Published on: 2026-08-23
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On August 23, 1943, ended Battle of Kursk. It lasted for almost two months. Millions of people, thousands of tanks and aircraft, tens of thousands of guns. The German command developed Operation Citadel, hoping in the summer of 1943 to once again seize the strategic initiative.
But the Soviet troops were prepared for the enemy’s offensive. At first, they absorbed the blow, exhausted the advancing units, and then themselves went on the counteroffensive.
A participant in these events was Gennady Vasilyevich Putintsev — Candidate of Technical Sciences, associate professor, who worked at our university from 1960 to 1975 after the war. He fought in the Battle of Kursk as part of the 2nd Tank Corps:
“The summer battles for our 2nd Tank Corps began in July 1943 at the Kursk Salient near Prokhorovka. They lasted more than 50 days.”
Only the tankmen and artillerymen of the corps, recalled Gennady Putintsev, managed to put out of action 227 German tanks, 40 armored vehicles, and 120 guns during this time. He himself ensured the uninterrupted operation of the tanks and was awarded the Medal “For Combat Merit” for his work in these battles.
One of the most famous episodes of the Battle of Kursk was the fighting in the area of Prokhorovka. But behind the textbook names lie dozens of days of almost continuous attacks, artillery fire, and the most severe defensive battles.
He went through all this too Mikhail Georgievich Gureev — Hero of the Soviet Union, colonel, and later vice-rector of our university. On the eve of the Battle of Kursk, after being wounded and spending a month and a half in the hospital, he returned to his regiment as commander of the 120-millimeter mortar battery.
“During prolonged defensive battles lasting several days, there was no time to sleep. The battery constantly harassed the enemy with its active defense.”.
German troops subjected the battery’s positions to artillery shelling and bombing, believing it destroyed. But the mortar crews continued fighting. Later, Gureev’s unit took part in the liberation of the villages of Tuchnoye and Nikitovka, and then was redeployed, according to him, “to the very heat — to the area of the legendary Prokhorovka.”
“And no matter how much the enemy tried to break the perseverance of the mortar crews, each time they retreated with heavy losses.”
After weeks of heavy defense, Soviet troops launched a large-scale offensive. By August 23, Orel, Belgorod, and Kharkov were liberated, and the enemy was pushed westward by 140–150 kilometers.
For those who were still preparing to go to the front in these days, what was happening near Kursk was already perceived as a most important sign.
Nikolai Alexandrovich Salomatin, who later became a professor at our university, was undergoing military training that summer of 1943. He was 17 years old.
“I remember how in July-August we rejoiced at the victory at the Battle of Kursk. Combined with the victory at Stalingrad, the collapse of the Germans at Kursk and Orel already signaled a turning point in the war. Among ourselves, we said that we would have to finish the war.”
Soon Nikolai Salomatin did indeed go to serve, participated in battles on the Belarusian and 1st Belarusian fronts, and ended the war as an anti-aircraft gun commander.
After the Battle of Kursk, the strategic initiative finally passed to the Red Army.
But its story is not measured in kilometers of the front line or the number of divisions and military equipment. It is the fate of people. Those who manned mortars and guns, repaired tanks, endured bombings, and stayed awake on positions for days. And those very young guys who read the frontline reports and understood: soon it would be their turn to go fight.
On August 23, we commemorate the victory in the Battle of Kursk and celebrate the Day of Military Valor.
Among the people to whom this holiday belongs are those who studied and worked at our university after the war, passed on knowledge to new generations, and left us their memories of those events.
We remember.
Subscribe to the Telegram channel “Our GUU” Publication date: 23.08.2026
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate account of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.