command still intended to continue further offensive. It planned to surround several Soviet divisions that are part of the 69th Army, which were defended in a small territory located between the rivers of Lipov and Seversky Donets. On July 14, the Germans part of their forces consisting of two tank and one infantry divisions were thrown to capture the previously lost villages - Markets, lyrics and persecuting. Further, the plans stood promotion towards Shakhovo.

The Soviet command solved the ideas of the enemy, so P. A. Rothmistrov gave orders to the consolidated detachment of N. I. Trufanov to stop the breakthrough of German tanks and prevent them in the desired line. The next battle has failed. In the next two days, the enemy continued to attack, but all attempts to break out to be unsuccessful, since the Truffanov Group moved to solid defense. From July 17, the Germans decided to take their troops away, and the heroic consolidated detachment was translated into the reserve of the army commander. This ended the greatest tank battle under Prokhorovka.

Losses

It should be noted that none of the opposing parties fulfilled those tasks that were delivered to them on July 12, as Soviet troops could not take a German group into the ring, and the fascists could not take possession of Prokhorovka and break through the defense of the enemy.

In this heavy battle, both sides suffered not only significant human losses, but also a greater loss of technology. From the Soviet side, about five hundred tanks of eight participants in battles were disabled. The Germans lost 75% of their armored vehicles, i.e., three of the four hundred cars.

The commander of the German tank corps of Paul Hawsser after the defeat immediately dismissed and accused of all failures, comprehended by Hitler's troops at the Kursk direction. In these battles, the enemy lost, according to some data, 4178 people, which amounted to 16% of the entire combat composition. Also turned out to be almost completely defeated 30 divisions. The largest tank battle near Prokhorovka broke the militant spirit of the Germans. After this battle, until the end of the war, the fascists no longer occurred, but only defensive battles were.

According to some reports, there is a report of the head of the General Staff A. M. Vasilevsky, which he provided Stalin, where the numbers characterized by the tank battle under Prokhorovka were set out. It was said that in two days of battles (meaning July 11 and 12, 1943), the 5th Guards Army, as well as the 9th and 95th divisions, were stuck the greatest losses. According to this report, losses amounted to 5859 people, among them 1387 killed and 1015 missing.

It is worth noting that all the numbers above are very controversial, but it can be said with confidence: it was one of the hardest battles of the Second World War.

It was opened in 2010 only 35 km from Belgorod and dedicated to all the heroes who died and stagnant in the largest and terrible tank battle, forever entered the world history. The museum was called the "Third Rattal Field of Russia" (first - Kulikovo, the second - Borodino). In 1995, the temple of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was erected at this legendary place. Here were perpetuated by the victims under Prokhorovka - seven thousand names are carved on marble plates covering the walls of the Church.

The symbol of the Prokhorovka is the bell with a sipped bell suspended on it, which weighs about three and a half tons. She is visible from everywhere, because it is located on the elevation, on the outskirts of the village of Prokhorovka. The center of the Memorial is considered a truly grand sculptural composition consisting of six tanks. Her authors were monumentalist F. Soyan and Belgorod sculptor T. Kostenko.

Battle under Prokhorovka

On July 12, 1943, the largest tank battle of World War II took place.

Battle under Prokhorovka It became the culmination of a grand strategic operation that became in history, as which was decisive in ensuring a radical fracture during the Great Patriotic War.

The events of those days were unfolded as follows. The Hitler's command planned to hold a major offensive in the summer of 1943, master the strategic initiative and turn the course of the war in their favor. For this, a military operation under the code name "Citadel" was approved in April 1943.
Having information about the preparation of the German-fascist troops to the offensive, the bid of the Supreme Commander decided to temporarily move to defense on the Kursk ledge and during the defensive battle to bleed the strike groups of the enemy. Thereby it was planned to create favorable conditions for the transition of Soviet troops in counter-offensive, and then in a general strategic offensive.
July 12, 1943 in the area of \u200b\u200bthe railway station Prokhorovka (56 km north of Belgorod) The coming tank grouping of the Germans (4 tank army, the "Cempf" operational group) stopped the Counter of Soviet troops (5 Guards Army, 5 Guards). Initially, the main blow to the Germans on the southern Face Kursk Arc went to the west of the Operating line Yakovlevo - Oboyan. July 5, in accordance with the plan of the offensive, the German troops in the 4th Tank Army (48th Tank Corps and the 2nd Tank Corps of the SS) and the Army Group "Cempf" transferred to the offensive against the troops of the Voronezh Front, at position 6- And the 7th Guards armies on the first day of operation, the Germans sent five infantry, eight tank and one motorized division. On July 6, on the upcoming Germans, two Kursk Railways were applied to the Kursk - Belgorod of the 2nd Guards Tank Corps and from the Area area (Sev.) - Kalinin forces by the 5th Guards Tank Corps. Both counterdads were reflected by the German 2nd SS tank corps.
To assist the 1st tank army Katukov, leading heavy battles in the Oboyan direction, the Soviet command has prepared the second counterpart. At 23 o'clock on July 7, the front commander Nikolai Vatutin signed Directive No. 0014 / OP on readiness for the transition to active actions from 10:30 8. However, Constridar, applied by the 2nd and 5th Guards Tank Corps, as well as the 2nd and 10th Tank Corps, although weakened the pressure on the brigade of the 1st one, but not tangible results did not bring.
Without reaching a decisive success - at this point, the depth of promoting the upcoming troops in a well-trained Soviet defense in the Oboyan direction was only about 35 kilometers - the German command in accordance with its plans, dismissed the edge of the main strike in the direction of Prokhorovka with the intention to enter the coupie through the racum of the Psöl River . The change in the direction of the strike was due to the fact that according to the plans of the German command, it was in the rackenery of the PsEl River that was most appropriate to meet the inevitable conrtudar superior in the number of Soviet tank reserves. In case, before the approach of Soviet tank reserves, the village of Prokhorovka, German troops, will not be busy, it was supposed to suspend the offensive and temporarily move to the defense, in order to use the terrain favorable relief, without giving the Soviet tank reserves to break out of a narrow defile formed by the flood The Psöl River and Railway Nature, and do not give them to realize numerical advantages by covering the flanks of the 2nd MOP Tank Corps.

Baked German tank

By July 11, the Germans occupied the initial positions for the capture of Prokhorovka. Probably having intelligence data on the presence of Soviet tank reserves The German command took action on the reflection of the inevitable counterdard of Soviet troops. The 1st Division of the Leibstandarta-SS "Adolf Hitler", staffed better than other divisions of the 2nd Tank Corps of the SS, took the defile and on July 11, attacks in the direction of Prokhorovka did not undertake, tightening anti-tank agents and preparing defensive positions. On the contrary, providing its flanks of the 2nd Tank Division of the SS "DAS REYIX" and the 3rd Tank Division of the SS "TOTNKOPF" conducted on July 11, active offensive fights outside the move, trying to improve their position (in particular the left flank 3rd Tank Division SS "Totenkopf" expanded the bridgehead on the northern coast of the Psöl River Sumyv to send him, on the night of July 12, a tank regiment, providing flank fire for the expected Soviet tank reserves in case of their defile attack). By this time, the Soviet 5 Guards Tank Army focused on the positions to the northeast of the station, which, while in reserve, was ordered to make a 300-kilometer march and take the defense at the turn of Prokhorovka - fun. The area of \u200b\u200bconcentration of the 5 Guards Tank and the 5th Guards Combine Army was chosen by the command of the Voronezh Front, taking into account the threat of a breakthrough of the 2nd Tank Corps of the SS of Soviet defense at Prokhorov. On the other hand, the choice of the specified area for the concentration of the two Guards armies in the area of \u200b\u200bProkhorovka, in case of their participation in the counterdad, inevitably led to a frontal collision with the strongest enemy grouping (the 2nd SS tank corps), and given the nature of the defile, eliminated the possibility of coverage of flanks defending In this direction of the 1st Division of Leibstandart-SS "Adolf Hitler". Front -taic Consturdar July 12 was planned to apply the 5th Guards Tank Army forces, the 5th Guards Army, as well as the 1st Tank, 6th and 7th Guards Army. However, in reality, only the 5th Guards Tank and the 5th Guards General, as well as two separate tank corps (2nd and 2nd Guards) were able to go to the attack, and the remaining defensive fights against the advancing Germanic parts. The 1st Division of the Leibstandart-MOP "Adolf Hitler", the 2nd Tank Division of the SS "Das Reich" and the 3rd Pack Division of the SS "Tenkopf" was found against the front of the Soviet offensive.

Baked German tank

The first collision in the area of \u200b\u200bProkhorovka occurred in the evening of July 11th. According to the memories of Pavel Rothmistrova, at 17 o'clock, along with Marshal Vasilevsky, during the reconnaissance, discovered the opponent tank column, which moved to the station. Attack was stopped by two tank brigades.
At 8 in the morning, the Soviet side held art preparation and at 8:15 pounded in the offensive. The first attacking echelon consisted of four tank corps: 18, 29, 2 and 2 guards. The second echelon was 5 Guards Mechkorpus.

At the beginning of the battle, the Soviet tank workers received some advantage: the rising sun was blinded from the West of Germans. High density of battle, during which tanks fought at short distances, deprived the Germans of the benefits of more powerful and long-range cannons. Soviet tankers got the opportunity to sight in the most vulnerable places of hard armored German cars.
The south of the main battle was the German tank group "Cempf", which sought to go to the upcoming Soviet group in the left flank. The threat of coverage forced the Soviet command to distract part of its reserves to this direction.
About 13 o'clock, the Germans brought 11 tank division from the reserve, which, together with the Dead Head Division, hit the Soviet right flank, on which the 5th Guards Army had forces. For them, two brigades of the 5th Guards Cropus and Attack was broken down on his profile.
By 14 o'clock, the Soviet tank armies began to close the enemy in the western direction. By evening, Soviet tankers were able to move 10-12 kilometers, thus leaving the battlefield in her rear. The battle was won.

The coldest for the entire history of meteleomarisions this day July, 12 was in 1887 year, when the average daytime temperature in Moscow was +4.7 degrees Celsius, and the warmest - in 1903 year. On that day, the temperature rose to +34.5 degrees.

See also:

Battle on the Ice
battle of Borodino
German attack on the USSR

In May last year, I very actively traveled in places associated with tragic events. About some of them managed to tell the blog, about some not yet. Why? Well, firstly, this theme for me is very difficult for writing, both morally and technically, and secondly, many citizens of the Russian Federation remember the second world only when the day of victory and the weekend associated days are approaching. And during the year they try not to score their head by patriotism and terrible details of the fighting. Accordingly, there is no interest and then no no one reads posts, and statistics do not even show half the average for my blog views. It is on these two reasons that quite a lot of photographic materials lay on the hard drive almost a year. But spring in full swing, many for the May holidays will go to various trips and, perhaps, will even come somewhere along the way to honor the soldiers and officers who fell in battles. For example, in Prokhorovka, where on July 12, 1943, in the course of the defensive phase of the battle on the Kursk arc, one of the largest battle in military history with the use of armored forces occurred.

In this post, I will tell you what you can see in Prokhorovka, where to spend the night, to eat and so on. And, of course, the most briefly (after all, until May 9 is still far), I will tell you how the meat grinder happened here in the summer of 1943.

So, the north, the village of urban type Prokhorovka. For the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that the famous tank battle occurred at the Prokhorovka railway station, named by the Surname-pathway engineer V. I. Prokhorov, and located a little apart. This settlement until 1968 was called the village of Aleksandrovskoe. In the post-war years, it has grown and included the very station of Prokhorovka, which became the western part of the village.

02 . There are no hotels in addition to the one that you see in the photo below, there is no in Prokhorovka, so I recommend booking rooms in advance through the site of the hotel complex "Prokhorovskaya Field". The hotel is not bad, especially for provincial. Poor only with the organization of guests. Breakfast is extremely slow, and we did not succeed at all, for the restaurant at the hotel closes very early. We also wanted to walk at sunset. However, with a justopite badly in Prokhorovka everywhere. More than 9 thousand people live in the village, there is a sports complex, cinema, elevator, plants, and here to eat nowhere. We made a raid on three cafes that the administrator advised us in the hotel, and in the end there was a wedding, and only beer and snacks are served in the other, and the third turned out to be closed. Therefore, I had to improvise in the room. With us there was a three-year-old daughter who did not really want to feed sandwiches for the night.

03 . Next to the parking lot of the hotel has a sculptural group "Tanker and Infantryman". It is clear that the role of infantry in a tank duel was the most unenviable and essentially suicidal.

04 . Almost opposite the hotel complex there is a huge building of the Museum of Combat Glory "Third Rattop Field of Russia".

05 . The building was open on May 02, 2010. Outwardly, it resembles an arc, lined with gray granite, and the main facade, on the idea of \u200b\u200bthe architect, imitates tank tracts.

06 . Sculpture composition that struck me to the depths of the soul. Two Soviet and three German tanks in full size agreed in a powerful taran. On the Internet they write that one of the tanks can be climbed and see there is a defeated fascist, but they open this door, as I understood, only for large organized groups.

06 . Traditionally, Soviet sources indicate that about 1,500 tanks participated in Prokhorov battle. 800 Soviet and 700 German. Some modern historians argue that there were less tanks, well, I, looking at this monument, I can't even imagine what bit here then was going on.

07 . To the right of the museum building is a rather unusual Temple of Peter and Paul.

08 . Novodel. Built to the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the Great Victory.

09 . In the courtyard there is still a small Nikolsk Church and the so-called. "Bell of Unity". This is a monument erected as a symbol of unity of three Slavic peoples: Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Opened in the anniversary of the 55th Victory Day. The opening was attended by Patriarch Alexy II, Putin, Kuchma and Lukashenko.

10 . To the evening light went from the village, in fact, on the battlefield. Now the bread is growing every year, but how much blood it has absorbed into itself ...

11. The height 252.2 is marked with a belf.

12. The height of the belftle itself is 59 meters. Inside the dome is the vagate bell weighing 3.5 tons, and on the 4-wall pylons there are 24 burners with 130 images. Specially public photos in a large amount so that you can appreciate this work of art and the main monument of the entire memorial complex "Prokhorovsky Field".

13 . A little indeed established a monument to one of his creators - Sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov. He died in 2006,

14 . Nearby another sculptural group - "The Great Commandments of the Three Rattal Fields of Russia - Dmitry Donskoy, Mikhail Kutuzov, Georgy Zhukov."

15 . And, of course, tanks.

16 . More precisely, tanks, Katyusha, guns and other military equipment, the times of the Great Patriotic War.

17 . T-34-85 and my favorite vicochonok.

18 . The next morning we continued to inspect the Prokhorovka. They had breakfast, I was discharged from the hotel and went to the museum.

19 . But first went around him in a circle. A fairly interesting exposition showed a fragment of the defense line: trenches and technique of opponents in positions.

20 . The German technique in the post-war years is almost all overpaid, so the German tank is represented only by the tower on the stand.

21 . Shortly before our arrival, next to the museum to the 70th anniversary of Victory, another monument was opened, which is called "Tank Tank". Around it was boiled work on the improvement of the territory (we were in Prokhorovka on May 1) and the ninth still had a lot to have time.

22 . Also, the works were on another exhibition platform for military equipment, which presents the 12 most significant armored vehicles of machines for which the main stages of the development of armored vehicles and tank weapons can be traced. In addition, on May 9, the opening of a tankodrome with a band of obstacles should be held, the stands for viewers for 1300 places and other people. It is a pity that I could not see a tank show, but it will be a reason somehow come back.

23 . In general, then we go to inspection of the museum exposition. She is huge and maybe I will tell you a separate post about her, and now literally a couple of fragments. Beautiful interactive map of the attractions of the Belgorod region. It can be seen that now the calls and the Cathedral of Peter and Paul are highlighted on it, but if there will be other objects on the multimedia screen next to the card, then other objects will be highlighted, and the monitor can be read with general information. Very cool, in my opinion.

24 . I note that everything in the museum is very modern and interactively. It does not feel a typical museum "naphtopling" if you understand what I mean.

25 . Although not without linings, as it turned out. With me, one of the audience puzzled a guide about some inconsistency of the detail of the soldier's uniforms (I do not remember that it was) the form of the sample of 1943. The woman was embarrassed and said that the stands were made and drawn up some kind of Moscow office and in very fast mode, so small discrepancies could be.

26. Well, finally, back to the theme of catering in Prokhorovka. Not far from the belfry there is a fairly interesting thematic cafe "Dandy". In general, I put the institution "standing" (a wooden musical machine with songs of the military years and the sleeves of artillery shells as a vase for wildflowers is five!), But in the evening of the first day it was already closed, and at lunch of the second day almost the whole diet was eaten.

27 . In particular, there was not enough foap potatoes. The last portion of snapped for the daughter (the cook scored for Sousseca for a little girl), and I and I took a less popular swarm. I note that around the "dandy", too, work on the improvement and it is quite possible that another cafe appeared nearby. At the same time, on Wikimapia, there is a cafe "Total" cafe, so I hope that people who in my advice will go to Prokhorovka, still will not remain hungry.

28 . After lunch, we went to watch the supervisory point of the commander of the 5th Guards Tank Army of General Rothmistrova. It was from here that the command was carried out by Prokhorovsky battle. Alas, the castle hung on the door and I had to limit ourselves to the external inspection. After that, our program was beautiful