Great Russian commanders and naval commanders. Outstanding Russian commanders
Fought at the front of the Great Patriotic War from March 1942 to May 1945. During the time he was wounded 2 times near the city of Rzhev, Kalinin region.
He met the victory near Koenigsberg with the rank of senior sergeant as commander of the 7th branch of the Motorized Reconnaissance Company (participated in 21 reconnaissance operations).
Awarded:
-Order "Glory of the 3rd degree" for courage and courage shown in the fight against the German invaders;
- medal "For the victory over Germany in the Second World War 1941-1945;
- badge "Excellent scout".
Kutuzov M.I.
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov, famous Russian commander, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, savior of the Fatherland. He distinguished himself for the first time in the first Turkish company, then, in 1774, he was seriously wounded near Alushta and lost his right eye, which did not prevent him from remaining in the ranks. Kutuzov received another serious wound in the second Turkish company during the siege of Ochakov in 1788. Under the command participates in the assault on Ishmael. His column successfully captured the bastion, and was the first to break into the city. He defeated the Poles in 1792 as part of Kakhovskiy's army.
He proved himself a subtle diplomat, carrying out an assignment in Constantinople. Alexander I appoints Kutuzov the military governor of St. Petersburg, but in 1802 dismisses him. In 1805 he was appointed commander in chief of the Russian army. The failure at Austerlitz, when the Russian soldiers turned out to be only cannon fodder for the Austrians, again caused disgrace of the sovereign, and before the start of World War II, Kutuzov was on the sidelines. In August 1812, he was appointed commander in chief instead of Barclay.
Kutuzov's appointment lifted the spirits of the retreating Russian army, although he continued Barclay's retreat tactics. This made it possible to lure the enemy deep into the country, stretch his lines and make it possible to attack the French from two sides at once.
The father of Prince Vladimir Andreevich Serpukhovsky, famous for the exploits of the Russian commander, was the youngest son. He was a specific prince and carried out diplomatic service, soon died of the plague forty days before the birth of his son Vladimir, later nicknamed the Brave for military merits. The young Prince Vladimir was raised by Metropolitan Alexei, who sought to raise the boy as a faithful and obedient "young brother" for the Grand Duke, in order to subsequently avoid civil strife in the Moscow principality.
Vladimir made his first military campaign as an eight-year-old child and even then showed unheard-of endurance and courage. At the age of ten, he participates in another campaign, gaining experience, getting used to the hard military life (1364). The new war (1368) affects the interests of Vladimir Andreevich: his Serpukhov inheritance is endangered by the powerful Prince of Lithuania and Russia, Olgerd Gedeminovich. But the Serpukhov regiment coped on its own, driving the “Lithuania” back home. Subsequently, Prince Olgerd concludes a peace treaty with Moscow and even gives his daughter Elena to Vladimir Andreevich (1372).
The chroniclers tell about many military campaigns of Prince Vladimir: he fights against the Russian princes, the Livonian crusaders, the Tatars of the "Golden Horde". But fame and fame brought him the famous Battle of Kulikovo (September 8, 1380). Before the battle, there was a large military council, where the battle plan with his participation was discussed.
Born in a small old Russian town called Tarusa, Kaluga province. His family was poor: his father, Grigory Efremov, an ordinary tradesman, had a small mill, and that's how they lived. So young Mikhail would have remained to work at the mill all his life, until one day a Moscow merchant named Ryabov, who owns a manufactory in Moscow, paid attention to him and took him as an apprentice. The young man's military career began in the Russian Imperial Army, where he graduated from ensign school in Telavi. He spent his first battle as an artilleryman on the Southwestern Front, in which the Brusilovsky breakthrough was made in Galicia. In battles, Mikhail showed himself as a brave warrior and commander respected by the soldiers. After returning to Moscow after the First World War, he got a job at a factory.
However, soon, in the midst of clashes between supporters of the Soviet regime and supporters of the provisional government, he enrolled in the ranks of the Zamoskvoretsky Workers' Detachment, where he was appointed instructor of the Red Guard detachment. In October, he participated in the famous uprising in Moscow. Later he was appointed commander of the Moscow infantry brigade. After starting as a commander, he fought on the Caucasian and Southern fronts, for which he received two orders: the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Red Banner of the Azerbaijan SSR “For Baku”. These were not his last awards, later he was awarded a personalized golden saber, a crystal vase framed with precious stones and another order of the red banner of the Azerbaijan SSR, but already “For Ganja” Such a case in the life of Mikhail Grigorievich is typical. During a breakthrough to the Ugra River on April 2, 1942, in order to get out of the German encirclement, the general received a leaflet from the Germans, which contained a proposal to Yefremov and his troops to surrender, signed by the Military Command of the Third Reich itself.
There are such people in the history of great Russia according to their biography and contribution to history, you can track the dramatic path of development and the formation of the state.
Fedor Tolbukhin, just from this list. It would be extremely difficult to find another person who would symbolize the most difficult path of the Russian army in the previous century from the double-headed eagle to red banners.
The share of the great commander, which will be discussed today, fell 2 world wars.
The hard fate of the forgotten marshal
Born in a large peasant family on July 3, 1894. An interesting fact is that the date of his birth coincides with the date of his baptism, which may indicate inaccuracies in the information. Most likely, the exact date of birth is unknown, which is why the date of baptism is recorded in the documents.
Prince Anikita Ivanovich Repnin - commander of the reign of Peter the Great. Born in the family of Prince Ivan Borisovich Repnin, who was titled as a close boyar under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (Quiet) and respected at court. At the age of sixteen, he was assigned to the service of 11-year-old Peter the Great as a sleeping bag, and fell in love with the young tsar. After 2 years, when the Amusing Company was established, Anikita became a lieutenant in it, and after another 2 years - a lieutenant colonel. He faithfully served Peter when the rebellion of the archers took place in 1689, accompanied him on a campaign against Azov, and showed courage in taking him. In 1698 Repnin became a general. On behalf of the king, he recruited new regiments, trained them, took care of their uniforms. Soon he received the rank of general from the infantry (corresponding to the rank of general-general). When the war with the Swedes began, he went with his troops to Narva, but on the way he received an order from the tsar to transfer the army under the leadership of Field Marshal Golovin, and go to Novgorod himself to recruit a new division. At the same time, he was appointed governor of Novgorod. Repnin carried out the order, then participated in the Battle of Narva, supplemented and equipped his regiments. Then, in the course of various military operations, he repeatedly showed his military talent, tactical cunning and the ability to properly take advantage of the situation.
The name of Mikhail Borisovich Shein, boyar and governor, is inextricably linked with the seventeenth century. And his name is first found in 1598 - that was his signature under the letter of election to the kingdom. Unfortunately, very little is known about this man's life. He was born at the end of 1570. Basically, all historians, including Karamzin, describe only two significant events in Shein's life - this is his courageous two-year confrontation in the besieged Smolensk.
When he was governor in this city (1609 - 1611) and, already during the reign in 1632 - 1934, when he failed to return the same Smolensk from the Poles, for which, in fact, Mikhail Borisovich was accused of treason and executed. In general, Shein Mikhail Borisovich was the offspring of a very old boyar family, he was the son of a roundabout.
He fought near Dobrynichy in 1605, and so distinguished himself in battle that it was he who had the honor to go to Moscow with the news of the victory. Then he was granted the title of okolnichi, and he continued his service for the benefit of the state as a governor in the city of Novgorod-Seversky. In 1607, Mikhail Borisovich was elevated to the rank of boyar by royal grace and appointed governor to Smolensk, which Sigismund the Third, the Polish king, just decided to go to war.
Mikhail Ivanovich Vorotynsky descended from a branch of the princes of Chernigov, more precisely, from the third son of Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov - Semyon. Back in the middle of the fifteenth century, his great-grandson named Fedor, received the city of Vorotynsk for specific use, which gave the surname to the family. Mikhail Ivanovich (1516 or 1519-1573) is the most famous descendant of Fedor in history.
Despite the fact that the military voivode Vorotynsky had a fair amount of courage and courage, despite the fact that for the capture of Kazan he received the rank of boyar, as well as “what is given from the sovereign, and that name is more honest than all boyar names”, namely - the highest rank of the royal servant, the fate of Mikhail Ivanovich was hard and, in many ways, unfair. He served as the Grand Duke's governor in the city of Kostroma (1521), was a governor in Belyaev, and in, and in the Moscow state.
Daniil Vasilyevich was a noble offspring of the Gediminovich family themselves, the Lithuanian princes. His great-grandfather was hospitably received in the Moscow principality after his departure from Lithuania in 1408. Subsequently, Schenya's great-grandfather laid the foundation for several Russian noble families: Kurakin, Bulgakov, Golitsyn. And the son of Daniil Vasilyevich, Yuri, became the son-in-law of Vasily the First, who, in turn, was the son of the famous Dmitry Donskoy.
Schenya's grandson, Daniil, named after the illustrious grandfather-commander, turned out to be related to and with the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. In the service of John the Great, he was at first in minor roles, for example, he was in the retinue of Grand Duke John the Third on a campaign against Novgorod in 1475, then, already as a diplomat, he participated in negotiations with the ambassador of the empire, Nikolai Poppel. The future military associate was born in the city of Gusum in 1667, in the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, located in northern Germany. He faithfully served the emperor of Saxony for fifteen years, and then, in 1694, he transferred to the Swedish service as a cornet. Rodion Khristianovich served in Livonia in a recruited regiment under the command of Otto Weling.
And then, in the autumn of 1700, on September 30, the following happened: Captain Bauer fought in a duel with his comrade in the service.
Outstanding Russian commanders
The heroic chronicle of our Fatherland preserves the memory of the great victories of the Russian people under the leadership of outstanding generals. Their names to this day inspire the defenders of the Fatherland to military deeds, are an example of the fulfillment of military duty, a manifestation of love for their native land.
Commanders of Imperial Russia
One of the most famous Russian commanders is Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov (1730 - 1800), Generalissimo, Count Rymniksky, Prince of Italy.
Suvorov began active military service in 1748 as a soldier. Six years later he was awarded the first officer rank - lieutenant. He received his baptism of fire in the Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763), where the future great commander of Russia gained vast experience in managing the army, learning about its capabilities.
In August 1762, Suvorov was appointed commander of the Astrakhan infantry regiment. And from next year, he already commanded the Suzdal Infantry Regiment. At this time, he created his famous "Regimental Institution" - an instruction containing the basic provisions and rules for the education of soldiers, internal service and combat training of troops.
In 1768 - 1772, with the rank of brigadier and major general, Alexander Vasilyevich participated in hostilities in Poland against the troops of the gentry of the Bar Confederation. Commanding a brigade and separate detachments, Suvorov made swift forced marches and won brilliant victories near Orekhovo, Landskrona, Zamosc and Stolovichi, captured the Krakow castle.
In 1773, Suvorov was transferred to the active army, which participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. He was assigned to the 1st Army of Field Marshal P. Rumyantsev, where he began to command a separate detachment, with which he made two successful campaigns across the Danube and defeated large Turkish forces at Turtukai in 1773 and at Kozludzha in 1774.
With the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791, Suvorov led the defense of the Kherson-Kinburn region, which the Turks threatened from the sea and from the fortress of Ochakov. On October 1, 1787, Suvorov's troops destroyed the many thousands of enemy troops that had landed on the Kinburn Spit. The commander personally participated in the battle, was wounded.
The year 1789 gave him two victories, brilliant in military leadership, at Focsani and at Rymnik. For the victory on the Rymnik River, he was awarded the highest military order of Russia - St. George, I degree.
On December 11, 1790, Russian troops under the command of Suvorov captured the strongest Turkish fortress of Izmail, and the attackers were numerically inferior to the enemy garrison. This battle has no equal in world history, being the pinnacle of the military glory of an outstanding commander.
In 1795 - 1796 Suvorov commanded troops in Ukraine. During this time, he wrote his famous Science of Victory. With the accession of Paul I, Alexander Vasilyevich opposed the introduction of Prussian orders alien to the Russian army, which caused the emperor and the court to be hostile towards him. In February 1797, the commander was dismissed and exiled to his estate Konchanskoe. The link lasted for about two years.
In 1798 Russia joins the 2nd anti-French coalition. At the insistence of the allies, Emperor Paul I was forced to appoint Suvorov as commander-in-chief of the Russian-Austrian army in Northern Italy. During the Italian campaign of 1799, the troops under the command of Suvorov defeated the French in battles on the Adda and Trebbia rivers, as well as at Novi.
After that, the Russian commander planned a campaign in France. However, he was ordered to leave the Austrian troops in Italy and go to Switzerland to join the corps of General A. Rimsky-Korsakov. The famous Suvorov Swiss campaign of 1799 began. Having passed through the barriers of the French troops, overcoming the Alpine heights, the Russian troops heroically broke through to Switzerland.
In the same year, the commander received a decree from the emperor to return to Russia. He was rewarded for the Italian and Swiss campaigns with the title of Prince of Italy and the highest military rank of Generalissimo. By that time, the cavalier of all Russian orders of the highest degree also had the title of Austrian Field Marshal General.
Generalissimo Suvorov went down in military history as a brilliant commander. For all the time of his military activity, he did not lose a single battle, and almost all of them were won with the numerical superiority of the enemy.
He became one of the founders of Russian military art, having created his own military school with a progressive system of training and education of troops. Having discarded the outdated principles of cordon strategy and linear tactics, he developed and applied in military practice more advanced forms and methods of conducting armed struggle, which were far ahead of their time. He brought up a galaxy of Russian commanders and military leaders, among whom were M. Kutuzov and P. Bagration.
Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745 - 1813), who went down in Russian history as the savior of the Fatherland from the Great Army of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte during the Patriotic War of 1812, became the successor of the Suvorov military leadership traditions.
Born in the family of a military engineer, lieutenant general. In 1759 he graduated from the artillery and engineering school and was left there as a teacher. In 1761, he received the rank of ensign and was appointed company commander of the Astrakhan Infantry Regiment. Then he was adjutant of the Revel Governor-General, again served in the army.
Member of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768 - 1774, in 1770 he was transferred to the South in the 1st Army. He happened to be a student of such great Russian commanders as P. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky and A. Suvorov-Rymniksky. He took part in large field battles - at Larga and Cahul. Distinguished himself in the battle of Pipesty. He showed himself to be a brave, energetic and enterprising officer. He was appointed chief quartermaster (chief of staff) of the corps.
In 1772 he was transferred to the 2nd Crimean Army. In July 1774, in a battle against a Turkish landing near Alushta near the village of Shumy (now Kutuzovka), commanding a battalion, he was seriously wounded in the temple and right eye. After treatment abroad, he served for six years under the command of Suvorov, organizing the defense of the Crimean coast.
Kutuzov received the glory of a military leader during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. At first, he and his huntsmen guarded the border along the Bug River. In the summer of 1788 he took part in the battles near Ochakovo, where he received a second severe wound in the head. Then he participated in the fighting near Akkerman, Kaushany, Bendery.
In December 1790, during the assault on the fortress, Ishmael commanded the 6th column of attackers. In a victory speech, Suvorov praised Kutuzov's actions. He was appointed Izmail commandant. Promoted to lieutenant general, he repelled an attempt by the Turks to take possession of Ishmael. In June 1791, he crushed it with a sudden blow; 23,000th Ottoman army under Babadag. In the battle of Machinsky, skillfully maneuvering the troops, he demonstrated the art of victorious tactics.
In the Russo-Austrian-French War of 1805 he commanded one of the two Russian armies. In October of this year, he made the famous retreat march from Braunau to Olmitz, leading the army out of danger of being surrounded. During the maneuver, the Russians defeated Murat's troops near Amstettin and Mortier near Burenstein. Contrary to the opinion of Kutuzov, Emperor Alexander I and the Austrian Emperor Franz I went on the offensive against the French army. On November 20, 1805, the Battle of Austerlitz took place, in which the Russian commander-in-chief was actually removed from command of the troops. Napoleon won one of his biggest victories.
It was Kutuzov who had to victoriously end the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. In its penultimate year, when the war with Turkey came to a standstill, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Moldavian army. In the battle of Ruschuk in 1811, having only 15 thousand troops, he inflicted a complete defeat on the 60 thousand Turkish army.
At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, Kutuzov was elected head of the St. Petersburg and Moscow militias. After the Russian troops left Smolensk, under the pressure of broad public opinion, the emperor appointed Kutuzov commander-in-chief of the entire Russian army, approving the opinion of a special government committee. On August 17, the commander arrived at the army retreating towards Moscow. The noticeable superiority of Napoleon's Great Army in strength and the lack of reserves forced the commander-in-chief to withdraw the army inland.
Not having received the promised large reinforcements, Kutuzov gave the French a general battle on August 26 near the village of Borodino. In this battle, Russian soldiers dispelled the myth of Napoleon's invincibility. Both sides suffered huge casualties in the Battle of Borodino. The French lost most of their largest regular cavalry in Europe. The Battle of Borodino brought Kutuzov the rank of Field Marshal.
After the military council in Fili, Kutuzov decided to leave the capital and withdraw the army to the south, to the Tarutinsky camp. Residents also left Moscow; the Napoleonic army entered the huge deserted city and began to loot. Soon the capital was almost completely burned. The Tarutino march put the French army in an extremely disadvantageous position, and it soon left Moscow.
The Russian army launched a counteroffensive. It was organized in such a way that the French troops were continuously attacked by Russian vanguard troops, flying cavalry detachments and partisans. All this led to the defeat of the remnants of the Great Army on the banks of the Berezina River and their flight abroad. Thanks to Kutuzov's tactics, the huge Grand Army ceased to exist as a military force, and Napoleon himself left it and went to Paris to create a new army.
For the skillful leadership of the Russian army in 1812, Field Marshal Kutuzov was awarded the highest military award of Russia - the Order of St. George I degree and became the first in the history of the country to have all four degrees of the order. He also received the honorary title of Prince of Smolensk.
In January 1813, the Russian army, led by Kutuzov, began its foreign campaigns. But the health of its commander-in-chief was undermined, and he died in Silesia. The body of the commander was embalmed and sent to the Russian capital. There Kutuzov was buried in the Kazan Cathedral.
He devoted more than 50 years of his life to military service, becoming a great Russian commander. He was well educated, had a subtle mind, knew how to remain calm even in the most critical moments of battles. He carefully considered each military operation, trying to act more with maneuvers, using military cunning, and not sacrificing the lives of soldiers. He managed to oppose the great European commander Napoleon Bonaparte with his own strategy and tactics. The Patriotic War of 1812 became the subject of Russia's military pride.
Field Marshal Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky (1725 - 1796), who glorified himself during the reign of Empress Catherine II the Great, was also a great Russian commander.
The talent of the military leader Rumyantsev was revealed during the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763. First he commanded a brigade, then a division. Rumyantsev became a true hero of the battles near Gross-Jegersdorf in 1757 and Kunersdorf in 1759. In the first case, the entry of the Rumyantsev brigade into the battle decided the outcome of the clash between the Russian army and the Prussian army: King Frederick II was defeated, and his troops fled from the battlefield. In the second case, the Rumyantsev regiments again found themselves in the very center of the battle, demonstrating stamina and a desire to defeat the enemy.
In 1761, at the head of the corps, he successfully led the siege and capture of the Kolberg fortress, which was defended by a strong Prussian garrison.
With the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, Rumyantsev became the commander of the 2nd Russian army. In 1769, the troops under his command took the fortress of Azov. In August of the same year - he was the commander of the 1st Russian army in the field. It was at this post that the talent of the great commander was revealed.
In the summer of 1770, Russian troops won brilliant victories over the superior forces of the Turkish army and the cavalry troops of the Crimean Khan - in the battles of Larga and Cahul. In all three battles, Rumyantsev demonstrated the triumph of offensive tactics, the ability to maneuver troops and achieve complete victory.
Near Cahul, the 35,000-strong Russian army clashed with the 90,000-strong Turkish army of Grand Vizier Khalil Pasha. From the rear, the Russians were threatened by the 80,000-strong cavalry of the Crimean Tatars. However, the Russian commander boldly attacked the fortified positions of the Turks, knocked them out of the trenches on the heights and turned them into a wholesale flight, capturing all the enemy artillery and a huge camp with a large convoy. He was awarded the Order of St. George, I degree, for the brilliant Kagul victory.
Moving along the Prut River, the Russian army reached the Danube. Then the commander transferred the fighting to the Bulgarian right bank, leading an attack on the Shumla fortress. Turkey hurried to conclude the Kyuchuk-Kaynardzhi peace treaty with Rumyantsev, which secured Russia's access to the Black Sea. For the victories won over the Turks, Field Marshal became known in history as Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky.
After the victorious end of the war, the commander was also appointed commander of the heavy cavalry of the Russian army. With the beginning of a new Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791, he became the head of the 2nd Army. However, he soon came into conflict with the most powerful man of the reign of Catherine II - the favorite of the Empress G. Potemkin. As a result, he was actually removed from command of the army, and in 1789 he was recalled from the theater of operations to perform governor-general duties in managing Little Russia.
As a great commander, Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky contributed a lot of new things to Russian military art. He was a skilled organizer of troop training, applied new, more progressive forms of combat. He was a staunch supporter of offensive strategy and tactics, which after him was creatively developed by the Russian military genius A. Suvorov. For the first time in the history of military art, he used battalion columns for maneuvering on the battlefield and attacks, laid the foundation for the formation of light jaeger infantry operating in loose formation.
Marshals of the Great Patriotic War
The most famous commander of the war of the Soviet people against Nazi Germany and its satellites was Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (1896 - 1974), Marshal of the Soviet Union, four times Hero of the Soviet Union.
Since 1915, he has been in the Russian army, a participant in the First World War, a non-commissioned officer, and was awarded two St. George's crosses. In the Red Army since 1918. During the Civil War, a Red Army soldier, platoon and cavalry squadron commander. Participated in battles on the Eastern, Western and Southern fronts, in the elimination of banditry.
After the Civil War, he commanded a cavalry squadron, regiment and brigade. Since 1931, assistant inspector of the Red Army cavalry, then commander of the 4th Cavalry Division. Since 1937, the commander of the 3rd cavalry corps, since 1938 - the 6th cavalry corps. In July 1938 he was appointed deputy commander of the Belarusian Special Military District.
In July 1939, Zhukov was appointed commander of the 1st Army Group of Soviet Forces in Mongolia. Together with the Mongolian army, the encirclement and defeat of a large grouping of Japanese troops on the Khalkhin Gol River was carried out. For the skillful leadership of the operation and the courage shown, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Since July 1940, Zhukov commanded the troops of the Kyiv Special Military District. From January to July 30, 1941 - Chief of the General Staff - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR.
Zhukov's leadership talent was revealed during the Great Patriotic War. From June 23, 1941, he was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. From August 1942 - First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR and Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin.
As a representative of the Headquarters, in the first days of the war, he organized a counterattack on the Southwestern Front in the area of the city of Brody, thereby frustrating the intention of the Nazis with their mobile units to break through to Kyiv on the move. In August - September 1941, General Zhukov commanded the troops of the Reserve Front and carried out the Yelninskaya offensive operation. And in September of the same year he was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front.
In October 1941, Zhukov headed the Western Front, whose main task was the defense of Moscow. During the Battle of Moscow in the winter of 1941-1942, the troops of the front, together with the troops of the Kalinin and South-Western fronts, went on a decisive offensive and completed the rout of the attackers. Nazi troops and threw them back from the capital by 100 - 250 km.
In 1942-1943, Zhukov coordinated the actions of the fronts near Stalingrad. During the Battle of Stalingrad, five enemy armies were defeated: two German, two Romanian and Italian.
Then he coordinated the actions of the Soviet troops in breaking the blockade of Leningrad, together with A. Vasilevsky - the actions of the troops of the fronts in the Battle of Kursk in 1943, which became an important stage in the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. In the battle for the Dnieper, Zhukov coordinated the actions of the Voronezh and Steppe fronts. In March - May 1944 he commanded the 1st Ukrainian Front. In the summer of 1944, he coordinated the actions of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian fronts during the Belorussian strategic offensive operation.
At the final stage of the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov commanded the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, which carried out the Vistula-Oder operation of 1945, the defeat of the Nazi troops of Army Group A (Center), the liberation of Poland and its capital Warsaw. During these operations, Soviet troops advanced 500 km and entered the territory of Nazi Germany.
In April - May 1945, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, together with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 2nd Belorussian Fronts, carried out the Berlin operation, which ended with the capture of the capital of Germany. On behalf of and on behalf of the Supreme High Command, on May 8, 1945, in Karlshorst (southeastern part of Berlin), Zhukov accepted the surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany.
Zhukov's leadership talent was manifested in the participation and development of the largest strategic offensive operations of the Great Patriotic War. He possessed great willpower, a deep mind, the ability to quickly assess the most difficult strategic situation, predict the possible course of hostilities, was able to find the right decisions in critical situations, took responsibility for risky military operations, had brilliant organizational talent and personal courage.
The fate of the commander after the war turned out to be difficult: under I. Stalin, N. Khrushchev and L. Brezhnev, he was in disgrace for almost a quarter of a century, but courageously and steadfastly endured all the hardships that fell to his lot.
Another major Soviet commander during the Great Patriotic War was Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Stepanovich Konev (1897 - 1973).
He was drafted into the Russian army in 1916. Member of the First World War, served as a non-commissioned officer in the artillery battalion. During the Civil War - county military commissar, commissar of an armored train, rifle brigade, division, headquarters of the People's Revolutionary Army of the Far Eastern Republic. He fought on the Eastern Front against the Kolchak troops, the forces of Ataman Semenov and the Japanese invaders.
After the Civil War, the commissar of a rifle brigade and division. Then he was the commander of the regiment and the deputy commander of the division. In 1934 he graduated from the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze. He commanded an infantry division, a corps. He was commander of the 2nd Separate Red Banner Far Eastern Army. In 1940 - 1941 he commanded the troops of the Trans-Baikal, North Caucasian military districts.
During the Great Patriotic War, he was in senior command positions - he commanded the 19th Army of the Western Front, the Western Front, the Kalinin, North-Western, Steppe, 2nd Ukrainian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. The troops under the command of Konev participated in the battle of Moscow, in the Battle of Kursk, in the liberation of Belgorod and Kharkov. Konev especially distinguished himself in the Korsun-Shevchenko operation, where a large group of Nazi troops was surrounded. .
This was followed by participation in such major operations of the Second World War as the Vistula-Oder, Berlin and Prague. During the encirclement of Berlin, he skillfully maneuvered the tank armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front.
For military successes he was awarded the highest military order "Victory". Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic.
Konev, who received the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1944, was distinguished during the Great Patriotic War by his ability to prepare and conduct large-scale front-line operations, including the encirclement and destruction of large enemy groups. He skillfully carried out offensive operations with the forces of tank armies and corps, applied combat experience in the training and education of troops in the post-war period.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky (1896 - 1968) was also a prominent Soviet commander during the Great Patriotic War.
In the Russian army since 1914. Member of the First World War, junior non-commissioned officer of the dragoon regiment. In the Red Army since 1918. During the Civil War, he commanded a squadron, a separate cavalry division and a cavalry regiment.
After the Civil War, he commanded a cavalry brigade, a cavalry regiment, a separate cavalry brigade, which participated in battles with the White Chinese on the CER. After that, he commanded a cavalry brigade and division, a mechanized corps.
He began the Great Patriotic War as commander of a mechanized corps. Soon he became commander of the 16th Army of the Western Front. From July 1942, commander of the Bryansk Front, from September of the same year - Don, from February 1943 - Central, from October of the same year - Belorussian, from February 1944 - 1st Belorussian, and from November 1944 until the end of the war - 2nd Belorussian Front.
Rokossovsky participated in many major operations of the Great Patriotic War, his troops won many victories over the Nazi troops. He is a participant in the Battle of Smolensk in 1941, the Battle of Moscow, the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the Belorussian, East Prussian, East Pomeranian and Berlin operations.
He is one of the most capable Soviet commanders, who skillfully and effectively commanded the fronts. Marshal of the Soviet Union Rokossovsky demonstrated his art of military leadership in the decisive battles of the war. He was twice awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and the highest Soviet military order "Victory". He commanded the Victory Parade in Moscow.
After the war, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Northern Group of Forces. In 1949, at the request of the government of the Polish People's Republic, with the permission of the Soviet government, he left for Poland and was appointed Minister of National Defense and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the PPR. Rokossovsky was awarded the military rank of Marshal of Poland.
Rokossovsky did a lot for the development of the Soviet Armed Forces in the post-war period, taking into account the experience of the Second World War and the scientific and technological revolution in military affairs. Author of memoirs "Soldier's Duty".
Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (1895 - 1977) was also an honored commander of the Great Patriotic War.
He can rightly be called a unique military leader, happily combining the qualities of a brilliant commander and an outstanding staff worker, a military thinker and a large-scale organizer. Being the head of the operational department at the beginning of the war, and from May 1942 until February 1945, the head of the General Staff, Alexander Mikhailovich, out of 34 months of the war, only 12 worked directly in Moscow, and 22 - at the fronts, carrying out orders from the Headquarters.
As chief of the General Staff, he led the planning and preparation of almost all major strategic operations of our Armed Forces, he solved the cardinal issues of providing the fronts with people, equipment, and weapons.
As a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, he successfully coordinated the actions of the fronts and types of the Armed Forces in the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, during the liberation of Donbass, Belarus, and the Baltic states. Replacing General of the Army I.D. Chernyakhovsky, at the head of the 3rd Belorussian Front successfully led the offensive in East Prussia. It was our army, led by him as the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East, that in September 1945 "finished its campaign in the Pacific."
“Having become acquainted with the style and methods of his work directly in front-line conditions,” wrote Marshal of the Soviet Union I.Kh. Bagramyan, - I was convinced of his ability to unusually quickly navigate the situation, deeply analyze the decisions made by the front and army command, skillfully correct shortcomings, as well as listen and accept the reasoned considerations of subordinates.
For subordinates, since he was 100 percent sure of them, Alexander Mikhailovich stood by the mountain. When in July 1942 the first deputy chief of the General Staff, General N.F. Vatutin, in his place, on the recommendation of Vasilevsky, A. I. Antonov was nominated. But Stalin, even agreeing to this appointment, did not immediately believe and appreciated Antonov. And for several months he had to establish himself in the opinion of the Supreme, performing responsible tasks in the troops. Vasilevsky, believing that a better candidate could not be found, dragged a double burden on himself, worked both for himself and for his deputy, while Alexei Innokentevich was going through a kind of probationary period.
Vasilevsky received his first Order of Victory for the successful coordination of the actions of the 3rd and 4th Ukrainian fronts in the preparation of the operation to liberate the right-bank Ukraine and Crimea in the spring of 1944. And here he had to fully show his character.
At the end of March, at the direction of Stalin, Marshal K.E. came to Vasilevsky at the headquarters of the 4th Ukrainian Front to finalize the plan for the Crimean operation. Voroshilov. Like Alexander Mikhailovich, he was a representative of the Headquarters, but in a separate Primorsky army, General A.I. Eremenko, who operated in the Kerch direction.
After getting acquainted with the composition of the forces and means of the 4th Ukrainian Front, Voroshilov expressed great doubt about the reality of the plan. Like, the enemy has such powerful fortifications near Kerch, and then there is Sivash, Perekop. In a word, nothing will come of it if you do not ask the Headquarters for an additional army, artillery and other means of reinforcement.
The opinion of the old cavalryman made even the commander of the 4th Ukrainian Front, General F.I. Tolbukhin. Following him and the chief of staff of the front, General S.S. Biryuzov nodded his head.
Vasilevsky was surprised. After all, not so long ago, together with the front commander, they made all the calculations and came to the conclusion that there were quite enough forces for the successful conduct of the operation, which they reported to the Headquarters. Then there were no objections, but now, when everything has already been approved by the Headquarters and there are no grounds for revising the plan of operation, objections suddenly follow. From what? In response, Tolbukhin noted, not too confidently, that getting reinforcements is always a good idea.
This is where the character of Vasilevsky affected. Alexander Mikhailovich told Voroshilov that he was immediately contacting Stalin, reporting everything to him and would ask the following: since Tolbukhin refuses to carry out the operation under these conditions, he himself, at the head of the 4th Ukrainian Front, will conduct the Crimean operation.
Against the backdrop of conviction and a well-reasoned recruitment of a representative of the Headquarters, the arguments of the opponents somehow immediately withered. Tolbukhin admitted that he jumped to conclusions, did not think carefully. Voroshilov, in turn, assured that he would not interfere in the actions of the 4th Ukrainian Front. But for the report to the Headquarters, which Vasilevsky was supposed to draw up, he would give his comments. And then he refused to comment.
Here, Vasilevsky’s answer to the gentle reproach of one military leader comes to mind: “As for my “prudence” and “caution” ... then, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with them if a sense of proportion is observed. I think that every military leader, whether it be the commander of a unit or division, the commander of an army or a front, should be moderately prudent and cautious. He has such a job that he is responsible for the lives of thousands and tens of thousands of soldiers, and his duty is to weigh his every decision think over, look for the most optimal ways to accomplish a combat mission ... "
The operation to liberate the Crimea was, as Vasilevsky intended, successful. In just 35 days, our troops broke into the powerful enemy defenses and defeated almost 200,000 enemy groupings. Although for the marshal himself, this victory almost turned into a tragedy. On the second day after the liberation of Sevastopol, while driving through the ruined city, his car ran into a mine. The entire front end, instead of with the motor, was turned around and thrown to the side. Just miraculously, the marshal and his driver survived ...
For the second time, Marshal Vasilevsky was awarded the Order of Victory for the successful leadership of the military operations of the 3rd Belorussian and 1st Baltic fronts already in the final of the war to eliminate the East Prussian grouping of the enemy and capture Koenigsberg. The citadel of Prussian militarism collapsed in three days.
Here it is appropriate to refer to the opinion of the former commander of the troops of the 1st Baltic Front, Marshal Baghramyan, who in those days worked very closely with Alexander Mikhailovich. “In East Prussia A.M. Vasilevsky with honor passed the most difficult military leadership exam and showed his full potential as a military strategist on a large scale, as well as excellent organizational skills.
All the commanders of the front, and these were highly experienced generals, such as N.I. Krylov, I.I. Lyudnikov, K.N. Galitsky, A.P. Beloborodov, unanimously declared that the level of leadership ... was beyond praise.
In the opening remarks, one should note the importance of the topic, emphasize the role of generals and military leaders in the war, and show their close connection with the soldier masses.
When considering the first question, taking into account the interests of the listeners, it is desirable to reveal the military talent of several military leaders of Imperial Russia, to show their best human qualities, to name the reasons for success in the most important battles and wars.
In the course of the disclosure of the second question, it is desirable to name the Soviet commanders of the Great Patriotic War and major military leaders of a kind of troops, to reveal their merits to the Fatherland, to show their close connection with the soldier masses and care for them.
At the end of the lesson, it is necessary to draw brief conclusions, answer questions from the audience, and give recommendations on how to prepare for the conversation (seminar).
1. Alekseev Yu. Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky // Landmark; - 2000. No. 1.
2. Alekseev Yu. Generalissimo Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov // Landmark. - 2000. No. 6.
5. Rubtsov, Yu. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Orientir. - 2000. No. 4.
4. Rubtsov Yu. Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky // Orientir. -2000. No. 8.
5. Sokolov Yu. Outstanding Russian commanders through the eyes of contemporaries (IX - XVII centuries). - M, 2002.
Captain 1st rank reserve,
Candidate of Historical Sciences Alexey Shishov
For most of its history, Russia has been at war. The victories of the Russian army were ensured by both ordinary soldiers and illustrious generals, whose experience and thinking are comparable to genius.
1. Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800)
Main battles: Kinburn battle, Fokshany, Rymnik, Storming of Ishmael, Storming of Prague.
Suvorov is a brilliant commander, one of the most beloved by the Russian people. Despite the fact that his combat training system was based on the strictest discipline, the soldiers loved Suvorov. He even became a hero of Russian folklore. Suvorov himself also left behind the book "The Science of Victory". It is written in simple language and already parsed into quotes.
“Save a bullet for three days, and sometimes for a whole campaign, when there is nowhere to get it. Shoot rarely, but accurately, if hard with a bayonet. The bullet will miss, but the bayonet will not. The bullet is a fool, but the bayonet is well done! When once! Throw the bad boy off the bayonet! - dead on a bayonet, scratching his neck with a saber. Saber on the neck - bounce a step, strike again! If another, if the third! The hero will stab half a dozen, and I have seen more.
2. Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818)
Battles and battles: Assault on Ochakov, Assault on Prague, Battle of Pultusk, Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, Battle of Smolensk, Battle of Borodino, Siege of Thorn, Battle of Bautzen, Battle of Dresden, Battle of Kulm, Battle of Leipzig, Battle of La Rothiere, Battle of Arsi -sur-Aubes, Battle of Fer-Champenoise, Capture of Paris.
Barclay de Tolly is the most underestimated brilliant commander, the creator of the scorched earth tactics. As commander of the Russian army, he was forced to retreat during the first stage of the war of 1812, after which he was replaced by Kutuzov. The idea of leaving Moscow was also proposed by de Tolly. Pushkin wrote about him:
And you, unrecognized, forgotten
The hero of the occasion, reposed - and at the hour of death
With contempt, perhaps, he remembered us!
3. Mikhail Kutuzov (1745-1813)
Main wars and battles: Assault on Ishmael, Battle of Austerlitz, Patriotic War of 1812: Battle of Borodino.
Mikhail Kutuzov is a famous military leader. When he distinguished himself in the Russian-Turkish war, Catherine II said: “Kutuzov must be protected. He will be my great general.” Kutuzov was wounded twice in the head. Both wounds were considered fatal at that time, but Mikhail Illarionovich survived. In the Patriotic War, having taken command of himself, he retained the tactics of Barclay de Tolly and continued to retreat until he decided to give a pitched battle - the only one in the entire war. As a result, the battle of Borodino, despite the ambiguity of the results, became one of the largest and bloodiest in the entire 19th century. On both sides, more than 300 thousand people took part in it, and almost a third of this number were injured or killed.
4. Skopin-Shuisky (1587–1610)
Wars and battles: Bolotnikov's uprising, the war against False Dmitry II
Skopin-Shuisky did not lose a single battle. He became famous for suppressing the Bolotnikov uprising, freed Moscow from the siege of False Dmitry II, and had very great authority among the people. In addition to all other merits, Skopin-Shuisky carried out retraining of Russian troops, in 1607, on his initiative, the Charter of Military, Pushkar and Other Affairs was translated from German and Latin.
5. Dmitry Donskoy (1350-1389)
Wars and battles: War with Lithuania, war with Mamai and Tokhtomysh
Dmitry Ivanovich was nicknamed "Don" for the victory in the Battle of Kulikovo. Despite all the contradictory assessments of this battle and the fact that the period of the yoke continued for almost 200 years, Dmitry Donskoy is deservedly considered one of the main defenders of the Russian land. Sergius of Radonezh himself blessed him for the battle.
7. Prince Pozharsky (1578–1642)
Main merit: Liberation of Moscow from the Poles.
Dmitry Pozharsky is a national hero of Russia. Military and political figure, head of the Second People's Militia, which liberated Moscow during the Time of Troubles. Pozharsky played a decisive role in the coming to the Russian throne of the Romanovs.
6. Mikhail Vorotynsky (1510 - 1573)
Battles: Campaigns against the Crimean and Kazan Tatars, the battle of Molodi
Governor of Ivan the Terrible from the princely family of the Vorotynskys, hero of the capture of Kazan and the battle of Molodi - "forgotten Borodino". Outstanding Russian commander.
They wrote about him: "a strong and courageous husband, highly skilled in regimental arrangements." Vorotynsky is even depicted, among other prominent figures of Russia, on the monument "Millennium of Russia".
7. Konstantin Rokossovsky (1896-1968)
Wars: World War I, Civil War in Russia, Conflict on the CER, Great Patriotic War.
Konstantin Rokossovsky stood at the origins of the largest operations of the Great Patriotic War. He was successful both in offensive and defensive operations (Battle of Stalingrad, Kursk Bulge, Bobruisk offensive operation, Berlin operation). From 1949 to 1956, Rokossovsky served in Poland, became a Marshal of Poland, and was appointed Minister of National Defense. Since 1952, Rokossovsky was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
8. Yermak (? -1585)
Merits In: The Conquest of Siberia.
Ermak Timofeevich is a semi-legendary character. We do not even know for certain the date of his birth, but this does not in the least diminish his merits. It is Yermak who is considered the "conqueror of Siberia". He did this almost of his own free will - Grozny wanted to return him "under fear of great disgrace" and use him "to protect the Perm region." When the tsar wrote the decree, Yermak had already conquered the capital of Kuchum.
9. Alexander Nevsky (1220-1263)
Main battles: Battle of the Neva, the war with the Lithuanians, the Battle of the Ice.
Even if you do not remember the famous Battle of the Ice and the Battle of the Neva, Alexander Nevsky was an extremely successful commander. He made successful campaigns against German, Swedish and Lithuanian feudal lords. In particular, in 1245, with the Novgorod army, Alexander defeated the Lithuanian prince Mindovg, who attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Having released the Novgorodians, Alexander, with the help of his retinue, pursued the remnants of the Lithuanian army, during which he defeated another Lithuanian detachment near Usvyat. In total, judging by the sources that have come down to us, Alexander Nevsky conducted 12 military operations and did not lose in any of them.
10. Boris Sheremetev (1652-1719)
Main wars and battles: Crimean campaigns, Azov campaigns, Northern war.
Boris Sheremetev was the first count in Russian history. An outstanding Russian commander during the Northern War, diplomat, the first Russian Field Marshal (1701). He was one of the most beloved by the common people and soldiers of the heroes of his time. Soldiers' songs were even composed about him, and in them he was always good. This must be earned.
11. Alexander Menshikov (1673-1729)
Main wars: North War
The only nobleman to receive the title of "duke" from the monarch. General and generalissimo, celebrated hero and politician, Menshikov ended his life in exile. In Berezov, he built himself a village house (together with 8 faithful servants) and a church. His statement of that period is known: "I started with a simple life, and I will finish with a simple life."
12. Peter Rumyantsev (1725 - 1796)
Main wars: Russian-Swedish War, Rhine Campaign, Seven Years' War, Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774), Russian-Turkish War (1787-1791)
Count Pyotr Rumyantsev is considered the founder of Russian military doctrine. He successfully commanded the Russian army in the Turkish wars under Catherine II, he himself participated in the battles. In 1770 he became a field marshal. After the conflict with Potemkin, “He retired to his Little Russian estate Tashan, where he built himself a palace in the form of a fortress and locked himself in one room, never leaving it. He pretended not to recognize his own children, who lived in poverty, and died in 1796, having outlived Catherine by only a few days.
13. Grigory Potemkin (1739-1796)
Main wars and battles: Russian-Turkish war (1768-1774), Caucasian war (1785-1791). Russian-Turkish war (1787-1791).
Potemkin-Tavrichesky - an outstanding Russian statesman and military figure, His Serene Highness Prince, organizer of New Russia, founder of cities, favorite of Catherine II, Field Marshal.
Alexander Suvorov wrote of his commander Potemkin in 1789: "He is an honest man, he is a kind man, he is a great man: it is my happiness to die for him."
14. Fedor Ushakov (1744-1817)
Main battles: Battle of Fidonisi, Battle of Tendra (1790), Battle of Kerch (1790), Battle of Kaliakria (1791), Siege of Corfu (1798, assault: February 18-20, 1799).
Fedor Ushakov is a famous Russian commander who did not know defeat. Ushakov did not lose a single ship in battle, not a single one of his subordinates was captured. In 2001, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized the saints as a righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov.
15. Peter Bagration (1765-1812)
Main battles: Schöngraben, Austerlitz, Battle of Borodino.
A descendant of the Georgian kings, Peter Bagration has always been distinguished by unusual courage, composure, determination and perseverance. During the battles, he was repeatedly wounded, but never left the battlefield. The Swiss campaign led by Suvorov in 1799, known as Suvorov's crossing of the Alps, glorified Bagration and finally confirmed his title of an excellent Russian general.
16. Prince Svyatoslav (942–972)
Wars: Khazar campaign, Bulgarian campaigns, war with Byzantium
Karamzin called Prince Svyatoslav "Russian Macedonian", the historian Grushevsky - "a Cossack on the throne." Svyatoslav was the first to make an active attempt at extensive land expansion. He successfully fought with the Khazars and Bulgarians, but the campaign against Byzantium ended in a truce unfavorable for Svyatoslav. Killed in battle with the Pechenegs. Svyatoslav is a cult figure. His famous "I'm going to you" is quoted today.
17. Alexey Ermolov (1772-1861)
Main wars: Patriotic war of 1812, Caucasian wars.
The hero of the war of 1812, Alexey Yermolov remained in the people's memory as the "pacifier of the Caucasus." Pursuing a tough military policy, Yermolov paid great attention to the construction of fortresses, roads, clearings and the development of trade. From the very beginning, he relied on the gradual development of new territories, where military campaigns alone could not give complete success.
18. Pavel Nakhimov (1803-1855)
Main battles: Battle of Navarino, blockade of the Dardanelles, Battle of Sinop, defense of Sevastopol.
The illustrious Admiral Nakhimov was called the "benefactor father" for his fatherly concern for his subordinates. For the sake of the kind word “Fal Stepanych”, the sailors were ready to go through fire and water. There was such an anecdote among Nakhimov's contemporaries. To the laudatory ode sent to the admiral, he remarked with irritation that the author would give him real pleasure by delivering several hundred buckets of cabbage for the sailors. Nakhimov personally checked the quality of soldiers' rations.
19. Mikhail Skobelev (1848-1882)
Major wars and battles: Polish uprising (1863), Khiva campaign (1873), Kokand campaign (1875-1876), Russian-Turkish war.
Skoblev was called the "white general". Mikhail Dmitrievich earned such a nickname not only by wearing a white uniform and prancing in battle on a white horse, but also by his personal qualities: concern for soldiers, virtue. “Convince the soldiers in practice that you are paternally caring about them outside the battle, that in battle there is strength, and nothing will be impossible for you,” said Skobelev.
20. Prophetic Oleg (879 - 912)
Main battles: Campaign to Byzantium, Eastern campaigns.
The semi-legendary Prophetic Oleg is the prince of Novgorod (since 879) and Kyiv (since 882), the unifier of Ancient Russia. He significantly expanded its borders, delivered the first blow to the Khazar Khaganate and concluded agreements with the Greeks that were beneficial for Russia.
Pushkin wrote about him: "Your name is glorified by victory: Your shield is on the gates of Tsaregrad."
21. Humpback-Shuisky (? -1565)
Main wars: Kazan campaigns, Livonian war
Boyarin Gorbaty-Shuisky was one of the bravest commanders of Ivan the Terrible, he led the capture of Kazan and served as its first governor. During the last Kazan campaign, by a skillful maneuver of Gorbaty-Shuisky, almost the entire army of Prince. Yapanchi, and then the prison behind the Arsk field and the Arsk city itself were taken. Despite his merits, Alexander was executed along with his 17-year-old son Peter. They became the only victims of the repressions of Ivan the Terrible from the entire Shuisky clan.
22. Vasily Chuikov (1900-1982)
Wars: The Civil War in Russia, the Polish campaign of the Red Army, the Soviet-Finnish war, the Japanese-Chinese war, the Great Patriotic War.
Vasily Chuikov, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, was one of the most famous commanders of the Great Patriotic War, his army defended Stalingrad, and the surrender of Nazi Germany was signed at his command post. He was called the "storm general". During the battles for Stalingrad, Vasily Chuikov introduced close combat tactics. It is he who is credited with the creation of the first mobile assault groups.
23. Ivan Konev (1897-1973)
Wars: The First World War, the Civil War in Russia, the Great Patriotic War.
Ivan Konev is considered the "second after Zhukov" Marshal of Victory. He built the Berlin Wall, freed the prisoners of Auschwitz, saved the Sistine Madonna. In Russian history, the names of Zhukov and Konev stand together. In the 1930s, they served together in the Belarusian Military District, and the commander gave Konev a symbolic nickname - "Suvorov". During the Great Patriotic War, Konev justified this title. He has dozens of successful front-line operations to his credit.
24. Georgy Zhukov (1896–1974)
Wars and conflicts: World War I, Civil War in Russia, Battles at Khalkhin Gol, World War II, Hungarian uprising of 1956.
Georgy Zhukov needs no introduction. This, one might say, is the most famous Russian commander of the 20th century. Zhukov became a holder of more than 60 awards from various countries of the world. Among foreign ones, one of the rarest and most honorary is the Order of the Bath of the 1st degree. In the entire history of this award, the British awarded very few foreigners with the 1st degree, among them two Russian commanders: Barclay de Tolly and Zhukov.
25. Alexander Vasilevsky (1895-1977)
Wars: World War I, Civil War in Russia, Great Patriotic War.
Vasilevsky was actually the third figure in the Soviet military leadership in 1942-1945, after Stalin and Zhukov. His assessments of the military-strategic situation were unmistakable. The Headquarters sent the Chief of the General Staff to the most critical sectors of the front. The pinnacle of military leadership is still considered the unprecedented Manchu operation.
26. Dmitry Khvorostinin (1535/1540-1590)
Wars: Russian-Crimean Wars, Livonian War, Cheremis Wars, Russian-Swedish Wars.
Dmitry Khvorostinin is one of the best commanders of the second half of the 16th century. In the essay of the English ambassador Giles Fletcher "On the Russian State" (1588-1589) he is presented as "their (Russian) main husband, most used in wartime." Historians highlight the extraordinary frequency of Khvorostinin's battles and campaigns, as well as the record number of local lawsuits against him.
27. Mikhail Shein (late 1570s-1634)
Wars and conflicts: Serpukhov campaign (1598), Battle of Dobrynich (1605), Bolotnikov Uprising (1606), Russian-Polish war (1609-1618), Defense of Smolensk (1609-1611), Russian-Polish war (1632-1634), Siege of Smolensk ( 1632-1634).
The commander and statesman of Russia of the 17th century, the hero of the defense of Smolensk, Mikhail Borisovich Shein was a representative of the old Moscow nobility. During the defense of Smolensk, Shein personally took up the fortification of the city, developed a network of scouts who reported on the movements of the Polish-Lithuanian troops. The 20-month defense of the city, which tied the hands of Sigismund III, contributed to the growth of the patriotic movement in Russia and, as a result, the victory of the Second Militia of Pozharsky and Minin.
28. Ivan Patrikeev (1419-1499)
Wars and campaigns: War with the Tatars, a campaign against Novgorod, a campaign against the Tver Principality
Viceroy of Moscow and chief governor of the Grand Dukes of Moscow Vasily II the Dark and Ivan III. Was for the last "right hand" in resolving any conflicts. Representative of the princely family of the Patrikeevs. By father, a direct descendant of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. He fell into disgrace and was tonsured a monk.
29. Daniil Kholmsky (? - 1493)
Wars: Russian-Kazan wars, Moscow-Novgorod wars (1471), Campaign against Akhmat Khan on the river. Oka (1472), Standing on the river. Ugra (1480), Russian-Lithuanian war (1487-1494).
Russian boyar and governor, one of the outstanding commanders of the Grand Duke Ivan III.
The decisive actions of Prince Kholmsky largely ensured the success of the Russians in the confrontation on the Ugra, the Danilyev world with the Livonians was named after him, Novgorod was annexed thanks to his victories, and his own man was planted in Kazan.
30. Vladimir Kornilov (1806-1854)
Main battles: Battle of Navarino, defense of Sevastopol.
The famous naval commander, vice admiral of the Russian fleet, hero and head of defense of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. Kornilov died during the bombing of Sevastopol, but died with the order “We are defending Sevastopol. Surrender is out of the question. There will be no retreat. Whoever orders to retreat, stab him."
Alexey Rudevich, russian7.ru
Russia has always been rich in outstanding commanders and naval commanders.
1. Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (c. 1220 - 1263). - a commander, at the age of 20 he defeated the Swedish conquerors on the Neva River (1240), and at 22 - the German "dog-knights" during the Battle of the Ice (1242)
2. Dmitry Donskoy (1350 - 1389). - commander, prince. Under his leadership, the greatest victory was won on the Kulikovo field over the hordes of Khan Mamai, which was an important stage in the liberation of Russia and other peoples of Eastern Europe from the Mongol-Tatar yoke.
3. Peter I - Russian Tsar, an outstanding commander. He is the founder of the Russian regular army and navy. He showed high organizational skills and the talent of a commander during the Azov campaigns (1695 - 1696), in the Northern War (1700 - 1721). during the Persian campaign (1722 - 1723) Under the direct leadership of Peter in the famous Battle of Poltava (1709), the troops of the Swedish king Charles XII were defeated and captured.
4. Fedor Alekseevich Golovin (1650 - 1706) - Count, Field Marshal General, Admiral. Companion of Peter I, the greatest organizer, one of the creators of the Baltic Fleet
5 Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev (1652 - 1719) - Count, General - Field Marshal. Member of the Crimean, Azov. He commanded an army in a campaign against the Crimean Tatars. In the battle at Eresfer, in Livonia, a detachment under his command defeated the Swedes, defeated Schlippenbach's army at Hummelshof (5 thousand killed, 3 thousand prisoners). The Russian flotilla forced the Swedish ships to leave the Neva for the Gulf of Finland. In 1703, he took Noteburg, and then Nienschanz, Koporye, and Yamburg. In Estonia, Sheremetev B.P. occupied by Wesenberg. Sheremetev B.P. besieged Derpt, which surrendered in 13 IL 1704. During the Astrakhan uprising Sheremetev B.P. was sent by Peter I to suppress it. In 1705 Sheremetev B.P. took Astrakhan.
6 Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729) - His Serene Highness Prince, associate of Peter I. Generalisimo of the Naval and Land Forces. Member of the Northern War with the Swedes, battles near Poltava.
7. Pyotr Alexandrovich Rumyantsev (1725 - 1796) - Count, Field Marshal General. Member of the Russian-Swedish war, the Seven Years' War. The biggest victories were won by him during the first Russian-Turkish war (1768 - 1774), especially in the battles of Ryaba Mogila, Larga and Cahul and many other battles. The Turkish army was defeated. Rumyantsev became the first holder of the Order of St. George, I degree and received the title of Transdanubian.
8. Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1729-1800) - His Serene Highness Prince of Italy, Count Rymniksky, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Generalissimo of the Russian land and sea forces, Field Marshal of the Austrian and Sardinian troops, grandee of the Sardinian kingdom and prince of royal blood (with the title "cousin King"), holder of all Russian and many foreign military orders awarded at that time.
Not once in any of the battles given by him was he defeated. Moreover, in almost all these cases, he convincingly won with the numerical superiority of the enemy.
he stormed the impregnable fortress of Izmail, defeated the Turks at Rymnik, Focsany, Kinburn, etc. The Italian campaign of 1799 and the victory over the French, the immortal crossing of the Alps was the crowning achievement of his military leadership.
9. Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (1745-1817) - an outstanding Russian naval commander, admiral. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized as a righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov. He laid the foundations of new naval tactics, founded the Black Sea Navy, talentedly led it, winning a number of remarkable victories in the Black and Mediterranean Seas: in the Kerch naval battle, in the battles of Tendra, Kaliakria, and others. Ushakov's significant victory was the capture of the island of Corfu in February 1799 city, where the combined actions of ships and land landing forces were successfully used.
Admiral Ushakov conducted 40 naval battles. And they all ended with brilliant victories. The people called him "Naval Suvorov."
10. Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745 - 1813) - the famous Russian commander, Field Marshal General, His Serene Highness Prince. Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, full cavalier of the Order of St. George. He fought against the Turks, Tatars, Poles, French in various positions, including the Commander-in-Chief of the armies and troops. Formed light cavalry and infantry that did not exist in the Russian army
11. Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818) - prince, outstanding Russian commander, field marshal general, minister of war, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, full cavalier of the Order of St. George. He commanded the entire Russian army at the initial stage of the Patriotic War of 1812, after which he was replaced by M.I. Kutuzov. In the foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813-1814, he commanded the combined Russian-Prussian army as part of the Bohemian army of the Austrian field marshal Schwarzenberg.
12. Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration (1769-1812) - prince, Russian infantry general, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. A descendant of the Georgian royal house of Bagration. The branch of the Kartalin princes Bagrationov (ancestors of Peter Ivanovich) was included in the number of Russian-princely families on October 4, 1803, with the approval by Emperor Alexander I of the seventh part of the “General Armorial
13. Nikolai Nikolaevich Raevsky (1771-1829) - Russian commander, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, cavalry general. For thirty years of impeccable service, he participated in many of the largest battles of the era. After the feat near Saltanovka, he became one of the most popular generals of the Russian army. The struggle for the Raevsky battery was one of the key episodes of the Battle of Borodino. By the time in 1795 the Persian army invaded the territory of Georgia, and, fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty of Georgievsk, the Russian government declared war on Persia. In March 1796, the Nizhny Novgorod regiment, as part of the corps of V. A. Zubov, went on a 16-month campaign to Derbent. In May, after ten days of siege, Derbent was taken. Together with the main forces, he reached the Kura River. In difficult mountainous conditions, Raevsky showed his best qualities: "The 23-year-old commander managed to maintain full order of battle and strict military discipline during the exhausting campaign."
14. Alexei Petrovich Ermolov (1777-1861) - Russian military leader and statesman, participant in many major wars that the Russian Empire waged from the 1790s to the 1820s. Infantry General. Artillery general. Hero of the Caucasian War. In the campaign of 1818, he led the construction of the Groznaya fortress. Under his command were the troops sent to subdue the Avar Khan Shamil. In 1819, Yermolov began the construction of a new fortress - Sudden. In 1823 he commanded military operations in Dagestan, and in 1825 he fought with the Chechens.
15. Matvey Ivanovich Platov (1753-1818) - count, cavalry general, Cossack. Participated in all wars of the late XVIII - early XIX century. Since 1801 - ataman of the Don Cossack army. Participated in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau, then in the Turkish war. During the Patriotic War, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, had successful business with the enemy near the town of Mir and Romanovo. During the retreat of the French army, Platov, relentlessly pursuing her, inflicted defeats on Gorodnya, the Kolotsk Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishcha, near Dukhovshchina and while crossing the Vop River. For merit he was elevated to the dignity of a count. In November, Platov occupied Smolensk from battle and defeated the troops of Marshal Ney near Dubrovna. At the beginning of January 1813 he entered the borders of Prussia and overlaid Danzig; in September, he received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battle of Leipzig and, pursuing the enemy, captured about 15 thousand people. In 1814 he fought at the head of his regiments in the capture of Nemur, at Arcy-sur-Aube, Cezanne, Villeneuve.
16. Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788-1851) - Russian naval commander and navigator, admiral, holder of the Order of St. George IV class and discoverer of Antarctica. Here in 1827, commanding the warship "Azov", MP Lazarev took part in the Battle of Navarino. Fighting with five Turkish ships, he destroyed them: he sank two large frigates and one corvette, burned the flagship under the flag of Tagir Pasha, forced the 80-gun ship of the line to run aground, after which he set it on fire and blew it up. In addition, "Azov" under the command of Lazarev destroyed the flagship of Muharrem Bey. For participation in the Battle of Navarino, Lazarev was promoted to rear admiral and awarded three orders at once (Greek - "Commander's Cross of the Savior", English - Bani and French - St. Louis, and his ship "Azov" received the St. George flag.
17. Pavel Stepanovich Nakhimov (1802-1855) - Russian admiral. Under the command of Lazarev, M.P. made in 1821-1825. circumnavigation on the cruiser frigate. During the voyage he was promoted to lieutenant. In the Battle of Navarino, he commanded a battery on the battleship "Azov" under the command of M. P. Lazarev as part of the squadron of Admiral L. P. Heiden; for distinction in battle he was awarded on December 21, 1827 the Order of St. George IV class No. 4141 and promoted to lieutenant commander. In 1828 took command of the Navarin corvette, a captured Turkish ship, formerly bearing the name Nassabih Sabah. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29, commanding a corvette, he blockaded the Dardanelles as part of a Russian squadron. During the Sevastopol defense of 1854-55. showed a strategic approach to the defense of the city. In Sevastopol, Nakhimov, although he was listed as the commander of the fleet and the port, but from February 1855, after the flooding of the fleet, he defended, by appointment of the commander-in-chief, the southern part of the city, leading the defense with amazing energy and enjoyed the greatest moral influence on the soldiers and sailors who called him "father - a benefactor."
18. Vladimir Alekseevich Kornilov (1806-1855) - Vice Admiral (1852). Member of the Navarino battle of 1827 and the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. Since 1849 - chief of staff, since 1851 - the actual commander of the Black Sea Fleet. He advocated the rearmament of ships and the replacement of the sailing fleet with steam ones. During the Crimean War - one of the leaders of the Sevastopol defense.
19. Stepan Osipovich Makarov (1849 - 1904) - He was the founder of the theory of ship unsinkability, one of the organizers of the creation of destroyers and torpedo boats. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878. carried out successful attacks on enemy ships with pole mines. He made two round-the-world trips and a number of Arctic voyages. Skillfully commanded the Pacific squadron during the defense of Port Arthur in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
20. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (1896-1974) - The most famous Soviet commander is generally recognized as the Marshal of the Soviet Union. The development of plans for all major operations of the united fronts, large groupings of Soviet troops and their implementation took place under his leadership. These operations always ended in victory. They were decisive for the outcome of the war.
21. Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky (1896-1968) - an outstanding Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union
22. Ivan Stepanovich Konev (1897-1973) - Soviet commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
23. Leonid Alexandrovich Govorov (1897-1955) - Soviet commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union
24. Kirill Afanasyevich Meretskov (1997-1968) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union
25. Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (1895-1970) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. In May 1940 - July 1941 People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR.
26. Fedor Ivanovich Tolbukhin (1894 - 1949) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union
27. Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (1900-1982) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, during the Great Patriotic War - commander of the 62nd Army, which especially distinguished himself in the Battle of Stalingrad. 2-time hero of the USSR.
28. Andrei Ivanovich Eremenko (1892-1970) - Marshal of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union. One of the most prominent commanders of the Great Patriotic War and World War II in general.
29. Radion Yakovlevich Malinovsky (1897-1967) - Soviet military leader and statesman. Commander of the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union, from 1957 to 1967 - Minister of Defense of the USSR.
30. Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov (1904-1974) - Soviet naval figure, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, headed the Soviet Navy (as People's Commissar of the Navy (1939-1946), Minister of the Navy (1951-1953 ) and Commander-in-Chief)
31. Nikolai Fedorovich Vatutin (1901-1944) - army general, Hero of the Soviet Union, belongs to the galaxy of the main commanders of the Great Patriotic War.
32. Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky (1906-1945) - an outstanding Soviet military leader, army general, twice Hero of the Soviet Union.
33. Pavel Alekseevich Rotmistrov (1901-1982) - Soviet military leader, Hero of the Soviet Union, Chief Marshal of the armored forces, doctor of military sciences, professor.
And this is only a part of the commanders who are worthy of mention.
1. Outstanding Russian commanders and naval commanders.
2. Outstanding Soviet commanders, naval commanders and military leaders.
The brilliant victories of Russian weapons in battles and battles gave rise to a whole galaxy of outstanding generals, naval commanders and military leaders. Their names, military leadership and naval talent are known not only in Russia, but also abroad. They will remain in people's memory for a long time.
History has always given the military leader a fundamental role. No wonder the old Russian proverb says: "A strong army is a governor." The heroism of the Russian army was reflected in the annals and folk epics about Prince Vladimir the Red Sun, Dobryn Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich, Nikita Kozhemyak.
The glorious names of the commanders of Ancient Russia, the organizers of the military defense of the Russian lands Svyatoslav, Yaroslav the Wise (978-1054), Prince Vladimir Monomakh (1053-1125) and others have been preserved in the people's memory.
The entire conscious life of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich (942 - 972) was spent in campaigns and battles. He was the first of the Kyiv princes to abandon tribal militias and rely on a small professional army. In terms of geographical scope, his campaigns were comparable to those of Hannibal and A. Macedon. He became famous for the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate.
The military talent of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (c. 1220 - 1263) flashed like a bright star. In the first years of his reign, he had to deal with the fortification of Novgorod, which was threatened from the east by the Mongols-Tatars. Alexander built several fortresses on the Sheloni River. Glory to the 20-year-old prince was brought by a victory won on the banks of the Neva, at the mouth of the Izhora River on July 15, 1240 over a Swedish detachment. In this battle, he showed exceptional courage. It is believed that it was for this victory that the prince began to be called Nevsky.
true glory Alexander Nevsky brought a victory won on the ice of Lake Peipus, at the Raven Stone on April 5, 1242, and went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. In its course, the German troops suffered a crushing defeat. In the history of military art, this victory is of exceptional importance: the Russian foot army surrounded and defeated the knightly cavalry and detachments of foot bollards long before the infantry in Western Europe learned to defeat the mounted knights. The victory in this battle put Alexander Nevsky among the best commanders of his time.
In the history of our country, a huge role was played by the victory won on September 21, 1380 on the Kulikovo field by the troops of the Moscow Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy(1350 -1389). Having defeated the Tatar temnik Mamai at the head of the united Russian forces, Dmitry Ivanovich showed an outstanding military leadership talent, for which he was nicknamed Donskoy. In addition, he made a great contribution to the unification of Russian lands. The defeat of the hordes of Khan Mamai was an important stage in the liberation of Russia and other peoples of Eastern Europe from the Mongol-Tatar yoke.
The activity of Tsar Peter I (1672-1725) was fruitful and multifaceted as an outstanding statesman and military figure, a reformer of Russia. He clearly realized that the economic and cultural development of the country is unthinkable without access to the Baltic and Black Seas.
The historical role of Peter I is to create a regular Russian army and navy. He raised a galaxy of talented military leaders. Among them, the largest are the counts, Field Marshal F.A. Golovin and B.P. Sheremetev, His Serene Highness Prince A.D. Menshikov and others.
The tsar himself went down in history not only as a reformer of the country, but also as an outstanding commander. He showed high organizational skills and talent as a commander during the Azov campaigns (1695 - 1696), in the Northern War (1700 - 1721), the Prut campaign of 1711, during the Persian campaign (1722 - 1723). He personally commanded the troops during the capture of Noteburg in 1702, in the battle at the village of Lesnoy in 1708 -
Under the direct leadership of Peter I, in the famous Battle of Poltava on June 27 (July 8), 1709, the troops of the Swedish king Charles XII were defeated and captured.
The second half of the 18th century was fruitful for Russian military art. In time, this coincided with the reign of Catherine II, with the period of numerous wars with Turkey, Sweden and a number of other states.
At this time, the military talent of the count, field marshal general, an outstanding Russian commander and statesman Pyotr Alexandrovich, manifested itself with particular force. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky (1725 - 1796). The biggest victories were won by him during the first Russian-Turkish war (1768-1774), especially in the battles of the Ryaba Mogila, Larga and Cahul and many other battles. The Turkish army was defeated. Rumyantsev became the first holder of the Order of St. George, I degree and received the title of Transdanubian.
As a commander, theoretician and practitioner of military art, Rumyantsev was brave and wise, he knew how to concentrate the main forces on decisive directions, and he carefully developed a plan of military operations. He became one of the initiators of the transition from linear tactics to the tactics of columns and loose formation. In battle formations, he preferred to use divisional, regimental and battalion squares in combination with a loose formation of shooters, he preferred light cavalry to heavy ones. He was convinced of the superiority of offensive tactics over defensive ones, while attaching great importance to the training of troops and their morale. Rumyantsev outlined his views on military affairs in the Rules of the General and the Rite of Service.
Despite the defeat in the first war, Turkey did not abandon its aggressive aggressive intentions and in August 1787 began a new war with Russia. 6 of it, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, an outstanding commander, statesman, Field Marshal Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin-Tavrichesky (1739 - 1791), Russian troops won many major victories. In a number of naval battles, the Turkish fleet was defeated and sunk. Under the direct leadership of this most talented commander, the Turkish fortress of Ochakov was taken. For military and political achievements, Field Marshal G.A. Potemkin received the title of "Highest Prince of Tauride." In addition, he was the favorite and closest assistant of Empress Catherine II Alekseevna. He supervised the development of the Northern Black Sea region and the construction of the Black Sea Fleet.
Great rise in Russian military art in the second half of the 18th century. associated with outstanding military activities of A.V. Suvorov and F.F. Ushakov.
The great Russian commander Count Rymniksky, Prince of Italy Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1730-1800) went through all the stages of army service in 55 years of military activity - from private to generalissimo. In two wars against the Ottoman Empire, Suvorov was finally recognized as the "first sword of Russia." It was he who, on December 24, 1790, stormed the impregnable fortress of Izmail, defeated the Turks at Rymnik and Fokshany in 1789, at Kinburn in 1787. The Italian and Swiss campaigns of 1799, the victories over the French on the rivers Adda and Trebbia and at Novi, the immortal passage through the Alps were the crown of his military leadership. Suvorov entered the history of Russia as an innovative commander who made a huge contribution to the development of military art, developed and implemented an original system of views on the methods and forms of warfare and combat, education and training of troops. Suvorov's strategy was offensive in nature. Suvorov's strategy and tactics were outlined in his work "The Science of Victory". The essence of his tactics is the three martial arts: eye, speed, onslaught.
During his life, the legendary commander fought 63 battles, and all of them were victorious. His name has become synonymous with victory, military prowess, heroism and patriotism. The Suvorov heritage is still used in the training and education of troops.
Among the outstanding Russian naval commanders, Admiral Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (1745 - 1817) occupies a worthy place. He laid the foundations of new naval tactics, founded the Black Sea Navy, talentedly led it, having won a number of remarkable victories in the Black and Mediterranean Seas: in the Kerch naval battle of 1790, in the battles near Tendra Island on August 28 (September 8), 1790 and Cape Kaliakria in 1791. Ushakov's significant victory was the capture of the island of Corfu in February 1799, where the combined actions of ships and land landing forces were successfully used.
Ushakov paid great attention to the improvement of naval art, was the founder of the maneuvering tactics of the sailing fleet, which was based on a skillful combination of fire and maneuver. His tactics differed from the linear tactics adopted at that time by the decisiveness of military operations, the use of unified marching-combat formations, approaching the enemy at a short distance without rebuilding the marching formation in combat, concentrating fire on a decisive object and incapacitating, first of all, enemy flagships. , creating a reserve in battle to develop success in the main directions, conducting battle at a distance of a grape shot in order to achieve the greatest effectiveness of strikes, a combination of aimed artillery fire and maneuver, pursuing the enemy to complete his complete defeat or capture. Ushakov attached great importance to the naval and fire training of personnel, was a supporter of the Suvorov principles of educating subordinates, an opponent of drill and senseless hobbies for parades, followed the principle: to teach what is needed in war. He considered sailing in conditions close to combat reality to be the best school for sailors. He instilled in the personnel patriotism, a sense of comradeship and mutual assistance in battle. He was fair, caring and demanding of his subordinates, for which he enjoyed universal respect.
Admiral Ushakov conducted 40 naval battles. And they all ended with brilliant victories. The people called him "naval Suvorov."
At the beginning of the 19th century, in the galaxy of talented Russian commanders and naval commanders, His Serene Highness Prince Smolensky, Russian commander, Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ( 1745-1813). He began his military service at the age of 15 with the rank of corporal, and at the age of 17 he already commanded a company. Pupil A.V. Suvorov, he participated in the Russian-Turkish wars of the XVIII century, personally distinguished himself during the assault on Izmail. In the Russian-Austrian-French war of 1805, he commanded the Russian troops in Austria and skillfully brought them out of the threat of encirclement. In the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. - Commander-in-Chief of the Moldavian Army, he won victories at Rushuk and Slobodzeya, concluded the Bucharest peace treaty.
Kutuzov's leadership talent flourished with particular force in the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon's aggression. The turning point of the war was the famous Battle of Borodino, which did not give a decisive advantage to either side. Napoleon failed to defeat the Russian army and decide the fate of the war in his favor. Kutuzov, at the military council in Fili, decided to withdraw the army to the East and leave Moscow, which allowed him to save the army and transfer the war to a new phase - a war of attrition of the enemy. He secretly carried out the Tarutinsky flank maneuver, withdrew the army from the enemy's attack, closed Napoleon's paths to the southern regions of the country, and created favorable conditions for organizing and preparing a counteroffensive. Having waited for the departure of the French troops from Moscow, Kutuzov accurately determined the direction of their movement and blocked their path at Maloyaroslavets. The subsequent pursuit of the retreating enemy led to the actual death of the French army. In 1813, he led the allied Russian-Prussian troops.
Kutuzov was one of the most educated people of his time, fluent in French, German, English, Polish and Turkish. He raised Russian military art to a new, higher level of development, opposing the Napoleonic strategy of a general battle with a different form of struggle, calculated to achieve victory by a series of battles stretched in time and space, united by one strategic plan. Kutuzov's strategy is characterized by decisiveness, the achievement of the complete defeat of the enemy, the use of various types of actions, wide and bold maneuver, and taking into account real opportunities for achieving victory.
Knowing that victory over the enemy is achieved only as a result of a decisive offensive, he often, based on the situation, was forced to resort to strategic defense and even retreat.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, such gifted generals as M.B. Barclay de Tolly, P.I. Bagration, N.N. Raevsky, A.P. Ermolov, M.I. Platov and many other.
In the galaxy of outstanding Russian military leaders of the second half of the 19th century, one can single out a general from infantry Mikhail Dmitrievich Skobelev(1843 - 1882). In the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. he distinguished himself in capturing the fortress of Lovcha, blockade and storming the fortress of Plevna, in the winter passage through the Imitli pass (in the Balkans), in the battle of Sheinovo.
Skobelev adhered to progressive views in the art of war, in peacetime he prepared troops to perform tasks on the battlefield, conducted his studies in an environment close to combat, paid special attention to educating the endurance of personnel and caring for soldiers. He combined deep and comprehensive knowledge in the field of military affairs with personal courage and the ability to organize the performance of complex combat missions by subordinate troops. He was a supporter of bold and decisive actions of the troops, an opponent of the template.
In the wars that Russia had to wage in the 19th century, the domestic fleet distinguished itself more than once. The Russian naval commander and navigator who circumnavigated the Earth three times, one of the discoverers of Antarctica, Admiral Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788-1851) perfectly understood the superiority of machine ships over sailing ones and was a supporter of the creation of a strong steam fleet. Under his leadership, five first-class batteries were built in Sevastopol, a naval library, a naval collection, naval barracks, dry docks and two schools were formed. Two battleships and a frigate were launched from the Nikolaev shipyard. Lazarev brought up a galaxy of outstanding commanders and naval commanders, including Admiral Pyotr Stepanovich Nakhimov (1802 - 1855), heroes of the defense of Sevastopol, Vice Admiral Vladimir Alekseevich Kornilov(1806 - 1854) and Rear Admiral Vladimir Ivanovich Istomin (1809 - 1855), naval theorist, Admiral Grigory Ivanovich Butakov (1820 - 1882), count, Russian statesman, Admiral Efimy Vasilyevich Putyatin ( 1804 - 1883). He achieved a significant improvement in the living conditions of sailors. The distinctive qualities of Lazarev's character were initiative and courage, speed in making decisions, integrity and honesty.
The Russian fleet won a brilliant victory over the Turkish fleet in the Navarino naval battle in October 1827. During the Crimean War (1853 - 1856), the naval talent of P.S. Nakhimov. Under his leadership, during the battle of Sinop on November 18 (30), 1853, the Turkish fleet was completely defeated. For many months, Nakhimov successfully led the defense of Sevastopol. He enjoyed great prestige and love of the defenders of the city, set an example of courage and endurance. During one of the detours of positions, he was mortally wounded by a bullet in the head on Malakhov Hill.
Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov was a remarkable naval commander and oceanographer.(1849 -1904). This is the founder of the tactics of the armored fleet and the theory of unsinkability of the ship, one of the organizers of the creation of destroyers and torpedo boats. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. carried out successful attacks on enemy ships with pole mines. He made two round-the-world trips and a number of Arctic voyages. Skillfully commanded the Pacific squadron during the Defense of Port Arthur in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. S.O. Makarov is the author of more than 50 scientific papers on various branches of naval affairs.
The First World War nominated General of the Cavalry Alexei Alekseevich Brusilov (1853-1926) as one of the best commanders, under whose command the troops of the Southwestern Front in the summer of 1916 made a breakthrough of the Austro-German front, which went down in history as the Brusilov breakthrough.
During the Civil War and military intervention in the USSR, Soviet military art was born and developed. A major contribution to this was made by such well-known military leaders as Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze (1885 - 1925), Marshals of the Soviet Union Vasily Konstantinovich Blyukher (1889 -1938), Alexander Ilyich Egorov (1883 -1939), Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky ( 1893 - 1937), commanders of the 1st rank Iona Emmanuilovich Yakir (1896 - 1937), Ieronim Petrovich Uborevich (1896 - 1937), Ivan Fedorovich Fedko (1897 -1939).
With particular force, military leadership talent was demonstrated by our compatriots during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. It was on the commanders and naval commanders that the whole burden of leading the armed struggle, the whole responsibility for its successes and failures, fell. And they justified the hopes of the people.
The most famous commanders who made the greatest contribution to the defeat of the aggressor, were Marshals of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (1896 -1974) and Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (1895 -1977).
Marshals of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky, I.Kh. Bagramyan, I.S. Konev, L.A. Govorov, K.A. Meretskov, K.S. Moskalenko, S.K. Timoshenko, I.F. Tolbukhin, V. I. Chuikov, AM. Eremenko, R.Ya. Malinovsky, B.M. Shaposhnikov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov. A significant contribution to achieving victory over the enemy was also made by army generals A.I. Antonov, P.I. Batov, N.F. Vatutin, I.E. Petrov, I.D. Chernyakhovsky, I.V. Tyulenev, Chief Air Marshals A.A. Novikov, A.E. Golovanov, Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces P.A. Rotmistrov, Admirals F.S. Oktyabrsky, V.F. Tributs, I. S. Yumashev and others. Their glory will outlive the ages.
Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky can rightfully be called unique a military leader who happily combined the qualities of a brilliant commander and an outstanding staff worker, military thinker and large-scale organizer. He headed the General Staff of the Armed Forces almost throughout the entire war, was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. He took an active part in the development of plans for the most important military operations and their implementation. His leadership talent was most clearly manifested in the post of commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front during the East Prussian operation, in which the largest grouping of the Wehrmacht was defeated.
After the victory over Germany, Vasilevsky became the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East. Under his leadership, the millionth Kwantung Army was defeated within 24 days. After that, Japan was forced to capitulate.
For outstanding military-strategic activity in the defense of the Fatherland A.M. Vasilevsky was awarded two Orders of Victory and two
Gold Stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
The famous naval commander was Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov (1904-1974). In 1939, he put into effect a three-stage system of operational readiness of the forces of the Navy, which in June 1941 made it possible in a short time to prepare ships and fleet formations, controls to repel a surprise attack by the enemy and deploy forces at sea for combat operations. On the night of June 22, 1941, Kuznetsov transferred the forces of the fleet to readiness No. 1. This contributed to the fact that German air raids on naval bases turned out to be almost fruitless. During the Great Patriotic War, he confidently led the military operations of the Navy. His naval talent was fully revealed in the implementation of the interaction of the fleets with the ground forces, during which the main efforts of the fleets were aimed at securing the coastal flanks of the Red Army, actively disrupting enemy maritime transport and protecting their sea and ocean communications. He showed high organizational skills in the defense of a number of naval bases, as well as in developing plans and conducting a number of operations. For the skillful leadership of the combat operations of the fleets and the successes achieved as a result of these operations, Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The Russian land is rich in great commanders, naval commanders and military leaders who have gained fame both in Russia and abroad, their glorious names and deeds will remain forever in the memory of the people.
The most famous Soviet commander is generally recognized as Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov. He was born in 1896 on Kaluga land in a simple peasant family. He began his service in the Russian army in 1915. Participated in the First World War, rose to the rank of non-commissioned officer, was awarded two St. George's crosses.
During the Civil War, he volunteered for the Red Army, became the commander of a cavalry squadron. Participated in battles on the Eastern, Western and Southern fronts, in the elimination of post-war banditry.
Zhukov did not receive a higher military education. Behind him were only the Cavalry Courses (1920), the Advanced Courses for the Commanding Officers of the Cavalry (1925) and the Advanced Courses for the Senior Commanders (1930). Academic education for commander G.K. Zhukov was replaced by the experience of the Civil War and subsequent service in various command positions in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), and most importantly, natural talent.
In the 1930s, Zhukov was an assistant inspector of the Red Army cavalry, commander of cavalry divisions and corps. In July 1938 he was appointed deputy commander of the Belarusian military district. Zhukov in those years happily escaped the Stalinist repressions.
In July 1939 G.K. Zhukov was appointed commander of the 1st Army Group of Soviet Forces in Mongolia. She, together with the army of the Mongolian People's Republic, carried out a successful offensive operation to defeat a large grouping of Japanese troops on the Khalkhin Gol River. For his skillful leadership of the operation, Zhukov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
After that, Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov commanded the troops of the Kyiv Special Military District, and then was appointed Chief of the General Staff - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR.
His military leadership talent was fully revealed during the Great Patriotic War. On June 23, 1941, Zhukov was appointed a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, in August of the same year - First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR and Deputy Supreme Commander I.V. Stalin.
Already in the first days of the enemy invasion, Zhukov organized a counterattack on the Southwestern Front with the forces of several mechanized corps. Then, about 2,000 enemy tanks collided in a section just up to 70 kilometers wide. In August - September 1941, Georgy Konstantinovich commanded the troops of the Reserve Front, conducted the Yelninskaya offensive operation. Then, near Yelnya, the Soviet guard was born: for the mass heroism of the fighters, the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st rifle divisions became the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th guards rifle divisions.
The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command sent G.K. Zhukov to the most difficult areas, where, first of all, rare willpower and firmness of character were required. In September 1941 he was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front. The fascist German army group "North" was stopped at the near approaches to Leningrad, and they could not even take it by blockade and heavy bombardments.
When the Nazi tank columns rushed to Moscow, in October 1941, Zhukov was appointed commander of the Western Front. From February to May 1942, he was simultaneously the commander-in-chief of the troops of the Western Direction. In the most difficult conditions, the commander was able to establish the defense of the capital and carried out an offensive operation, which went down in the history of World War II as a battle near Moscow.
More than 3 million people, 21,600 guns and mortars, about 2,700 tanks, over 2,000 aircraft took part in this grandiose battle, which was crowned by a powerful counterattack, from the Soviet side. The enemy turned out to be driven back from Moscow by 100-2S0 kilometers.
After that PC. Zhukov, as a representative of the Headquarters, coordinated the actions of several fronts near Stalingrad. As a result of a large-scale offensive operation, five enemy armies were defeated: two German tank, two Romanian and one Italian. In the snow-covered steppe between the Volga and the Don, a 330,000-strong enemy group under the command of Field Marshal Paulus was surrounded.
Then Zhukov returned to Leningrad, where he coordinated the actions of the two fronts to break the blockade of the city on the Neva. After that, the commander coordinated the actions of the fronts in the grand Battle of Kursk in 1943. From the Soviet side, more than 1.3 million people, up to 20 thousand guns and mortars, 3444 tanks and self-propelled guns and 2900 aircraft took part in it. It was the Battle of Kursk that turned the tide of the war.
In the same 1943 PC. Zhukov coordinated the actions of a number of fronts in the battle for the Dnieper. The enemy "Eastern Wall" was successfully broken through. For this strategic success, the commander was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.
At the final stage of the Great Patriotic War, Zhukov commanded the fronts - the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian. The liberation of Belarus, the Vistula-Oder operation to liberate Poland and its capital Warsaw and, finally, the Berlin operation, which ended with the capture of the capital of Nazi Germany, are associated with his name.
On the night of May 9, 1945, Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, on behalf of and on behalf of the Soviet Supreme High Command in Karlshorst (the southeastern part of defeated Berlin), accepted the surrender of the German armed forces.
Marshal of the Soviet Union PC. Zhukov was twice awarded the highest Soviet military order "Victory" and four times awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He is recognized as the largest Soviet commander of World War II.
After the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War, he served as commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and chief of the Soviet military administration. In 1946 he became Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces and Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces. However, in the summer of the same year, he fell into disgrace with Stalin and from 1946 to 1953 commanded the troops of secondary military districts - Odessa and Ural.
In March 1953 G.K. Zhukov was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defense, and from February 1955 to September 1957 he was the Minister of Defense of the USSR. He is one of the organizers and executors of the arrest of L.P. Beria, who carried out mass repressions in the country and its Armed Forces since the late 1930s.
The fate of the famous Soviet commander after the Great Patriotic War was not easy. During the years of government I.V. Stalin, N.S. Khrushchev and L.I. Brezhnev, he was in disgrace for almost a quarter of a century. He died in 1974 and was buried in Red Square, near the Kremlin wall. In modern Russia, the Order of Zhukov was established. The memoirs "Memories and Reflections", which have gone through more than ten editions in our country alone, are a true documentary story about the fate of the great Soviet commander.