A day never to be forgotten in Russian history

On this day, July 4, 1943 the battle of Kursk began in the Soviet village of Prokhorovka.

It was the largest full-scale battle in history and the world's largest tank battle.

It was the first time in the Second World War that a German strategic offensive was halted before it could break through enemy defences.

The Germans were taken by surprise and subsequently routed. After the Red Army victory on the Volga, the Soviets were now on the offensive.

Kursk, along with D-Day and the Battle of Stalingrad, is considered one of the significant turning points in World War II.

With victory at Kursk the road to Berlin was open.

  

And on this day, this time July 4, 1862, Lewis Carroll told Alice Liddell a story that became Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels.

Today is a holiday in the US, commemorating the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.