The Museum-Reserve "Prokhorovsky Field". State Military History Museum-Reserve, Belgorod Region

In the Belgorod region is located well-known far beyond our country museum-reserve "Prokhorovsky Field". In the severe 1943 on this earth there was one of the most famous tank battles of the Great Patriotic War.

The Battle of Prokhorovsky Field

This field became the springboard of a terrible and bloody tank battle. It occupies a place of honor with the Borodino and Kulikovo battles in importance. It is not for nothing called the third military field of Russia. The cruelest battle, which took 10,000 lives of Soviet soldiers for the day, is inscribed with blood in our history.

Occurred on this earth on July 12, 1943, witnesses of these events are compared to hell: the sky was not visible from thousands of aircraft, the field turned black from the tanks. The earth was shaken with a roar of artillery, explosions of aviation bombs, which were tearing armor of tanks. They exploded ammunition. Fire was not only embraced by technology, but also the entire top layer of the earth, which gradually turned into charred clods. Surviving tankmen left their cars and rushed into hand-to-hand combat.

In a deadly battle 800 Soviet and 700 fascist tanks came together. Under Prokhorovka the heaviest tank duel was fastened. They were an example of the skill and courage of the armored vehicles crews.

Creating a museum

A huge complex "Prokhorovskoe pole" with an exhibition of military equipment, the memorial "Belfry", monuments Zhukov, Kutuzov, Dmitry Donskoy is located south-west of the village of Prokhorovka, five kilometers from it.

Today it is a comfortable and quiet place, storing the eternal sleep of soldiers and a bright memory of them. In the surrounding villages and villages, there are more than two dozen mass graves.

In 1995, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Great Victory, the museum-reserve "Prokhorovskoe pole" was opened here. It includes a large territory with memorials, military equipment, as well as monuments on the terrible battlefield and in Prokhorovka.

There is also a reconstructed monument of the Great Patriotic War on the territory of the complex - the command post of the 5th Panzer Guards Army, from where the leadership of this battle was conducted. Memorial "Belfry" on the "Prokhorovsky Field" is the heart of the complex. It is placed in the very place where the battle took place. A huge stele, on top of which is a statue of the goddess of the Victory, is crowned with a golden dome, under which there is an alarm bell. You can hear it every twenty minutes. "Belfry" on the "Prokhorovsky field" was consecrated by Alexy II - the holiest Patriarch of All Russia - in 1995.

Museum of Military Glory

In the center of Prokhorovka in 2010, a museum began operating, which was named "The Third Battlefield of Russia". This building, equipped with modern museum equipment: sound, video installations, in each room - information terminals.

The newest equipment is harmoniously inscribed in the historical interior. For example, under the old TV, there is a plasma screen showing the chronicle of battles. He stands on an old, sagging chest of drawers in the apartment of ordinary Soviet people. This is done so that people who grew up in the world could feel the atmosphere of that hard time. Here you can see clothes, letters of soldiers, newspapers, some examples of small arms. The second floor has a good find - a tank simulator, which allows you to virtually find yourself inside the battle.

Here you can visit the local history section - get acquainted with the history of the district, its fauna and flora, find out what crafts and crafts developed in these parts. Peaceful exhibits tell how the people of this land lived before the treacherous attack on them.

Monument to the heroes-tankers

In 2010, the museum-reserve "Prokhorovsky Field" was replenished with one more monument - "Taran". Two formidable Soviet machines ram three German tanks. Inside this powerful sculptural group is a small monument to a soldier of fascist Germany. Not to the Great Winner, but to him, a frightened and confused German who lost his iron armor and realized the horror of his situation.

Church of Peter and Paul

Visiting the museum-reserve "Prokhorovskoe pole", one can not but pay attention to this majestic structure. The memorial church of Peter and Paul was erected in 1995. Often it is called a "candle". And it's not accidental, it really is very similar to it - bright, high, decorated with curls.

Inside the temple there are marble plates with the names of 7000 warriors carved on them, who fell in a fierce battle. This is not a complete list. All the names of the heroes that managed to be installed to date, run with a tape on a huge screen in one of the halls of the museum. According to the museum staff, this sorrowful ribbon is completely scrolled in thirty hours.

The bell of unity

Near the temple there is a symbolic, but at the same time acting Bell of Unity of Nations. At the opening of this monument (2000), the heads of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine called from three sides.

Events on the "Prokhorovsky Field"

This complex of roads and revered by the Russians. It is regularly visited by schoolchildren, and volunteer organizations are carrying out a large-scale outreach work. Victory Day is especially festive here, when veterans, youth, representatives of power come here to pay homage to the memory of our heroes.

By the established good tradition on July 12 there is a festive program dedicated to the anniversary of the battle. On this day the guests gather near the belfry. Then, at 10.00, flowers are laid to the memorial. After this, a meeting of memory is held. Usually the ensemble of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia takes part in these events. The culmination of the holiday is the performance of Russia's Strizhi aerobatic team.

This year, the Victory Park was opened on the holiday, as well as the sculptural compositions "Farewell", "Prival", "Attack", "Women of War", "Attack", "Soldier-Warrior".

Features of the museum

On the "Prokhorovsky Field" there is a unique monument to the field kitchen, as well as the cafe "Blindage". Inside it, on the walls, plans and maps are hung up, play the songs of the war years, which are so dear to the veterans.