The main result is the following: A domain R is a Prüfer domain if and only if for every R-module M of finite type, the torsion submodule \(\tau\) (M) is a pure submodule. As a corollary one gets the theorem of I. Kaplansky [J. Indian Math. Soc., New Ser. 24, 279-281 (1961; Zbl 0118.272)] that R is Prüfer iff for every R-module M of finite type \(\tau\) (M) is a direct summand.