Who were the Ministers of Defense of the USSR. Ministers of Defense of the USSR and the Russian Federation

Ministers of Defense (Ministers of War, Ministers of the Armed Forces) of Russia, the USSR, the Russian Federation in the 20th century

KUROPATKIN Andrey Nikolaevich (1848–1925). Minister of War of Russia from January 1898 to February 1904

General of Infantry (1901). In military service since 1864. He graduated from the Academy of the General Staff (1874). In 1866-1871, 1875-1877, 1879-1893 served in Turkestan, participated in the accession of Central Asia to Russia. In the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. chief of staff of the infantry division. In 1878–1879 and 1883–1990 at the main headquarters. In 1890–1897 head of the Transcaspian region. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. commander-in-chief of the armed forces in the Far East. After the defeat in the battle of Mukden in 1905, he was removed from the post of commander in chief and appointed commander of the 1st Army. Since 1906, a member of the State Council. During the First World War he commanded a corps (1915), then the 5th Army, from February to July 1916, the Northern Front. From July 1916 to February 1917 he was the governor of Turkestan. After the October Revolution, he lived on his estate and taught at a secondary school. Killed by unknown bandits.

SAKHAROV Viktor Viktorovich(1848 - 22.11.1905). Minister of War of Russia in 1904–1905

Adjutant General. He graduated from a military school and the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. Member of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 Then Assistant Chief of Staff of the Warsaw Military District, Chief of Staff of the Odessa Military District. In 1898–1904 Chief of the General Staff. Since 1904, the Minister of War of Russia. On June 21, 1905, he was relieved of this post. Killed in Saratov, where he was sent to put an end to peasant unrest.

REDIGER Alexander Fedorovich (1854–1920). Minister of War of Russia in 1905–1909

General of Infantry (1907). In military service since 1870. Graduated from the Academy of the General Staff (1878). Member of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 From 1880 he taught at the Academy of the General Staff. In 1882-1883 he served in the Bulgarian army: Deputy Minister of War, then Minister of War of Bulgaria. Since 1884, assistant chief, then head of the office of the Military Ministry of Russia. Developer of the military reform program 1905–1912

SUKHOMLINOV Vladimir Alexandrovich (1848–1926). Minister of War of Russia in 1909–1915

General of the cavalry (1906). Graduated from the Academy of the General Staff. Member of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 From 1884 commander of a cavalry regiment, head of a cavalry school, commander of a cavalry division. In 1899–1908 Chief of Staff, Commander of the Kiev Military District. In 1905–1908 at the same time Kyiv, Volyn and Podolsk Governor-General. Since 1908, Chief of the General Staff. As Minister of War, he was accused of abuse and treason. However, the court did not confirm the allegations. From 1918 he lived in exile.

POLIVANOV Alexey Andreevich(1855–1920). Minister of War of Russia, Chairman of the Special Conference on the Defense of the State in 1915–1916 .

General of Infantry (1915). In military service in the Russian army since 1872. Member of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878. Graduated from the Academy of the General Staff (1888). In 1905–1906 Quartermaster General of the General Staff. In 1906–1912 assistant minister of war. He was a special representative of the Provisional Government for military reform. In 1918 he joined the Red Army. Since 1920, a member of the Military Legislative Council, a member of the Special Meeting under the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic, a military expert under the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR.

SHUVAEV Dmitry Savelievich (1854–1937). Minister of War of Russia from March 1916 to January 1917

General of Infantry (1912). He graduated from the Alexander Military School (1872), the Academy of the General Staff (1878). He served in staff positions, taught in military schools. From 1905 he commanded a division, in 1907–1908. body. Since 1909 he was the head of the Main Quartermaster Department, then the Chief Quartermaster. From January 1917 he was a member of the State Council. After the October Revolution, he taught at military educational institutions of the Red Army, including at the Shot command staff courses. Since the end of the 20s. retired, personal pensioner.

BELYAEV Mikhail Alekseevich (1863–1918). Minister of War of Russia in January - March 1917

General of Infantry (1914). In 1893 he graduated from the Academy of the General Staff. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. chief of the office of the headquarters of the 1st Manchurian army and the headquarters of the commander in chief. During the First World War, Chief of the General Staff (1914–1916), simultaneously from 1915 Assistant Minister of War. Since 1916, member of the Military Council, representative in the Romanian headquarters. In March 1917 he was arrested by the Provisional Government and dismissed. In 1918 he was arrested by the Soviet authorities. Shot.

Guchkov Alexander Ivanovich (1862–1936). Military and Naval Minister of the Provisional Government of Russia from 03/02/1917 to 04/30/1917 .

Graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of Moscow University. Since 1893 he has been a member of the Moscow City Council. In 1899–1902 participated in the Anglo-Boer War. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Commissioner of the Red Cross. Since 1905, the founder and leader of the Octobrist party "Union of October 17". Since 1907, a deputy of the State Duma, in 1907–1911. its chairman. In 1915–1917 Chairman of the Central Military Industrial Committee. In the days of the February Revolution of 1917, together with V. V. Shulgin, he traveled to Pskov, where he took part in the act of abdication of the throne of Nicholas II. One of the organizers of the military speech of General L. G. Kornilov against the Bolsheviks in August 1917. After the October Revolution of 1917, he emigrated to Berlin.

Kerensky Alexander Fyodorovich (1881–1970). Military and Naval Minister of the Provisional Government of Russia in May - September 1917

In August - October 1917 Supreme Commander of the Russian Army. In 1904 he graduated from St. Petersburg University. Advocate. In 1912–1917 Deputy of the 4th State Duma. In March - May 1917 Minister of Justice of the Provisional Government, from July 1917 simultaneously Minister - Chairman (Prime Minister). After the October Revolution of 1917, he fled from Petrograd to the location of the command of the Northern Front. Together with P. N. Krasnov led an uprising against the Bolsheviks. After its suppression, he joined the struggle against Soviet power on the Don. In 1918 he emigrated to France. Since 1940 he lived in the USA. Conducted active anti-Soviet activities. He headed the League of Struggle for People's Freedom. Committed suicide.

VERKHOVSKY Alexander Ivanovich (1886–1938). Minister of War of the Provisional Government of Russia from 08/30/1917 to 10/20/1917

Major General. In military service since 1903. In 1911 he graduated from the Academy of the General Staff. Member of the Russo-Japanese and World War I. In July - August 1917, commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District. In 1919 he moved to the Red Army. In 1920, he was a member of the Special Meeting under the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic. In 1921–1930 in teaching at the Military Academy of the Red Army, professor. In 1930–1932 Chief of Staff of the North Caucasian Military District. Then he served in the "Shot" courses, in the General Staff, the Military Academy of the General Staff. Kombrig (1936). Author of a number of works on military art. In 1938 he was shot. In 1956 he was rehabilitated.

PODVOISKY Nikolai Ilyich (1880–1948). People's Commissar for Military Affairs of the RSFSR from November 1917 to March 1918

In 1894–1901 studied at the theological seminary, in 1904-1905. Demidov juridical lyceum. Member of the RSDLP since 1901. Conducted active organizational and military-combat work. In 1917, a member of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, its Bureau and the operational troika to lead the October armed uprising. He commanded the troops of the Petrograd Military District. Simultaneously with the post of People's Commissar for Military Affairs of the RSFSR, he was the chairman of the All-Russian Collegium for the organization of the Red Army. Then a member of the Supreme Military Council, chairman of the Supreme Military Inspectorate, member of the Revolutionary Military Council (September 1918 - July 1919). In 1919–1921 People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of Ukraine, member of the RVS of the 7th and 10th armies. In 1921–1923 head of Vsevobuch and special forces.

TROTSKY (BRONSTEIN) Lev (Leiba) Davidovich(07.11.1879 - 21.08.1940). People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the RSFSR from 03/13/1918 to 07/06/1923, People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR from 07/06/1923 to 01/26/1925

Born into the family of a large landowner-colonist. Secondary education. In the social democratic movement since 1896. In January 1898 he was arrested, imprisoned, first in Nikolaev, from there he was transferred to Kherson, then to Odessa and Moscow transit. Sentenced to four years of exile in Eastern Siberia, where he was taken with his wife in the fall of 1900. He joined the Mensheviks. In August 1902, leaving his wife and two daughters, the youngest of whom was three months old, he fled from Siberian exile with a passport in the name of Trotsky, which he himself entered, not foreseeing that it would become his name for life. In October 1905 he returned to Russia. Participated in the revolution of 1905–1907, was elected deputy chairman and chairman of the St. Petersburg Soviet of Workers' Deputies. The author of the concept of "permanent revolution". In December 1905 he was arrested, spent 15 months in the "Crosses", in the Peter and Paul Fortress and in the house of preliminary detention. In 1907, he was deprived of all civil rights and sentenced to an indefinite exile in a settlement in Siberia. He fled from the village of Berezov, where an associate of Peter I, Prince AD ​​Menshikov, was once exiled. In 1907–1917 in exile. On March 27, 1917, on a Norwegian steamer, he left New York for Russia with his family and eight like-minded people. At the beginning of May 1917 he arrived in Petrograd. In July 1917, he was arrested by order of the Provisional Government as a German agent and placed in the Kresty prison. In August, during the Kornilov rebellion, he was released and immediately went to the newly created committee for the defense of the revolution. From September 25 (October 08), 1917, Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. He proposed the name of the first Soviet government approved by V. I. Lenin - the Council of People's Commissars. At the suggestion of Ya. M. Sverdlov, he entered the government as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR. In December 1917 - early 1918, the head of the Soviet delegation at the negotiations in Brest-Litovsk, put forward the thesis there: "Neither peace, nor war." Broke the first stage of negotiations. The Treaty of Brest signed instead G. Ya. Sokolnikov. On February 22, 1918, he resigned as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs ... From March 13, 1918, the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the RSFSR, from September 2, 1918, Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. On 08/05/1919 he sent a "Note to the Central Committee of the RCP", where he proposed to create "a cavalry corps (30,000 - 40,000 horsemen) with the expectation of throwing it to India." According to his plan, "the path to Paris and London lies through the cities of Afghanistan, Punjab and Bengal," therefore, the revolutionary academy, the political and military headquarters of the Asian revolution, should have been concentrated in Turkestan. After the formation of the USSR, from 07/06/1923 he headed the Allied People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs and at the same time the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. The actual creator of the Red Army. Directed by V. I. Lenin to the threatening areas of the Civil War. Worn along the fronts in a special armored train, the prototype of a modern mobile command post. He introduced the institution of hostages, according to which the wives and children of officers who did not want to serve the new regime were arrested. The initiator of the creation of concentration camps and the use of forced labor of prisoners. One of the most cruel Bolshevik figures, he used mass executions, executions of hostages and other punitive measures. After the death of V. I. Lenin, he claimed the role of the first person in the party and the state. lost I. V. Stalin. In January 1928 he was exiled to Alma-Ata. On February 20, 1932, he was deprived of Soviet citizenship. Until 07/17/1933 he lived in Turkey, then in France and Norway, from 01/09/1937 in Mexico. In 1938 he founded the IV International. He sought to create an "internationalist left opposition. On May 23, 1940, at his villa in Mexico, he was subjected to an armed attack, organized by the NKVD foreign residency on instructions from Moscow, but miraculously survived. On August 20, 1940, he was mortally wounded by an ice pick in the head by NKVD agent R. Mercader, who in 1961 was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for this act after a 20-year prison sentence by the Mexican judicial authorities. Buried in Mexico.

FRUNZE Mikhail Vasilievich(04.02.1885 - 31.10.1925). People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR from 01/26/1925 to 10/31/1925

Born in the family of a military paramedic. Unfinished higher education, studied at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute. I chose the path of a professional revolutionary. Under the nickname "Arseny" he conducted underground work in St. Petersburg, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Shuya and other cities. He was repeatedly arrested. Twice sentenced to death by hanging for participation in a "criminal community" and an attempt on the life of a police officer. He spent long weeks on death row, but both times the death penalty was replaced by hard labor and life exile, from where he arranged escapes. After the February Revolution of 1917, he was a member of the Minsk Soviet, head of the Minsk police, chairman of the Council of Peasant Deputies of the Minsk and Vilna provinces, member of the Western Front Committee. Since September 1917, he was the chairman of the executive committee of the Shuisky Soviet and the county committee of the RSDLP (b). On October 31, 1917, he brought two thousand well-armed and trained soldiers and workers from Shuya, Kovrov and Vladimir to Moscow to take part in street battles against government troops. Since the beginning of 1918, the chairman of the Ivanovo-Voznesensky provincial committee of the party and the provincial executive committee, the provincial economic council, the military commissar. Since August 1918, the military commissar of the Yaroslavl military district. Since February 1919, the commander of the 4th, in May - June 1919, the Turkestan army. Simultaneously, since March 1919, the commander of the Southern Army Group of the Eastern Front. From July 1919 commander of the Eastern Front, from August 1919 to September 1920 the Turkestan Front, from September 1920 the Southern Front. He achieved major victories in battles with the armies of prominent military leaders of the White Guard A. V. Kolchak, P. N. Wrangel and others. He showed undoubted abilities as a commander. Commanding the Turkestan Front, he established Bolshevik power in Khiva and Bukhara by force of arms. In 1920–1924 commander of the troops of Ukraine and Crimea, Ukrainian military district. He defeated the main forces of the Ukrainian atamans-rebels. Since 1922, Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR. Since March 1924, Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and Deputy People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR, simultaneously since April, Chief of Staff of the Red Army and Head of the Military Academy of the Red Army. In 1924, he headed the commission of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, which developed the principles of military reform: the elimination of the remnants of "war communism" in the army, the concentration of combat, administrative and economic functions in the hands of the commander, even if he was not a party commander. From 01/26/1925 Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR. Replaced L. D. Trotsky. On 10/08/1925, a council chaired by the People's Commissar of Health of the RSFSR N. A. Semashko recommended surgical intervention in connection with the detected signs of a stomach ulcer. From the Kremlin hospital he was transferred to the Botkin hospital, where on October 29, 1925, Dr. V. N. Rozanov began the operation. The operation lasted 35 minutes, anesthesia was given for 65 minutes. In connection with the drop in the pulse, they resorted to injections that stimulate cardiac activity; after the operation, they struggled with heart failure. Therapeutic interventions were unsuccessful. After 39 hours, M. V. Frunze died "with symptoms of heart paralysis." He was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner and Honorary Revolutionary Weapons. Author of major works on military topics: “Reorganization of the Red Army” (M., 1921), “Unified Military Doctrine and the Red Army” (M., 1921), “Front and Rear in the War of the Future” (M., 1924), “Lenin and the Red Army ”(M., 1925) and others. He was buried near the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow. In 1926, his name was given to the capital of the Kirghiz SSR, the city of Pishpek. After the collapse of the USSR, the former name was returned to the city.

VOROSHILOV Kliment Efremovich (04.02.1881 - 02.12.1969). People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR from 11/06/1925 to June 1934, People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR from June 1934 to 05/07/1940

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1935). Born in the family of a railway worker. Primary education, in 1895 he graduated from the rural zemstvo school. From the age of ten he worked as a shepherd, from the age of eleven he worked as an auxiliary worker at a mine near Lugansk. He was repeatedly arrested, imprisoned, served exile in the Arkhangelsk and Perm provinces. During World War I, he avoided being drafted into the army. In November 1917, the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (for city government), together with F. E. Dzerzhinsky, participated in the creation of the Cheka. In January 1918, Chairman of the Extraordinary Commission for the Protection of Petrograd. In March 1918, he created and led the 1st Lugansk Socialist Partisan Detachment, which defended the then capital of Ukraine, Kharkov, from the German-Austrian troops. In April 1918 he organized and led the 5th Ukrainian Army. In July - early August 1918 he commanded the 10th Army. Participated in the defense of Tsaritsyn, the general leadership of which was carried out by I. V. Stalin. In August - September 1918, he was a member of the Military Council of the North Caucasian Military District, in September - October, assistant commander and member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front, in October - December, commander of the 10th Army. Since January 1919, the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR. In May - June 1919, he led the defeat of the rebellion of N. A. Grigoriev in the south of Ukraine. In June - July 1919, commander of the 14th Army and commander of the internal Ukrainian front. For the surrender of Kharkov, he was removed by a revolutionary tribunal, which stated the complete military incompetence of the commander (“his military knowledge does not allow even a battalion to be entrusted to him”), which became an extenuating circumstance. One of the organizers and in November 1919 - May 1921 a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the First Cavalry Army. In March 1921, he participated in the suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion. In 1921–1924 member of the South-Eastern Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (b), commander of the North Caucasian Military District. Since 1924, commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. From January 1925, Deputy People's Commissar, from November 1925 to June 1934, People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR, Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. He replaced M. V. Frunze, who died during a surgical operation. In June 1934 - May 1940 - People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. In his honor, the city of Lugansk was renamed Voroshilovgrad, the city of Stavropol was renamed Voroshilovsk. The best shooters received the honorary title "Voroshilovsky shooter", the heavy tank "KV" was named after him. After unsuccessful battles with Finland (1939–1940) he was replaced by the commander of the Kiev military district S. K. Timoshenko. From May 1940, Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, in charge of cultural issues, and until May 1941, Chairman of the Defense Committee under the Council of People's Commissars. In February 1941, the Academy of the General Staff was named after him. During the Great Patriotic War, a member of the State Defense Committee and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command (1941-1944). From 07/10/1941 to 08/31/1941 commander-in-chief of the troops of the North-Western direction. In September 1941, commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front. 09/10/1941, after the loss of Shlisselburg and the final encirclement of Leningrad, in desperation, he personally led the attack of the marines. Removed and replaced G. K. Zhukov, who did not listen to his advice and did not even want to say goodbye before flying to Moscow. For some time he supervised, through the GKO, the training of the Red Army reserves in the Moscow, Volga, Central Asian and Ural military districts. From September 1942 Commander-in-Chief of the partisan movement. He was subordinate to the Central Headquarters of the partisan movement, headed by P.K. Ponomarenko. In January 1943, as a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, he coordinated the actions of the troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts in breaking the blockade of Leningrad. In December 1943, in the Separate Primorskaya Army, he developed a plan for an operation to liberate the Crimea, which ended in failure. Headed the Trophy Committee. He negotiated with the British military mission, participated in the Tehran Conference (1943), was the chairman of the commissions for a truce with Finland, Hungary and Romania. In 1945–1947 Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Hungary. From March 1946 to March 1953, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chairman of the Bureau for Culture under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. On behalf of I. V. Stalin, he chaired the last meeting of the last during the lifetime of the leader of the 19th Congress of the CPSU, closed it. After the death of I. V. Stalin from 03/05/1953 to May 1960, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. During the reign of M. S. Gorbachev, his life and work underwent a critical rethinking, the city of Voroshilovgrad in Ukraine was renamed Lugansk, the Voroshilovsky district of Moscow into Khoroshevsky, his name was removed from the official name of the Academy of the General Staff. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1956, 1968), Hero of Socialist Labor (1960). He was awarded eight Orders of Lenin, six Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 1st degree, the Red Banner of the Uzbek SSR, the Red Banner of the Tajik SSR, the Red Banner of the ZSFSR, the Honorary Weapon with the golden image of the State Emblem of the USSR. Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic, was awarded orders from many countries. He published memoirs about the Lugansk period of his activity (“Stories about Life”. M., 1968. Book 1.) He was buried near the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow.

TIMOSHENKO Semyon Konstantinovich (1895–1970). People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR from 05/07/1940 to 07/19/1941

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1940). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1940, 1965). In the Red Army from 1918. Until July 1941, he was a representative of the Headquarters of the High Command, then he was part of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. In July - September 1941 - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. From July 1941 commander-in-chief of the Western troops, from September 1941 to June 1942 commander-in-chief of the troops of the South-Western direction, simultaneously in July - September 1941 commander of the Western direction, in September - December 1941 and in April - July 1942 city ​​of the Southwestern Fronts. Under his leadership, the Rostov offensive operation was planned and carried out in November - December 1941 in the South-Western direction. In July 1942, the commander of the Stalingrad, in October 1942 - March 1943, the North-Western Fronts. The troops of the North-Western Front under his command liquidated the enemy's Demyansky bridgehead. In March - June 1943, as a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, he coordinated the actions of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts, in June - November 1943 of the North Caucasian Front and the Black Sea Fleet, in February - June 1944 of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic fronts, in August 1944 - May 1945 of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian fronts. Participated in the development and conduct of some strategic operations, including the Iasi-Chisinau.

Stalin I.V. from 07/19/1941 to 03/03/1947 (s. People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces, from 03/15/1946 the Ministry of the Armed Forces).

STALIN (Dzhugashvili) Joseph Vissarionovich. People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR from 07/19/1941 to 02/25/1946, People's Commissar of the Armed Forces of the USSR from 02/25/1946 to 03/15/1946, Minister of the USSR Armed Forces from 03/15/1946 to 03/03/1947 ., Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the USSR from 08/08/1941 to September 1945

Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (1945). Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943). Born in the family of a handicraft shoemaker. Since 1901, a professional revolutionary. On July 22, 1913, he was exiled in stages to the Turukhansk region for four years. On December 27, 1917, he was sent in stages to Krasnoyarsk in connection with conscription for military service. On February 22, 1917, he was transferred by the Krasnoyarsk district military chief to the jurisdiction of the police department, as released from military service. He played an important role in the preparation and victory of the October Revolution of 1917. He was a member of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee, which led the uprising. People's Commissar for Nationalities in the first government of the RSFSR (until 1923). Since 1919, the People's Commissar of the State Control, in 1920-1922. People's Commissar of the RKI RSFSR. At the same time, since 1918, he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic and a number of fronts, a member of the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense. He was sent by V. I. Lenin with emergency powers to the fronts, where a particularly threatening situation developed. 07/06/1918 arrived in Tsaritsyn, organized its defense, which made it possible to solve the grain problem. In the spring of 1919, he was sent by V.I. Lenin to the Eastern Front to eliminate the Perm catastrophe, in the second half of 1919 to the Southern Front to defeat Denikin's troops. On October 20, 1919, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In January - August 1920 he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the South-Western Front, at the same time in February - March 1920 he was the chairman of the military council of the Ukrainian Labor Army. In September - November 1920, he was authorized by the Central Committee of the RCP (b) in the Caucasus. At the same time, from May 1921 to August 1923, he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, a representative of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee in the STO of the RSFSR. From 04/03/1922 General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party. Since 05/06/1941 Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (Council of Ministers) of the USSR. 06/23/1941 became part of the Headquarters of the High Command, the highest body of strategic leadership of the country's armed forces during the Great Patriotic War, 07/10/1941 headed it. From 06/30/1941 to 09/04/1945 Chairman of the State Defense Committee (GKO), from 07/19/1941 to March 1947 People's Commissar of Defense, Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR, from 08/08/1941 to September 1945 Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the USSR. He headed the Soviet delegations at the Tehran (1943), Crimean and Berlin (1945) international conferences. Hero of the Soviet Union (1945), Hero of Socialist Labor (1939). He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, two Orders of Victory, three Orders of the Red Banner, and the Order of Suvorov, 1st class. First he was buried in the Lenin-Stalin Mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow. On October 30, 1961, the XXII Congress of the CPSU adopted a decision initiated by N. S. Khrushchev: “To recognize as inappropriate the further preservation of the sarcophagus with the coffin of I. V. Stalin in the Mausoleum, since Stalin’s serious violations of Lenin’s precepts, abuse of power, mass repressions against honest Soviet people and other actions during the period of the cult of personality make it impossible to leave the coffin with his body in the Lenin Mausoleum "( XXIII Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Verbatim report. T. 3. M., 1961. S. 362). On October 31, 1961, the body was taken out of the Mausoleum and buried in the ground near the Kremlin wall on Red Square.

Bulganin Nikolai Alexandrovich (30.05.1895 - 24.02.1975). Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR from 03/03/1947 to 03/24/1949, USSR Minister of Defense from 03/05/1953 to 03/15/1955

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1947–1958), colonel general (since 1944 and since 1958). Born in Nizhny Novgorod. Education unfinished secondary. Since 1918 in the organs of the Cheka. In 1918–1919 Deputy Chairman of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod Railway Cheka. In 1922–1927 Assistant to the Chairman of the Electrotechnical Trust of the Central District, Chairman of the State Electrotechnical Trust of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh) of the USSR. From 1927 to 1930 he was director of the Moscow Electric Plant. In 1931–1937 Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council. From June 1937 Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR. In September 1938 - May 1944 - Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. At the same time, from September 1938 to April 1940 and from October 1940 to May 1945, he was Chairman of the Board of the State Bank of the USSR. At the same time during the Great Patriotic War from 07/19/1941 to 09/10/1941 and from 02/01/1942 to 05/05/1942 he was a member of the Military Council of the Western Direction. He was a member of the Military Council of the Western Front from 07/12/1941 to 12/15/1943; 2nd Baltic Front from 02/16/1943 to 04/21/1944; 1st Belorussian Front from 05/12/1944 to 11/21/1944 Participated in the development and implementation of strategic and front-line operations during the Battle of Moscow, during the offensive in the Baltic states and the liberation of Poland. Since November 1944, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, member of the State Defense Committee (GKO) of the USSR. In February 1945, he was introduced to the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. From March 1946 he was First Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Since March 1947, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and at the same time in March 1947 - March 1949, Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR, from May 1947 to August 1949, Chairman of Committee No. 2 (jet technology) under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. In March 1953 - February 1955 - First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and Minister of Defense of the USSR. From February 1960 he was a personal pensioner of allied significance. He lived out his last years alone in a small two-room apartment in Moscow. Hero of Socialist Labor (1955). He was awarded two Orders of Lenin (the first of them is number 10), the Order of the Red Banner, two Orders of Kutuzov 1st degree, Orders of Suvorov 1st and 2nd degrees, two Orders of the Red Star, and medals. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow modestly, without military honors. The cemetery was closed for a sanitary day, and no one was allowed in except for relatives and close acquaintances. There was no orchestra and no farewell salute.

VASILEVSKY Alexander Mikhailovich (1895–1977). Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR from 03/24/1949 to 02/25/1950, Minister of War of the USSR from 02/25/1950 to 03/05/1953

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945). In the Red Army since 1919. In June 1941, major general. Since August 1941, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Chief of the Operational Directorate. From May 1942 he was chief of the General Staff, at the same time from October 1942 he was deputy people's commissar of defense of the USSR. Participated in the planning and development of major operations. During the Battle of Stalingrad, he played a big role in the development and implementation of the counteroffensive plan. As a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, he interacted between the Voronezh and Steppe fronts in the Battle of Kursk. He led the planning and conduct of operations to liberate the Donbass, Northern Tavria, Crimea, in the Belarusian and East Prussian operations. From February 1945 he was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front. Led the assault on Koenigsberg. Participated in the development of a campaign plan in the Far East. From June 1945 he was commander-in-chief of the troops in the Far East. Under his leadership, the Manchurian strategic offensive operation was carried out to defeat the Kwantung Army (09.08–02.09.1945).

ZHUKOV Georgy Konstantinovich (01.12.1896 - 18.06.1974). Minister of Defense of the USSR from 03/15/1955 to October 1957

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943). Born into a peasant family. During the First World War he was drafted into the army, rose to the rank of vice non-commissioned officer of the cavalry. He was awarded two St. George's crosses ... In September 1918, he was mobilized into the Red Army. During the Civil War, he commanded a platoon, a squadron. Participated in a punitive operation to suppress the anti-Bolshevik peasant uprising of A. S. Antonov in the Tambov province. After the end of the Civil War, squadron commander, assistant commander of a cavalry regiment, commander of a cavalry regiment. He was educated at cavalry courses in 1920, advanced training courses for cavalry commanders in 1925, and courses for the highest commanding staff of the Red Army in 1930. From May 1930, he was commander of the 2nd brigade of the 7th Samara cavalry division. Since February 1933, the assistant to the inspector of the cavalry of the Red Army S. M. Budyonny; from March 1933 commander of the 4th cavalry (from April 1936 Don Cossack) division; from July 1937 commander of the 3rd cavalry, from February 1938 of the 6th Cossack corps; since July 1938, deputy commander of the Belarusian military district for cavalry. In June 1939 he was appointed commander of the 1st Army Group of Forces in Mongolia. According to modern historians, he achieved victory in the battles at Khalkhin Gol at the cost of huge casualties. Having an advantage in manpower, tanks and aviation, he defeated the Japanese, losing 25,000 Soviet soldiers killed (the enemy lost 20,000 people). Distinguished by cruelty in the leadership of the troops. Since June 1940, commander of the troops of the Kiev Special Military District. He led the operation to annex Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the USSR. In January - July 1941, Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. Since June 1941 General of the Army. Since 06/23/1941, a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. From August 1942 he was First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR and Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Directly participated in the development and implementation of the strategic plans of the Supreme Command, in the preparation and conduct of many major operations. In August - September 1941, the commander of the Reserve Front, successfully carried out the first offensive operation during the war to defeat the shock group of Nazi troops in the Yelnya region. From 09/04/1941, the commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front, replaced in this post K. E. Voroshilova. Forced the enemy to go on the defensive, did not let him capture Leningrad. 10/07/1941 was called I. V. Stalin to Moscow and on 10/10/1941 took command of the Western Front during the Battle of Moscow. In 1942–1943 coordinated the actions of the fronts near Stalingrad, then to break the blockade of Leningrad, in the battles near Kursk and for the Dnieper. In March - May 1944, commander of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. In the summer of 1944, he coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 1st Belorussian fronts in the Belorussian offensive operation. At the final stage of the war (November 1944 - June 1945), the commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, whose troops at the beginning of 1945, together with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, carried out the Vistula-Oder operation, liberated most of Poland and entered territory of Germany. In April - May 1945, the troops of the front under his command, in cooperation with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 2nd Ukrainian fronts, carried out the Berlin operation and captured Berlin. On behalf of and on behalf of the Soviet Supreme High Command, on May 8, 1945, in Karlshorst (Berlin), he accepted the surrender of Germany. 06/24/1945 hosted the Victory Parade in Moscow. In 1945–1946 Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Deputy Minister of the USSR Armed Forces. Released from these positions on 06/03/1946. Until 1948, the commander of the troops of the Odessa military district. In an order dated 06/09/1946, signed by I.V. Stalin, he was accused of “lack of modesty”, “excessive personal ambitions” and “attributing to himself a decisive role in all major combat operations during the war, including those in which he played no role at all. The order also stated that "Marshal Zhukov, feeling embittered, decided to gather around him the losers, the commanders who were relieved of their posts, thus becoming in opposition to the government and the High Command." In 1946, a “trophy case” was launched against him on charges of exporting from Germany a huge amount of furniture, works of art, and jewelry for his personal use. On February 21, 1947, by a survey of members of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, drawn up as a decision of the Plenum of the Central Committee, he was withdrawn from the list of candidates for membership in the Central Committee "as having failed to fulfill the duties of a candidate member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks." On January 20, 1948, following the results of the inspection of the district, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks issued "the last warning, giving him the last opportunity to correct himself and become an honest member of the party, worthy of the commanding rank." By the same decree, he was relieved from the post of commander of the troops of the Odessa military district "for appointment to command one of the smaller military districts." Had a heart attack. Secret searches were carried out in the apartment and at the dacha. From 02/04/1948 to 03/05/1953 commander of the troops of the Ural Military District. After the death of I. V. Stalin, he was returned to Moscow, from March 1953 he was the first deputy minister of defense of the USSR. 06/26/1953 participated in the operation to arrest L.P. Beria in the Kremlin. 09/09/1954 led secret exercises with a real explosion of an atomic bomb in the Totsk training center near Orenburg. In 1955–1957 Minister of Defense of the USSR. On 10/19/1957, at a meeting of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU, he was accused of trying to belittle the role of political agencies in the army, Bonapartism, self-praise, removed from the post of Minister of Defense of the USSR. Since February 27, 1958, retired. Four times Hero of the Soviet Union (1939, 1944, 1945, 1956). He was awarded six Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two Orders of Victory (including Order No. 1), three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov, 1st class, and Honorary Arms. Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic. The ashes were buried in the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow. In May 1995, monuments were solemnly opened to him in Moscow on Manezhnaya Square and Marshal Zhukov Avenue, as well as in Tver, St. Petersburg, Omsk and Yekaterinburg.

MALINOVSKY Rodion Yakovlevich (1898–1967). Minister of Defense of the USSR in 1957–1967

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1944). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1945, 1958). In military service since 1914. Member of the First World War and the Civil War. In the Red Army since 1919. In 1930 he graduated from the Military Academy. M. V. Frunze. From the same year, the chief of staff of the cavalry regiment, then at the headquarters of the North Caucasian and Belarusian military districts. Since 1935, the chief of staff of the cavalry corps. In June 1941 Major General. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the commander of the 48th Rifle Corps. From August 1941 commander of the 6th Army, from December 1941 of the Southern Front, from August 1942 the 66th Army. In October - November 1942, the deputy commander of the troops of the Voronezh Front, from November 1942 the commander of the 2nd Guards Army, from February 1943 the South, from March 1943 the South-Western, from May 1944 the 2nd Ukrainian fronts. The troops under his command successfully operated in the Barvenkovo-Lozovskaya operation, the Kharkov battle (1942), the Donbass operation (1942), the Battle of Stalingrad, the Zaporozhye, Nikopol-Krivoy Rog, Odessa, Iasi-Kishinev, Budapest, Vienna operations. From July 1945 he was commander of the Trans-Baikal Front, whose troops delivered the main blow in the Manchurian strategic operation to defeat the Japanese Kwantung Army. In 1945–1947 commander of the troops of the Trans-Baikal-Amur Military District, in 1947-1953. commander-in-chief of the troops of the Far East, in 1953–1956 commander of the troops of the Far Eastern Military District. Since 1956 - First Deputy Minister of Defense, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces.

GRECHKO Andrey Antonovich (10/17/1903 - 04/26/1976). Minister of Defense of the USSR in 1967–1976

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1955). Born into a peasant family. In 1919 he voluntarily joined the Red Army. During the Civil War he fought in the 11th Cavalry Division of the 1st Cavalry Army. After graduating in 1926 from the North Caucasian mountain nationalities of the cavalry school, the commander of a platoon, squadron. Nominee K. E. Voroshilova and S. M. Budyonny, who placed their cavalrymen in prominent command posts. Graduated in 1936 from the Military Academy named after M. V. Frunze, in 1941 the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1938, the chief of staff of the special cavalry division of the Belarusian military district. In September 1939 he participated in the liberation of Western Belarus. From July 1941 he commanded the 34th Separate Cavalry Division on the Southwestern Front; from January 1942 the 5th Cavalry Corps on the Southern Front, from April 1942 the commander of the 12th Army, from September 1942 the 47th Army, from October 1942 the 18th Army. In January - October 1943, commander of the 56th Army on the 1st Ukrainian Front. Then he was deputy commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front. In December 1943 - May 1946, the commander of the 1st Guards Army, with which he reached Prague. In 1945–1953 commander of the troops of the Kiev military district. In 1953–1957 commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. 06/17/1953, when strikes and mass demonstrations of workers broke out in the GDR, he received an order from L.P. Beria to restore order with the help of military force. As a result, hundreds of people died. In 1957–1967 First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, at the same time (in 1957-1960) Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces of the Soviet Union, in 1960-1967. Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the States Parties to the Warsaw Pact. Under his leadership, the largest maneuvers and military exercises "Dnepr", "Dvina", "South", "Ocean" and others were carried out. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1958, 1973). He was awarded six Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov 1st Class, Order of Suvorov 2nd Class, two Orders of Kutuzov 1st Class, two Orders of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class. He died suddenly at his dacha. Author of the memoirs “The Battle for the Caucasus” (M., 1976), “Through the Carpathians” (M., 1972), “The Liberation of Kyiv” (M., 1973), “The Years of War. 1941-1943" (M., 1976). The ashes were buried in the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow.

USTINOV Dmitry Fyodorovich(30.10.1908 - 20.12.1984). Minister of Defense of the USSR from April 1976 to 12/20/1984

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1976). Born into a working class family. Russian. In 1922–1923 in the Red Army. He served in special forces, then in the 12th Turkestan Rifle Regiment. After demobilization in 1923 he graduated from a vocational school in the town of Makaryev, Kostroma province. In 1927–1929 worked as a mechanic at the Balakhna paper mill in the Nizhny Novgorod province, as a diesel engine driver at the Zaryadye factory in Ivanovo-Voznesensk. In 1929 he entered the Ivanovo Polytechnic Institute, from where he transferred to the Moscow Higher Technical School named after N. E. Bauman, and then to the Leningrad Military Mechanical Institute, after which in 1934 he was appointed engineer at the Artillery Research Naval Institute . Since 1937, at the Bolshevik plant in Leningrad (former Obukhovsky): design engineer, head of the operation and experimental works bureau, deputy chief designer, since 1938 director of the plant. In June 1941 - March 1953, People's Commissar, Minister of Armaments of the USSR. During the Great Patriotic War, he achieved a sharp increase in weapons for the needs of the front. Colonel General of the Engineering and Artillery Service (1944). After the death of I. V. Stalin, in March 1953 - December 1957, the Minister of Defense Industry of the USSR (the ministry was created on the basis of the merger of the Ministry of Arms and the Ministry of Aviation Industry). Participated in the organization of rocket science, the development of the latest weapons for the army and navy. Since December 1957, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chairman of the Commission of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on military-industrial issues. Since March 1963, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR. In March 1965 - October 1976 Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. In April 1976 - December 1984 Minister of Defense of the USSR. Replaced the suddenly deceased A. A. Grechko. As Minister of Defense, he simultaneously supervised all defense industries for four years. Hero of the Soviet Union (1978), twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1942, 1961). He was awarded eleven Orders of Lenin, the Order of Suvorov 1st class, the Order of Kutuzov 1st class. Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1982), Stalin Prize (1953), State Prize of the USSR (1983). Hero of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic. He did a lot for the development of the military-industrial complex of the USSR in the postwar years, participated in the creation of defense equipment, nuclear missile weapons and space exploration. He died after returning from joint exercises of the Armed Forces of the countries participating in the Warsaw Pact. He felt a general malaise, there was a slight fever and changes in the lungs. Around the same time and with the same clinical picture, the Ministers of Defense of the GDR, Hungary and Czechoslovakia G. Hoffman (02.12.1984), Olah (15.12.1984) and M. Dzur (16.12.1984) who participated in the maneuvers fell ill and died suddenly. The ashes were buried in the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow. Author of the memoirs "Serving the Motherland, the cause of communism" (M., 1982).

SOKOLOV Sergey Leonidovich(18.06.1911). Minister of Defense of the USSR from December 1984 to 05/30/1987

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1978). Born in the family of an employee. In 1932, on a Komsomol ticket, he entered the Gorky armored school. After graduation, he served in the Far East as the commander of a tank platoon, a tank company, and a separate tank battalion. Member of the battles near Lake Khasan in 1938. During the Great Patriotic War, the chief of staff of a tank regiment, head of the armored control department, head of the control headquarters of the commander of the Western Front. Since 1944 he was the commander of the armored and mechanized troops of the army on the Karelian front. In 1947 he graduated from the Military Academy of Armored and Mechanized Troops and in 1951 from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In the post-war period, he held command and staff positions: from 1947 he was commander of a tank regiment, from 1951 he was head of a mechanized division, commander of a mechanized division. Since 1954, Chief of Staff of the Army, Commander of the Army. In 1960–1964 Chief of Staff - First Deputy Commander of the Moscow Military District, in 1964-1967. First Deputy Commander, Commander of the Leningrad Military District. From April 1967 he was First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Participated in the organization of the operation to liberate Damansky Island from the Chinese. On 12/14/1979, he arrived in the Uzbek city of Termez, from where he led the entry of a limited contingent of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. In December 1984 - May 1987 Minister of Defense of the USSR. Replaced the deceased in this post D. F. Ustinova. Under him, Soviet troops in Afghanistan achieved the greatest military successes in the fight against the Mujahideen. He was known as a capable military leader, an honest, self-critical person. He was distinguished by directness in his judgments, did not hide his likes and dislikes. On May 30, 1987, he was removed from the post of Minister of Defense after the landing of a 19-year-old aviation amateur from Germany, M. Rust, on a Cessna-172 light-engine sports aircraft near St. Basil's Cathedral. The sensational news of the flight caught M. S. Gorbachev at a meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty Organization in Berlin, where S. L. Sokolov was also part of the Soviet delegation. Upon arrival in Moscow, a meeting of the Politburo was held in the government hall of the Vnukovo-2 airport. MS Gorbachev demanded immediate explanations from the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. S. L. Sokolov said that this case is being transferred to the military prosecutor's office, which will consider the responsibility of specific senior military officials, starting with the country's air defense commander A. I. Koldunov. The Minister of Defense acknowledged that the military department had not worked out the tactics of combating low-flying single targets, there was no clear interaction in all parts of the air defense. M. S. Gorbachev said to S. L. Sokolov: “Sergei Leonidovich, I have no doubts about your personal honesty. However, in the current situation, if I were you, I would resign.” The shocked Minister of Defense immediately announced that he asked to accept his resignation. The General Secretary, on behalf of the Politburo, without delay, accepted her, adding that she would be formalized as a retirement. Then, after a 15-minute break, M. S. Gorbachev proposed to appoint S. L. Sokolov to this post D. T. Yazova, which was prudently summoned in advance by MS Gorbachev and then presented to the Politburo. Hero of the Soviet Union (1980). He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 1st Class, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, two Orders of the Red Star, and the Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR. In 1987–1991 General Inspector of the Group of General Inspectors of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Since 1992, advisor to the Russian Ministry of Defense. In 1994, he headed the Fund for the 50th Anniversary of the Victory. 07/01/2001, on the day of his 90th birthday, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, second degree, by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin, and from the hands of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation S.B. Ivanov received a marshal's sword.

YAZOV Dmitry Timofeevich(08.11.1923). Minister of Defense of the USSR from 05/30/1987 to 08/23/1991

Marshal of the Soviet Union (1990). Born into a peasant family. In November 1941, he attributed a year to himself and turned to the military registration and enlistment office with a request to be sent to the front. He received a referral to the Moscow Military Infantry School named after the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, evacuated from Moscow to Novosibirsk. In February 1942 the school returned to Moscow. In July 1942 he received the rank of lieutenant and left for the front. He commanded a platoon on the Volkhov front. On August 28, 1942, he was wounded and shell-shocked, treated in the hospital, then returned to the regiment. Commanded a company. On January 15, 1943, he was again wounded in the head by grenade fragments, but did not leave the battlefield. He finished the war in the region of Riga as the commander of an infantry company. In the post-war period, he was a company commander, deputy battalion commander. In the spring of 1953, with the rank of major, he received a high school diploma and in the same year entered the Frunze Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1956 with a gold medal. He commanded a battalion in the 63rd Guards twice Red Banner Krasnoselskaya Division, was the head of the regimental school for the training of sergeants - commanders of departments in the 64th Guards, also Krasnoselskaya Division. From the end of 1958 he was a senior officer of the combat training department of the headquarters of the Leningrad Military District (LVO), from 1960 he was commander of a motorized rifle regiment, colonel. On September 10, 1962, together with the personnel of the 400th separate regiment and military equipment, he arrived in Cuba by sea. Participated in the Caribbean Crisis. He led the training center through which hundreds of defenders of the Cuban revolution passed. 10/24/1963 he returned to his homeland, was appointed deputy head of the planning and combined arms training department of the combat training department of the LVO headquarters. Since the summer of 1964, he was the head of the first department of the combat training department of the LVO headquarters. In 1965–1967 studied at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. From September 1967 he was a division commander in Dauria, in the Trans-Baikal Military District. Since March 1971, the commander of the 32nd Army Corps in the Crimea. In December 1972, he was awarded the military rank of lieutenant general, and a new appointment immediately followed - the commander of the 4th army in Baku. From the beginning of 1975, he was the head of the 1st Directorate of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense. From November 1976 he was First Deputy Commander of the Far Eastern Military District. In February - April 1977 he studied at the Higher Academic Courses at the Academy of the General Staff. Upon his return, he formed a machine gun and artillery division to be deployed on the South Kuril islands of Iturup and Kunashir. From November 1977 Commander of the Central Group of Forces, Colonel General. In 1980–1984 Commander of the Central Asian Military District. In January 1981, with a group of generals and officers, he flew to Afghanistan, following the results of the trip he raised the question of the need for preliminary training of officers and soldiers in mountain training centers. Then trips to Afghanistan became regular. Since 1984, commander of the troops of the Far Eastern Military District. In the summer of 1986, MS Gorbachev visited the Far East, where they met. In January 1987, he was approved as Deputy Minister and Head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Since 05/30/1987 Minister of Defense of the USSR. Appointed right in the hall of the government airport "Vnukovo-2", where Mikhail Gorbachev, who returned from Berlin from a meeting of the Political Consultative Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw Pact, and members of the Politburo who arrived to meet him, gathered. Enraged by the landing on May 29, 1987, on Vasilyevsky Spusk near the Kremlin, of a twin-engine aircraft flown by a West German citizen Matthias Rust, M. S. Gorbachev removed the Marshal of the Soviet Union from the post of Minister of Defense S. L. Sokolova and a number of other high-ranking military leaders. He was a member of the State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR (GKChP). On August 18, 1991, he sent his representatives to a number of military districts to ensure the upcoming state of emergency. At five o'clock in the morning on August 19, 1991, he ordered the introduction of military units of the Taman motorized rifle division into Moscow, consisting of a reconnaissance battalion, three motorized rifle regiments and a tank regiment (127 tanks, 15 infantry fighting vehicles, 144 armored personnel carriers, 216 vehicles, 2107 personnel) and the Kantemirovskaya tank division consisting of a reconnaissance battalion, a motorized rifle regiment and three tank regiments (235 tanks, 125 infantry fighting vehicles, 4 armored personnel carriers, 214 vehicles, 1702 personnel). At 09:28, he signed a cipher message about bringing all troops to a state of high combat readiness. On August 20, 1991, he assigned the commander of the Moscow Military District, General Kalinin, the task of ensuring a curfew in Moscow. On August 21, 1991, he did not appear at the morning meeting of the State Emergency Committee. To a telephone call from the chairman of the KGB of the USSR, V. A. Kryuchkov, he replied that he was leaving the game: “Now a collegium is gathering, which will decide on the withdrawal of troops from Moscow. I will not go to any meetings with you!” Alarmed by his position, members of the State Emergency Committee came to the Ministry of Defense. D.T. Yazov said that the collegium was in favor of the withdrawal of troops. Together with members of the State Emergency Committee, he flew to Foros to see M. S. Gorbachev. On the same night, after returning from Foros, he was arrested at the airport. During the investigation, he was kept in the Matrosskaya Tishina detention center. On August 23, 1991, by the decision of the Bureau of the Presidium of the Central Control Commission of the CPSU "On the party responsibility of members of the CPSU who were part of the anti-constitutional GKChP", he was expelled from the CPSU "for organizing a coup d'état." On December 2, 1991, he was charged with conspiracy to seize power. The family was evicted from the apartment, the dacha where the paralyzed wife lived was taken away. The son was expelled from the Academy of the General Staff and died suddenly in 1994, the son-in-law, a military diplomat, was banned from traveling abroad. On 05/06/1994, on the basis of the resolution of the State Duma of the Russian Federation "On the announcement of a political and economic amnesty", the criminal case was dismissed. Retired since May 1994. Since 1998 he has been a consultant of the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 3rd degree. Author of memoirs "Blows of Fate" (M., 1999).

SHAPOSHNIKOV Evgeny Ivanovich (03.02.1942). Minister of Defense of the USSR from 23.08.1991 to 08.12.1991, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from February 1992 to August 1993

Air Marshal (1991). My father was a simple worker, he died during the Great Patriotic War in East Prussia. Educated at the Kharkov Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (1963), at the Air Force Academy. Yu. A. Gagarin (1969), at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. K. E. Voroshilova (1984). Air Marshal (1991). He began his military service as a pilot, a flight commander in the fighter aviation of the Carpathian Military District. In 1969–1975 in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany: deputy squadron commander, deputy air regiment commander for political affairs, air regiment commander. In 1975–1984 deputy commander, commander of a fighter air division, deputy commander of the Air Force of the Carpathian Military District. Since 1985, the commander of the Air Force - Deputy Commander of the Odessa Military District. In 1987–1988 Air Force Commander - Deputy Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1988–1990 First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the USSR Armed Forces. In 1990–1991 Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. During the August crisis of 1991, he did not support the State Emergency Committee. He spoke on the side of the President of the RSFSR B. N. Yeltsin. He declared that he was ready to send a squadron of bombers to the Kremlin in order to destroy the gekachepists who had settled there. On August 23, 1991, he left the CPSU. His act was motivated by the fact that the army should be outside of political parties. On the same day, by decree of the President of the USSR M. S. Gorbachev, he was appointed Minister of Defense of the USSR. At the same time he received the rank of air marshal. While in this post, he pursued a policy of departization of the army. On December 8, 1991, in the presence of the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, L. M. Kravchuk and S. S. Shushkevich, B. N. Yeltsin, having signed the Belovezhskaya Agreement, called E. I. Shaposhnikov, said about the decision and said that the presidents had agreed on his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. E. I. Shaposhnikov accepted the appointment. From February 1992 to August 1993 Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Commander-in-Chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the Commonwealth. From June to September 1993, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Since 1994, the representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the state company for the export and import of arms and military equipment "Rosvooruzhenie". From October 1995 to 01.03.1997 General Director of Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines. Since 03/10/1997, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin on the development of aviation and cosmonautics. He retained his post under President V.V. Putin.

YELTSIN Boris Nikolaevich (02/01/1931). Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation in March - May 1992, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from May 1992 to 12/31/1999

Born into a peasant family. He graduated from the construction department of the Ural Polytechnic Institute named after S. M. Kirov in 1955. He worked at construction sites as a foreman, foreman, senior foreman, chief engineer, head of the construction department. Since 1968 he has been the head of the construction department, since 1975 he has been the secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU for capital construction. Since 11/02/1976, the first secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU. From 04/12/1985 head of the Construction Department of the Central Committee of the CPSU. From June 1985 to February 1986 Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Since December 22, 1985, the first secretary of the Moscow city committee of the CPSU. In November 1987, at the plenum of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU, he was relieved of the post of First Secretary. Tried to commit suicide in an office at the Moscow City Conservatory by stabbing himself several times in the stomach with scissors to open service packages, after which he was hospitalized. From 01/14/1988 to June 1989, First Deputy Chairman of the Gosstroy of the USSR - Minister of the USSR. People's Deputy of the USSR from 1989 to 1991. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, in 1989–1990. Chairman of the USSR Supreme Soviet Committee for Construction and Architecture. From May 29, 1990 to July 1991, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. 06/12/1991 was elected President of the Russian Federation, simultaneously from November 1991 to June 1992 the head of the Government of the Russian Federation, since May 1992 the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Russia. In December 1991, he became one of the initiators of the liquidation of the USSR and the proclamation of the Union of Independent States (CIS). On December 31, 1999, he retired ahead of schedule. Awarded with the Order of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of the Badge of Honor, the Order of the Knight of the Grand Cross (Italy); Knight of the Order of Malta. In December 2001, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR and the creation of the CIS, President of Russia V.V. Putin was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, first degree. He called this act of VV Putin courageous. Published memoirs "Confession on a given topic" (Sverdlovsk, 1990), "Notes of the President" (M., 1994), "Presidential Marathon" (M., 2000).

GRACHEV Pavel Sergeevich(01.01.1948). Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation from May 18, 1992 to June 1996

General of the Army (1994). Born into a working family. Educated at the Ryazan Higher Airborne School (1969), at the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze (1981), at the Academy of the General Staff (1991). In 1982 he was appointed commander of a separate airborne regiment as part of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. In total, he spent five years in Afghanistan, took an active part in the hostilities of the Soviet troops. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union "for the performance of combat missions with minimal human losses." He served in the airborne troops in various command positions. Since 1990 - Deputy Commander, since 12/30/1990 - Commander of the Airborne Troops. During the January events of 1991 in Vilnius, he introduced by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR D. T. Yazova two regiments of the Pskov airborne division under the pretext of assisting the military registration and enlistment offices of the republic in conscripting persons who evaded military service into the army. On August 19, 1991, he fulfilled the order of the State Emergency Committee on the introduction of troops into Moscow, ensured the arrival of the 106th Tula Airborne Division in the capital and its taking under the protection of strategically important objects. At first, he acted in accordance with the instructions of D.T. Yazov, trained paratroopers, together with the KGB special forces and the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to storm the building of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. However, then he made contacts with the Russian leadership. On August 20, 1991, in the afternoon, he expressed a negative opinion to the leadership of the State Emergency Committee about the plan to capture the White House. At the same time, he assured the Russian leadership that the landing units would not storm, and then told them that there would be no assault at all. In gratitude, B. N. Yeltsin offered him the post of Minister of Defense of the RSFSR, which was not provided for by law, which was occupied by General of the Army K. I. Kobets from August 19, 1991. He refused this proposal and convinced B. N. Yeltsin not to create a republican ministry of defense in order to avoid a split in the Armed Forces of the USSR. On August 23, 1991, he headed the Russian State Committee for Defense Affairs, which represented the coordinating body between the USSR Ministry of Defense and the Russian government structures with a staff of 300 people. At the same time, he was promoted in the military rank from Major General to Colonel General and was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Since January 1992 - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the CIS Joint Armed Forces (CIS Joint Armed Forces). Since 04/03/1992, the first deputy minister of defense of Russia, whose duties were temporarily performed by B. N. Yeltsin. From May 18, 1992 to June 1996, Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. According to his opponents, he was involved in the case of corruption in the Group of Russian Forces in Germany, the investigation of which was launched in April 1993. He and other top military leaders were also repeatedly accused of privatizing in 1992 at underpriced state dachas of the former Ministry of Defense On September 12, 1993, at a closed meeting with B. N. Yeltsin, the USSR in the village of Arkhangelskoye near Moscow supported his proposal to dissolve the parliament. After Presidential Decree No. 1400 on the dissolution of parliament, he stated that the army would be subordinate only to President B. N. Yeltsin and “would not interfere in political battles until the moment when political passions turn into a nationwide confrontation. On 10/03/1993, he brought troops into Moscow, who the next day, after tank shelling, stormed the parliament building. During his tenure as Minister of Defense, the financing of the Armed Forces was reduced by 50 percent, the ship structure of the Navy was reduced by half, naval aviation was reduced by 60 percent, the level of manning the army fell to 55-60 percent. The Navy has moved from second place in the world to eighth in terms of combat potential. One new type of submarine was under construction. The level of receipt of new types of weapons has decreased to 15-20 percent. Funding for research and development and design work has been reduced to 8 - 10 percent. The number of homeless servicemen reached 125,000. In the near Moscow region, 250 new dachas of the generals were built. In 1995, the Air Force received 2 helicopters and 6 fighters. Three-quarters of the tank fleet needed to be replaced. The untouchable stock of strategic food has been used up by more than 50 percent. Since 1997, the chief military adviser to the Rosvooruzhenie company is Rosoboronexport. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR", the Afghan Order of the Red Banner.

RODIONOV Igor Nikolaevich(01.12.1936). Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation from July 1996 to May 1997

General of the Army (1996). Born into a peasant family. Educated at the Oryol Tank School. M. V. Frunze (1957), the Military Academy of Armored Forces (with a gold medal, 1970), the Military Academy of the General Staff (1980). In the Armed Forces since 1954. He commanded a regiment, division, army corps, combined arms army. In 1985–1986 commander of the 40th Army in Afghanistan. In 1986–1988 First Deputy Commander of the Moscow Military District. In 1988–1989 commander of the troops of the Transcaucasian military district, military commandant of the city of Tbilisi. In 1989–1996 Head of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR (RF). In 1989–1991 People's Deputy of the USSR. The only general deputy who voted for the abolition of the 6th article of the USSR Constitution, which proclaimed the leading role of the CPSU. In July 1996 he was appointed Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Replaced in this position P. S. Gracheva. Nominated on the recommendation of the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation A. I. Lebed, to who later characterized him as "an elite general who sat out at the Academy of the General Staff" and due to this, on the one hand, "remained unsullied", on the other, "greatly lagged behind", and in the end, "when he again got into the thick of the fight , then, unfortunately, I could not bear the stress. He did not accept the concept of military development developed by A. A. Kokoshin. I did not find a common language with the Secretary of the Defense Council YU. M. Baturin on the issue of military reform. In December 1996, he was dismissed from military service due to age, while remaining Minister of Defense. He was the first civilian Minister of Defense of Russia. He was dismissed from this position in May 1997. In early 1997, he said: "As Minister of Defense, I am becoming an outside observer of the destructive processes in the army and there is nothing I can do about it." Since December 1998 he has been the chairman of the trade union of servicemen of the Russian Federation. Since 1999, deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the third convocation. He was a member of the State Duma Committee on Veterans Affairs, a member of the Communist Party faction. In January 2003, he did not participate in the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Russian military department, and was also absent from the meeting of the former defense ministers of the USSR and Russia with Russian President V.V. Putin: “If I take part in such events and be among these people, willingly or unwillingly, I will feel like an accomplice in the processes in the RF Armed Forces, with which I do not agree. Therefore, I do not take part in these meetings and events. Independent military review. No. 1, 2003). According to him, he does not maintain contacts with the marshals S. L. Sokolov, D. T. Yazov, I. D. Sergeev and army general P. S. Grachev: “I have a little more respect for Yazov only because he attributed a year to himself in order to go to the front as early as possible during the Great Patriotic War” ( there.) He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" II and III degrees, eight medals.

SERGEEV Igor Dmitrievich(20.04.1938). Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation from May 1997 to May 2001

Marshal of the Russian Federation (1997). Born in the family of a Donbass miner. Educated at the Black Sea Higher Naval School. P. S. Nakhimov (graduated with honors), at the command faculty of the Military Engineering Academy. F. E. Dzerzhinsky. Marshal of the Russian Federation (November 1997). For more than 30 years he served in the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) in command, staff and engineering positions. In 1961–1971 was at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces. In 1971–1973 chief of staff of the regiment, in 1973-1975. missile regiment commander, in 1975-1980. chief of staff, then division commander. In 1980–1983 Chief of Staff - First Deputy Commander of the Missile Army. In 1983–1985 Chief of Operations - Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces. In 1985–1989 First Deputy Chief of the Main Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces. In 1989–1992 Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces for Combat Training. From September 1992 to May 1997 Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation. Under him, a new generation of RS-12M ("Topol") missiles was created, tested and put on combat duty. Since May 1997 Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Changed I. N. Rodionova. He began to implement the concept of military construction developed by A. A. Kokoshin, which was rejected by his predecessor I. N. Rodionov. He integrated strategic missile forces, military space forces and anti-missile defense into a single branch of the Armed Forces - the Strategic Missile Forces (under the new Minister of Defense S. B. Ivanov, the military space forces were withdrawn from the Strategic Missile Forces). In his opinion, this should give a 20 percent increase in the effectiveness of their possible use. Combined the Air Force and Air Defense. In the Ground Forces, he reduced the number of divisions. Emphasis should be placed on promising divisions of high combat readiness, which in the first place will be equipped with new control systems and new weapons. In November 2002, referring to an armed attempt by the Wahhabis to take over Dagestan, President V. V. Putin said that at that time, out of 50,000 ground forces, it was difficult to scrape together the necessary number of units to repulse the militants. Collected crumbs from different parts. While on a visit to Paris, he was the first of the Russian military leaders to bow to the ashes of white officers in the cemetery of Saint-Genevieve-des-Bois. Since March 2001, he has been Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin for Strategic Stability. Recipient of many state awards. In 1999 he was awarded the Order of the Yugoslav Star, 1st class.

The figure is significant: he became the first Minister of Defense after Zhukov, introduced into the Politburo, his name is associated with the military operation in Czechoslovakia, and the events on Damansky Island, and the Vietnam War, and two Arab-Israeli conflicts ... The marshal's military merit and his political movements have been described in some detail. But not much is known about the marshal's private life, his behavior in stressful situations, and the mystery of his death. Today we introduce the readers of Komsomolskaya Pravda to some little-known pages of the biography of Andrei Antonovich Grechko.

GRECHO AND YELTSIN HAD ONE SPARRING PARTNER

Marshal Grechko was a passionate sports lover. Together with Brezhnev, he regularly attended hockey and football matches involving CSKA Moscow. Moreover, if Brezhnev was carried away by the contemplation of sports competitions in the sixties, then Grechko was an experienced fan, communicated with army football players and hockey players from the end of the forties ...

Long before the popularization of lawn tennis by President Yeltsin, Soviet Defense Minister Andrei Grechko became fascinated with the game. And got carried away seriously. Twice a week he went to the CSKA stadium, where he spent an hour and a half on the tennis court, quite decent for his age (he also played when he was over 70). It is curious that both Grechko and Yeltsin had the same sparring partner! In 1967-1968, Shamil Tarpishchev, the current captain of the Russian tennis team, served in the CSKA sports company. And several times he played against the minister. And a quarter of a century later, he also got Boris Yeltsin to tennis ...

Grechko's security chief Yevgeny Rodionov recalled several years ago that he was coached even by the first Soviet Wimbledon finalist Olga Morozova, who moved to CSKA in 1969: “We still had tennis, it was not quoted, but we went to CSKA and the Minister of Defense played on court. Olga Morozova was with him all the time, playing as a guard, giving him the opportunity to physically support himself.

The marshal himself played volleyball well, walked a lot and generally kept himself in shape. And he even forced the members of the Military Council of the Ministry of Defense to engage in physical training. And marshals Kulikov, Yakubovsky, Sokolov. Batitsky, Tolubko, Gelovani, Alekseev and Ogarkov came to the CSKA Weightlifting Palace twice a week by seven in the morning and, under the guidance of Honored Master of Sports, Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Desyatchikov, trained for an hour and a half, warmed up, played volleyball. The last training session took place four days before Grechko's death. The new minister Dmitry Ustinov preferred to watch sporting events from the side ...

TO DRAIN OR NOT TO DRAIN, THAT IS THE QUESTION

The early morning of November 9, 1975 turned out to be extremely restless for the Minister of Defense. After the celebration of the next (as it turned out, the last for him) anniversary of the October Revolution. He decided to relax a bit and go hunting. Grechko was a great lover of this business. And he had an arsenal of weapons corresponding to the level - 128 barrels of guns, rifles and pistols. A small hunting farm of the Ministry of Defense near Volokolamsk was a place where the marshal could rest in peace. He stayed in a small house, and only employees of the 9th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR accompanied him.

Marshal Grechko was not allowed to sleep normally that night. At the beginning of five in the morning, the head of security heard a call on a closed telephone. The Chief of the General Staff, Marshal Kulikov, called: “Evgeny, I urgently need a minister!” “I tell him,” Evgeny Rodionov recalled, “Viktor Georgievich, the Minister of Defense is resting, how can I go to his apartment?” But Kulikov insisted, ordered to immediately wake up Grechko and took full responsibility for this. And for good reason, it was a very serious matter ...

The evening before, the political officer of the large anti-submarine ship "Storozhevoy" of the 128th brigade of missile ships of the Baltic Fleet, Captain 3rd Rank Sablin, isolated the commander and part of the officers and midshipmen, and then, in the presence of the rest, outlined his vision of the situation in the country and his intention to move to Kronstadt in order to demand the opportunity to speak on the TV.

One way or another, the newest Soviet warship weighed anchor, went to sea from the Riga roadstead and moved towards Sweden. Quite a lot has been written about these events, but today we leave the readers of Komsomolskaya Pravda to get acquainted with how decisions were made that morning at the highest level. Major of the 9th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR Yevgeny Rodionov spent all this time next to the minister. He carried out the order of the Chief of the General Staff. Grechko picked up the phone in the bedroom, where the call was transferred to him, after some half a minute he left and ordered to be ready to leave in five minutes. A heavy government ZIL flew along the Volokolamsk highway at a speed of 160-180 kilometers per hour. “We almost crashed in Krasnogorsk,” the minister’s security chief recalled, “there was ice and the car drove great. And in Moscow, we also drove at great speed. It was about half past six in the morning, I only had time to direct the police on the phone so that they blocked the traffic. All commanders, all deputies gathered in the Ministry of Defense. The Minister was resolute and expressed the opinion that the ship should be destroyed by a missile strike. Marshal Kulikov proposed to wait with missiles and with the connection of aviation. The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Pavel Kutakhov was ready to raise the missile-carrying aircraft, but it was difficult for them to turn around near the ship.

According to Rodionov, for about twenty minutes they could not decide what to do with the ship. But it was already necessary to report to Brezhnev and Andropov ... In general, Marshal Grechko was sitting in his office, Marshal Kulikov in his, and Marshal Kutakhov in the left reception room near the minister's office. And everyone decided for a long time: to sink the ship, or not to sink ... Moreover, the pilots reported that there were a lot of ships in the water area and they did not see the tail number (it is known that bombs were dropped at the rate of our border boat and near our own cargo ship).

When the rudders of the Sentry were still damaged by the bomb and it stalled, Marshal Grechko was informed about this. He thought for a moment. And then he gave the order: the submarine "Komsomolets" to keep the rebellious ship at gunpoint and escort to the port. And prepare documents on the disbandment of the crew and its distribution among different fleets. Despite the fact that everything ended relatively well, Rodionov spoke skeptically about the effectiveness of the management of senior military officials: “Summarizing all this, I will say that about 38-40 minutes have passed. And already I had some kind of feeling, some kind of demoralization in the Ministry of Defense. Somewhere in the headquarters, the threads of control were torn. Forty minutes could not stop one ship!”

MARSHAL BREZHNEV? THROUGH MY CORSE!

The Minister of Defense, an athletic and fit man, who was in good physical shape, died unexpectedly for many. And although 72 years old is not a young age, his death looked strange and unexpected. Colonel-General Varennikov, the former commander of the USSR Ground Forces, wrote: “I did not believe in the natural death of A.A. Grechko and that’s all! And that disbelief remains to this day. Not only that, it has intensified.” General Varennikov considered the secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Dmitry Ustinov, who was eager for the post of Minister of Defense, to be responsible for the death of Grechko. And, by the way, he hinted at the possibility of Grechko's suicide.

Two years before his death, the marshal could have died during a visit to Iraq. The head of his security, Yevgeny Rodionov, recalled: “When the delegation was supposed to go to a meeting in the hall, the minister got dressed, put himself in order, and went to the toilet. And we hear a crash in the toilet. I quickly open the door, and I can hardly see him. It's covered in plaster dust. The ceiling collapsed. Apparently, the Iraqi employees heard the roar and began to rush to our apartments, but we did not let them in. Andrei Antonovich came out, we quickly washed him. He had a small abrasion on his forehead. With us was Lev Mikhailovich Maltsev, his personal doctor. He repaired this wound, imperceptibly completely.

But, most likely, the death of the Minister of Defense was still natural. Yevgeny Rodionov told about this event in his time: “It was at eight o'clock in the morning. We were supposed to arrive in half an hour, there was some kind of meeting. And I was already dressed too, the car was already on steam, which means I approached Tatyana: “Did Comrade Minister eat?” She says: - "Yes, he did not go out today." I say: - “How, I didn’t go out, we should be at the meeting at half past nine!” I tell her: “Go to him,” and she says: “I won’t go.” He did not allow anyone to enter his small outbuilding where he lived.

He was there all the time. And, as it turned out, he sat down to read an article by one of the health professors in an armchair with armrests. And somewhere at twenty-one o'clock he died.

But then we did not know this and asked the great-granddaughter to go to his room, and he melted when the great-granddaughter came running to him. She ran from there and said: - "Aunt Tanya, aunt Tanya, grandfather is cold, he needs a blanket." Well, when she said that grandfather was cold and he was sitting in an armchair, I immediately rushed straight into the room, as I was, in my overcoat. He was sitting in an armchair, leaning on one arm, a sheet of paper had fallen from him. I touched him ... and he already has cadaveric spots.

And the head of security also recalled such a case: “Brezhnev called:“ Where is Andrey? He called the minister Andrei, everyone called him, of course, by his first name and patronymic, and he called Andrei. "Where is Andrew?" I tell him that the minister is at the dacha, now he is walking. He walked barefoot, he probably had thick blood. He had something vascular. By the way, he died from this. A blood clot, he had a blood clot ... "

In the spring of 1976, there were rumors that the Minister of Defense Grechko, when asked if Brezhnev would become a marshal, replied: “Only over my corpse!” One way or another, on April 26, the death of Marshal Grechko was announced, and ten days later the assignment of this military rank to “dear Leonid Ilyich” was announced.

Corr.: The headline contains the words of the American President Roosevelt about Stalin. And we continue to follow in the footsteps of the unsurpassed liar Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev. In the time that has passed since our last conversation, an event that was hardly noticeable on the scale of the country, but very revealing, took place. In one of the villages of the Yaroslavl region, they decided to open a museum of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. The organizers of the idea previously held a kind of referendum. In full accordance with the spirit of the times. Most residents supported the proposal. Speaking about this news, the correspondent of the Yaroslavl television gave the floor to the representatives of the local community. A citizen in adulthood repeated a hackneyed set of accusations from the liberal arsenal, but a young lad, almost a boy, firmly stated that he was for the opening of the Stalinist museum. Now he definitely will not become Ivan, who does not remember kinship. And this gives us hope that the truth about our great leader and commander will eventually find its way.

D.T.Yazov: I would start our conversation with an event that made a huge impression on all Soviet people, including me, then a seventeen-year-old guy. On July 3, 1941, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin spoke on the radio. It was an amazing performance in many ways. Brilliant in presentation, deep, serious, with an analysis of the current situation and a program of action for the future.

“The enemy is cruel and implacable,” the leader said, “he aims to seize our lands, watered with our sweat, seize our bread and our oil, obtained by our labor. He sets as his goal the restoration of the power of the landowners, the restoration of tsarism, the destruction of national culture ... "

The ending of the performance left no doubts about the victory. “Our forces are incalculable. The presumptuous enemy will soon be convinced of this. Together with the Red Army, many thousands of workers, collective farmers, and intellectuals are rising to war against the attacking enemy. The millions of our people will rise....

Corr.: The beginning of this speech touched me the most: “Comrades! Citizens! Brothers and sisters! Soldiers of our army and navy! I turn to you, my friends!”

D.T.Yazov: First of all, the simplicity and sincere disposition of the speaker towards those to whom his words were addressed touches. It is known that Stalin wrote all his speeches himself. He was a highly educated man and not without a literary gift. And most importantly, he loved Russia, loved his people. And in this speech he addresses not an abstract audience, but really to his comrades, to his brothers and sisters. Hence the lack of bureaucracy, the official tone. He was his own in this multi-million audience. Lion Feuchtwanger, who visited the Soviet Union, explained the closeness of the leader to the people as follows: “Stalin is a type of Russian peasant and worker who has risen to genius, who is guaranteed victory, since he combines the strength of both classes.”

In this harsh hour for the country, he spoke with his people in the same language. And the people heard him.

Konstantin Simonov in the novel "The Living and the Dead" describes the impression of Stalin's speech. If you remember, this takes place in a hospital.

“Stalin spoke muffled and slow, with a strong Georgian accent. Once, in the middle of a speech, he could be heard clinking his glass and drinking water. Stalin's voice was low, not loud and could have seemed completely calm, if not for the heavy, tired breathing and not for this water, which he began to drink during the speech ...

He was loved in different ways: wholeheartedly and with reservations, both admiring and being afraid; sometimes they didn't even like it. But no one doubted his courage and iron will. And just these two qualities now seemed most necessary in the person who was at the head of the warring country.

Stalin did not call the situation tragic: the word itself was hard to imagine in his mouth, but what he was talking about - the militia, the occupied territories, the guerrilla war - meant the end of illusions ... The truth was bitter, but it was finally said, and with it stood more firmly on the ground.

And in the fact that Stalin spoke about the unsuccessful start of this huge and terrible war, without particularly changing the usual vocabulary, as about very great difficulties that must be overcome as soon as possible, this also felt not weakness, but strength.

Corr.: English journalist Alexander Werth arrived in our country the day after this historic speech. On the eve, friends, seeing him off, expressed the hope that he would reach the Soviet capital before Hitler.

“July 4th,” writes Werth, “I was in Moscow. Hitler was not there, and all the time that I spent there, I never doubted that he would never get there.

D.T.Yazov: I read his book "Russia in the War 1941-1945" with interest. He gives an objective assessment of the events that took place in our country during the war years. “I did everything in my power,” he wrote, “to tell the West about the military efforts of the Soviet people.” A position worthy of respect. Unfortunately, his today's Western colleagues act contrary to the truth and objectivity. Maybe not all. But many of them.

Alexander Werth stayed in the Soviet Union throughout the war. I met with our wonderful military leaders: Rokossovsky, Zhukov, Malinovsky, Sokolovsky, Chuikov, and other participants in the battles of the Great Patriotic War. And Stalin carried out the mass evacuation of industrial enterprises to the East, he attributed "among the most amazing organizational and human feats of the Soviet Union during the war."

I will add that from July to December 1941, 1,523 enterprises with workers, engineers, and their families were dismantled, loaded, and evacuated from threatened areas to the Urals, Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia. One and a half million cars were used alone. All this was done in accordance with the resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars on the creation of an Evacuation Council. Pay attention to the date: June 24, 1941. It's the third day of the war. Remember? Khrushchev claimed that Stalin was in prostration all this time.

Apparently, due to his flagrant illiteracy, Khrushchev was not familiar with Goebbels' recommendations. But he acted in strict accordance with his recipes: "In order for the layman to believe in a lie, it must be monstrously implausible, brought to the point of absurdity."

Corr.: Many historians, including Western ones, called Stalin's most outstanding quality as a military leader his ability to organize the provision of our army with the material part necessary to defeat the enemy.

D.T.Yazov: I'll give you the numbers. By the end of 1942, compared with 1941, the volume of annual production of rifles increased 4 times, tanks and artillery - 5 times, aircraft - 2.5 times. In addition to the evacuated factories, 3,500 new ones were created during the war years. Most of them served military needs.

Corr.: It is you, Dmitry Timofeevich, who missed too much. Let's go back to the year 1941. Moreover, Khrushchev is already “orbiting” there: “It would be wrong not to say that after the first heavy setbacks and defeats on the fronts, Stalin believed that the end had come ... For a long time he actually did not direct military operations and in general didn't get down to business."

D.T.Yazov: And who, then, in the first days of the war, strictly warned Khrushchev and the commander of the troops of the Southwestern Front, Kirponos, by telegram about the inadmissibility of panic? And didn’t they justify themselves in a reply message and promise:

"We assure you, Comrade Stalin, that the task you have set will be accomplished."

Neither this task, nor the other, related to the attempt to liberate Kharkov, were not completed. So I had to blame, as they say, from a sick head to a healthy one. And then another well-wisher showed up, a certain Ellenstein, who added his portion to Khrushchev's lies about Stalin:

“Loading himself with vodka all day long, he remained drunk for almost eleven days.” This one decided, apparently, to surpass Khrushchev himself.

But let's listen to the former bodyguard of the leader A. Rybin: “So that gullible readers do not take seriously another anecdote for which Khrushchev was a master, I clarify: “Stalin drank only Tsinandali and Teliani wines.” It happened that he drank cognac, but was simply not interested in vodka.

It's amazing how low a person can sink. Let me remind you that from the beginning of the war, Khrushchev, being a member of the Military Council of the Southwestern Front, was in Ukraine and could not know what Stalin was doing, how he behaved in these tragic days. Meanwhile, there is documentary evidence, day after day fixing the actions of Stalin from June 22 to July 3, 1941.

So, on June 22, not without the knowledge of the leader, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on mobilization was issued. By July, 5 million people had been put under arms. On the same day, and again with the sanction of Stalin, another Decree "On the approval of the Regulations on military tribunals in areas declared under martial law and in areas of military operations" is issued.

On June 23, the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks was issued on the creation of the Headquarters of the High Command. Here I will briefly interrupt my story because one of Khrushchev's versions was connected precisely with the creation of this body. Allegedly, while the leader was inactive, being in prostration, tireless comrades-in-arms independently created him. Do not sit idly by when the country is in danger...

Corr.: For such cases, there is a suitable phrase: comments are superfluous.

Yazov D.T.: By the way, at the same time, at the Headquarters, an institute of permanent advisers was organized, which included: marshals Shaposhnikov and Kulik, as well as Meretskov, Vatutin, Beria, Voznesensky, Zhdanov, Malenkov, Mekhlis and the head of the air force Zhigarev.

But let's continue our list, although it is already clear that, starting from the first day of the war, Stalin worked hard.

Another important Decree on the establishment and tasks of the Soviet Information Bureau. Signed by Stalin on the same day.

June 27 - two Resolutions of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. One is about the mobilization of communists in order to strengthen the ideological and political work in the Red Army. The second - "On the procedure for the export and placement of human contingents and valuable property."

On June 29, Stalin's directive on the mobilization of forces and means to repulse the enemy is sent to party and Soviet organizations in the front-line regions.

On June 30, the State Defense Committee was formed, headed by Stalin. It included: Molotov, Voroshilov, Malenkov and Beria.

This is what Stalin's "inaction" looks like in the first days of the war.

Co.: But still, how was this crazy myth born that Stalin, trembling with fear, took refuge in the country, and when members of the Politburo came to persuade him to return to business, he, according to Mikoyan, pressed himself into an armchair, deciding that they come to arrest him?

Probably, inventing a lie about Stalin's inaction, neither Khrushchev nor Mikoyan knew about the journals that recorded the time of reception of visitors to the office of Joseph Vissarionovich. These magazines were kept from 1924 to 1953. In this case, we are interested in - June 22. Here is the testimony of the guard A. Rybin: “Zhukov reported to Stalin about the beginning of the war. Already at 4 am the leader arrived at the Kremlin. Then Zhukov and Timoshenko arrived.” In 1990, the journal Izvestia of the Central Committee of the CPSU published excerpts from the journal of visits to Stalin's reception room from June 22 to July 3. These are exactly those eleven days when Stalin was given the insane Khrushchev diagnosis, and he was in complete inactivity.

The well-known historian Arsen Martirosyan was not too lazy to compile a complete list of Joseph Vissarionovich's visitors on the first day of the war.

At 5:45 am, five people came to Stalin at once: Molotov, Beria, Timoshenko, Mekhlis, Zhukov. The last three left the office at 8.30 am. Beria was released at 9.20, Molotov stayed until 12.05. And then new visitors came in a continuous stream: Malenkov, Kaganovich, Voroshilov, Vyshinsky, Kuznetsov, Dimitrov, Manuilsky, Mikoyan, Shaposhnikov, Vatutin, Kulik. Some went twice. The magazine recorded 29 audiences that day. Georgy Dimitrov, secretary of the Executive Committee of the Comintern, who was among the first visitors, left the following entry in his diary: "Stalin and all others have amazing calmness, firmness, confidence."

Corr.: The log did not record the visitors of the last two days of the month. 29 and 30 June. It was this gap that the detractors of the leader seized on. Say, here it was overtaken by prostration. This all sounds like some stupid joke. But if there is so much noise because of these two days, let's sort it out.

D.T.Yazov: Firstly, Stalin often worked in the country. He also had an office there. And secondly, there is nothing to prove here. On this day, June 29, many people saw Stalin healthy and unharmed, as he visited the General Staff with members of the Politburo. The reason for this was more than serious. On June 28, the Germans captured Minsk. But neither Chief of the General Staff Zhukov, nor People's Commissar Timoshenko told Stalin about this.

Corr.: Did not know?

D.T.Yazov: If they did not know, then they are worthless as heads of the two main military departments. If they knew and did not report, then there is a serious reason for reflection. At the General Staff, a sharp, impartial conversation took place with Zhukov and Timoshenko. So sharp that Zhukov, according to Molotov, even burst into tears.

It is also known what Stalin did in the remaining time. On June 29, he also prepared and signed a directive on the deployment of a partisan movement, and on June 30, the Decree on the establishment of the State Defense Committee and its regulations were already published.

Corr.: It remains to be regretted that when the dirty Khrushchev lies were pouring out of the air, from the high stands, newspaper pages, among Stalin's comrades-in-arms there was not a single one who would give his voice in defense of the slandered leader.

D.T.Yazov: Voroshilov and Molotov made a dissenting opinion. They were not opposed to condemning the cult of personality, but offered to celebrate the merits of Stalin. The rest, apparently, were afraid to repeat the fate of Beria, who was shot without trial or investigation. In addition, strict party discipline deprived people of any independence and initiative.

Corr.: Not the last role was probably played by the fact that at first Khrushchev was supported by Zhukov. He, not embarrassed, brought his share of garbage to the grave of the Supreme Commander. Without this, perhaps, Khrushchev would not have succeeded in his disgusting adventure.

D.T.Yazov: In general, I positively assess Zhukov. First of all, as a talented commander. But I was bitterly impressed by the text of his speech at the aborted Plenum of the Central Committee of the Party, which became public knowledge. At that moment he blew with Khrushchev, as they say, in the same tune. True, later, after the removal of Khrushchev, Zhukov changed his position and already paid tribute to the leader and commander.

Corr.: And how do you feel about the opinion of Air Marshal Golovanov, who believed that when all the archives on the Great Patriotic War were raised and studied, Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky would take the first place among our generals?

So who is it: he or Zhukov?

Yazov D.T.: Stalin, in my opinion, answered this question long ago. He said that Zhukov fought better than Konev, but no worse than Rokossovsky.

What other certification do you need? Konstantin Konstantinovich attracted many, including Stalin, with his decency, attention to people, intelligence, which did not exclude his outstanding military leadership talent.

Corr.: And how do you like this Khrushchev passage: “Stalin was very far from understanding the real situation that was developing at the fronts. And this is natural, since during the entire Patriotic War he was not in any sector of the front, in any of the liberated cities.

D.T.Yazov: Let's go in order. As for the liberated cities, he was in the main one - Stalingrad. Having driven along the burned streets, he promised the townspeople to rebuild the city better than before. Didn't know the situation, because he hadn't been to the fronts? And why, tell me, should the Supreme Commander-in-Chief drive around to combat positions? I will quote the point of view of General Shtemenko on this matter: "It would be unforgivable frivolity to leave Headquarters even for a short period to resolve private issues of one of the fronts." Vasilevsky was of the same opinion.

Stalin received information not only from the General Staff, the People's Commissariat of Defense. Front commanders regularly sent their reports to him. In addition, representatives of the Stavka had to report daily on the situation on the fronts. Once Vasilevsky received a serious reprimand for not submitting his report on time. Stalin even threatened that in the event of a repeated oversight, the Chief of the General Staff might lose his post.

Vasilevsky worked side by side with the Supreme Commander for almost three years. Therefore, his opinion is especially valuable to us. “Stalin,” he recalled, “paid great attention to creating an effective style of work for the Stavka. If we look at this style in the autumn of 1942, we will see that it was distinguished by trust in the experience of collective work, a high degree of diligence, ingenuity, constant contact with the troops and accurate knowledge of the situation at the front. As Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Stalin was extremely demanding of everyone and everything. He never forgave carelessness in the work and mistakes in the completion of the case.

There was a reproach that Stalin did not know the situation on the fronts. He knew her in detail. And there is plenty of documented evidence for this. Here is a telegram that he sent to the command of the Western Front, headed by Zhukov. “According to reports from the headquarters of the Western Front, the 387th, 350th and part of the 346th rifle divisions, the 61st Army continue to fight in an environment of encirclement, and, despite repeated instructions from the Headquarters, they have not been helped to this day. The Germans never leave their units, surrounded by Soviet troops, and with all possible forces and means they try to break through to them at all costs and save them. The Soviet command should have more comradely feelings for its encircled units than the fascist German command. In fact, however, it turns out that the Soviet command shows much less concern for its encircled units than the German one. This puts a stain of shame on the Soviet command."

Notice the tone. Stalin calmly, I would even say, delicately points out mistakes to his subordinates, appealing to their patriotic feelings.

I will give one more evidence that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, contrary to Khrushchev's assertions, thoroughly knew the situation developing on one or another sector of the front. In October 1942, at the height of the Battle of Stalingrad, he wrote to Eremenko, the front commander: “I think that you do not see the danger that threatens the troops of the Stalingrad Front. Having occupied the center of the city and advanced to the Volga north of Stalingrad, the enemy intends ... to surround the 62nd Army and take it prisoner ... It is necessary to turn every house and every street of Stalingrad into a fortress.

Unfortunately, you failed to do this and still continue to surrender quarter after quarter to the enemy. It speaks of your bad work."

Corr.: But, as far as I know, he went to the front several times ....

D.T.Yazov: Certainly. It was at the beginning of the war. The exact route was recorded by his bodyguard A. Rybin, who accompanied the leader. He left warm memories of Joseph Vissarionovich. They are called "Next to Stalin." I would say that there is no more reliable witness to be found. So: in August 1941, Stalin, together with Bulganin, inspected military positions in the Maloyaroslavets area. A few days later - a new exit. This time with Voroshilov and Zhukov. The goal is to get acquainted with the Mozhaisk defensive line. At the end of October, Stalin and Voroshilov went to the combat positions of the Sixteenth Army. Here, together with Rokossovsky, they watched the first volleys of Katyushas. In mid-November - Volokolamsk highway. Do I need to remind you that this was the height of the battle for Moscow.

In the summer of 1942 - a trip to the Western Front. Together with the military, he watched the test of an aircraft controlled by radio from the ground. Next stop in Gzhatsk. Meeting at the headquarters of the Western Front. Then transfer to Yukhnov. Another meeting, this time with gunners. And finally, Rzhev. Meeting with the commander of the Kalinin Front, General Eremenko. This is followed by an instruction to Moscow: to provide assistance to the Kalinin Front.

One may ask: was there a need for these trips? I think that the reason why Stalin made this decision then was more of a psychological nature. To support people morally, to show that he is with them, shares a common misfortune and danger.

Corr.: Yes, they say that Joseph Vissarionovich was an excellent psychologist. What is worth only his decision to stay in Moscow, when everything was hanging in the balance ...

D.T.Yazov: Let me remind you that during the war, Stalin pulled the cart beyond the power of a mere mortal: he was at the head of the party and government, headed the State Defense Committee and the People's Commissariat of Defense, was the most talented Supreme Commander. As an additional load, he had another favorite brainchild - long-range aviation. Its commander Golovanov recalled: when the crews flew off to bomb Berlin and other enemy cities, Stalin did not go to bed until the last plane returned to its airfield.

Corr.: I read Golovanov's memoirs. A wonderfully honest book. Then a touching tradition of exchanging radiograms was born. Dropping bombs in the center of Berlin, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Molodchiy reported: “Moscow. Stalin. I am located in the Berlin area. Mission completed. Youthful." Answer: “Your radiogram has been received. We wish you a safe return." Needless to say, how inspiring such support is in moments of mortal danger.

D.T.Yazov: Rokossovsky recalled: “The attention of the Commander-in-Chief meant a lot to those to whom it was paid. And the warm paternal tone encouraged, strengthened confidence.

Corr.: What about the fact that Stalin planned operations on the globe?

D.T.Yazov: Brad is insane. I have already quoted Vasilevsky's story about the methods of work of the Commander-in-Chief. I can also cite Zhukov’s testimony: “It was impossible to go to Stalin without a clear idea of ​​the situation reflected on the map and report unverified or (which was much worse) distorted information. Stalin did not tolerate answers at random. He demanded the utmost precision and clarity." There is a case when Zhukov had to verify this from his own experience. It was on the Western Front. He reported the situation, showing the line of defense on the map. Suddenly, Stalin interrupted him with a question: “What is this?” It turned out that Zhukov did not notice that the officer who mapped the line of defense, by mistake, drew part of it through ... a swamp. It is desirable, Iosif Vissarionovich noted, that people come here with accurate data.

Corr.: Dmitry Timofeevich, you and I have not touched on the Kharkov disaster. But this is the clearest example of how cleverly you can shift the blame from a sick head to a healthy one. But first, let's listen to Khrushchev. “I allow myself to cite .... one characteristic fact showing how Stalin led the fronts .... When in 1942 exceptionally difficult conditions developed for our troops in the Kharkov region, we made the right decision to stop the operation to encircle Kharkov .. What came of it? And it turned out the worst of what we expected. The Germans managed to encircle our military groups, as a result of which we lost hundreds of thousands of our troops. Here is Stalin's military "genius".

D.T.Yazov: Good logic. Stalin is to blame, and he and Timoshenko are innocent victims of circumstances. Vasilevsky considered Khrushchev's version to be false. Zhukov adhered to the same point of view. Even Volkogonov, who cannot be considered among the admirers of the leader, believed that either Khrushchev's memory had changed, or he was lying in order to "retroactively create a historical alibi for himself."

Stalin's letter to the command of the Southwestern Front is known. It begins with a reprimand to Chief of Staff Baghramyan, who “does not satisfy the Headquarters not only as Chief of Staff ... but ... also as a simple informant who is obliged to honestly and truthfully inform the Headquarters about the situation at the front.

Within three weeks," Stalin continued, "the Southwestern Front, thanks to its frivolity, not only lost the Kharkov operation, which was half won, but still managed to give the enemy 10-20 divisions ... It is clear that the point here is not only Bagramyans. We are also talking about the mistakes of all members of the Military Council and, above all, comrade Timoshenko and comrade Khrushchev.

If we informed the country in full about the catastrophe with the loss of 18-20 divisions that the front survived and continues to experience, then I'm afraid that they would have done very cool with you.

Corr.: It turns out that we heard the points of view of the accuser and the accused. I would like to hear background on the issue.

D.T.Yazov: In short, it was like this. Developing a strategy for 1942, the Headquarters came to the conclusion that there were no forces for a major offensive yet, so it was necessary to move on to strategic defense. This was the point of view of the Chief of the General Staff Shaposhnikov. Stalin also shared it. However, complete inaction did not suit him and, according to Zhukov, he said: “We can’t sit on the defensive with our hands folded, don’t wait for the Germans to strike first! We must ourselves inflict a number of preemptive strikes ... and probe the enemy.

It was decided to conduct a number of private offensive operations, including Kharkov. Tymoshenko, the commander of the troops of the South-Western direction, stated that "the troops of this direction are now in a position and certainly must deliver a preemptive strike to the Germans in the south-western direction ..." Shaposhnikov proposed to refrain from this operation, however, according to Vasilevsky, "the command of the direction continued insist on her proposal and assured Stalin of the complete success of the operation. He gave permission for it."

On May 12, the troops of the South-Western direction launched an offensive against Kharkov. The start was successful. And then let's listen to Zhukov: “But due to the indecision of the command of the Southwestern Front regarding the introduction of tank formations into the battle, the operation did not receive further development. The enemy immediately took advantage of this.

Vasilevsky, acting chief of the General Staff, having learned about the critical situation, immediately reported to Stalin, offering to stop the offensive. He spoke with Tymoshenko, who once again assured the Supreme Commander that the measures taken by the command were quite enough.

However, on May 18, the situation on the Southwestern Front deteriorated sharply and the General Staff once again spoke in favor of ending the operation. Zhukov, present at Headquarters, witnessed Stalin's conversation with Timoshenko. “I remember well that the Supreme Commander offered S.K. Timoshenko to stop the offensive....” But he “reported that the Military Council considers the danger... clearly exaggerated and, therefore, there is no reason to stop the offensive operation.” On the same day, Stalin spoke with Khrushchev, a member of the Military Council. He also confirmed that the danger is greatly exaggerated and there are no grounds for stopping the operation. Only on May 19 Tymoshenko gave the order to stop the offensive. But it was already too late.

Several days separated our troops from complete disaster. The Germans surrounded and largely destroyed three of our armies. According to German sources, 200,000 soldiers and officers of the Red Army were taken prisoner. According to our data, the losses amounted to more than 277,000 people, of which more than 170,000 died. In addition, in this battle we lost 1,200 tanks and 2,100 guns. Wehrmacht losses amounted to 20 thousand people.

So, Khrushchev had every reason, as they say, to cover his tracks. By the way, on this occasion, Zhukov in his “Memoirs and Reflections” spoke as follows: “The existing version of the alarm signals allegedly coming from the Military Councils of the Southern and Southwestern Fronts to the Headquarters does not correspond to reality. I testify to this because I was personally present at the negotiations between I.V. Stalin on HF with N.S. Khrushchev.

The defeat in the South-Western direction had a negative impact on further plans for the summer campaign of 1942.

Corr.: That is, Stalingrad was ahead of us and, as Jeffrey Roberts put it, "The greatest battle of the last great war of pre-atomic times." But I think you will talk about this in the next part. And now I will ask you to comment on this point of view: they say that we won the war in many respects contrary to Stalin. The ancestor of this nonsense is undoubtedly the creator of the "thaw" Khrushchev. At that very "historic" congress, he declared: "Not Stalin, but the entire party, the Soviet government, our heroic army, its talented leaders and brave soldiers, the entire Soviet people - that's who ensured victory in the Great Patriotic War."

D.T.Yazov: And let me ask: who led the mentioned party and government during the war years? Who was the Supreme Commander of our heroic army? And with whose name did she go on the attack? I walked myself. I know. Who organized the evacuation of industrial enterprises to the East. But it was Stalin, in addition to his many duties, who also headed the transport committee. Maybe that's why this operation was so successful, and the heroic army and its talented leaders received tanks and aircraft in the required volumes.

Corr.: It is difficult to refrain from remarks about the 1200 tanks left to the enemy during the Kharkov operation. Who then reimbursed them? This balabolka with a party card in your pocket?

D.T.Yazov: The lie was so obvious and shameless that the well-known Western historian and politician Ludo Martens could not help but sarcastically remark: “Not Stalin! Not Stalin, but the whole party. And the whole party, apparently, received orders and instructions from the Holy Spirit.

Unlike the communist Martens, Averell Harriman was a typical American imperialist, but he, speaking of Stalin, stated: “I found him better informed than Roosevelt, more realistic than Churchill, and, to a certain extent, the most effective leader during the war. ".

Marshal Vasilevsky, speaking of Stalin, noted: “His indisputable merit is that under his direct leadership as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Soviet armed forces withstood defensive battles and carried out such brilliant offensive operations. And yet, as far as I can tell, he never talked about his personal contribution. The titles of Hero of the Soviet Union and Generalissimo were awarded to him on the written submission of front-line commanders ... He told the people openly and honestly about all the miscalculations made during the war.

Corr.: I read that he refused the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, arguing that he did not perform heroic deeds at the front. He wore only one star - the Hero of Socialist Labor. Under the pressure of his comrades-in-arms, he agreed to the title of generalissimo. Later, according to Molotov, he regretted it.

D.T.Yazov: By nature, he was an extremely modest person. Never said: "I said", "I did". Always only "we". He did not pursue regalia, and he had fewer awards than his marshals.

I think it would be appropriate to sum up this conversation with the words of Mikhail Alexandrovich Sholokhov: “You can’t be stupid and belittle Stalin’s activities. Firstly, it is dishonest, and secondly, it is harmful for the country, for the Soviet people. And not because the winners are not judged, but above all because the "overthrow" does not correspond to the truth.

Corr.: You know, Dmitry Timofeevich, as we overcome these monstrous heaps of lies, the question is ripening in my mind: why our today's communists do not conduct a serious, detailed and public analysis of Khrushchev's report - point by point. On the one hand, in order to restore historical justice, and on the other, in order to finally clear the expensive grave and the name of the person who headed the Communist Party for several decades from debris. And these were years of brilliant achievements and victories.

The conversation was Galina Kuskova

1. Alexander Chernyshev

Cavalier guard, scout, diplomat and partisan hero of the war of 1812, he took an active part in the investigation of the "case of the Decembrists", for which in 1826 he received the title of count from Nicholas I, and in August 1827 he headed the War Ministry. Having successfully carried out the Turkish and Hungarian campaigns, suppressing the uprising in Poland, the minister enjoyed the confidence of the emperor for many years. In August 1852, His Serene Highness Prince Chernyshev, at the age of 66, left the post of minister, which he had held for 25 years ( 9132 days).

2. Dmitry Milyutin

In parallel with his military career, Milyutin (artilleryman, participant in the war in the Caucasus) was engaged in science and was a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences. As chief of the General Staff of the Caucasian Army in 1859, he suppressed Shamil's uprising. From November 1861 to May 1881 ( 7134 days) was Minister of War. Under him, military districts were created, gauntlets were abolished, general military service was introduced and the service life was shortened, the military education system was reformed, victory was won in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, and Central Asia was conquered.

3. Peter Vannovsky

Adjutant General Vannovsky, before his appointment in May 1881 as head of the Military Ministry, managed to take part in the Hungarian campaign of 1849, the Crimean and Russian-Turkish wars. As head of the military department, he was engaged in the construction of fortifications and the replenishment of mobilization reserves. Under him, the famous "three-ruler" was adopted - the Mosin rifle of the 1891 model. He left the post of Minister of War "due to illness" on January 1, 1898, having worked for almost 17 years ( 6068 days).

4. Kliment Voroshilov

A member of the RSDLP since 1903, Klim Voroshilov took over as People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs on November 6, 1925, after the sudden death of Mikhail Frunze. Repeatedly demonstrated his personal devotion to Joseph Stalin (whom he had known since 1906). After the Soviet-Finnish war, on May 7, 1940, he was removed from the post of People's Commissar of Defense, which he held for almost 15 years ( 5296 days). During the Great Patriotic War, he unsuccessfully tried to prove himself as a military leader, after which he supervised the partisans and headed the Trophy Committee.

5. Rodion Malinovsky

In 1914, 16-year-old Malinovsky ran away from home, becoming a cartridge carrier in a machine-gun team, and a year later he received the St. George Cross. In addition to the First World War, he participated in the Civil, Spanish and Great Patriotic Wars. He became Minister of Defense on October 26, 1957, replacing the disgraced Georgy Zhukov in this post. One of his most successful operations was supporting Leonid Brezhnev during the removal of Nikita Khrushchev in 1964. Served as minister 3443 days, until March 31, 1967.

6. Andrey Grechko

Appointed Minister of Defense of the USSR on April 12, 1967. Two years later, the first armed conflict on the territory of the USSR after 1945 took place - a clash with the Chinese army on Damansky Island. However, little is known about Grechko's role in this conflict: the minister himself was in Hungary at the height of the fighting, according to the direct participants in the events, the only instruction received from him was to "save ammunition." Managed the Ministry of Defense 3302 days until his death on April 26, 1976.

7. Dmitry Ustinov

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Defense, he had no military experience (with the exception of participating in battles with the Basmachi in 1923), but in 1941-1953 he was People's Commissar of Armaments, then Minister of Defense Industry, First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council of the USSR. He headed the military department on April 29, 1976. He was one of the most influential politicians of the Brezhnev era. In 1979, he became one of the initiators of the introduction of troops into Afghanistan. Died December 20, 1984, having worked as a minister 3157 days.

8. Leon Trotsky

A few days after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Germans, on March 14, 1918, Trotsky was transferred from the post of People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs to the newly established position of People's Commissar for Military Affairs. Having shown incredible activity during the Civil War, after its end he no less actively fought for power in the leadership of the CPSU (b). Having lost this fight, at the end of January 1925 he was removed from his post, which he held 2510 days. In 1929 he was expelled from the USSR and in 1940 he was killed by NKVD agents in Mexico.

9. Vladimir Sukhomlinov

A participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, Sukhomlinov, since 1905, combined the posts of commander of the troops of the Kiev district and governor-general. On March 11, 1909, he took over as Minister of War. After the outbreak of the First World War, blunders in the organization of the supply of the army were revealed. Sukhomlinov was accused of corruption and called the "patron of spies." On June 13, 1915, he was removed from his post (in which he 2285 days) and arrested. In September 1917 he was sentenced to hard labor, but in 1918 he was released under an amnesty and emigrated.

10. Alexey Kuropatkin

He served in Central Asia, a member of the "Kokand campaign". He took over as minister in January 1898. He increased the salaries of officers, reformed the General Staff. After the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, he left the post of minister (where he spent 2221 days) and commanded the Manchurian army. After the defeat at Mukden, he was dismissed. He returned to the army during the First World War, commanded the Northern Front, then the Turkestan Military District. After the revolution of 1917 he lived in his estate near Pskov, taught at school.

* The top ten included 5 pre-revolutionary ministers and 5 Soviet ones. Neither the most "long-lived" of modern Russian defense ministers Sergei Ivanov ( 2150 days in office), nor Anatoly Serdyukov, who was fired last week ( 2091 days) were not included in this top 10, taking 11th and 12th places, respectively. True, both "sat out" as minister of Joseph Stalin, who was the people's commissar of defense 2053 days.

Prepared by Mikhail Lukin

date of awarding the title: 25.3.1983

In WWII battalion commander, pom. early regimental headquarters; in 1979-84 1st Deputy Chief of the General Staff, in 1984-88 chief of the General Staff, since 1988 adviser to M. S. Gorbachev. Offered his services to the State Emergency Committee; after his failure, he committed suicide in the Kremlin office, condemning the GKChP in a suicide note as an "adventure".
years of life: 2.12.1897-21.9.1982

date of awarding the title: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War - chief of staff of the fronts, commander; in 1943-45 com. 1st Baltic, from April 1945 - 3rd Belorussian Front, army general (1943). After the war, commander of the PribVO (1946-54), deputy Minister of Defense, Head of Logistics (1958-68).
years of life: 27.6.1910-17.2.1984

date of awarding the title: 15.4.1968

In the Second World War - division chief of staff, divisional commander, commander, major general (1943); 1950-1953 - early. Air Force General Staff, 1963-78 - air defense commander.
years of life: 29.3.1899-23.12.1953

date of awarding the title: 9/7/1945; deprived 26.6.1953

People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR(1938-45), General Commissar of State Security (1941). The title of Marshal was awarded when replacing the own ranks of the GB with general military ones. Minister of the Interior (March-June 1953). 26/6/1953 arrested. According to official data, he was brought to trial by the Special Judicial Presence and shot.
years of life: 21.8.1904-19.10.1964

date of awarding the title: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War - chief of staff of the fronts, commander, colonel general (1944). 1st Deputy Air Defense Commander(1954-55), Commander-in-Chief of Air Defense (1955-62), Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces (1962-63), Chief of the General Staff (1963-64). Died in a plane crash.
years of life: 1.12.1890-9.11.1938

date of awarding the title: 20.11.1935

In the Civil War commander, commanded the armies and fronts in the Far East: commander-in-chief of the army of the Far Eastern Republic (1921-22), chief military adviser in China (1924-27), com. Special Far Eastern Army (1929-38). After a clash with Japan at Lake Khasan, he was arrested on a denunciation and soon died in prison; already posthumously "sentenced" to death. It is not known if he was stripped of his rank. Rehabilitated in 1956
years of life: 19.12.1906-10.11.1982

date of awarding the title: 7.5.1976

In the Second World War - commissar of the regiment, front, major general (1944); in the early 1950s Political Directorate of the Navy, in 1960-64 and 1977-82 - Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces; in 1964-82 - 1st secretary, Secretary General (1966) Central Committee of the CPSU. Received the title of Marshal Chairman of the Council of Defense of the USSR. Cavalier of the Order "Victory" (in 1989 the decree was canceled).
years of life: 25.4.1883-26.10.1973

date of awarding the title: 20.11.1935

In the Civil War and after it - the commander of the 1st Cavalry Army. Red Army cavalry inspector(1924-37); led the cavalry intermittently until 1954. Kom. troops of the Moscow Military District (1937-39), deputy. and 1st deputy People's Commissar of Defense (1939-Sept. 1941). In the Second World War he commanded fronts and armies, was a member of the Headquarters, from 1942 he was transferred to rear positions.
years of life: 11.6.1895-24.2.1975

date of awarding the title: 11/3/1947; stripped of title 11/26/1958

Party leader. In the Second World War, a member of the military council of the fronts, army general (1944). In 1947-49 - Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR, in 1953-55 - Minister of Defense, in 1955-58 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Displaced by N. S. Khrushchev and demoted in rank (retired colonel general).
years of life: 30.9.1895-5.12.1977

date of awarding the title: 16.2.1943

In 1942-45 Chief of the General Staff. Developed many brilliant operations. In 1945, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front, then Commander-in-Chief in the war with Japan. In 1949-53 - Minister of the Armed Forces and Minister of War of the USSR. Twice holder of the Order of Victory.
years of life: 4.2.1881-2.12.1969

date of awarding the title: 20.11.1935

Professional revolutionary, participant Oct. revolution, in the GV commander; in 1925-34 People's Commissar of the Navy, people's commissar of defense(1934-40) USSR. A consistent supporter and apologist of Stalin, lost his trust after the Finnish war. In the Second World War he commanded the fronts (until 1942), was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, then removed from the real leadership of the troops (Commander-in-Chief of the partisan movement, 1942-43). after the war - pres. Allied Control Commission in Hungary. In 1953-60 before. Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces.
years of life: 22.2.1897-19.3.1955

date of awarding the title: 18.6.1944

From 1942 to the end of the war - commander of the Leningrad Front. After the war he commanded air defense (1948-52, 1954-55). Cavalier of the Order "Victory".
years of life: 30. (according to other sources 29.) 7.1900-29.7.1980

date of awarding the title: 6.5.1961

Before the war (1940-1941) - head of the GRU, in the Second World War commander of the Bryansk and Voronezh fronts, colonel general (1943); in 1958-62 - Head of GlavPUR.
years of life: 26.2.1910-13.5.1988

date of awarding the title: 28.10.1967

In the Second World War he commanded the Azov and Danube military flotillas, vice admiral (1944), in 1948-55 in the Black Sea Fleet. In 1956-85 Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy. Minister of Defense of the USSR. The creator of the ocean fleet of the USSR, the author of the classic work "The Sea Power of the State" and other works.
years of life: 17.10.1903-26.4.1976

date of awarding the title: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War - Commander of the Guards Army, Colonel General (1943). Commander-in-Chief of a Group of Forces in Germany(1953-57), ground forces (1957-60), Warsaw Pact Allied Forces (1960-67), Minister of Defense of the USSR (1967-76).
years of life: 25.10.1883-23.2.1939

date of awarding the title: 20.11.1935

In the GV commander and commander. Com. troops of the Belarusian Military District (1927-31), Chief of Staff of the Red Army(1931-1937; from 1935 General Staff). Arrested in the summer of 1938, shot; it is not known whether he was stripped of his rank. Rehabilitated in 1956
years of life: 14.10.1892-19.11.1970

date of awarding the title: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War, the commander of the fronts (including the Western in 1941, Stalingrad in 1942), ended the war as commander of the 4th Ukrainian Front, army general (1943). After the war commanding Carpathian, West Siberian and North Caucasian IN.
years of life: 1.12.1896-18.6.1974

date of awarding the title: 18.1.1943

Greatest commander of WWII. Chief of the General Staff (1941), commander of the fronts, member of the headquarters of the Supreme High Command, deputy commander-in-chief. In 1955-57 - Minister of Defense of the USSR. Twice holder of the Order of Victory.
years of life: 17.8.1898-31.1.1972

date of awarding the title: 8.5.1959

In the Second World War - chief of staff of the fronts, army general (05/29/1945). In 1953-57 commander of the Leningrad Military District, then troops in Germany (1957-60) and Chief of the General Staff (1960-63, 1964-71).
years of life: 22.8.1894-11.10.1967

date of awarding the title: 3/3/1955; From May 25, 1945, he held the title of Admiral of the Fleet, equivalent to the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union

In 1938-50 deputy. People's Commissar of the Navy; in 1941-43 and 1946-50 early. Head. Headquarters of the Navy, then Deputy. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy deputy Minister of the Navy. Author of historical and fiction works, editor of the Marine Atlas, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
years of life: 28.12.1897-21.5.1973

date of awarding the title: 20.2.1944

IN WWII commander of armies and fronts, from 1944 - 1st Ukrainian Front. In 1946-50 and 1955-56 Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces; in 1956-60 Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of the Warsaw Pact. Cavalier of the Order "Victory".
years of life: 21.12.1904-30.8.1976

date of awarding the title: 15.4.1968

In the Second World War - divisional commander, commander, lieutenant general (1944), had two combat gold stars. In 1957-65 the commander of the Siberian, Kiev Military District, in 1965-69 commander of a group of troops in Germany.
years of life: 29.4.1903-9.2.1972

date of awarding the title: 28.5.1962

In the Second World War - commander, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General (1944); after the war - commander of the Moscow Military District(1960-63), commander-in-chief of the Strategic Missile Forces (1963-72).
years of life: 24.7.1904-6.12.1974

date of awarding the title: 3/3/1955; 25.5.1945-3.2.1948 and 11.5.1953-3.3.1955 held the title of Admiral of the Fleet, equivalent to the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union; 2/17/1956 demoted to vice admiral; 26.7.1988 posthumously restored

In 1939-46 People's Commissar of the Navy, a member of the headquarters of the Supreme High Command: played an exceptionally important role in the Second World War. In 1948, he was put on trial on trumped-up charges and transferred to the Pacific Fleet. In 1953 Minister of the Navy, in 1953-56 Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Since 1956, again in disgrace.
years of life: 11/9/1890-24. (according to other sources 29.) 8.1950

date of awarding the title: May 7, 1940; stripped of title 19.2.1942; posthumously restored 9/28/1957

In the Civil War, the head of artillery of the 1st cavalry, in 1937-41 Head of the (Main) Artillery Directorate of the Red Army. Then he commanded fronts and armies; for failure to ensure the defense of Kerch, he was put on trial, demoted to major general, expelled from the party and deprived of awards. After the war he served in the Volga Military District; arrested along with a number of generals in 1947 and shot. Rehabilitated in 1956
years of life: 5.7.1921-28.5.2013

date of awarding the title: 14.1.1977

In the Second World War - chief of staff of a tank brigade, 1969-71 - commander in chief of troops in Germany; 1971-77 - Chief of the General Staff; 1977-89 - Commander-in-Chief of the Warsaw Pact Allied Forces.
years of life: 13.2.1917-16.9.1990

date of awarding the title: 25.3.1983

In the Second World War, a tank battalion commander and a brigade commander; in 1968-71 com. ZakVO, in 1971-72 commander of a group of troops in Germany. In 1972-88 Head of Logistics of the USSR Armed Forces.
years of life: 23.11.1898-31.3.1967

date of awarding the title: 10.9.1944

IN WWII commanding armies, 2nd Ukrainian Front. In 1957-67 Minister of Defense of the USSR. Cavalier of the Order "Victory".
years of life: 7.6.1897-30.12.1968

date of awarding the title: 26.10.1944

Vyborg was taken into the Finnish war; one of the first three Soviet army generals (1940). In 1940-January 1941 Chief of the General Staff, in June-September 1941 in custody; after his release, he commanded the Volkhov Front (1941-1944, with a break). From February 1944 to the end of WWII Commander of the Karelian Front, then the 1st Far Eastern Front against Japan. Cavalier of the Order "Victory".
years of life: 11.5.1902-17.6.1985

date of awarding the title: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War and the first years after it - commander, colonel general (1943). In 1953-60 he was commander of the Moscow Military District. In 1960-62 Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces, in 1962-83 Chief Inspector of the USSR Ministry of Defense.
years of life: 30.10.1917-23.1.1994

date of awarding the title: 14.1.1977

Divisional engineer in WWII. Since 1968 in the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, in 1977-84 Chief of the General Staff - 1st Deputy Minister of Defense.
years of life: 15.1.1917-1.2.2014

date of awarding the title: 25.3.1983

In the Second World War, battalion commander, in 1972-76 commander of the Far East, in 1980-85 Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces.
years of life: 21.12.1896-3.8.1968

date of awarding the title: 29.6.1944

In 1937-40 he was imprisoned. In the Second World War, the commander of the fronts, a participant in the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. In 1944 com. 1m, then 2nd Belorussian front. In 1949-56 in the Polish army; had the title of Marshal of Poland, was the minister of nat. defense of the NDP. Cavalier of the Order "Victory".
years of life: 1.7.1911-31.8.2012

date of awarding the title: 17.2.1978

In WWII com. tank troops of the front, colonel (1943); in 1965-84 commander of the Leningrad Military District, in 1967-84 1st Deputy Minister of Defense, in 1984-87 Minister of Defense of the USSR; lost his post after the scandalous landing of M. Rust's plane in the center of Moscow. The oldest living marshal, holder of the Russian Order of Zhukov.
years of life: 21.7.1897-10.5.1968

date of awarding the title: 3.7.1946

In the Second World War - chief of staff of the fronts commanded by Zhukov, army general (1943). After the war - commander-in-chief of troops in Germany(1946-49), Chief of the General Staff (1952-60).