1418
Illustration: Kharkov is free, Kursk is won
LiberationJoyful

· Day 793 of 1418

Kharkov is free, Kursk is won

Kharkov

On 23 August 1943 Kharkov was liberated and the Battle of Kursk ended in victory. After Stalingrad and Kursk the initiative passed to the Red Army for good.

Kharkov changed hands several times. It was freed in February 1943, but a month later the enemy took it again. Now it was freed for good.

After the Battle of Kursk the enemy no longer had the strength for big offensives in the east. The Red Army moved forward, towards the Dnieper.

See it on the map

Chapter 27 · August 1943

The first salute

On 5 August Orel and Belgorod were freed, and for the first time a victory salute thundered over Moscow. On 23 August Kharkov was freed, and the Battle of Kursk ended in victory. From now on the enemy was retreating for good.