Historiographical features of studying the events of military history of 1941–1942 on the territory of Central Chernozemye

The relevance of this study is determined by the current state of historical science, which is characterized by the need to overcome a fundamental imbalance in the level of research concerning various stages of the Great Patriotic War. The events of 1941–1942 (the defense of Kursk and Orel, the Voronezh-Voroshilovgrad and Yelets operations) remained for a long time in the shadow of the large-scale victories of 1943, which gave rise to the phenomenon of "forgotten battles". Synthesizing historiographical experience through the lens of new approaches allows for the construction of a comprehensive picture of wartime events.

The purpose is to provide a comprehensive problem-oriented historiographical characterization of the evolution of Russian scholarship regarding the key military history events of the Central Black Earth Region and to identify the transformation of research paradigms from the period of the Great Patriotic War to the present day.

Objectives: to define and systematize the main parameters revealing the stages of development of the problem's historiography; to trace the dynamics of changes in the source base from propaganda materials to declassified archival documents; to identify the influence of ideological factors on the formation of historical concepts; and to evaluate the contribution of regional research schools to eliminating "lacunae" in military history.

Methodology. A complex of complementary methods was used, including the problem-chronological method (to identify stages), the comparative-historical method (to compare concepts), as well as methods of retrospective analysis and periodization.

Results. Reveals the complex evolution of the historical narrative concerning the military events of 1941–1942 in the Central Black Earth Region. A four-stage periodization of historiography is substantiated. The study demonstrates how the research focus shifted from heroic episodes to the analysis of operational failures, collaborationism, and the "human dimension" of war. The process of overcoming the stereotypes of the "Kursk Bulge effect" ‒ where events of 1941–1942 were viewed merely as a prelude to the events of 1943 ‒ is presented.

Conclusions. The current stage of historiography is characterized by balance and a multifactorial approach. Thanks to the introduction of new documents the main gaps in the history of the battles in the Bryansk and Voronezh directions have been closed, and the strategic significance of the 1941–1942 defensive operations for the general course of the war has been proven.

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