2540 - Kursk, Russia

Kursk was first built as a fortress city, west of the Kur River. It was first mentioned in 1032 and gained city status in 1779.

Between 1360 - 1508 it was a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After that it joined Russia and became Russia's southern border. During the Second World War, Kursk was occupied by Germany from 1941-43. After losing the city in 1943, the German's attempted to retake Kursk via Operation Citadel. During the operation, the world's largest tank battles took place during the Battle of Prokhorovka, about 90 km from Kursk. The 5th Guards Tank Army of the Soviet Red Army attacked the II SS-Panzer Corps of the German Waffen-SS. The Germans lost 842 men, along with 80 tanks and 19 aircraft, while the Soviet's lost 5500 men, along with 400 tanks, and 14 fighter aircraft. Even though the Soviets had significant loses, the Germans cancelled Operation Citadel even though Hitler's advisors wanted to continue the battle. Hitler instead re-deployed his forces elsewhere.

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3566 - Bakhmach, Chernihiv, Ukraine

Bakhmach is locarted in northern Ukraine. I'm taking this next paragraph straight out of Wikipedia: During the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 26, 2022, at least 65 units of Russian military equipment moved through Bakhmach, with about a hundred more on the outskirts. Local residents tried to stop the convoy on their own by blocking tank tracks with makeshift objects and convincing Russian soldiers not to move towards Kyiv . One man attempted to climb onto a tank and block the road with his body (he was not hurt). However, the military equipment continued to move, and Russian forces fired several shots into the air. Слава Україні!

3564 - Kassel, Hesse, Germany

A wonderful message on this card that translates to to those wh o can wait, everything comes with time.

2352 - Cologne (Köln), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Cologne is home to the twelve Romanesque churches. All are Catholic churches and all are found in Altstadt (old town). All were severely damaged during the 262 Allied air raids on Cologne. All twelves have been restored. St. Andreas was consecrated in 974. The crypt of the church as a sarcophagus that dates back to the third century and it holds the remains of St. Albertus Magnus, who died in 1280. St. Apostein was consecrated in the 800s. St. Cecilia was built in the 800s and it the current home of the Schnutgen Museum for Medieval Art. It still holds Catholic Mass on rare occasions. St. Georg's was built near the end of 1000s. It was extensively restored after the Second World War. St. Gerion's was established in 612. St. Kunibert was consecrated in 1247. Cunibert, the 9th Bishop of Cologne, is buried here. St. Maria im Kapital was built between 1040-1065. It was also heavily damaged during the war and restoration was finally completed in 1984. St. Maria Lyskirchem is the ...

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