Методическая разработка по теме "Курск"

Kursk

Kursk is one of the most ancient Russian towns entered to Kievan Russia at the beginning and then to Moscow State. The first mention of the town is dated by 1032. First people appeared at that region much earlier, thousands years before. The first ancient town appeared in the mouth of the river Kur in the 4th - 5th centuries B.C. It was the first fortress on Kursk land. The evidence of that are the potsherds found at the area of the modern Dom Oficerov building and the factory producing electrical apparatus. 

 

The first settlement that appeared before Slavic times existed not for too long. In the 4th – 7th centuries of our era, the Slavic did not build any towns. It was only because of the nomads’ attack danger our ancestors moved uphill in the 8th century of our era. Such a way the first Slavic fortress appeared at the cape, formed by the mouth of the river Kur. It was not a large ancient town, surrounded by a ditch and an earthwork. A powerful wall made of a hundred year oaks fortified the earthwork of the town. 

In the end of the 9th century of our era the region of the river Seim was attacked by the Hazars. In 884, the prince Oleg as a head of the ancient Russian State beat the Hazars. Since that time the Seim region entered the ancient Russian Kievan State. The significance of Kursk rose.

 

 In the 10th century, Kursk became a significant fortress according those times. Pottery and smith crafts were developing. Trade developed very quickly, as the town situated at the crossroad of the very important river routes. One of them leaded to Kursk from Kiev along the rivers Dnepr, Desna and Seim. Another one went along the rivers Tuskar and Svapa to Samodurov Lake. Now, that lake does not exist. The third route went upstream the Seim and from there, across the ground (drawing vessels) to the river Seversky Donec, then to the river Don and afterwards to the Azov and Black seas. During the princes’ civil discords, Kursk citizens had to defend their town either of the nomads or the fighting each other Russian princes’ troops. During that period of time Kursk entered to Chernigov, Pereyaslavl or Suzdal great principality. Bravery of Kursk people was reflected in the ancient

Russian legendry ―The Word of Igor’s regiment‖.

 At the first quarter of the 13th century, Chingis-han leaded his hordes to the weak of civil discords Russia. A little bit later, in 1237, Batyy moved his uncounted troops to Russia. Such a way the Northern Russia was obeyed, even facing the enemy Russia was not able to unite. However, the enemy got weaker as well. It was not able to take Novgorod, so it turned to the south - east. On its way was Kursk that was completely destroyed by the enemy. 

In 1355, the basins of the rivers Desna and Seim as well as towns Putivl and Rylsk were obeyed by Litva. In 1508, during the ruling of Moscow prince Vasily the 3rd, Kursk region entered the centralized Russian State and became a border region. In 1597, a military head Ivan Polevoy and a civil head Nelub Ogorev built a fortress, which meant a watershed in the history of the city’s life. The fortress became an organizing center. It had a triangle form, surrounded by a wall with 5 towers. Mostly it was wooden. 

From the 17th century, the fortress was attacked by the Poles for 4 times (1612, 1616, 1617, 1637). All of the attempts to defeat the town were unsuccessful. The fortress defended itself from the sudden and cheeky Tatars’ attacks. Only in the middle of the 18th century, Kursk fortress lost its military value and disappeared newer being taken by enemy. In 1648-1650, in Russia, there were several town rebellions, in Kursk too. It was not too long, but heavy blast of the civilian’s anger in Kursk, which seriously made the government afraid. From Moscow, here, came the troops leaded by the centurion Buturlin. As, a result there was a strict punishment of rebels. 

 

 

In August of 1781, in Kursk, there was heavy fire, destroyed the significant part of the town. In February of 1782, the empress Ekaterina the 2nd approved a new plan of the town that divided town into 4 parts. Their names were Gorodskaya, Zakurnaya (situated by the river Kur), Strelechkaya and Pushkarnaya. The town got a new town planning. At the whole parts of the town districts appeared, they were divided into ―made of stones‖ (allowed to build houses only of stones) and ―wooden‖ (allowed to build wooden houses as well). The districts were divided by straight streets (ulitsi) that amounted together with alleys 182. The most significant of them were ulitsa Moscovskaya (now ulitsa Lenina) and ulitsa Hersonskaya (now ulitsa Dzerginskova). The new town planning caused moving underclass to the city’s outskirts. At the entrance of the town there were built a jail and a number of police watch boxes – the symbols of monarchy. 

In 1782, in Kursk, there were the lettered among merchants - 48%, commoners – 26%, women – just units. In 1782, in Kursk, there was created Kursk guberniya that had 15 uezds. The territory of Kursk guberniya was 4.6 billions hectares.

 In June of 1812, Napoleon troops invaded Russia. The enemy went to Moscow. Kursk was not a front-lined town. However, the people of Kursk guberniya made a lot to help the Russian army. If to count all the kinds of charity, collected in Kursk guberniya, they would make 2,000,000 roubles. The whole amount collected in Russia, at that time, was more than 57,000,000 roubles. Beside that help the Russian army, Kursk citizens presented a copy of icon of Holy

Mother’s Predictive sign to the Head of the Army, M. Kutuzov. That icon helped the citizens of Kursk to defend during the Polish invasion.

 

 In 1861, the imperator Aleksandr the 2nd abolished serfdom. The abolition of serfdom leaded to busyness increasing in the economy of Russia. At that time the building widely began, especially railways developed very quickly. One of the first railways was the Moscow-Kursk one (built in 1868). To 1890s, our town became a very important railway center. In 1897, there was tram moving open. The trams’ owners in Kursk were foreigners - the Belgians. During the whole period of reforms there were permanent, peasant irruptions of angry feelings. The worst thing of that was the forcible occupancy of the lands and cutting the landlords’ forests.

Sometimes, the peasant’s rebellions happened. In the beginning of the 20th century, the guberniya had only 160 factories and 25,000 workers, reprocessing raw produce of agriculture. The biggest part of workers worked at sugerboiling factories (11,000). The other two large factories were a tobacco factory and a manufacture in Glushkovo. The rest factories were small, with no machines used. 

The exception was the Kursk railway junction. In Kursk, there was a crossroad of two large railways: the Moscow-Kharkov and the Voroneg-Kiev. Kursk took an active part in the revolution of 1905-1907s. In December of 1905, there was a big strike of Kursk and Belgorod railway workers. The strike was suppressed by troops. World War I (1914-1918) became a very trying time for Kursk and its population. The taxes and compulsory supplying for the army increased almost twice as much. A working day increased until 14 hours. Prices got up very high. That is why the news of the monarchy overthrowing was taken with hope. Kursk guberniya wanted peace. 

In 1918, after the victory of the February Revolution, in Kursk, in the same way as were in the capital of Russia Sankt Petersburg, a diarchy set up. From one side there was Provisional government (bourgeoisie), and from another – the Council of workers’ and soldiers’ deputies (proletariat, peasantry). The Constituent assembly should have made the new powerful structures to avoid the diarchy, however the ―Councils‖ took the power unilaterally. In Kursk, the Soviet power was set up without armed rebellion, peacefully on the 26th November of 1917. The setting up of the Soviet power in Kursk guberniya was approved by guberniya Congress I of the Councils on the 24th February of 1918. 

 

 

The October Revolution, unfortunately, did not solve any problems of our State, but created the Civil War (1917 - 1921). The Civil War and World War I went at the same time. All of that caused the Empire break-up. The 3rd March of 1918, the Soviet Russia signed the Brest peaceful agreement with Germany. According that peaceful agreement, Germany got Byelorussia and Ukraine. Kursk guberniya became a boundary one. For the whole time of the Civil War there were continuous counterrevolutionary rebellions of peasants in Kursk guberniya. Such rebellions were against any authorities, because people got tired of war.

 In 1925-1926, the economic recovery plan began. The old factories rebuilt and reconstructed. Such factories as the machinery factory bearing Kalinin’s name (now the machine tool plant), the leather processing factory and the yeast-processing factory began working profitably. Factories of light industry and food processing industry worked successfully as well. The prewar production level increased of 33 per cent in 1928. 

Kursk guberniya got new cultural development after reforming it into Kursk oblast in June of 1934. At the same year, the drama theatre became the oblast drama theatre. There was created a constant theatre troupe. The oblast library, Pedagogical Institute in Kursk (2 faculties, 320 students), Oboyan Library College and 12 pedagogical colleges were created. In the next year, a painting gallery and Medical Institute began working. In 1937, the oblast philharmonic opened. 

Kursk oblast was the first one in the Soviet Republic where there were no more the illiterate by the beginning of 1939. At the beginning of the century, there had been the littered only 17%, among women 6%. 

The 22nd of June, Germany invaded the USSR. During the War there were about 500,000 Kursk citizens bounded to the Red Army. The 3rd November of 1941, the Red Army left Kursk, and by the mid of July all the territory of Kursk oblast was occupied by enemy. Numerous echelons with cargo of goods went to Germany. Even famous Kursk black earth was taken to Germany. At the territory of Kursk oblast appeared a strong partisan movement. The Victory in the Stalingrad Battle leaded to the beginning of the Red Army winter offensive. The Victory in the Stalingrad Battle caused the beginning of Kursk oblast relief of German oppression. 

The 8th of February of 1943, Kursk was freed. The 3rd of March was freed Lgov. The 9th of March, the Soviet troops came to Rylsk. After the March offensive of the Red Army, the frontier at the territory of Kursk oblast took a form of arch that was called The Kursk Arch. Under the German troops, there were only 3 towns left: Rylsk, Krupec and Glushkovo. Russian High Command prepared deep and strong line of defense. The preponderance of force was on Russian side. Just 10 minutes before the German attack that had been planned on the 5th of July at 2.20 a.m., the Red Army launched a heavy artillery bombardment of the German troops. Despite the sustained casualties and the damaged connection with the troops, the Germans launched an operation called ―Citadel‖. It started in the morning, on the 5th of July, 2.5-3 hours later of the planned time. The 12th of July, the counterattack of the Western and the Briansk fronts began. At that day there was the greatest tank battle in history, at Prochorovka field. There were about 1,200 tanks on both sides. The Germans lost 400 tanks. The attempt of the Germans to take the revanche for the Stalingrad Battle failed at the Kursk Arch. The 5th of August, there were towns Orel and Belgorod freed. In honor of that event Moscow made an artillery salute, the first salute during the war. The 23rd of August, Kharkov was freed. Such a way the battle at the Kursk Arch was finished. 

During the war 75% of industry was ruined and all of the collective farms. The 1st of November, Kursk was included into the list of the 15th oldest towns needed repairing at first. The aggregate industrial output formed only 26% to the level of 1940. In March of 1946, the factory proceeding electrical apparatus began bringing out its first produce. In the next year, the factory proceeding accumulator batteries began bringing out its first produce as well. The 12th of August of 1952, the new Kursk railway station was open. It was done a lot for iron ore deposit developing in Geleznogorsk area, Kursk loadstone anomalism. The iron ore opencast building was started. The actual output of the iron ore opencast was counted to be 2,500,000 tons a year. 

 

In 1953, in the oblast, the transition to the comprehensive 7-year education was completed. In 1959, a TV center and a retranslating station were open. The 1st of September of 1964, Kursk Polytechnic Institute was open. The second part of the 60s was very successful for the economy. So the industry output in Kursk oblast increased by 56%, meanwhile the average value in the USSR was 43%. For the quarter of the century the industry output increased 4.5 times as much. In 19661970, there were two factories of the central government built. They are the factory of knitted goods and the chemistry and drug factory. Other factories worked successfully, too. In the end of 1970, the building of a nuclear power station was started (Kurchatov town). Its first electric current, the station produced on the 19th of December of 1976. 

In 1990, the maximum output of electricity reached 25,000,000,000 kvth a year. In 1991, the economical connections with other republics and regions were lost because of the USSR break-up. The severe economical crisis happened. The total decrease in 1997 was over 50% to the level of 1991. The output of iron ore and electricity were down 20%, the output of accumulate batteries and knitted goods -

10 times as less, building materials – 2.5 times as less, milk – 7 times as less… Such decrease of the economy was during the German occupation only. A lot of workless appeared. The inflation rose quickly. It is only the present time that the economy of Kursk is being stabilized.

The Battle of Kursk

The Battle of Kursk (or 'Kursk Campaign' , July 4, 1943 – August 23, 1943), was called Operation Zitadelle by the German Army, or Operation Citadel in English, was a significant (deliberate) defensive battle strategy on the Soviets' part on the Eastern Front Theater during World War II. Having good intelligence on Hitler's intentions, the Soviets established and managed to conceal elaborate layered defense works, mine fields, and stage and disguise large reserve forces poised for a tactical and strategic counter-attack end game typical of defensive battle plans. Overall, the campaign, which included the famous the sub-battle at and for Prokhorovka, remains the largest armored engagement of all time, and included the most costly single day of aerial warfare in history.

Though the Germans planned and initiated an offensive strike, the well planned Soviet defense not only managed to frustrate their ambitions but also launched a successful counter-offensive and exhausted the German abilities in the theatre thereby seizing the initiative for the remainder of the war. In that sense it may be seen as phase II of the turning point in the front that began with the German defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad, which aftermath set the table by establishing the 'Kursk Salient' , the reduction of which was the objective of the German armies entering July. The subsequent counter attacks retook Oryol (August 5), Belgorod (August 5) and Kharkov (August 23), pushing back the Germans across a broad front, the first successful major Soviet Summer offensive of the War.

Kursk further demonstrated that the conflict in the East contained the largest scale of warfare in history, in terms of manpower involved. So well designed was the Soviet defensive planning, that when entering the archetypical counterattack phase, the Soviets were able to attack along four separate axes of advance, and execute a planned stop at a phase line, thus avoiding the pitfalls of over-extending during the counter attack and earning this battle's deserved place as a model campaign in war college curricula.

Kursk region

•                     Kursk region was founded on June 13, 1934 

•                     Regional centre –city of Kursk. 

•                     Region's area – 29,800 sq. km (0.17% of Russia's total area) 

•                     Density of population – 45.2 p./sq. km. 

•                     Cities of regional subordination – 5 

•                     Population of the largest cities: Kursk – 438,100; Zheleznogorsk – 94,900; Kurchatov – 47,400 

 

 

History and Culture

The position of Kursk region in the centre of Russia, with convenient waterlinks and overland roads have made the region one of the shopping centres of the country. Korennaja Fair was the third in Russia in size, and Kursk merchants wrote many famous pages in the history of our state. They traded widely with Europe and America. The profit was disposed of skilfully. Much money was spent on building temples and monasteries, stalls and houses. Rylsk is a monument of architecture, which represents the image of a merchant town of 17th-18th century. Merchants represented more than a half of the population of Rylsk. The town is the birthplace of the famous Russian navigator and researcher of Alaska, merchant Grigoriy

Shelehov. One of his ships was named ―Joann Rylskiy‖ after the patron saint of the town. The mountain ―Ivan Rylskiy‖, which towers above the town is an archaeological reserve. It has historical relics from 6-5 BC. Since the ancient part of the town remained almost unchanged you will find yourself in olden times as soon as you get there. 

The steppe is especially beautiful in spring and in summer. You can see a marvelous multicoloured carpet of grass and flowers, which stretches to the horizon.

The Central-Black-Soil-Biosphere reserve ―Streletskaya steppe‖ unites species of virgin steppe flora. The scientists of the reserve carry out researches under the program ―Interkos-mos‖. There is a special track, which allows the tourists to see the world of nature without human interference. A great variety of flora makes the main colour of the steppe change every ten days during the flowering period (from May to September). The steppes and meadows are broken intermittently by woods and rivers. More than 900 rivers flow in Kursk region, Seim being the main of them. The animal world of the partially wooded steppe is very rich .You can see elks, roe deer, wild boars, beavers, larks and nightingales there. 

Many different routes will help you to see the beauty of Russian nature. Its endless fields, green hills, century-old oak forests will produce a strong impression on you. 

The steppe always used to be an endless home for nomadic tribes. There were plenty of them — Skythians, Mongolo — Tartars and others. Burial-mounds retain the memory of old times. You can participate in archaeological excavations and touch the secrets of multi-century history. Kursk dwellers had been protecting the southern boundaries of Russia for more than a thousand years. Only after the Azov campaign of Peter I did the territory become a peaceful place. Many famous people admired the beauty of the region. For example, Katherine II called Kursk ―A Russian Venice‖; in 1903 the last Russian emperor Nikolai II made allocations for opening Kursk Regional Museum. Now it contains rich collections, representing the history of Kursk region. 

Kursk region abounds in generous nature and historical events. Kursk nightingales with their unique trillings, the aroma of and juicy Kursk apples, the Kursk magnetic anomaly, and the great Kursk battle, which determined the outcome of World war II are known all over the country. This booklet invites you to take a trip choosing any direction you like. 

 

Kursk is connected with Moscow, St-Petersburg, Kiev, and cities in the Crimea and the Caucasus by railroads. International and local airflights are made from Kursk air station: the Moscow — Simpferopol highway passes through Kursk; bus routes connect all regional centers of the area. You can stay in hotels or camps, go on excursions by bus or by bicycle, on foot or by ski or by water transport. 

Thousands of Russian manors disappeared during the last century. The most famous Russian families such as the Sheremetievs, the Yusupovs, the Dolgorukiys, the Golovins, the Raevskiys, the Tolstoys, the Nelidovs and the Baryatinskiys were all owners of Kursk estates. 

We managed to save only the manors which were declared state monuments of history. Now the museums or guesthouses are situated in the manors. The most famous of Kursk’s manors are those of the Nelidovs in Mokwa and the Baryatinskiys in Marjino. The manor in Mokwa is connected with the name of the 1st Kursk General — Governor A.Nelidov. The palace reminds us of the romantic image of a knightly castle. Towers, battlements, and look-holes strengthen the effect. The palace is surrounded by a park, which has a 200 — year-old oak-forest.

It is a pleasure to see its beauty and to feel the coolness. 

―Marjino‖ is a genuine pearl of Russia’s manors. Prince Baryatinskiy with his refined sense of beauty and European education managed to build a magnificent palace in the style of classicism, and to lay out a marvellous huge park with ponds. Being real connaisseurs of art, the Baryatinskiys gathered the most valuable collections of painting, sculpture, weapons and china. There was a rich library in Marijino. Performances were staged, and musical evenings were conducted there rather often. 

 

The Russian estate is a specific world, and you are welcome to get acquainted with it. 

Kursk inhabitants remember those who defended the freedom and independence of our Motherland in the Great Patriotic War in 1941 — 1945. In the territory of Kursk region there is a number of places commemorating the extremely difficult, but outstanding pages of our history. They are the Historical Museum of the Kursk Battle (Kursk, Ponyri), the memorial complex ―The quarters of the Central front‖ (v. Svoboda), and many others. But the most impressive of them is the memorial complex ―The Arch of Triumph‖ in Kursk, which was built to honor the most significant periods of World War II, which passed on Kursk land.  Sights

Temples are the monuments of history, architecture and spiritual culture. Russian saints such as Pheodosiy Pecherski, Seraphim Sarovski, Iosaf of Belgorod prayed in them. The sound of church bells was heard all over the city. They used to call the cathedral bells ―velvet‖. Sergievo-Kazanski Cathedral is one of Rastrelli's masterpieces of architecture. In the centre of the city you can see the huge silver dome of Znamenski Cathedral. The golden cross on its top looks as if blesses our city. It is one of the largest in the country. In this cathedral the Korennaja icon was kept. Now it is the most sacred thing of the Russian Foreign Orthodox Church. The icon was found more than 700 years ago at the roots of a tree on the bank of the River Tuskar. The Monastery Korennaja Pustin was built in this place more than 400 years ago. Now this monastery with its wonderful springs is a place of pilgrimage for religious people. 

 

There is a Lutheran Church and a Catholic Church in Kursk (in the latter K. Malevich's children were christened) and the Uspenski Old-ritual Christian Church. 

Other temples and monasteries of Kursk region have a rich and interesting history. The international festival ―Solovjinaja Trel‖ traditionally took place on the bank of the river Seim at Dichnja. Every year since May 1989 15,000 people put up tents on the hill of the festival. 

The jury of the festival consists of famous singers: V. Jegorov, U. Kukin, A. Gorodnitskiy, V. Turiyanskiy, A. Sofronov, L. Sergeev, O. Mityaev, K. Tarasov, Sh. Husainov, S. Kaplanov, M. Konoplev and Mishuks brother. 

The international festival ―Solovjinaja Trel‖ is the largest in our region. People from all over the country come to it. 

Thus, the 10th anniversary festival of ―Solovjinaja Trel‖ should become one of the brightest events in the cultural life of Russia. There are museums and exhibition halls, theatres and concert halls in Kursk and towns of the area. We await you at folk holidays, at concerts of organ music or symphonic orchestras. We shall help you to get acquainted with and to love the ancient and beautiful region of nightingales. 

Monuments of architecture, the collection of the painting of Kursk Deineka picture gallery, exhibits of the museums of astronomer F.A. Semenov, the writers N.N. Aseev, A.P. Gaidar, the military — historical museum of Kursk Battle and Kursk temples will tell you about the events and the people. 

Sites of pilgrimage tourism

Znamensky Monastery/ Address: Kursk, Lunacharskogo St., 4 

Erected in 1826 at the place of the temple of the miracle-working icon of Our Lady of Kursk. The name is firmly connected to the miracle-working icon of the Sign of Our Lady, which according to legend was found at the roots of a tree on the bank of River Tuskar. There is the one-domed Voskresenskaya Church. Services begin at 8-00 am and 6-00 pm. 

Sergievo-Kazansky Cathedral/ Address: Kursk, Gorkogo St., 27 

Built in 1778 in memory of St. Sergiy of Radonezh and the icon of ―Our Lady of Kazan‖. One of the temple's side-chapels is dedicated to saint Serafim Sarovski, a native of Kursk. There is the building of the Kursk theological seminary and Sunday school for children situated in the cathedral yard. Services begin at 8-00 am and 600 pm 

Sviato-Troitsky Convent/ Address: Kursk, Gorkogo St., 13 

There is no precise data about the date of the convent's foundation. In the scribes' documents it is mentioned in 1631. Closed in 1923, re-opened after a decision by the Saint Synod of All-Russia in 1994. 

Sviato-Nikolaevskiy Monastery/ Address: Kursk region, city of Rylsk 

First mentioned in written sources in 1505. There are three one-domed churches situated on its territory: Nikolaevskiy (built in 1753 by merchant Ivan Shelikhov, father of Russian seafarer Grigoriy Shelikhov), Vozdvizhenskiy (1733),

Troitskiy (1747) and a bell tower. Services begin at 7-00 am and 5-00 pm 

Nizhne-Troitsky Temple/ Address: Kursk, Gaidara St. 30 

Built in 1734 at the place of the initial city of Kursk. There are iconographic workshops of the Kursk theological seminary attached to the temple. Services begin at 7-00 am and 5-00 pm. 

Kursk eparchial administration/ Address: Kursk, Lenin Sq. 55, Tel. [phone] 

The Kursk-Belgorod eparchial administration was in the city of Belgorod till 1833. First it was headed by Metropolitan Feodosiy. Since 1984 the eparchy has been headed by the archbishop of Kursk and Rylsk Juvenaliy. Working hours:

weekdays 9-00 am to 5-00 pm 

Monastery of the Birth of Our Lady in Korennaya Hermitage / Address:

Kursk region, Zolotuhinsky area, village of Svoboda, Sovietskaya St., 17 

The monastery was opened at the decree of the Tsar Fiodor Ioannovich in 1597 and dedicated to the icon of the Sign of Our Lady of Kursk-Korennoy, which the tsar ordered returned from Moscow to the hermitage where it had been found in 1292 according to legend. Copies of the miracle-working icon were with the

Russian army during military campaigns (the battle of Poltava, the battle of Borodino, the Crimean campaign). Religious processions has been performed here since 1618. A copy of the icon is transported from Znamensky cathedral in the city of Kursk on the 9th Friday after the Easter and is returned after September 12th. At present the icon is in the Sviato-Troitkiy Temple of the Russian Orthodox Church Overseas (in New York).