Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (Dzhugashvili, 6 (18).12.1878, according to the official date 9 (21).12 1879 - 5.03.1953) -

Soviet statesman, political and military figure. General Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) since 1922, head of the Soviet Government (Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars since 1941, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR since 1946), Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (1945).

During the Great Patriotic War (1941 - 1945) - Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, Chairman of the State Defense Committee, Chairman of the Supreme Command Headquarters, People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR. The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, headed by him, with its governing body - the General Staff - exercised direct control of military operations, planning campaigns and strategic operations. Headed by Stalin, the State Defense Committee and other top state and political bodies did a great job of mobilizing all the country's forces to repel the aggressor and achieve victory. As the head of the Soviet government, Stalin participated in the Tehran (1943), Crimean (1945) and Potsdam (1945) conferences of the leaders of three powers - the USSR, the USA and Great Britain.

The Second World War is considered one of the most fierce and bloody armed conflicts of the 20th century. Of course, victory in the war was the merit of the Soviet people, who, at the cost of countless sacrifices, gave the future generation a peaceful life. However, this became possible thanks to unsurpassed talent - the participants of the Second World War forged victory together with ordinary citizens of the USSR, demonstrating heroism and courage.

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov is considered one of the most key figures of the Great Patriotic War. The beginning of Zhukov's military career dates back to 1916, when he took direct part in the First World War. In one of the battles, Zhukov was seriously wounded and shell-shocked, but despite this, he did not leave his post. For courage and valor he was awarded the Cross of St. George, 3rd and 4th degree.

The WWII generals are not just military commanders, they are real innovators in their field. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov is a striking example of this. It was he, the first of all representatives of the Red Army, who was awarded the insignia - the Marshal's Star, and was also awarded the highest service - Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Alexey Mikhailovich Vasilevsky

It is impossible to imagine the list of “Generals of the Second World War” without this outstanding person. During the entire war, Vasilevsky was at the fronts for 22 months with his soldiers, and only 12 months in Moscow. The great commander personally commanded the battles in heroic Stalingrad, during the days of the defense of Moscow, and repeatedly visited the most dangerous territories from the point of view of attack by the enemy German army.

Alexey Mikhailovich Vasilevsky, Major General of the Second World War, had an amazingly courageous character. Thanks to his strategic thinking and lightning-fast understanding of the situation, he was repeatedly able to repel enemy attacks and avoid many casualties.

Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky

The rating “Outstanding Generals of the Second World War” will not be complete without mentioning an amazing person, the talented commander K.K. Rokossovsky. Rokossovsky's military career began at the age of 18, when he asked to join the Red Army, whose regiments passed through Warsaw.

The biography of the great commander has a negative imprint. So, in 1937, he was slandered and accused of having connections with foreign intelligence, which served as the basis for his arrest. However, Rokossovsky’s persistence played a significant role. He did not admit to the charges against him. The acquittal and release of Konstantin Konstantinovich took place in 1940.

For successful military operations near Moscow, as well as for the defense of Stalingrad, Rokossovsky’s name is at the top of the list of “great generals of the Second World War.” For the role that the general played in the attack on Minsk and Baranovichi, Konstantin Konstantinovich was awarded the title “Marshal of the Soviet Union.” He was awarded many orders and medals.

Ivan Stepanovich Konev

Do not forget that the list of “Generals and Marshals of the Second World War” includes the name of I. S. Konev. One of the key operations, which is indicative of the fate of Ivan Stepanovich, is considered to be the Korsun-Shevchenko offensive. This operation made it possible to encircle a large group of enemy troops, which also played a positive role in turning the tide of the war.

Alexander Werth, a popular English journalist, wrote about this tactical offensive and Konev’s unique victory: “Konev carried out a lightning-fast attack on enemy forces through slush, dirt, impassability and muddy roads.” For his innovative ideas, perseverance, valor and colossal courage, Ivan Stepanovich joined the list that included generals and marshals of the Second World War. Commander Konev received the title of “Marshal of the Soviet Union” third, after Zhukov and Vasilevsky.

Andrey Ivanovich Eremenko

One of the most famous personalities of the Great Patriotic War is Andrei Ivanovich Eremenko, born in the settlement of Markovka in 1872. The military career of an outstanding commander began in 1913, when he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army.

This person is interesting because he received the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union for merits other than Rokossovsky, Zhukov, Vasilevsky and Konev. If the listed generals of the armies of the Second World War were awarded orders for offensive operations, then Andrei Ivanovich received an honorary military rank for defense. Eremenko took an active part in the operations near Stalingrad, in particular, he was one of the initiators of the counteroffensive, which resulted in the capture of a group of German soldiers in the amount of 330 thousand people.

Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky

Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky is considered one of the most prominent commanders of the Great Patriotic War. He enlisted in the Red Army at the age of 16. During the First World War he received multiple severe wounds. Two fragments from shells stuck in my back, the third pierced my leg. Despite this, after recovery he was not discharged, but continued to serve his homeland.

His military successes during the Second World War deserve special words. In December 1941, with the rank of lieutenant general, Malinovsky was appointed commander of the Southern Front. However, the most striking episode in the biography of Rodion Yakovlevich is considered to be the defense of Stalingrad. The 66th Army, under the strict leadership of Malinovsky, launched a counteroffensive near Stalingrad. Thanks to this, it was possible to defeat the 6th German Army, which reduced the enemy’s pressure on the city. After the end of the war, Rodion Yakovlevich was awarded the honorary title “Hero of the Soviet Union.”

Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko

The victory, of course, was forged by the entire people, but the WWII generals played a special role in the defeat of the German troops. The list of outstanding commanders is supplemented by the name of Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko. The commander repeatedly received anger due to failed operations in the first days of the war. Semyon Konstantinovich, showing courage and bravery, asked the commander-in-chief to send him to the most dangerous area of ​​the battles.

During his military activities, Marshal Timoshenko commanded the most important fronts and directions that were of a strategic nature. The most striking facts in the biography of the commander are considered to be the battles on the territory of Belarus, in particular the defense of Gomel and Mogilev.

Ivan Khristoforovich Chuikov

Ivan Khristoforovich was born into a peasant family in 1900. He decided to devote his life to serving his homeland and to connect it with military activities. He took a direct part in the Civil War, for which he was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner.

During World War II he was the commander of the 64th and then the 62nd Army. Under his leadership, the most important defensive battles took place, which made it possible to defend Stalingrad. Ivan Khristoforovich Chuikov was awarded the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” for the liberation of Ukraine from fascist occupation.

The Great Patriotic War is the most important battle of the 20th century. Thanks to the valor, bravery and courage of Soviet soldiers, as well as the innovation and ability of commanders to make decisions in difficult situations, it was possible to achieve a crushing victory of the Red Army over Nazi Germany.

Soviet propaganda did its job, and every schoolchild knew the names of these military leaders. And the phrase of Mikhail Ulyanov in the role of Zhukov: “To fight to the death... made me shiver.” However, recently there have been a lot of alternative points of view that cast doubt on the abilities of the commanders of that war, pointing to obvious tactical miscalculations and unjustified sacrifices. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but I’m sure that, sitting at a computer with a cup of coffee, it’s very easy to evaluate people’s actions, find mistakes and move entire armies, everything is different in life and understand the motives for actions without having all the data very not easy.
Let's remember the names of these people.

1 . Zhukov (1896-1974)

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov is a three-time hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of the Soviet Union, who has the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, and two Orders of Victory. Participated in the Leningrad and Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk battles. In 1944 he was appointed commander of the First Belorussian Front.

2 Voroshilov (1881-1969)

Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich - twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Socialist Labor, since 1935 - Marshal of the Soviet Union. In 1942-43 he was the commander-in-chief of the partisan movement, and in 1943 he was the coordinator of troops in breaking the siege of Leningrad.

3 Rokossovsky (1896-1968)

Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky is one of the most titled military leaders of the Great Patriotic War. It was he who was entrusted with commanding the Victory Parade in 1945. Marshal of the Soviet Union and Marshal of Poland, Rokossovsky was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Victory, the Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov, 1st degree. Known for his participation in many military operations, including Operation Bagration for the liberation of Belarus. He commanded troops in the Battles of Stalingrad and Leningrad, participated in the Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

4 Tolbukhin (1894-1949)

Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin is a man who went through the war from chief of staff (1941) to Marshal of the Soviet Union (1944). His troops took part in the Crimean, Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna and other operations. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to Tolbukhin posthumously in 1965.

Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky is the commander of dozens of successful military operations. At the age of 35, he became the commander of a tank division, and from 1944, the commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded many orders and medals. He died in 1945 from a fatal wound.

6 Govorov (1897-1955)

Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov - Hero and Marshal of the Soviet Union, commander at different times of the Leningrad and Baltic fronts. He led the defense of Leningrad for 670 of the 900 days of the siege. Participated in the liberation of Borodino. He led the encirclement of the Kurland group of Germans, who capitulated on May 8, 1945.

7 Malinovsky (1898-1967)

Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky - twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of the Soviet Union, holder of the highest Soviet Order of Victory. Participated in the liberation of Rostov and Donbass, led the Zaporozhye and Odessa operations.

8 Konev (1897-1973)

Ivan Stepanovich Konev - commander of the army and fronts, and since 1950 - deputy. Minister of Defense During the Great Patriotic War, he participated in the Battle of Kursk and the Battle of Moscow, in the Berlin, Vistula-Oder and Paris operations.

9 Vasilevsky (1885-1977)

Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky - Hero and Marshal of the Soviet Union, Chief of the General Staff, Commander of the 3rd Belorussian and 1st Baltic Fronts. Participated in operations to liberate Donbass, Crimea, Belarus, Latvia and Lithuania. He led troops in the Far East in the Russo-Japanese War.

10 Tymoshenko (1895-1970)

Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko is a holder of the Order of Victory, awarded a personalized saber with the coat of arms of the USSR. He took part in the Leningrad and Moscow battles; in the Iasi-Kishinev and Budapest operations, and also took part in the liberation of Vienna.

KUZNETSOV Nikolay Gerasimovich

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, 1944.

Born on July 24 (11), 1904 in the village of Medvedki, Kotlas district, Arkhangelsk region. In the navy from the age of 15, he served on a gunboat in the Severodvinsk military flotilla. With the rank of a Red Navy man, Nikolai Kuznetsov took part in the Civil War. In the fall of 1920, Kuznetsov was transferred to Petrograd and enrolled in the Central Fleet Crew. From December 6, 1920 to May 20, 1922, he studied at the preparatory school at the Naval School (later the M. V. Frunze Naval School), to which he was transferred in September 1922. On October 5, 1926, he graduated from college with honors, receiving the rank of commander of the Red Red Army Fleet, and was enrolled in the middle-ranking command corps of the Red Army Navy. He was given the right to choose a fleet.

Kuznetsov chose the Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Chervona Ukraine, as his place of future service. He was appointed watch commander of this cruiser, as well as commander of the first pluton and commander of the combat company. From August 1927 to October 1, 1929 - senior watch commander of the cruiser.

From October 1, 1929 to May 4, 1932, Kuznetsov studied at the Naval Academy and graduated with honors. Receives the first award from NAMORSI RKKA - a pistol of the Korovin system. After studying at the academy, Kuznetsov became the senior assistant commander of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". Thanks to his activities, in 1933 the cruiser became part of the combat core of the Black Sea Fleet.

In November 1933, Captain 2nd Rank Kuznetsov was appointed commander of the cruiser Chervona Ukraine. He remained in this position until August 15, 1936.

Since August 1936, he has worked as a naval attaché and chief naval adviser, as well as the leader of Soviet volunteer sailors in Spain.

In July 1937, Kuznetsov returned to his homeland and in August of the same year was appointed deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet, and from January 10, 1938 to March 28, 1939, he was commander of this fleet.

In December 1937, by decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, the People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was created; in March 1938, N. G. Kuznetsov was introduced to the Main Military Council of the Navy under the People's Commissariat of the Navy. On March 28, 1939, N. G. Kuznetsov was appointed Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, and on April 28, 1939 (at age 34), two years and two months before the start of the Great Patriotic War, he was appointed People's Commissar of the USSR Navy.

At the beginning of 1941, by the decision of the People's Commissar, a boatswain's school was created on the island of Valaam (Lake Ladoga), and later, in 1942, on the Solovetsky Islands - a ship's school, in 1943 - the Nakhimov Naval School in Tbilisi, in 1944 - the Nakhimov Military School -Naval School in Leningrad, in 1945 - Riga Nakhimov School. Preparatory schools were created in Baku (1943), Leningrad, Gorky and Vladivostok to prepare young men entering higher naval educational institutions who did not have a secondary education, which existed until 1948.

In May 1941, on the instructions of N.G. Kuznetsov, the fleets increased the composition of the combat core, strengthened ship patrols and reconnaissance. On June 19, by order of the People's Commissar of the Navy, all fleets switched to operational readiness No. 2, bases and formations were asked to disperse forces and strengthen surveillance of water and air, and prohibit the dismissal of personnel from units and ships. The ships received the necessary supplies, put the material part in order; a certain duty was established. All personnel remained on the ships. Political work among the Red Navy men was intensified in the spirit of constant readiness to repel an enemy attack, despite the TASS report of June 14, refuting rumors of a possible German attack on the USSR. On June 21, 1941, after receiving a warning from the General Staff at 23:00 about a possible attack on the USSR by Nazi Germany, the People's Commissar of the Navy, with his directive No. 3N/87, at 23:50, announced to the fleets: “Immediately switch to operational readiness No. 1.” Even earlier, his verbal order was conveyed to the fleets by telephone. The fleets carried out the order by 00.00 on June 22 and were already in full combat readiness when at 01:12 on June 22, the military councils of the fleets received a second detailed directive from the People's Commissar of the Navy Kuznetsov “on the possibility of a surprise attack by the Germans” No. 3N/88. On June 22, 1941, all fleets and flotillas of the USSR met aggression on combat alert, and on the first day of the war did not suffer losses either in the naval personnel or in the naval air force.

During the war, organizing interaction between the Navy and ground forces in order to defeat the enemy was one of the main directions in the activities of the People's Commissariat and the Main Naval Staff of the Navy. Kuznetsov proved himself to be an outstanding organizer of interaction between naval forces and ground forces. He acted as the People's Commissar of the Navy, a member of the State Defense Committee and a representative of the Supreme High Command Headquarters on the use of naval forces on the fronts (1941-1945), as the Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy (from February 1944), as a member of the Supreme High Command Headquarters (from February 1945).

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief J.V. Stalin assessed the activities of the Navy in the war in order No. 371 of July 22, 1945 in connection with Navy Day: “In the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people against Nazi Germany, the Navy of our state was a faithful assistant Red Army. ...The combat activities of Soviet sailors were distinguished by selfless steadfastness and courage, high combat activity and military skill. ...The fleet fully fulfilled its duty to the Soviet Motherland.”

In 1944, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded the rank of Admiral of the Fleet (since 1955 - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union), equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

“For skillful and courageous leadership of military operations and the successes achieved in them” during the war, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner, two Orders of Ushakov, 1st degree, foreign orders, commemorative weapons and the Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union . On September 14, 1945, Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union

A special page in the activities of the People's Commissar of the Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy was his work as a member of the delegation from the Soviet Union as part of diplomatic missions and international conferences. He participated in the negotiations of the military missions of the three powers - the USSR, England and France (1939), the USA and Great Britain (July 1941) - on joint actions in the war against Germany, in the Crimean and Potsdam conferences of the three allied powers (1945).

Under N.G. Kuznetsov, the Navy was developing a balanced ten-year military shipbuilding program, which even included the construction of aircraft carriers. He early realized and highly appreciated the prospects of using nuclear energy in the navy for ships and submarines. He expressed his thoughts about this at meetings in 1946, in a letter and report to Generalissimo I.V. Stalin on September 30, 1946. Kuznetsov’s persistence and activities aimed at implementing this program turned out to be fatal for him. His views came into conflict with the views of the country's top leadership on the development of the Navy, its organization and management, who were irritated by the authority, independence of judgment and independence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The People's Commissariat of the Navy was abolished "as unnecessary", and Kuznetsov was removed from his post and transferred to head the Directorate of Naval Educational Institutions in Leningrad.

In 1947 he was subjected to the court of honor, and in 1948 to the court of the Supreme Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. By a court verdict dated February 3, 1948, and by CM Resolution No. 1283-114c dated February 10, 1948, he was demoted to rear admiral and removed from work.

From 1948 to 1950, Kuznetsov served in Khabarovsk as deputy commander-in-chief of the Far East forces for naval forces, and in 1950-1951 - commander of the Pacific (5th) Fleet.

In November 1949, he was nominated for the next military rank of vice admiral, which he received on January 27, 1951 (for the second time).

In the summer of 1951, I.V. Stalin returned Kuznetsov to work in Moscow in the newly created Naval Department as Minister of Naval Affairs (Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of July 20, 1951).

By Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 13, 1953 No. 254-504с, he was restored to his previous rank - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, and all charges against him were dropped due to the lack of corpus delicti.

Having again become the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Kuznetsov put a lot of effort into adopting a realistic fleet development program that meets the interests of the state. In this he met fierce resistance from incompetent people who were in charge of the country's leadership. On this, in fact, as Kuznetsov put it, “he broke his neck.” In May 1955, he suffered a heart attack and asked to be released during his illness. But his request was left unanswered. The “elders” wanted this, but were waiting for a reason to remove him “for disrespect for elders.” The reason was found six months later, and in December 1955, Kuznetsov, who had not yet recovered from his illness, was removed from the post of commander-in-chief for allegedly “unsatisfactory leadership of the Navy,” although at that time another person was in charge of the fleet.

In February 1956, he was demoted to vice admiral and dismissed from military service.

On July 26, 1988, after a long and shameful red tape, Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was restored to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser (TAKR) that came into operation was given the name “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” (1989).

Battle of Stalingrad. Our troops number more than a million. There are more than a million enemies. By April 16, 1945, two and a half million of our soldiers were operating in the Berlin direction. They were opposed by a group of more than a million fascists. And in addition, there is “inanimate force”: huge concentrations of tanks and artillery, giant flocks of aircraft.

And with such “density of fire” the battles lasted a long time. Counteroffensive at Stalingrad - 75 days. And “Mamaevo’s Massacre” took three hours. And the Battle of Poltava lasted almost as long.

But, when comparing, we will not argue that the great battles of past centuries are just “battles of local significance” if we measure them by the standards already known to us. The great future has never diminished the great past.

We are talking about something else - about commanders.

Napoleon said that many of the questions facing a commander were a mathematical problem worthy of the efforts of Newton and. He meant his time. But what can we say about our commanders? How to measure the complexity of the tasks facing them?

Zhukov, Vasilevsky, Rokossovsky, Konev, Vatutin, Tolbukhin, Chernyakhovsky, Meretskov, Bagramyan. The names speak for themselves. They say a lot to many people. Moreover, the series can be continued further; even its length is amazing.

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov

General G.K. Zhukov, a platoon and squadron commander in the civil war, the hero of Khalkhin Gol, became the chief of the General Staff back in January 1941, at the age of forty-four. He held the position until July 30, that is, a little more than six months. The Great Patriotic War, as we see, accounts for a month and a little more than a week of this period. Then, in civilian terms, he was transferred to another job. This happened in the bitter days of our failures.

Very little time will pass, and Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov will become Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief. But it will be so. Very soon and very soon. The hours and years count on the clock of war.

The first thing Zhukov will do in his new capacity as commander of the Reserve Front will be Yelnya, where he will go to organize a counterattack.

He will understand a lot very quickly, that our units are firing artillery not at actual enemy firing points, but at supposed ones.

He will understand that, while delaying decisive action, he must constantly keep the enemy in suspense, exhaust him, and even mislead him with his activity.

Let us remember: Zhukov replaced the former commander of the Leningrad Front when Army Group North, having captured Shlisselburg, surrounded Leningrad. The enemy tried with all his might to turn the blockade ring into a suffocating noose thrown around the neck of the tormented city.

Zhukov stayed in Leningrad for less than a month and was urgently recalled - now Moscow was in mortal danger. Fulfilling his longed-for dream - to capture the Soviet capital in order to thereby surpass Napoleon (at that time Moscow was not the first city of Russia), Hitler sent almost half of all the troops that operated on the Soviet-German front to the operation, including two-thirds of all tank and motorized divisions. He remembered the experiences of Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, Belgrade.

The same person goes precisely to the “boiling points”. According to Vasilevsky, Zhukov was the most noticeable in the main cohort of Soviet commanders, and turns out to be where he should be every time. And this despite his “hotness”, his independent character. But he will not change - he will remain the same. But the attitude towards such people will become different (“Gradually, under the pressure of the circumstances of the course of the war,” Vasilevsky would later write). To those who know their business perfectly, for whom the interests of the cause, the interests of Victory are above all.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich

We often hear and repeat these words: time dictates, time demands. That's when - during the war - it became absolutely clear that these were not just words. That's when it became absolutely obvious that the principles of personnel selection are vitally important. Wartime complicated many things, but it also unexpectedly simplified many things - for example, the view of who was considered a promising person worthy of nomination.

Rokossovsky started the war not as a 44-year-old general, but as a very young man. In civilian life he made a daring raid on the White headquarters train, took part in the defeat and capture of Baron Ungern, and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

In fact, in nine months, minus the time spent in the hospital after being wounded, Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky went from corps commander to front commander. Rapid growth, instant assessment of merit. Instant, but not hasty.

If you think about it, Rokossovsky’s “official” growth was facilitated by his enemies - they gave him commendable characteristics. How? At least this: in January 42, the Sixteenth Army was transferred to the Sukhinichi area, and an incident occurred there that at first seemed inexplicable.

The Nazi units opposing our troops suddenly abandoned their positions and retreated seven to eight kilometers. Without a fight, without any coercion on our part.

It later became clear what prompted them to act this way - they heard a rumor about the arrival of the Sixteenth Army. The enemy already knew the name of its commander well, and therefore decided, without tempting fate, to withdraw the troops to more prepared positions.

During the war, responsibility for decisions made sharply increased. The need for these decisions to be error-free has become more acute than ever: the cost of every mistake, especially in decisions of a military nature, has never been higher.

By accepting them, they risked not their position, not their reputation, they not only put themselves at risk, but so many others, their lives - the lives of tens, hundreds, thousands.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

The war answered all questions incomparably quickly. A decision was made - and everything became clear tomorrow, or even today - an hour later.

When in one of the battles the artillery fell behind, changing firing positions - and every minute was valuable, otherwise the offensive would bog down, Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky - and this was, it seems, for the first time in the history of the Great Patriotic War - was removed from firing positions and moved to the front line to fight by the ground enemy the main group of the army's anti-aircraft artillery.

The anti-aircraft guns did not hit planes, but tanks and fortified enemy positions. This was a big risk, but Chernyakhovsky, having made such a decision, hoped to break the enemy’s resistance in an hour or two. And he turned out to be right.

In another battle, again remembering Suvorov’s order: one minute decides the outcome of battles, one hour - the success of the campaign, one day - the fate of the country, not allowing the enemy to gain a foothold on advantageous lines, and therefore, avoiding unjustified losses, Chernyakhovsky orders the troops to force the Dnieper.

Without pulling up the pontoon-bridge parks, without ensuring the simultaneous crossing of infantry, tanks and artillery, cross on rafts and fishing boats. The plan was for surprise. And to German loyalty to the letter of the charter.

The general knew that in all the instructions of the German army, crossing such large rivers was allowed only if engineering crossing facilities were available. He knew that the Germans would not dare to allow, even if this was happening before their eyes, that someone was doing something they themselves would never do. And again I was right.

And when, under fierce enemy fire, our advanced units reached the opposite bank and entered into an unequal battle, Chernyakhovsky conveyed to the advanced units: “I am sending reinforcements, I will support you with fire. Order: expand the bridgehead. I’ll go to you myself!”

The bridgehead was not only maintained, but also expanded.

They were like-minded people, our outstanding military leaders. Everyone thought and fought outside the box, faithful to the rule that Chernyakhovsky formulated as follows: a commander in battle should not do what the enemy is looking for and expecting from him.

Everyone understood that the true commander of a war for those who expect to win it must be a thought - new, deep, unexpected.

At the age of 37, Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky was already commanding the front. Now, knowing how he fought, it’s not easy to even imagine that someone could have thought at one time: isn’t it too early for him to take such a post? For him, commanding an army is an achievement beyond his age?

Nikolai Fedorovich Vatutin, who was the front commander at that time, suggested that Chernyakhovsky take command of the army. He was only five years older, but managed to test himself in battles with the Makhnovists, and by the beginning of the war, at thirty-nine years old, he already held the high post of First Deputy Chief of the General Staff.

The offer to take command of the army took Chernyakhovsky by surprise:

It's only been a month since I commanded the corps.

A month in war is a very long time.

There are other generals, more experienced, deserved, my appointment will hurt their pride.

Well, here’s the thing,” Vatutin said almost sternly, “now is not the time to talk about someone’s pride.” The enemy put us in harsh conditions. And we cannot ignore this.

A man of position, with past merits, he seemed much older than the youngest of the front commanders. By the way, other major military leaders also had past achievements.

Konev Ivan Stepanovich and Tolbukhin Fedor Ivanovich

Konev became the head of the front at the age of 43, and first announced himself in the years of his combat youth - the red commissar of armored train No. 102 “Grozny”, division commissar, participant in the suppression of the counter-revolutionary rebellion in Kronstadt.

Tolbukhin, who in those years seemed to himself an elderly man, although he was only two years older than Zhukov and Rokossovsky, three years older than Konev, fought against Yudenich and the White Poles, was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for personal bravery, was awarded three times with a personalized silver watch with the inscription "To the honest warrior of the workers and peasants."

But even with regard to past merits, time has spoken quite clearly - a real war cannot be won by past victories, or even by the methods by which they were achieved. The path to victories in a modern war must be new, modern. Different times, different battles. And the commanders are different.

"Can not". Even if they wanted to. It is not man who dictates, it is time. Although someone, some person, much less impartial than time, could say: really, what’s the rush? Let the young general get used to his previous position. He will gain experience in leadership work... He still has everything ahead...

The military leader was required to constantly comprehend the situation, sometimes instantly solve complex problems, while minimizing possible mistakes. The work of a commander, ideally, is unmistakable creativity. But is it possible to create with the guarantee that you will avoid mistakes? Is one compatible with the other? But the fact of the matter is that someone managed to get closer to the ideal. It was then that time “interceded” for such people, demanding immediate recognition, immediate promotion. For the ability to fight, how to do one’s military work, such “trifles” as a complex character, like youth were forgiven... The most promising, in any case, turned out to be precisely those personnel changes that were made “in the spirit of the times,” not pre-war or post-war - military .

Govorov Leonid Alexandrovich

With the name of Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov - he commanded the Leningrad Front - the heroic epic of the great city, the breakthrough of the Leningrad blockade, went down in history forever. Little talkative, dry, even somewhat gloomy in appearance, he could not or did not want to make an impression that was advantageous to himself.

However, this quality of nature is not the only thing that could prevent the future marshal from making a worthy contribution to the defeat of fascism and demonstrating his abilities as a strategist. In his early youth, due to difficult circumstances, he found himself in the Kolchak army, and although he quickly parted with it, and subsequently fought with, he was wounded twice in battles for Soviet power, awarded the Order of the Red Banner, who could guarantee that not a single personnel officer would ever be glance sideways at the “dark page” of his biography. But, as we already know, nothing stopped it. And Zhukov “looked after” him, seeing a major military talent in Govorov.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich

Preparing a counteroffensive near Stalingrad, the Soviet Supreme High Command sent its representatives to the fronts. Chief of the General Staff Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky arrived at the Stalingrad Front. The operation was scheduled to begin on October 20, 1942. But it started a month later. What happened? Who delayed the day that was so longed for? By what right and for what reasons?

Vasilevsky “dragged” with the start of the counteroffensive.

Arriving at the front, I became convinced that the day it began, judging by the state of the enemy, was chosen extremely well. The enemy could no longer attack, and did not have time to properly organize the defense. But such a “one-sided view” did not suit him. It was also necessary to take into account the fact that our fronts, in turn, had not yet had time to raise troops or concentrate material resources.

There are examples in the history of war when commanders with a “convenient character” hastened to console the Supreme High Command with optimistic assurances that in no way stemmed from a sober analysis of the situation. The arrogance of the leaders was paid for with the blood of the soldiers.

Facts of this kind explain not only what kind of Chief of the General Staff A.M. Vasilevsky was, but also why he became one, for what merits, and why he grew up.

Results of the leadership of the generals

As we see, having an inconvenient character is the “privilege” of not only Zhukov, but also other commanders. They knew how to firmly stand their ground. Yes, not on “ours” - on the common one, needed by the people, the country. Having been promoted to high positions by deeds, they proved by deeds that they occupied them by right.

Still, this ancient and solemn word “commander” sounds strange when talking about our contemporaries, including those who quite recently came to meetings with us, so to speak, according to Moscow time, and not thanks to a fabulous time machine, came not from legends, but from his apartments.

Did he himself, Ivan Chernyakhovsky, a thirteen-year-old orphan shepherd boy, who disappeared in the meadows with his flock from morning to evening, ever think that someday this “commander” would also refer to him? And Konstantin Rokossovsky is also an orphan from the age of fourteen? And the cook’s son Rodion Malinovsky? And Nikolai Voronov, our first marshal of artillery, when he was left without a mother as a child - did she commit suicide, tormented by hopeless poverty? And Georgy Zhukov, whose brother died of hunger, living in his Strelkovka in a house with a roof that had collapsed from disrepair? The same Zhukov, who would grow into the most prominent commander of his time, on behalf of the army and the people, will accept the surrender of Nazi Germany in Karlshorst, and then, riding a white horse, will host the Victory Parade on Red Square?

I believed that while in power, a person has no idea how damn difficult the situation of ordinary ordinary people can be. Whether this is true or not depends, probably, on many things.

Let us remember and compare: born in 1887, the one whose armies attacked Leningrad and then unsuccessfully tried to relieve the Nazi troops encircled at Stalingrad, was no longer a first-generation general, he represented the dynasty of the Prussian military aristocracy. And how many of them were there besides him in the avalanche that was rolling towards us - hereditary generals who were allegedly haunted by the “genes” of aggression and hatred that had settled in them from past centuries. Generals are from some families, soldiers are from others. It's like from another world.

This is a symbol. They were one family, our commanders and our soldiers.