Shaimerdenova K.G.

The professor of the chair of philosophyand sociopolitical disciplines

of NSC RK Frontier Service Academy

TRANSITION OF THE RED ARMY TO THE GENERAL OFFENSE DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

(To the 70thanniversary ofthe battle on the Kursk arch)

The Great Patriotic War is one of the heroic pages of the former Soviet Union. The present generation of youth, for whom event of semicentenial prescription is a deep history, should know about the feat of arms and labour of veterans of war and work and on their example to learn to love the Native land, self-denyingly, multiplying its power and well-beingby daily work. It is necessary to remember that love to Fatherland is not simple love to a native home, but also deep honouring of those who erected and protected this house. Our well-known war hero, national batyrB.Momyshuly in his book «Psychologyof war» so hesaid about education of young generation: «The problem of military-patriotic education is a problem of education from diapers to a bayonet attack»./1/

About the Great Patriotic War many books both participants of those hard times, and scientists, writers, poets are written; a lot of films are made; arias and symphonies are composed etc. Most of all memories of participants and veterans of war are of greatsuccess by population./2/

There has come 1943 - the third year of the Great Patriotic War of Soviet Union against fascist Germany. In the first months of this year the Red Army has gained large victories. Having surrounded, having crushed and captured powerful grouping of the field marshal Pauljus in Stalingrad battle, the Soviet troops confidently moved ahead on a southern sector of the front, showing before the whole world advantages of the Soviet strategy and tactics, the increased experience of the Soviet soldiers. The superiority of the USSR over Germany and its allies not only on fields of battles, but also in military economy was visible.

In February, 1943 Germany made «total mobilization» of economic, human and purely military resources. Vermakht has received new tanks, planes and other samples of combat equipments. In the order before the beginning of summer offensein 1943 Hitler wrote: «The Armies intended for offense, are equipped with all kinds of arms which were able to create spirit of German invention and the German technology»./3/

When the Soviet intelligence has established the fact of preparation of Hitlerites to the battle on the Kursk arch, the stavka decided to exhaust and exsanguinate the enemy, and then by counterattack to finish up with their groupings at first by defense and after that to pass in to the general offense./4/

The Soviet people had to reflect preparing blows of huge force. The great purpose of rescueing the Native land, liberation of the millions who have been put to slavery, victory over fascism gave rise to great energy and selflessness both on the front, and in the rear. Industrial output in our country in 1943 has increased to 17 %, and in Germany - to 12 %. Soviet Union has surpassed Germany inproducing armaments. So, in 1943 in the USSR 35 thousand planeshave been made, what is 10 thousand more than in Germany; 24,1 thousand tanks and ACS against 10,7 thousand tanks and the assault guns made in Germany./5/

To armies the new combat equipments which surpassed combat equipments of the enemy in many indicators arrived. New kinds of armaments were created in record-breaking deadlines. So, the 152-millimetric howitzer has been designed and made in 1943 for 18 days, and mass production is mastered all for one and a half month. The Red Army was at war with the weapon of own production./6/

The Soviet government, Communist party, having transformed the country into uniform military camp, have mobilised huge material and manpower resources. The people having all of its forces successfully forged the Victory sword. The Soviet economy in 1943 has reached considerable successes. US president F.Ruzvelt spoke about it in the message to the Congress from January, 7th, 1943: «We should not forget thus that our achievements are no more great, than achievements of Russian..., which have developed the war industry in the conditions of the extreme difficulties generated by war»./7/

Supreme commander in chief I.V.Stalin in the order from February, 23rd, 1943, highly appreciating winter offense of the Red Army, also warned: «the Enemy has suffered defeat, but it is not won yet. The Fascist army endures crisis... But it does not mean yet that it cannot recover. Struggle... It is not terminated yet - it is only developing and inflaming. It were stupid to believe that Germans wouldleave of least the kilometre of our earth» without fighting./8/

Extremely vaguely allies behaved: Americans and Englishmen. Promised to be opened, the second front to the beginning of 1943 has not been openedyet, Anglo-American offense in the North Africa not only was not forced, but also not spent at all. Disembarkation of Anglo-American armies in France was postponed on to uncertain period./9/

As the honoured figure of a science of the Russian Federation, the doctor of military sciences, the professor, the retired colonel, A.Tsvetkov, marks «The Kursk battle consisted of two stages: defensive (on July, 5-23th) and offensive (on July, 12 up to August 23). In to the battle ... more than 4 million persons, over 69 thousand guns and mortars, more than 13 thousand tanks, self-propelled guns and up to 12 thousand aircraftshave been consistently involved. German groups"Center"and«the South»were resisted by armies of five Soviet fronts».

But what was the general political situation on the eve of Kursk battle like? What purposes were put before itself by fascist Germany and the Soviet military command?

Stalingradbattle,as we know, became a turning-point in all the Second World War. After it Hitler has selected the basic strategic object the Kursk ledge which as a wedge pressed in an arrangement of fascist armies. Having concentrated the basic forces in the area of «the Oryol and Belgorod, fascists intended to surround and destroy in this area the Soviet armies of the Central and Voronezh fronts around Kursk region, and then to develop success on Moscow strategic direction. Operation has received the code name"Citadel".

Just to this battle in Germany new combat armaments were produced: tanks "Tiger" and "Panther", assault guns "Ferdinand", fighters "Fokke-Vulf-190A" and assault guns "Henshel-129". In total near Kursk fascists have concentrated 50 divisions, including 16 tank and motorised, over 900 thousand soldiers and officers, about 10 thousand guns and mortars, about 2700 tanks and more than 2 thousand planes.

On April, 15th admiral Kanaris spoke at an operative meeting of an administrative board of abver: «During the present summer campaign we must activate at most intelligence diversion actions up to the boundary of the river of Volga. Having recalled lessons of Stalingrad, we are obliged to stake everything, that we have today»./10/

Fascists planned attacks of German saboteurs on the sites of railway, highway and even dirt roads. Even crossings had to be taken under control of German armies. The territory of seven central-Russian regions: Kaluga, Tula, Bryansk, Oryol, Belgorod, Tambov and Voronezh - were under control of fascists where they spent active moral and psychological processing of military men of the Soviet armies, spread rumours and misinformation about situation on fronts, etc.

Thoroughly preparing for the battle, Hitler thought to change a course of events in the world war and not to give possibility to the western powers to open the Second front. But his dreams have once again failed. East wisdom says: «The one who considers destruction for another probably perisheshimself». For Hitler the lost two fights - near Moscow and Stalingrad - have not served as a lesson and so scrupulously prepared Kursk battle became "funeral feast" for fascism, after it the fascism could not lift a head, and it was its crash.

The Soviet command also carefully prepared for forthcoming Kursk battle. The 70th Army tookpart in battles on the Kursk arch. Its actions were evaluated by marshal of the Soviet Union K.K.Rokossovsky. He said:«The 70th Army generated from the staff of boundary and internal troops conducted combat operationssuccessfully. In the line of defense since 5 up to 7/12/1943 (for 8 days) the enemy lost about 2 thousand soldiers and officers, 572 enemy tanksweredefeated and burnt, 70 aircraftswere brought down ». On its line diversionary reconnaissance groups were thrown outfor actions in the rear of the enemy. For participation in these battles many soldiers of internal troops are noted by the state awards. Only in 1943 4458 men were awarded, 5 men became Heroes,48 men were awardedbyorderLenin. For protection of Staningrad the 10 sdwas awarded the order Lenin, it was given honouhrable name Stalingradsky. It entered the staff of the 70 DMА and participated in Kursk battle. Many units and formations were transferred in to NCDduring this period and performed the tasks in composition of the operating Army/l1/.

The Soviet command has managed not only to provide cover of the major objects from subversive activities of fascist special services, but also has inflicted to them serious losses. Hundreds of their accomplices, 350 spies and saboteurshave been neutralised. A significant amount of the fascist weapon and property was seized. Armies of four Soviet fronts successfully resisted in a defensive stage of operation and, having passed then in to counterattack, have crashed fascist armies on the Soviet-German front. Rubicon was crossed, and the Soviet armies marching have moved to the West. Front-line soldier Baubek Bulkyshev wrote: «The Earth of notable great Russia! We love you, for you we are ready to give the life. On your broad space winds offriendship and unity blew...»./12/

In the battle near Kursk the Red Army has gained a clear victory. Fascists have lost more than 500 thousand soldiers and officerskilled and hard wounded, 1,5 thousand tanks, 3 thousand guns and mortars and more than 3,7 thousand aircrafts. Defeat near Kursk for the enemy became irreplaceable accident and will for ever remain in memory of the people who have endured horrors of the Great Patriotic War.

Yes, the war against fascism has rallied all people of Soviet Union, has raised patriotic spirit of the population on the higher step, international feelings also have reached the highest up lift. Infinitely muchthe military yearshave contained in itself: experience of socialist creation, severe tests of war, pain of losses, happiness of victory, courage of the toughened battles, and modest greatness of labour everyday life. Eternal memory of an unprecedented feat of our people for ever remains in the hearts of noble descendants.

Today, after almost 70 years after the Great Patriotic War termination, the political situation in the world has radically changed, however, danger of the big and small military conflicts has remained. It compels our young state to pay special attention to providing national security, includingstrengthening of the military organisation. In the Message to the people of Kazakhstan "Kazakhstan-2030" the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A.Nazarbayev specifies in necessity to pay paramount attention to building and modernisation of Armed forces that will be a basis of safety and prosperity of sovereign Kazakhstan.

Today the problem of preservation of stability of Kazakhstan society consists in non-admission of ethnic and social conflicts. The first care of the country leaders and all people of Kazakhstan is a harmonisation of international relations which assumes development of culture of languages, maintenance of the equal rights on the basis of laws to all nationalities living in Kazakhstan.

The second care consists in, that not to allow sharp stratification of a society into rich and poor, creation of equal possibilities for all. Small owners, middle class are the basic and stabilising factor and will help accumulation of riches of the country. There should be strong antimonopoly legislation which is able not to permit to exploit the bigger part of the population and superprofits for rich citizens of the country.

The literature:

1 B.Momyshuly.War psychology.Almaty, 1996, p.17.

2 Stalin U.V. About the Great Patriotic War of Soviet Union. М, 1950, p.47; Kozybaev M. K. Kazakhstan - a front arsenal. Almaty 1970; the Second World War.Short history.М, 1984; the Book of Memory of Kazakhstan. Summary volume.Almaty, 1995; Additional volume.Almaty, 1997; Belan P. S.On all fronts.Almaty.1995; Suhodeev V. V, Solovyev B.G.The commander Stalin.М, 1999; etc.

3 Dashichev V. I. Bankruptcy of strategy of the German fascism.V.2, М, 1973, p.421.

4 Kazakhstaneesin fights of the second period of war. - inthe book: History of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic since the most ancient times up to now. In five volumes.V.5. Alma-Ata, 1981, p.135.

5 The Second World War history. 1939-1945 V.7. М, 1976, p.512.

6 Shaimerdenova K.G.Estimation of the Victory in the Second World War in the works of scientists and veterans of war.//Materials of the scientific-theoretical conference devoted to the 55 anniversary of the Victory in the Second World War. Almaty, 2000, p.91-92.

7 Pravda, 1943, on January, 9th.

8 Berezhkov V.M.Pages of a diplomatic history. M. 1982, p.162.

9 In the same place, p.167.

10 Zvetkov A.Frontiermen in Kursk battle.//the Frontier guard, July, 2008, p.32.

11 In the same place, p.33.

12 Kravchenko N.S.Participation of internal troops in the Second World War 1941-1945//Materials of the scientific-theoretical conference devoted to the 55 anniversaryof Victory in the Second World War. Almaty, 2000, p.51.

13 Kozybaev M. K. Another's Victory? No! It is our property! - inthe book:Kazakhstan on a boundary of centuries: reflexions and searches. V.2. Almaty, 2000,p.272.