Marshal Voroshilov biography. Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov

early years

revolutionary activity

Civil War

People's Commissar of Defense

The Great Patriotic War

Post-war activities

Party positions

Estimates of contemporaries

perpetuation of memory

Bibliography

In art

(January 23 (February 4), 1881, the village of Verkhnee, Bakhmutsky district, Yekaterinoslav province, Russian Empire - December 2, 1969, Moscow) - Soviet military leader, statesman and party figure, participant civil war, one of the first Marshals of the Soviet Union.

From 1925 he was People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, in 1934-1940 People's Commissar for Defense of the USSR. In 1953-1960 he was Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Socialist Labor. Voroshilov holds the record for the length of his stay in the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (CPSU Central Committee), the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee (34.5 years, 1926-1960).

Biography

early years

Kliment Voroshilov was born on February 4, 1881 in the village of Verkhnee, Bakhmut district, Yekaterinoslav province, Russian Empire (now the city of Lisichansk, Lugansk region, Ukraine), in the family of a railway worker Efrem Andreevich Voroshilov (1844-1907) and a day laborer Voroshilova (nee Agafonova) Maria Vasilievna (1857-1919). Russian. From the age of 7 he worked as a shepherd, a miner. In 1893-1895 he studied at the zemstvo school in the village of Vasilievka (now part of the city of Alchevsk). From 1896 he worked at the Yuriev Metallurgical Plant, from 1903 in the city of Lugansk at the Hartmann steam locomotive plant.

revolutionary activity

Member of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (Bolsheviks) / VKP (b) / CPSU since 1903. Since 1904 - a member of the Lugansk Bolshevik Committee. In 1905 - Chairman of the Lugansk Soviet, led the workers' strike, the creation of fighting squads. Delegate of the Fourth (1906) and Fifth (1907) Congresses of the RSDLP(b). In 1908-1917, he conducted underground party work in Baku, Petrograd, Tsaritsyn. Repeatedly arrested, served exile.

After February Revolution 1917 - Member of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, delegate to the Seventh (April) All-Russian Conference and the Sixth Congress of the RSDLP (b). From March 1917 - Chairman of the Lugansk Committee of the Bolsheviks, from August - the Lugansk Council and the City Duma (until September 1917).

In November 1917, during the days of the Great October Socialist Revolution, Voroshilov was the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (for city administration). Together with F. E. Dzerzhinsky, he worked on the organization of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK). In early March 1918, Voroshilov organized the First Lugansk Socialist Detachment, which defended the city of Kharkov from the German-Austrian troops.

Civil War

During the Civil War - Commander of the Tsaritsyno Group of Forces, Deputy Commander and member of the Military Council of the Southern Front, Commander of the 10th Army, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Commander of the Kharkov Military District, Commander of the 14th Army and the Internal Ukrainian Front. One of the organizers and a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 1st Cavalry Army, commanded by S. M. Budyonny.

For military merit in 1920, Voroshilov was awarded an honorary revolutionary weapon. At the VIII Congress of the RCP(b), held in March 1919, he joined the "military opposition".

In 1921, at the head of a group of delegates to the 10th Congress of the RCP(b), he took part in the suppression of the Kronstadt uprising. In 1921-1924 - a member of the South-Eastern Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (b), commander of the North Caucasian Military District. In 1924-1925 he was the commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District and a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR.

People's Commissar of Defense

After the death of M. V. Frunze, Voroshilov headed the military department of the USSR: from November 6, 1925 to June 20, 1934 - People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR; in 1934-1940 People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. In total, Voroshilov spent almost 15 years at the head of the military department, longer than anyone else in Soviet period. He had a reputation as a devoted supporter of Stalin, supporting him in the fight against Trotsky, and then in establishing Stalin's absolute power in the late 1920s. Author of the book "Stalin and the Red Army", exalting the role of Stalin in the Civil War.

In October 1933, at the head of a government delegation in Turkey, together with Ataturk, he hosted a military parade in Ankara.

On September 22, 1935, the "Regulations on the service of the command and command staff of the Red Army" introduced personal military ranks. In November 1935, the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR awarded the five largest Soviet commanders a new military rank"Marshal of the Soviet Union". Among them was Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov.

In 1940, after the Soviet-Finnish war, Voroshilov lost his post as People's Commissar of Defense: Stalin appointed S.K. Timoshenko, who had proven himself in the war better, to this position. Voroshilov received the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and Chairman of the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.

Participation in Stalin's repressions

During the Great Terror, Voroshilov, among other associates of Stalin, participated in the consideration of the so-called "lists" - lists of persons repressed with Stalin's personal sanction. Signatures on the lists signified a guilty verdict. Voroshilov's signature is on 185 lists, according to which more than 18,000 people were convicted and shot.

As a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks approved a large number of so-called. "limits" (quotas for the number of repressed according to the order of the NKVD No. 00447 "On the operation to repress former kulaks, criminals and other anti-Soviet elements"). So, on April 26, 1938, Voroshilov, together with Stalin, Molotov, Kaganovich and Yezhov, signed an affirmative resolution on the request of and. O. Secretary of the Irkutsk Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on the allocation of an additional limit for the first category for 4,000 people.

As People's Commissar of Defense, Voroshilov took an active part in the repressions against the command staff of the Red Army. On the list of 26 commanders of the Red Army, sent from the NKVD to the NPO on May 28, 1937, he put the resolution " Tov. Yezhov. Take all the scoundrels. May 28, 1937. K.Voroshilov»; Voroshilov's shorter resolution is " To arrest. K. V."- stands on a similar list of 142 commanders.

The Great Patriotic War

During the years of the Great Patriotic War Marshal of the Soviet Union K. E. Voroshilov - Member State Committee defense, commander-in-chief of the troops of the North-Western direction (until September 5, 1941), commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front (from September 5 to 14, 1941), representative of the Headquarters for the formation of troops (September 1941 - February 1942), representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command for Volkhov Front (February-September 1942), commander-in-chief of the partisan movement (from September 1942 to May 1943), chairman of the Trophy Committee under the State Defense Committee (May-September 1943), chairman of the Armistice Commission (September 1943 - June 1944 ). In 1943, he participated in the Tehran Conference.

Post-war activities

In 1945-1947 - Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Hungary.

In 1946-1953 - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

From March 1953 to May 1960 - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

In 1957 he was a member of the "anti-party group". Unlike the leaders of the group, he was not expelled from the party, but only criticized at the XXII Congress of the CPSU.

He died at the age of 89 on December 2, 1969. He was buried on Red Square in Moscow near the Kremlin wall: “On the night of December 2-3, 1969, Marshal Voroshilov died. His funeral was given an unprecedented national scale. For the first time in twenty years after the funeral of Zhdanov, a grave was dug behind the Lenin Mausoleum. (Not counting the night reburial of Stalin in 1961.).”

Party positions

Since May 1960 he has been a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

From 1921 to October 1961 and since 1966 he was a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

From 1926 to 1952 he was a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

From 1952 to July 1960 - Member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Delegate of the 10-23rd party congresses. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st-7th convocations (1937-1969).

Family

Voroshilov's wife is Golda Davidovna Gorbman (1887-1959), a Jewess by nationality. Before marrying Voroshilov, she was baptized and changed her name and became Ekaterina Davidovna. For this, her Jewish relatives cursed her. Golda Davidovna Gorbman was a member of the RSDLP (b) since 1917, she worked as deputy director of the Lenin Museum. They did not have their own children, they raised the son and daughter of M.V. Frunze - Timur (1923-1942) and Tatyana (b. 1920), as well as the adopted son Peter (1914-1969), from whom they had two grandchildren - Klim and Vladimir.

Estimates of contemporaries

• Stalin, 1942: "One of the main organizers of the Red Army is Marshal Voroshilov."
• Molotov, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich 1972: "Voroshilov was just good at certain time. He always advocated the political line of the party, because among the workers, an accessible person knows how to speak out. Unstained, yes. And loyalty to Stalin personally. His loyalty was not very strong. But at that time he spoke very actively for Stalin, fully supported him in everything, although he was not sure of everything. This also had an effect. That's a very difficult question. This must be taken into account, why Stalin was a little critical and did not invite him to all our conversations. In any case, he did not invite me to private ones. He did not invite to secret meetings, he himself tumbled. Stalin winced. Under Khrushchev, Voroshilov performed poorly.

Awards

Cavalier of the highest awards of the USSR. In particular, one of 154 twice Heroes of the Soviet Union and one of ten people who were awarded both the highest degrees of distinction of the Soviet Union - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Socialist Labor.

perpetuation of memory

In honor of K. E. Voroshilov during his lifetime (in 1931), and after being awarded the rank of marshal (in 1935), a number of cities were named:

• Voroshilovgrad- so from 1935 - until 1958, Lugansk was called, but after the death of Voroshilov it was again named after him, so that in 1990 the historical name was finally restored again.
• Voroshilovsk- the name of the city of Alchevsk from 1931 to 1961, bearing the name of K. E. Voroshilov, who worked at the DUMO plant, where he began his labor and revolutionary activities;
• Voroshilovsk from 1935 - to 1943 the name of the city of Stavropol.
• Voroshilov- in 1935 - 1957 the name of the city of Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai.
• Voroshilovsky district- in 1970 - 1989 the name of the Khoroshevsky district of the city of Moscow, the central district in Donetsk (Ukraine).

Streets in the cities of Brest, Voronezh, Goryachiy Klyuch, Ershov, Kemerovo, Klintsy, Korosten, Lipetsk, Nikolaev, Orenburg, Penza, Rybinsk, St. Petersburg, Serpukhov (central street), Simferopol, Togliatti, Khabarovsk, Chelyabinsk, Angarsk bear the name of Voroshilov , Izhevsk, and also Voroshilovsky prospect in Rostov-on-Don

On December 29, 1932, the badge of the Voroshilov shooter of Osoaviahima was approved to reward well-aimed shooters. In honor of Voroshilov, a series of heavy tanks KV (official decoding - Klim Voroshilov) of the Putilov plant was named. In 1941-1992, the name Voroshilov bore Military Academy General Staff Armed Forces THE USSR.

A monument was erected on the grave of Voroshilov. In Moscow, at house number 3 on Romanov Lane, where K. E. Voroshilov lived, a memorial plate was installed.

Voroshilovsky district of Volgograd

Bibliography

• Voroshilov K. E. 15 years of the Red Army: Report at the solemn anniversary meeting on February 23, 1933 at the Bolshoi Theater / Voroshilov K. E. - M .: Party ed., 1933. - 45 p.
• Voroshilov K. E. Articles and speeches from the 16th to the 17th Congress of the CPSU(b) / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Part. ed., 1934. - 208 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. About youth / Voroshilov K. E., Frunze M. V. - M.: Partizdat, 1936. - 158 p.: ill.
• Voroshilov K. E. About youth / Voroshilov K. E. - M .: Mol. guard, 1936. - 198 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. Articles and speeches / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Partizdat, 1936. - 666 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speeches at meetings of voters in Minsk / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Partizdat, 1937. - 13 p.
• Voroshilov K. E. XX years of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army and Navy: Report on celebrations. session Moscow Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan and KD with participation. total organizations and warriors. parts dedicated to XX Anniversary of the Workers and Peasants. Red Army and Military. - Marine fleet. From app. order Nar. Com. Defense of the USSR N 49, 23 Feb. 1938, Moscow / Voroshilov K. E. - M.: Gosizd. polit. Literature, 1938. - 29 p.
• long march armies of K. E. Voroshilov from Lugansk to Tsaritsyn and the heroic defense of Tsaritsyn: A guide to the traces of the civil war. - M.: Military Publishing, 1938. - 298 p.: ill., diagrams.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speech on Red Square on the day of the XXI anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution in the USSR (November 7, 1938) / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Military Publishing, 1938. - 14 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. On the draft law on universal military duty: Report of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR Comrade. K. E. Voroshilov at the extraordinary Fourth session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st convocation on August 31, 1939 / Voroshilov K. E. - M .: Politgiz, 1939. - 30 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. Preface to the "Instruction for the command and command staff of the Red Army. Individual gymnastics for every day ”/ Voroshilov K. E. // Teoriya i praktika nat. culture. - 1939. - T. IV. - N 5. - S. 1-3.
• History of the Civil War in the USSR / Ed.: M. Gorky, V. Molotov, K. Voroshilov [and others]. T. 2: The Great Proletarian Revolution. (Oct. - November 1917). - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1942. - 367 p.: ill., portrait, maps.
• Great Soviet Encyclopedia: In 65 volumes / Ch. ed. O. Yu. Schmidt, Deputy ch. ed. F. N. Petrov, P. M. Kerzhentsev, F. A. Rotshtein, P. S. Zaslavsky. / Ed. K. E. Voroshilov, A. Ya. Vyshinsky. P. I. Lebedev-Polyansky and others - M .: Sov. encyclopedia, 1944-1947.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speech at the pre-election meeting of voters of the Minsk city constituency on February 7, 1946 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1946. - 13 p.: portr.
• Great Soviet Encyclopedia / Ed. S. I. Vavilov, K. E. Voroshilov, A. Ya. Vyshinsky [and others]. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. - M.: Sov. encyclopedia, 1947. - 1946 p.: ill., cart., portrait.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speech at a meeting of voters of the Minsk city constituency on March 7, 1950 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1950. - 24 p.: portr. Also. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1951. - 23 p.
• Skvortsov A. E. K. E. Voroshilov physical culture/ Skvortsov A. E. // Teoriya i praktika fiz. culture. - 1951. - T. XIV. - Issue. 2. - S. 96-103.
• Voroshilov K. E. 36th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution: Report on celebrations. meeting of the Moscow Council November 6, 1953 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Goslitizdat, 1953. - 24 p.: portr.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speech at a meeting of voters of the Kirov constituency of the city of Leningrad on March 10, 1954 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1954. - 15 p.
• Voroshilov K. E. On the glorious path of socialism / Voroshilov K. E. - M .: Gospolitizdat, 1955. - 15 p.
• Voroshilov K. E. Speech at the XX Congress of the CPSU on February 20, 1956 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1956. - 23 p.
• Voroshilov K. E. Stories about life: (Memoirs). Book. 1 / Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich. - M.: Politizdat, 1968. - 368 p.: ill.
• Soviet Army / Foreword. K. E. Voroshilova. - M.: Politizdat, 1969. - 446 p.: ill., portrait.
• About Komsomol and youth: Collection / V. I. Lenin. M. I. Kalinin. S. M. Kirov. N. K. Krupskaya. V. V. Kuibyshev. A. V. Lunacharsky. G. K. Ordzhonikidze. M. V. Frunze. K. E. Voroshilov. - M.: Mol. guard, 1970. - 447 p.
• Akshinsky V.S. Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov: Biogr. essay / Akshinsky V.S. - M.: Politizdat, 1974. - 287 p.: ill.
• Kardashov V.I. Voroshilov / Kardashov V. I. - M .: Mol. guard, 1976. - 368 p.: ill., photogr.
• K. E. Voroshilov. Stories about life. Book 1

In art

Until his resignation from the post of People's Commissar of Defense, Voroshilov, as the most influential military figure, was a living symbol of the Red Army and the growing military power of the Soviet Union. In the 1920s and 1930s, he was sung as a man who would lead to victory (“After all, Voroshilov, the first red officer, is with us - we will be able to stand up for the USSR!”). Voroshilov is the hero of numerous films where he was played:

• Alexei Gribov ("Oath", 1946, "The Fall of Berlin", 1949, "Donetsk Miners", 1951)
• Nikolai Bogolyubov ("Lenin in 1918", 1938, "First Cavalry", 1941, "Parkhomenko", 1942, "Defense of Tsaritsyn", 1942, "Third Strike", "Liberation", 1968-1972))
• Yuri Tolubeev ("Fall of Berlin", 1st version)
• Daniil Sagal (Blockade, 1972)
• Viktor Lazarev (“The Thought of Kovpak”, 1973-1976; “The Underground Regional Committee is Active”, 1978)
• Igor Pushkarev ("December 20", 1981)
• Wensley Peethi ("Red Monarch" "Red Monarch" (England, 1983)
• Vladimir Troshin (Oleko Dundich, 1958; "Battle for Moscow", 1985, "Stalingrad", In the city of Sochi dark nights, 1989)
• Evgeny Zharikov ("First Cavalry", 1984, "War on westbound", 1990)
• Anatoly Grachev ("Enemy of the people - Bukharin", 1990)
• Sergey Nikonenko ("Feasts of Belshazzar, or Night with Stalin", 1989)
• Mikhail Kononov (Inner Circle, 1991)
• John Bowie ("Stalin", 1992)
• Viktor Yeltsov (Trotsky, 1993)
• Sergei Shekhovtsov (Stalin: Inside the Terror, England, 2003)
• Yuri Oleinikov ("Stalin. Live", 2007)
• Alexander Mokhov ("Burnt by the Sun 2", 2010)
• Valery Filonov ("Furtseva (TV series)", 2011)

As well as "Unforgettable 1919", "Lenin in the Ring of Fire" (1993), "Moscow Saga" (2004), etc.

Voroshilov is mentioned in the song March of Soviet Tankers as the First Marshal:

In some versions, until 1956, in the song "Polyushko-Polye" there was a verse about Voroshilov:

Voroshilov's name also sounds in the song "If there is war tomorrow" (1939):

And also in the march * red cavalry *

The poem by L. Kvitko “Letter to Voroshilov” was set to music (translated by S. Marshak, Music by P. Akulenko).

Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov is a world famous person.

The first revolutionary, a red officer, Stalin's People's Commissar. This is how he was remembered in history.

Anti-Stalinists describe Voroshilov as a stupid executor of Stalin's will, a horseman who does not understand anything about the development of the army.

The Stalinists, on the contrary, describe him as a competent specialist, although more of a political figure.

But behind it all, there really was another person.

The real Klim Voroshilov did too many contradictory actions to invest in the image of whether it was a "bloody Stalinist people's commissar" or an "ideal favorite of the people."

He almost lost the Finnish War, but saved Helsinki from destruction.

Under his command, in the fall of 1941, Leningrad was almost lost, only a change of command saved the situation.

He easily handed over to Yezhov and his Chekists his supporters in the Red Army - Yegorov, Blucher, Belov, Fedko, Goryachev, Kashirin and many others ...

Who supported him in the fight against Tukhachevsky and was his faithful support

Not to mention the fact that Voroshilov took an active part in annexing Crimea to Ukraine.

Namely, in 1954, as chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, he signed a decree on the inclusion of Crimea into the Ukrainian SSR, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Pereyaslav Rada.

And unlike the soap Universal Sobornost of 1919, which never entered into force, the document signed by Voroshilov still remains a confirmation of the territorial borders of Ukraine.

Ukrainian nationalists could appreciate such a great contribution of a fellow countryman to the territory of Ukraine.

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

It is often written that Voroshilov considered himself Russian - but it is not clear what this opinion is based on.

Voroshilov never said that he was Russian and did not consider himself as such

Soviet biographers avoided giving the name of Kliment Efremovich's parents, using a masterpiece of party casuistry:

"Voroshilov's father, Voroshilov's mother."

The problem, however, was the nationality of the beloved people's commissar.

In fact, his parents were Ukrainians. He was proud of his belonging to the Ukrainian nation and the first marshal himself.

General Pyotr Grigorenko recalled:

“I introduce myself when it’s my turn. Kliment Efremovich offers his hand. Then he hugs his waist and we walk side by side: “Grigorenko? Ukrainian? And do not forget your language?

Grigorenko answered in verse:

How can you forget

MOV that I taught

There's not enough of us to speak

Our sweetheart!

Voroshilov replied:

“I am also Ukrainian. Oh, you know Shevchenko! Virno! You don't need to forget yours!

I am not Voroshilov. Then the Russians acquired me “v”.

And I'm Voroshilo. My grandfather is still alive, then in the village they call yogi Voroshilo.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR

After the February Revolution of 1917, he was a member of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, a delegate to the Seventh (April) All-Russian Conference and the Sixth Congress of the RSDLP (b).

From March 1917 - Chairman of the Lugansk Committee of the Bolsheviks, from August - the Lugansk Council and the City Duma (until September 1917)

In November 1917, during the days October revolution, Voroshilov was the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (for city administration). Together with F. E. Dzerzhinsky, he worked on the organization of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK).

In early March 1918, Voroshilov organized the First Lugansk Socialist Detachment, which defended the city of Kharkov from the German-Austrian troops.

During the Civil War - Commander of the Tsaritsyno Group of Forces, Deputy Commander and Member of the Military Council of the Southern Front, Commander of the 10th Army (October 3 - December 18, 1918)

There he became close to I. Stalin and two more Ukrainians were there - G. Kulik and S. Timoshenko

People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR (January - June 1919), commander of the Kharkov Military District, commander of the 14th Army and the internal Ukrainian front.

He could not be denied courage and courage.

Voroshilov, like no one else, was suitable for the struggle in Ukraine. He was an opponent of the Germans, an opponent of Petliura and a supporter of the sovereignty of Ukraine.

An interesting aspect of his personal life.

The 29-year-old Voroshilov met his wife, the exiled SR Golda Grobman, in the settlement of Kholmogory, where he was sent at the beginning of the 20th century by the Russian police for repeated escapes from prison.

According to his recollections, it was an exceptionally happy time.

In the archives of the Higher Party School, a biography written by Golda himself has been preserved:

“I, Golda Davidovna Grobman, was born in 1887 into a Jewish family. My father, David Leibovich Grobman, was a commission agent, or rather, had no specific occupation. He was ill for many years and died in 1910. The family lived in need, often helping out the mother, serving the tenants. In 1897 I entered a school in Odessa, from which I graduated in 1902.

After graduating from college, she went to a ladies' dress workshop, but soon she took up sewing for customers at home by the day. In 1904 she began to take part in the revolutionary movement. From 1906 to 1907 she was arrested twice ... "

Before meeting Voroshilov, Golda Grobman met with another famous Bolshevik, Avel Yenukidze.

In the practical photographs of Voroshilov from Stalin, one feature is clearly visible - he always sought to stand next to Stalin, closer than anyone ... emphasizing his position

Which by the way was not noticed by other associates of Stalin

Ukrainian nationalist Voroshilov to the left of Stalin, Russian nationalist Malenkov to the right of Stalin

Column Hall of the House of the Unions. The funeral of Zhdanov. In the guard of honor Malenkov, Voroshilov, Stalin. 1948.

The role of the Ukrainian Voroshilov is purely symbolic. Now the pro-Russian group G. Malenkov has power

IN FINNISH AND RUSSIAN

He performed very poorly in both companies.

The Finnish war became unequivocally a failure and he was changed from the post of commander to another Ukrainian—Tymoshenko

The results of the Finnish campaign were considered in April 1940 at an expanded meeting of the Main Military Council.

At this meeting, L. Z. Mekhlis spoke a lot and rather sharply about the mistakes of People's Commissar of Defense Voroshilov.

Decisions were made aimed at strengthening the combat capability of the Red Army. Unofficially, Stalin gave instructions to rehabilitate and release some of the repressed commanders of the Red Army. At the same time, it was decided to release Voroshilov from the duties of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR.

S. K. Timoshenko was appointed to this post. During the defense of Tsaritsyn, Timoshenko commanded a regiment; in the First Cavalry Army he was a division commander. After the death of I. E. Yakir, Timoshenko headed the Kiev military district, and from January 1940 he commanded troops on the Soviet-Finnish front.

In order to somehow soften the blow to Voroshilov's prestige, he was awarded the Order of Lenin and appointed Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars.

In February 1941, the name of Voroshilov was given to the Academy of the General Staff. However, his real influence in the party and military hierarchy has clearly decreased.

During the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union K. E. Voroshilov - a member of the State Defense Committee (GKO) with its formation on 06/30/1941, from July 10, 1941, commander-in-chief of the troops of the North-Western direction

The general conclusion of his leadership can be summarized as follows:

1. The Baltic states are occupied by the Wehrmacht

2. The Wehrmacht came close to Leningrad and the capture of the city became a matter of almost solved

3. The Baltic Fleet is defeated

There is a correspondence between Zhdanov-Voroshilov and Stalin in critical days September 1941.

Stalin accused Voroshilov of not using resources to protect the city and not reporting on the state of affairs

In the end, Voroshilov was removed from command and sent to lead the rear ... instead of him they sent a Russian - G.K. Zhukov

He became the first Ukrainian who lost confidence

AFTER THE WAR

After the war, Voroshilov was almost completely removed from making important government decisions.

Now Voroshilov was put at the head of the Bureau of Culture under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. This Bureau was in charge of the activities of the theaters of the country. Committee for Cinematography, book publishing.

In Voroshilov's office in the Kremlin, one could now meet not generals, but directors, directors of large publishing houses, and some artists. Of course, the main questions of culture were being decided even now apart from Voroshilov.

Stalin not only alienated Voroshilov from himself, but repeatedly expressed to him in the presence of other members of the Central Committee political

So at one of the meetings of the Politburo after the war, the question of the ways of developing the Soviet Navy was discussed.

It was an extended meeting to which the commanders of the main fleets were invited. As usual, Stalin invited everyone present to speak.

Voroshilov's opinion did not coincide, however, with the opinion of the majority.

Concluding the debate, Stalin not only rejected Voroshilov's proposals, but at the same time

"I don't understand why Comrade Voroshilov wants to weaken the Soviet Navy."

Stalin repeated this phrase two more times.

After the meeting, all its participants went, at the invitation of Stalin, to watch the film "Lights big city which Stalin had already seen many times.

When the light came on after the end of the film, Stalin turned around and, seeing Voroshilov sitting alone, suddenly stood up and, going up, put his hand on his shoulder.

Deputy Navy of the USSR Admiral of the Fleet I.S. Isakov, who was present at this meeting of the Politburo, wrote down his impressions immediately upon arrival home.

Often he was not invited to meetings of the Politburo.

Nevertheless, in 1952, Voroshilov presided over some meetings of the 19th Party Congress and closed this congress. short speech(Stalin spoke after the formal closing of the congress).

Voroshilov was elected to the expanded Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU and to the Bureau of the Presidium of nine people.

CONCLUSION

Marshal of the USSR Kliment Voroshilov does not in any way draw on the image of a "bloody executioner" or a talented marshal or an impeccable patriot.

He perfectly remembered the unambiguous promise of V.I. Lenin to give independence to Ukraine and probably counted on this.

But passed years, and beloved Ukraine did not gain independence for them, and the next one who gave "guarantees" was Hitler .... so think about what these very Leningrad oddities of Voroshilov were.

Stalin probably understood this and maybe suspected him of something and removed him from the leadership of the country

In this case, Stalin's hint at the post-war meeting on fleet issues is understandable. He warned him ....

V Oroshilov Kliment Efremovich - Soviet military leader, state and party leader, Chairman of the Presidium and member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union.

He was born on January 23 (February 4), 1881 in the village of Verkhnee, Bakhmut district, Yekaterinoslav province (now the Luhansk region of Ukraine) in the family of a railway worker. Russian. Member of the RSDLP (b) / CPSU since 1903.

From 1896 he worked at the Yuriev Metallurgical Plant, from 1903 in the city of Lugansk at the Hartmann steam locomotive plant. In 1904 he was a member of the Lugansk Bolshevik Committee. In 1905 - Chairman of the Lugansk Soviet, led the workers' strike, the creation of fighting squads. Delegate of the 4th (1906) and 5th (1907) congresses of the RSDLP. Conducted in 1908-17 underground party work in the cities: Baku, St. Petersburg, Tsaritsyn. Repeatedly arrested, served exile. After the February Revolution of 1917, he was a member of the Petrograd Soviet, a delegate to the 7th (April) All-Russian Conference and the 6th Congress of the RSDLP (b). Since March 1917, the chairman of the Lugansk Council and the City Duma.

During the days of the Great October Socialist Revolution, in November 1917, K.E. Voroshilov was the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (for city administration). Together with F.E. Dzerzhinsky led the work on the organization of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK). In early March 1918, he organized the 1st Lugansk Socialist Detachment, which defended the city of Kharkov from the German-Austrian troops.

During the Civil War - Commander of the Tsaritsyn Group of Forces, Deputy Commander and member of the Military Council of the Southern Front, Commander of the 10th Army, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Commander of the Kharkov Military District, Commander of the 14th Army and the Internal Ukrainian Front. One of the organizers and a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 1st Cavalry Army, commanded by S.M. Budyonny. For military merit in 1920 he was awarded an honorary revolutionary weapon. At the 8th Congress of the RCP (b), held in March 1919, he joined the "military opposition". In 1921, at the head of a group of delegates to the 10th Party Congress, he participated in the liquidation of the Kronstadt anti-Soviet rebellion.

In 1921-24, he was a member of the South-Eastern Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) and commander of the North Caucasian Military District. In 1924-1925 he was the commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District and a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. From November 6, 1925 to June 20, 1934, People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR; in 1934-1940 - People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR.

On September 22, 1935, the "Regulations on the service of the command and command staff of the Red Army" introduced personal military ranks. On November 20, 1935, the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR awarded the military rank of "Marshal of the Soviet Union" to the five largest Soviet generals. Among them was Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov.

Since 1940 - Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and Chairman of the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.

During the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union Voroshilov K.E. - member of the State Defense Committee, commander-in-chief of the troops of the North-Western direction (until September 5, 1941), commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front (from September 5 to 10, 1941), representative of the Headquarters for the formation of troops (September 1941 - February 1942), representative Headquarters of the Supreme High Command on the Volkhov Front (February - September 1942), Commander-in-Chief of the partisan movement (from September 1942 to May 1943), Chairman of the Trophy Committee under the GKO (May - September 1943), Chairman of the Armistice Commission (September 1943 - June 1944). In 1943 he participated in the work of the Tehran Conference.

In 1945-1947 - Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Hungary. In 1946-53 - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. From March 1953 to May 1960 - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

At Kazami of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR: on February 3, 1956 (in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth) and on February 22, 1968 (in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the USSR), the Marshal of the Soviet Union was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

At Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 7, 1960, noting outstanding services to the Communist Party and the Soviet state, Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Since May 1960 he has been a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. From 1921 to October 1961 and from 1966 - a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU, from 1926 to 1952 - a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, from 1952 to July 1960 - a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Delegate of the 10-23rd party congresses. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st-7th convocations.

He died at the age of 89 on December 2, 1969. He was buried in Moscow on Red Square near the Kremlin wall. There is a monument on the grave.

He is one of 11 people who were awarded both the highest degrees of distinction of the Soviet Union.

He was awarded nine Orders of Lenin (02/23/1935, 02/22/1938, 03/3/1940, 02/21/1945, 02/3/1951, 02/3/1956, 05/07/1960, 02/3/1961, 02/22/1968), six orders of the Red Banner (22/02/1902). , 1921, 12/2/1925, 02/22/1930, 11/22/1944, 06/24/1948), orders of Suvorov 1st degree (22/02/1944), Order of the Red Banner of the Uzbek SSR (17/2/1930), Order of the Red Banner Tajik SSR(14.1.1933), the Red Banner of the TSFSR (25.2.1933), medals, foreign awards - the Order of the Red Banner of the Mongolian People's Republic (Mongolia), two orders of Sukhe Bator (Mongolia), the Order of the Republic (Tuva, 28.10.1937), Grand Cross Order of the White Rose (Finland), Order of the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia, 1959). He was also awarded the Honorary Revolutionary Weapon (12/30/1920), the Honorary Weapon with the State Emblem of the USSR (02/22/1968). Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic (29.05.1957).

Name K.E. Voroshilov in 1941-1958 and in 1969-1991 was worn by the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR (in 1942-1958 it was called the Higher Military Academy). Previously, the name of Voroshilov was borne by many cities and towns, military units, schools. In Moscow, at house number 3 on Granovsky Street, where he lived, a memorial plaque was installed. At present, the name K.E. Voroshilov are worn by the streets in many cities former USSR. The monument was erected in the city of Sochi Krasnodar Territory, bust - in the city of Lisichansk.

VOROSHILOV, KLIMENT EFREMOVITCH(1881-1969), leader of the revolutionary movement, military and government leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1935), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1956, 1968), Hero of Socialist Labor (1960). Born on January 23 (February 4), 1881 in the village of Verkhneye, Yekaterinoslav Province, in the family of a railway watchman. WITH childhood worked, graduated from two classes of the Zemstvo school. From 1896 he worked at the Yuriev Metallurgical Plant, from 1902 - in Lugansk. In 1903 he joined the RSDLP, a Bolshevik. In 1905, chairman of the Lugansk Soviet of Workers' Deputies, delegate to the Stockholm and London Congresses of the RSDLP. Repeatedly arrested, was exiled to the Arkhangelsk province, fled from exile. In 1908-1917, he conducted party work in Baku, St. Petersburg, Tsaritsyn, was arrested again, served a link in the Arkhangelsk province and Cherdyn region. Since March 1917, the chairman of the Lugansk Council, the city duma, the city committee of the Bolsheviks. Since November 1917, the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee for City Administration, participated in the creation of the Cheka and led the first arrests in the city. Since January 1918, the chairman of the Cheka for the protection of Petrograd.

In March 1918, Voroshilov became commander of the 1st Lugansk Socialist Detachment. From April 1918 he was the organizer and commander of the 5th Ukrainian Army, which retreated under pressure from the White Guards to Tsaritsyn. In July - early August 1918 he commanded a group of troops in the defense of Tsaritsyn, where he met and became close friends with I.V. Stalin. In August-September 1918, a member of the Military Council of the North Caucasian Military District, in September-October 1918, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council and assistant commander of the Southern Front. In October - December 1918 commander of the 10th Army.

From January 1919 - People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He organized a punitive operation to eliminate the detachments of Ataman Grigoriev. In March 1919, at the VIII Congress of the RCP (b), Voroshilov became an active participant in the so-called "military opposition", which opposed the course of the then People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic L.D. Trotsky to create regular army and demanded that all military experts be expelled from the army, that the Red Army be built exclusively on a militia basis, subject to "revolutionary discipline." In June-July 1919 he commanded the 14th Army and the internal Ukrainian front, which acted against the Ukrainian nationalist detachments. Together with S.M. Budyonny, he was among the main organizers of the 1st Cavalry Army (November 1919) and became a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Army. The entire last period of the Civil War remained in this post - until May 1921. He was awarded three orders of the Red Banner and an honorary revolutionary weapon. During the hostilities, he did not show the talent of a commander, he was distinguished by distrust of military experts. During the war with the Poles, he supported the command of the Southwestern Front (A.I. Egorov, Stalin), who refused to promptly comply with Moscow's directive to transfer the 1st Cavalry Army to the operational subordination of the commander of the Western Front M.N. Tukhachevsky.

At the head of a group of delegates to the Tenth Congress of the RCP(b) in 1921, he participated in the suppression of the Kronstadt uprising. Since 1921, a member of the Central Committee of the RCP (b). In 1921-1924, he was a member of the South-Eastern Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (b), commander of the North Caucasian Military District. Supervised the destruction of the rebels in the Caucasus. From 1924 commander of the Moscow Military District and member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. In June 1924 - December 1925 he was a member of the Organizing Bureau of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. In the inner-party struggle, he always spoke from the positions of the party majority, supported Stalin.

After the death of M.V. Frunze, Stalin's choice was Voroshilov - on November 6, 1925, he was appointed People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. Since 1926, a member of the Politburo (since 1952 - the Presidium) of the Central Committee of the party. Voroshilov justified the hopes of his friend and patron. In the fight against the Trotskyist, Zinoviev-Kamenev, united Trotskyist-Zinoviev, and then the right opposition, he always supported the position of Stalin, advocated a policy of increased industrialization National economy and the complete collectivization of the village, other initiatives of the leader.

Voroshilov became the most celebrated commander of the Civil War (especially after 1937-1938, when most of heroes of the war was shot), songs were composed in his honor, collective farms, factories, ships, etc. were named. Soviet propaganda strongly inflated the merits of Voroshilov, calling him "the first marshal." In 1932, the Central Council of Osoaviakhim established the honorary title and badge "Voroshilovsky shooter" for those who fulfilled the standards for shooting from a rifle, the famous heavy tank "KV" was named after the initials of his name and surname.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, he was the head of the commission of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks for managing the activities of the Bolshoi Theater, he was known as a famous theatergoer and patron of ballet.

He made a significant contribution to the recognition of Stalin's military merits by releasing works Stalin and the Red Army (1929), Stalin and the construction of the Red Army (1939).

Voroshilov was a supporter of the campaign of repression in the country. He supported the accusations against the senior command staff of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), who participated in the "military fascist conspiracy" (the case of M.N. Tukhachevsky, I.E. Yakir, I.P. Uborevich and others). At an expanded meeting of the military council under the People's Commissariat of Defense, held from June 1 to 4, 1937, with the participation of members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, he made a report in which he argued that “the organs of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs uncovered in the army a long-existing and operating with impunity, strictly conspiratorial, counter-revolutionary fascist an organization headed by the people who were at the head of the army."

In August 1939, Voroshilov headed the Soviet delegation at the unsuccessful negotiations with France and Great Britain on joint actions against Germany. After the losses and unsuccessful actions of the Red Army during the Soviet-Finnish war of the winter of 1939–1940, it became clear that Voroshilov would not be able to competently lead the armed forces in the new war conditions. Therefore, on May 7, 1940, Stalin removed him from the post of People's Commissar of Defense and made him deputy chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and chairman of the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR (he remained in this post until May 1941). He was assigned to oversee the defense industries.

During the Great Patriotic War, he was a member of the State Defense Committee and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. On July 10, 1941, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the troops of the North-Western direction, but already on August 31, showing complete inability to lead troops in modern war, was removed from command. In September 1941 he was sent near Leningrad as a front commander, where he could not stop the German offensive. Being a brave man, he personally tried to lead the troops on the attack, but this, of course, was not enough for successful military operations. Stalin recalled Voroshilov and replaced him with G.K. Zhukov. In September - November 1942 he held the formal post of commander in chief of the partisan movement. In January 1943, he coordinated the actions of the troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts in breaking the blockade of Leningrad. In 1943 he accompanied Stalin to the Tehran Conference. In December 1943 he was sent to a separate Primorsky Army to participate in the development of a plan for the operation to liberate the Crimea and organize interaction ground forces with the fleet.

In 1945-1947 he was chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Hungary. Since 1946, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Due to unsuccessful actions during the war, he was actually removed from making important political decisions. At the 19th Party Congress, the leader criticized Voroshilov among other old members of the Politburo.

After Stalin's death in March 1953, he was appointed to the honorary position of chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, thus becoming the official head of state. In 1956–1957, on the basis of rejection political course N.S. Khrushchev became close to the “anti-party group” of G.M. Malenkov, L.M. Kaganovich and V.M. Molotov. He supported them at a meeting of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU, when most of its members demanded the removal of Khrushchev. However, when the defeat of the “group” became obvious at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU in June 1957, Voroshilov repented in his speech, admitted the mistake he had made and condemned the factionalists. Khrushchev and his entourage decided not to touch Voroshilov as a popular hero of the Civil War. This saved him for a while, and he kept his posts. In May 1960 "for health reasons" he was relieved of his post as chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, in July he was removed from the Presidium of the Central Committee, and in October 1961 he was no longer elected a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. However, he was left a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. In 1961, Voroshilov addressed the 22nd Congress of the CPSU with a letter in which he once again acknowledged his mistakes. After L.I. Brezhnev came to power, he again became a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

In the 1930s, many cities and towns were named after Voroshilov. settlements, including Ussuriysk (in 1935-1957 - Voroshilov), Lugansk (in 1935-1958 - Voroshilovgrad), Stavropol (in 1935-1943 - Voroshilovsk), Kommunarsk (in 1931-1961 - Voroshilovsk). After the death of Voroshilov, Lugansk was again given the name Voroshilovgrad in 1970 (since 1991 - again Lugansk).

(1881-1969) Soviet military and statesman

Voroshilov Kliment Efremovich belonged to that group of people who associated themselves with the Bolsheviks long before the revolution. He was born in the village of Verkhniy near Lugansk in the family of a railway worker. Mine labor path Kliment Voroshilov started at the Luhansk Metallurgical Plant and later moved to railway repair shops. Later, this circumstance was the reason that journalists called him "Lugansk locksmith".

In 1903 Voroshilov joined the Bolshevik Party. For participating in strikes during the events of 1905, he was arrested by the police, and then exiled to Siberia, from where he fled a few years later and until the 1917 revolution was in illegal party work. It was in exile that he met Stalin, and friendly relations between them remained for the rest of his life.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, Kliment Voroshilov headed the Lugansk Soviet of Workers' Deputies, but soon moved to Petrograd, where he became a city commissar. Already at this time, he showed himself to be an excellent organizer, but a completely lack of initiative person. He turned out to be the perfect executor of other people's decisions.

As a representative of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, Kliment Voroshilov participated in the creation of the Cheka and was one of the initiators of the "Red Terror" - the first mass executions of members of the intelligentsia and the military elite.

In January 1918, when there was an immediate threat of the capture of Petrograd by the troops of General Nikolai Yudenich, Voroshilov was appointed chairman of the emergency commission for the protection of the city. He was not afraid to exceed his powers and advocated the most severe repressive measures.

In March 1918, Voroshilov again went to Lugansk, where he formed a military detachment from the workers of local factories. As the commander of this detachment, he participated in the battles with the German occupation forces near Kharkov, at the same time he fell under the command of the famous commander A. Yegorov. Approximately in the same places, the detachment of Semyon Budyonny also operated, the two commanders met and more than once supported each other.

It was Kliment Voroshilov who persuaded Budyonny to join the Bolsheviks. Gradually, under the command of Voroshilov, the Fifth Army was formed, which a little later played a major role in the defense of Tsaritsyn. Here the paths of Stalin and Voroshilov crossed for the second time, and since then they have not diverged again.

After the liberation of Ukraine from the interventionists, Voroshilov becomes the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of this republic. Together with Budyonny in 1919, he organized the First Cavalry Army, in which he remained a member of the military council.

In any post that Voroshilov occupied, he was distinguished by extreme rigidity and acted in the most decisive way. That is why he was often sent to liquidate various counter-revolutionary actions. So, in 1919, Kliment Voroshilov was sent to fight against the supporters of Ataman Grigoriev, who opposed the Bolsheviks.

Such extremist convictions led Voroshilov to join the so-called military opposition at the Eighth Congress of the RCP(b). She called for the transfer of all power to the military command. However, seeing that this line was left without party leadership, Voroshilov moved away from it and made no more critical statements.

During the tenth congress of the RCP(b) he was elected a member of the Central Committee and among the military delegates of the congress was sent to Kronstadt to suppress the uprising of the sailors. Thanks to the decisive actions of Tukhachevsky, who led the assault on the fortress, Kronstadt was captured and the uprising was brutally suppressed.

In this difficult time, Kliment Voroshilov again proposed the total execution of all arrested participants in the uprising. However, the leadership did not agree with the excessive cruelty that the military offered, and the bulk of the rebels were sent to camps.

Voroshilov returned to Moscow and became a member of the Southeast Bureau of the Central Committee. After the death of Frunze, he was appointed People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. Moreover, he becomes Stalin's main assistant in the fight against Leon Trotsky.

It was at this time that the legend appeared that Voroshilov, along with Stalin, were the main organizers of the victories of the Red Army in the civil war.

As People's Commissar of Defense, Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov advocated the absolutization of the experience of the Civil War and became one of the most determined opponents of the motorization of the army, which was proposed by Marshal Tukhachevsky. True, Voroshilov always sought to please, as they say, everyone. Therefore, he authorized the development of new tank designs, one of which was even named after him.

Consistent support of Stalin led to the fact that after continuous purges in the armed forces, Voroshilov and Budyonny remained the only active marshals.

Before the outbreak of World War II, Kliment Voroshilov came up with a new military doctrine, according to which the Red Army was declared the most offensive army in the world. From this followed, in particular, the conclusion that retreat as a type of military-strategic operation was unacceptable for the Red Army.

According to Voroshilov's theory, rifle units were declared the main active force. From here, in particular, the general training in shooting originates. Those who received the corresponding badge were called "Voroshilov arrows".

In 1940, Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov was appointed deputy chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. It was more of an honorary position than one that gave real power. The beginning of the Great Patriotic War showed Voroshilov's military incompetence. Occupying the post of commander of the Southwestern Army Group, he was unable to hold back the advancing German troops and became one of the culprits of major failures that led to the occupation of Ukraine. Nevertheless, at the direction of Stalin, Kliment Voroshilov was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front. However, even there, almost immediately, his inability to establish defense became obvious. By the way, Voroshilov was the most zealous supporter of the mining of Leningrad and the ships of the Baltic Fleet, which, as it were, suggested the possibility of their capture by the enemy.

In October 1941, Voroshilov was removed from this position. He was replaced by General of the Army Georgy Zhukov, who managed to organize the defense and defend Leningrad. Since that time, Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov is a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command and acts as a representative of the Headquarters on some fronts. In the summer of 1942, he turns out to be a direct participant in the unsuccessful organization of the defense of the Caucasus.

After the victory, Voroshilov is sent to Hungary, where he heads the Allied Control Commission. The harsh measures taken against the representatives of the opposition led to the fact that the communist regime came to power in this country.

After Stalin's death, Kliment Voroshilov becomes chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. During the 20th Party Congress, he spoke out against the famous report of Nikita Khrushchev, which for the first time openly exposed the crimes of Stalinism. From that time on, Kliment Voroshilov, together with Vyacheslav Molotov and Lazar Kaganovich, became an active opponent of the Khrushchev line. However, an attempt to remove him, undertaken at the Plenum of the Central Committee in June 1957, ended in failure. After the resignation of Molotov and Kaganovich, Voroshilov managed to convince Khrushchev of his loyalty. True, he never began to enjoy the confidence of the first secretary. Remaining in his former position, Voroshilov continued the struggle for power in the party.

In 1960, by decision of Khrushchev, he was dismissed. The external pretext was concern for the state of his health. Since that time, Kliment Voroshilov has lost all real power and has remained a living relic of the past. Like other old Bolsheviks, after his death, Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov was buried near the Kremlin wall.