According to official Soviet historiography, exactly one hundred years ago, on February 23, 1918, Red Guard units, fighting defensive battles near Pskov and Narva, won their first victories over German troops. In the Soviet Union, this date was considered the birthday of the Red Army - in 1922, according to the resolution of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the RSFSR, it began to be celebrated as the festive Day of the Red Army and Navy.
Today we remember the leaders of the military departments of the USSR - those who stood at the origins of the creation of the Red Army and its Marine forces, and also developed the Soviet ground armed forces and navy in the future. Under the leadership of these people, the Red Army (later the Soviet Army) made its way from small Red Guard detachments to one of the strongest armies in the world, won the Great Patriotic War, and participated in dozens of local wars and conflicts in many parts of the globe.
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On October 26, 1917, the Committee on Military and Naval Affairs was created in the RSFSR. In the photo (from left to right): Pavel Efimovich Dybenko (1889–1938); Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov-Ovseenko (1883–1938); Nikolai Vasilievich Krylenko (1885–1938)
On November 23, 1917, the Committee was transformed into the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs of the RSFSR. Nikolai Ilyich Podvoisky (1880–1948) became People's Commissar. Signed the decrees “On the elective principle and organization of power in the army”, “On the equal rights of all military personnel”
From March 14, 1918 to July 6, 1923, Lev Davidovich Trotsky (1879–1940) was the People's Commissar for Military Affairs of the RSFSR. Under his leadership, the Bolsheviks defeated all opponents in the Civil War. From July 6, 1923 to January 25, 1925 - People's Commissar of Military Affairs of the USSR
From January 25 to October 31, 1925, the People's Commissar of Military Affairs of the USSR was Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze (1885–1925). Under his leadership, the number of the Red Army was reduced, the principle of unity of command was introduced, and the military apparatus and political administration were reorganized.
Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov (1881–1969) from November 6, 1925 to June 20, 1934 was the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR, and later the People's Commissar of Defense. Under him, the Red Army introduced personal military ranks. Lost his post after the Soviet-Finnish War
In 1937–1946, the People's Commissariat of the Navy existed in the USSR. In 1937–1939, three of its heads were replaced (in the photo from left to right): Pyotr Aleksandrovich Smirnov (1897–1939), Pyotr Ivanovich Smirnov-Svetlovsky (1897–1940), Mikhail Petrovich Frinovsky (1898–1940)
Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov (1904–1974) headed the People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy from April 28, 1939 to February 25, 1946. During the Second World War he commanded forces on the Black Sea. Under his leadership, the Navy prevented a German landing in the Caucasus.
From May 7, 1940 to July 19, 1941, Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (1895–1970) was the People's Commissar of Defense. Conducted work on the reorganization and improvement of combat training of troops, technical re-equipment and training of new personnel of the Red Army
From July 19, 1941 to March 3, 1947, the Soviet military department was headed by Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (1879–1953). During this period, the Red Army won the Great Patriotic War and was renamed the Soviet Army
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Bulganin (1895–1975) twice headed the Soviet military department. From March 3, 1947 to March 24, 1949, he served as minister Armed Forces USSR, from March 15, 1953 to February 9, 1955 - post of Minister of Defense of the USSR
Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (1895–1977) commanded the USSR Armed Forces from March 24, 1949 to March 15, 1953. Special attention focused on the use of nuclear weapons and improving the operational training of commanders
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (1896–1974) was the USSR Minister of Defense from February 9, 1955 to October 26, 1957. Giving great importance development of nuclear weapons, he believed that the decisive role in the wars of the future would remain with the ground forces
From October 26, 1957 to March 31, 1967, the Minister of Defense of the USSR was Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky (1898–1967). He pursued a policy of priority development of nuclear missile forces (Rocket Forces were created strategic purpose)
Andrei Antonovich Grechko (1903–1976) headed the USSR Ministry of Defense from April 12, 1967 to April 26, 1976. Under him, the USSR achieved military-strategic nuclear parity with the United States by increasing the number and improving its missile systems
From April 29, 1976 to December 20, 1984, the post of Minister of Defense of the USSR was held by Dmitry Fedorovich Ustinov (1908–1984). He considered the priorities for the development of the army to be the creation of powerful armored forces, as well as the improvement of nuclear weapons
Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov (1911–2012) was the Minister of Defense of the USSR from December 22, 1984 to May 30, 1987. Took a strong position in international negotiations on troop reductions
From May 30, 1987 to August 28, 1991, the USSR Ministry of Defense was headed by Dmitry Timofeevich Yazov (b. 1924). As part of the implementation of the policy of “defensive sufficiency,” the army was reduced by 500,000 people, and the elimination of nuclear missiles began
Mikhail Alekseevich Moiseev (b. 1939) temporarily acted as Minister of Defense of the USSR on August 22–23, 1991, after which he was relieved of this position
The last Minister of Defense of the USSR (August 29, 1991 – February 14, 1992) was Evgeniy Ivanovich Shaposhnikov (b. 1942). After the breakup Soviet Union this position was abolished
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). Russian Minister of War from January 1898 to February 1904
General of Infantry (1901). On military service since 1864. Graduated from the General Staff Academy (1874). In 1866–1871, 1875–1877, 1879–1893 served in Turkestan, participated in the annexation of Central Asia to Russia. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. chief of staff of an infantry division. In 1878–1879 and 1883–1990. at the General Staff. 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, member of the State Council. First world war commanded the corps (1915), then the 5th Army, from February to July 1916 on the Northern Front. From July 1916 to February 1917, Turkestan governor. After the October Revolution, he lived on his estate, taught at high school. Killed by unknown bandits.
SAKHAROV Viktor Viktorovich(1848 - 22.11.1905). Russian Minister of War in 1904–1905
Adjutant General. Graduated military school and Nikolaev Academy General Staff. Participant in the Russian-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, Minister of War of Russia. On June 21, 1905, he was relieved of this position. Killed in Saratov, where he was sent to stop 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). Participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Since 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 Russian Military Ministry. Program developer military reform 1905–1912
SUKHOMLINOV Vladimir Alexandrovich (1848–1926). Minister of War of Russia in 1909–1915.
General of the Cavalry (1906). Graduated from the General Staff Academy. Participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Since 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 Kyiv Military District. In 1905–1908 simultaneously Kiev, 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 charges. Since 1918 he lived in exile.
POLIVANOV Alexey Andreevich(1855–1920). Minister of War of Russia, Chairman of the Special Meeting on State Defense in 1915–1916 .
General of Infantry (1915). In military service in the Russian army since 1872. Participant in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Graduated from the General Staff Academy (1888). In 1905–1906 Quartermaster General of the General Staff. In 1906–1912 Assistant Secretary of War. He was specially authorized by the Provisional Government to carry out military reform. In 1918 he joined the Red Army. Since 1920, member of the Military Legislative Council, member of the Special Meeting under the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic, military expert under the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR.
SHUVAEV Dmitry Savelievich (1854–1937). Russian Minister of War 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 and taught at military educational institutions. From 1905 he commanded the division, in 1907–1908. body. Since 1909, head of the Main Quartermaster Directorate, then chief quartermaster. Since January 1917, member of the State Council. After the October Revolution, he taught at military educational institutions of the Red Army, including at the Shot command courses. Since the late 20s. retired, personal pensioner.
BELYAEV Mikhail Alekseevich (1863–1918). Russian Minister of War in January - March 1917
General of Infantry (1914). In 1893 he graduated from the General Staff Academy. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. head 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), and at the same time, 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 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, 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, founder and leader of the Octobrist party “Union of October 17th”. Since 1907 deputy State Duma, in 1907–1911 its chairman. In 1915–1917 Chairman of the Central Military-Industrial Committee. During 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 Nicholas II. One of the organizers of the military action of General L. G. Kornilov against the Bolsheviks in August 1917. After the October Revolution of 1917, he emigrated to Berlin.
KERENSKY Alexander Fedorovich (1881–1970). Military and Naval Minister of the Russian Provisional Government in May - September 1917
In August - October 1917, Supreme Commander-in-Chief 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 at the same time minister - chairman (prime minister). After the October Revolution of 1917, he fled from Petrograd to the command of the Northern Front. Together with P. N. Krasnov led a rebellion against the Bolsheviks. After its suppression, he joined the fight 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 General Staff Academy. Participant in the Russian-Japanese and First World Wars. In July - August 1917, commander of the Moscow Military District. In 1919 he joined the Red Army. In 1920, 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 Caucasus Military District. Then he served in the Shot courses, at the General Staff, and at the Military Academy of the General Staff. Brigade commander (1936). Author of a number of works on the art of war. In 1938 he was shot. In 1956 he was rehabilitated.
PODVOSKY 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. at the Demidov Legal 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 for the leadership of the October armed uprising. Commanded the troops of the Petrograd Military District. At the same time as the People's Commissar for Military Affairs of the RSFSR, he was 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 RVSR (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 units.
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 and colonist. Secondary education. In the Social Democratic movement since 1896. In January 1898, he was arrested and imprisoned, first in Nikolaev, from there transferred to Kherson, then to Odessa and Moscow transit centers. Sentenced to four years of exile in Eastern Siberia, where he and his wife were taken 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 the rest of his life. In October 1905 he returned to Russia. Participant in the revolution of 1905–1907, was elected comrade-chairman and chairman of the St. Petersburg Council of Workers' Deputies. Author of the concept of “permanent revolution”. In December 1905 he was arrested and spent 15 months in “Kresty”, in the Peter and Paul Fortress and in a pre-trial detention center. In 1907, he was deprived of all civil rights and sentenced to indefinite exile in Siberia. He fled from the village of Berezova, where Prince A.D. Menshikov, an associate of Peter I, was once exiled. In 1907–1917 in exile. On March 27, 1917, he and his family and eight like-minded people left New York for Russia on a Norwegian steamer. 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. Since September 25 (October 8), 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 joined the government as People's Commissar for foreign affairs 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.” The first stage of negotiations was disrupted. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed instead G. Ya. Sokolnikov. 02/22/1918 resigned as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs... From 03/13/1918 People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the RSFSR, from 09/02/1918 Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic. On 08/05/1919 he sent a “Note to the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party”, where he proposed to create “a cavalry corps (30,000 - 40,000 horsemen) with the expectation of throwing it at India.” According to his plan, “the path to Paris and London lies through the cities of Afghanistan, Punjab and Bengal,” therefore it was necessary to concentrate the revolutionary academy, the political and military headquarters of the Asian revolution in Turkestan. After the formation of the USSR, from July 6, 1923, he headed the Union 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 threatening areas Civil War. He rushed 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. Creation initiator concentration camps and the use of forced prison labor. One of the most brutal 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 state. Lost To I.V. Stalin. In January 1928 he was exiled to Alma-Ata. 02/20/1932 deprived of Soviet citizenship. Until July 17, 1933 he lived in Turkey, then in France and Norway, and from January 9, 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 foreign station of the NKVD on instructions from Moscow, but miraculously survived. On August 20, 1940, he was mortally wounded by a blow to the head with an ice pick 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 January 26, 1925 to October 31, 1925.
Born into the family of a military paramedic. Incomplete higher education, studied at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute. He chose the path of a professional revolutionary. Under the nickname “Arseny” he carried out underground work in St. Petersburg, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Shuya and other cities. He was arrested several times. Twice sentenced to death penalty 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 capital punishment was replaced by hard labor and lifelong exile, from where he escaped. After the February Revolution of 1917, member of the Minsk Council, 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, chairman of the executive committee of the Shuisky Council and the district 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 participate in street battles against government troops. From the beginning of 1918, chairman of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk provincial party committee and provincial executive committee, provincial economic council, military commissar. Since August 1918, military commissar of the Yaroslavl Military District. From February 1919, commander of the 4th, in May - June 1919, Turkestan Army. At the same time, since March 1919, 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. Achieved major victories in battles with the armies of prominent White Guard military leaders 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. Defeated the main forces of the Ukrainian rebel chieftains. 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, at the same time 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 a commander, even a non-partisan one. Since January 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 in this post. On 10/08/1925, a council chaired by the People's Commissar of Health of the RSFSR N.A. Semashko recommended surgical intervention due to the detected signs of a stomach ulcer. From the Kremlin hospital he was transferred to 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. Due to the drop in heart rate, they resorted to injections that stimulate cardiac activity, and after the operation they fought against heart failure. Therapeutic interventions were unsuccessful. After 39 hours, M. V. Frunze died “with symptoms of cardiac paralysis.” He was awarded two Orders of the Red Banner and an Honorary Revolutionary Weapon. Author of major works on military topics: “Reorganization of the Red Army” (Moscow, 1921), “Unified Military Doctrine and the Red Army” (Moscow, 1921), “Front and Rear in the War of the Future” (Moscow, 1924), “Lenin and the Red Army" (Moscow, 1925), etc. 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 city returned its previous name.
VOROSHILOV Kliment Efremovich (04.02.1881 - 02.12.1969). People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR from November 6, 1925 to June 1934, People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR from June 1934 to May 7, 1940.
Marshal of the Soviet Union (1935). Born into the family of a railway worker. Primary education, in 1895 he graduated from a rural zemstvo school. From the age of ten he worked as a shepherd, from the age of eleven as an auxiliary worker at a mine near Lugansk. He was repeatedly arrested, imprisoned, and served exile in the Arkhangelsk and Perm provinces. During the First World War he evaded mobilization into the army. In November 1917, the commissar of the Petrograd Military Revolutionary Committee (for city administration), 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 German-Austrian troops. In April 1918 he organized and led the 5th Ukrainian Army. In July - early August 1918 he commanded the 10th Army. He took part in the defense of Tsaritsyn, the general leadership of which was carried out by J.V. Stalin. In August - September 1918, a member of the Military Council of the North Caucasus 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, 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 army commander (“his military knowledge does not allow him to be trusted with even a battalion”), which became a mitigating 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 took part 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 troops of the North Caucasus 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 in this post, 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 to Voroshilovsk. The best shooters received the honorary title “Voroshilov Shooter,” and the KV heavy tank was named after him. After unsuccessful battles with Finland (1939–1940), he was replaced by commander of the Kyiv 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, his name was given to the Academy of the General Staff. During the Great Patriotic War, he was a member of the State Defense Committee and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command (1941–1944). From July 10, 1941 to August 31, 1941, Commander-in-Chief of the North-Western Direction. In September 1941, commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front. On September 10, 1941, after the loss of Shlisselburg and the final encirclement of Leningrad, in desperation he personally led the attack of the Marines. Was 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, through the State Defense Committee, he supervised the training of Red Army reserves in the Moscow, Volga, Central Asian and Ural military districts. Since September 1942, Commander-in-Chief of the partisan movement. Subordinated to the Central Headquarters partisan movement led 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 when breaking the blockade of Leningrad. In December 1943, in the Separate Primorsky Army, he developed a plan for the operation to liberate Crimea, which ended in failure. Headed the Trophy Committee. He negotiated with the British military mission, participated in the Tehran Conference (1943), and was chairman of the armistice commissions 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 of Culture under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. On behalf of I.V. Stalin, he chaired the last meeting of the last congress of the 19th Congress of the CPSU during the life of the leader and closed it. After the death of I.V. Stalin from 03/05/1953 to May 1960 Chairman of the Presidium Supreme Council THE USSR. During the reign of M. S. Gorbachev, his life and work underwent a critical rethink, the city of Voroshilovgrad in Ukraine was renamed Lugansk, the Voroshilovsky district of Moscow into Khoroshevsky, and 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). Awarded eight Orders of Lenin, six Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Suvorov 1st degree, Red Banner of the Uzbek SSR, Red Banner of the Tajik SSR, Red Banner of the ZSFSR, Honorary weapon with a 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 07/19/1941
Marshal of the Soviet Union (1940). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1940, 1965). In the Red Army since 1918. Until July 1941, a representative of the Headquarters of the High Command, then 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 forces, from September 1941 to June 1942, commander-in-chief of the Southwestern forces, at the same time in July - September 1941, commander of the Western, in September - December 1941 and in April - July 1942 South-Western fronts. Under his leadership, the Rostov offensive operation was planned and carried out in the South-Western direction in November - December 1941. In July 1942, commander of the Stalingrad, in October 1942 - March 1943, the Northwestern Front. The troops of the Northwestern Front under his command liquidated the enemy's Demyansk 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, the North Caucasus Front and 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 Iasi-Chisinau.
Stalin I.V. from 07/19/1941 to 03/03/1947 (village People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces, from 03/15/1946 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 Armed Forces of the USSR from 03/15/1946 to 03/03/1947 ., Supreme Commander-in-Chief 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 into the family of a handicraft shoemaker. Since 1901, 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 by convoy to Krasnoyarsk in connection with conscription for military service. On February 22, 1917, he was transferred by the Krasnoyarsk district military commander to the police department as exempt 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, People's Commissar of State Control, in 1920–1922. People's Commissar of the RCI of the 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 was developing. 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 disaster, and in the second half of 1919 to the Southern Front to defeat Denikin’s troops. October 20, 1919 awarded the order Red Banner. In January - August 1920, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the South-Western Front, at the same time in February - March 1920, chairman of the military council of the Ukrainian Labor Army. In September - November 1920, authorized representative of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) in the Caucasus. At the same time, from May 1921 to August 1923, member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, representative of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee in the STO of the RSFSR. From 04/03/1922 General Secretary of the Party Central Committee. Since 05/06/1941 Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (Council of Ministers) of the USSR. On June 23, 1941, he became part of the High Command Headquarters, the highest body of strategic leadership of the country's armed forces during the Great Patriotic War, and headed it on July 10, 1941. 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-in-Chief 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 degree. He was first buried in the Lenin-Stalin Mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow. On October 30, 1961, the XXII Congress of the CPSU adopted the 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 covenants, abuse of power, mass repressions against honest Soviet people and other actions during the period of the personality cult make it impossible to leave the coffin with his body in the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin" ( XXII Congress Communist Party Soviet Union. Verbatim report. T. 3. M., 1961. P. 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, Minister of Defense of the USSR from 03/05/1953 to 03/15/1955.
Marshal of the Soviet Union (1947–1958), Colonel General (from 1944 and from 1958). Born in Nizhny Novgorod. Incomplete secondary education. Since 1918 in the bodies of the Cheka. In 1918–1919 Deputy Chairman of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod Railway Cheka. In 1922–1927 Assistant to the Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Trust of the Central District, Chairman of the State Electrical Engineering Trust of the Supreme Council National economy(VSNKh) USSR. From 1927 to 1930 director of the Moscow Electric Plant. In 1931–1937 Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council. Since 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, 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, a member of the Military Council of the Western Direction. He was a member of the Military Council of the Western Front from July 12, 1941 to December 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 into the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. Since March 1946, First Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. From 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. Since February 1960, a personal pensioner of union 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 numbered 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 modestly at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow, without military honors. The cemetery was closed for a sanitary day; no one except relatives and close friends was allowed in. There was no orchestra or farewell fireworks.
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, Head of the Operations Directorate. From May 1942, Chief of the General Staff, and at the same time, from October 1942, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. Participated in the planning and development of critical operations. During the Battle of Stalingrad he played a major 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 for the liberation of Donbass, Northern Tavria, Crimea, in the Belarusian and East Prussian operations. Since February 1945, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front. He led the assault on Koenigsberg. Participated in the development of the campaign plan in the Far East. Since June 1945, 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 (08/09–09/02/1945).
ZHUKOV Georgy Konstantinovich (01.12.1896 - 18.06.1974). Minister of Defense of the USSR from March 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 and 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 and squadron. Participated in the 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 received his education at cavalry courses in 1920, improvement courses for cavalry command personnel in 1925 and courses for senior command staff of the Red Army in 1930. Since May 1930, commander of the 2nd brigade of the 7th Samara Cavalry Division. Since February 1933, assistant inspector of the Red Army cavalry 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; from 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 of Khalkhin Gol at the cost of enormous sacrifices. Having an advantage in manpower, tanks and aircraft, he defeated the Japanese, losing 25,000 Soviet soldiers killed (the enemy lost 20,000 people). He was distinguished by his cruelty in leading troops. Since June 1940, commander of the Kyiv 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, Army General. Since June 23, 1941, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. Since August 1942, First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR and Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Directly participated in the development and implementation of strategic plans of the Supreme Commander, in the preparation and implementation of many major operations. In August - September 1941, the commander of the Reserve Front troops successfully carried out the first offensive operation during the war to defeat the strike force Nazi troops in the Yelnya area. Since 09/04/1941, commander of the troops of the Leningrad Front, replaced in this post K. E. Voroshilova. Forced the enemy to go on the defensive and prevented him from capturing Leningrad. 10/07/1941 was called I. V. Stalin to Moscow and took command on October 10, 1941 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 of Kursk and the Dnieper. In March - May 1944, commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front. In the summer of 1944, he coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 1st Belorussian Fronts in the Belarusian 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 the territory of Germany. In April - May 1945, the front troops under his command, in cooperation with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 2nd Ukrainian fronts, carried out Berlin operation and captured Berlin. On behalf of and on behalf of the Soviet Supreme Commander, 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 Soviet troops in Germany, commander in chief Ground forces, Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Released from these positions on June 3, 1946. Until 1948, commander of the troops of the Odessa Military District. In the 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 the execution of 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 himself losers, commanders relieved of their positions, 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 02/21/1947, by a survey of members of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, formalized as a resolution of the Plenum of the Central Committee, he was removed from the number of candidates for membership of the Central Committee “as having failed to ensure the fulfillment of the duties of a candidate member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (Bolsheviks).” On January 20, 1948, following an inspection of the district, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks issued “the last warning, giving him the last time the opportunity to improve and become an honest member of the party, worthy of the rank of commander.” By the same decree, he was released from the post of commander of the troops of the Odessa Military District “for appointment to command one of the smaller military districts.” Suffered 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, and from March 1953, 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 atomic bomb in Totskoye training center near Orenburg. In 1955–1957 Minister of Defense of the USSR. On October 19, 1957, at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee, he was accused of trying to belittle the role of political agencies in the army, Bonapartism, and self-praise, and was removed from the post of Minister of Defense of the USSR. Retired since February 27, 1958. Four times Hero of the Soviet Union (1939, 1944, 1945, 1956). 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 degree, and an Honorary Weapon. Hero of the Mongolian People's Republic. The ashes were buried in the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow. In May 1995, monuments to him were solemnly unveiled in Moscow on Manezhnaya Square and on 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. Participant in 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, chief of staff of a cavalry regiment, then at the headquarters of the North Caucasus and Belarusian military districts. Since 1935, chief of staff of the cavalry corps. In June 1941, Major General. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, commander of the 48th Rifle Corps. From August 1941 commander of the 6th Army, from December 1941 of the Southern Front, from August 1942 of the 66th Army. In October - November 1942, deputy commander of the Voronezh Front, from November 1942, commander of the 2nd Guards Army, from February 1943, Southern, from March 1943, Southwestern, from May 1944, 2nd Ukrainian fronts. The troops under his command successfully operated in the Barvenkovo-Lozovsky operation, the Kharkov battle (1942), the Donbass operation (1942), the Battle of Stalingrad, the Zaporozhye, Nikopol-Krivoy Rog, Odessa, Iasi-Kishinev, Budapest, and Vienna operations. Since July 1945, 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 Transbaikal-Amur Military District, 1947–1953. Commander-in-Chief of the Far East troops, 1953–1956. Commander 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 from the North Caucasian Mountain Nationalities Cavalry School in 1926, he became a platoon and squadron commander. Nominee K. E. Voroshilova and S. M. Budyonny, who placed their cavalrymen in prominent command posts. Graduated from the Military Academy named after M. V. Frunze, in 1941, Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1938, chief of staff of the special cavalry division of the Belarusian Military District. In September 1939 he took part 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, 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, commander of the 1st Guards Army, with which he reached Prague. In 1945–1953 Commander of the Kyiv Military District. In 1953–1957 Commander-in-Chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. On June 17, 1953, when strikes and mass protests of workers broke out in the GDR, L.P. Beria received an order 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 Ground Forces of the Soviet Union, in 1960–1967. Commander-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact member states. 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). Awarded six Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov 1st degree, Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, two Orders of Kutuzov 1st degree, two Orders of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st degree. He died suddenly at his dacha. Author of the memoirs “Battle for the Caucasus” (M., 1976), “Across the Carpathians” (M., 1972), “Liberation of Kyiv” (M., 1973), “Years of War. 1941–1943" (M., 1976). The ashes were buried in the Kremlin wall on Red Square in Moscow.
USTINOV Dmitry Fedorovich(30.10.1908 - 20.12.1984). Minister of Defense of the USSR from April 1976 to December 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 units, 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 Nizhny Novgorod province, a diesel engine operator 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 as an engineer at the Artillery Research Marine Institute . Since 1937 at the Leningrad Bolshevik plant (formerly Obukhov): design engineer, head of the operation and experimental work bureau, deputy chief designer, since 1938 plant director. 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, Minister of Defense Industry of the USSR (the ministry was created on the basis of the merger of the Ministry of Armaments and the Ministry of Aviation Industry). He participated in the organization of rocket science and 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 CPSU Central Committee. In April 1976 - December 1984, Minister of Defense of the USSR. Replaced in this post the one who suddenly died A. A. Grechko. As Minister of Defense, he also oversaw all defense industries for four years. Hero of the Soviet Union (1978), twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1942, 1961). Awarded eleven Orders of Lenin, Order of Suvorov 1st degree, Order of Kutuzov 1st degree. 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 post-war 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 Warsaw Pact countries. I felt a general malaise, a slight fever and changes in the lungs. Around the same time and with the same clinical picture, the defense ministers of the GDR, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, G. Hoffmann (12/02/1984), Olah (12/15/1984) and M. Dzur (12/16/1984), 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 memoir “Serving the Motherland, the Cause of Communism” (Moscow, 1982).
After the victory that our people won in the Great Patriotic War, the leadership of the Soviet Union developed a number of measures to transfer the country to a peaceful direction. They were necessary to ensure the restoration of the national economy destroyed by the war and the conversion of industrial production. In addition, a reform of the bodies was carried out government controlled. People's Commissariats became ministries, and accordingly USSR positions appeared, the list of which is given below. Most of them served in command positions in the crucible of the last war and had extensive combat experience.
First Minister of Defense of the USSR
...Brezhnev...
After the death of Malinovsky, his post was taken by Marshal of the Soviet Union A.A. Grechko. Before this appointment, he commanded the combined armed forces of the Warsaw Pact countries. Andrei Antonovich met the war by working in, however, already in July - at the front. He went from division commander to army commander. The next, after Andrei Antonovich, Minister of Defense of the USSR is D.F. Ustinov, who replaced him after his death in 1976. It should be noted that Ustinov D.F. during the war waged by the heroic Soviet people with Nazi Germany and its allies, headed the People's Commissariat of Armaments. Before him, all the USSR defense ministers were participants in hostilities during the war. However, Dmitry Fedorovich still had combat experience. While still in civilian life, he fought with the Basmachi in Central Asia. According to the already established “tradition”, Ustinov served in this position until his death on December 20, 1984 and outlived both L.I. Brezhnev and Yu.V. Andropov.
...perestroika
He did not break the tradition according to which the USSR Minister of Defense had combat experience and appointed S.L. Sokolov to this post. During the war, Sergei Leonidovich rose from the position of chief of staff of a tank regiment to the commander of the armored forces of the Thirty-second Army. In 1985, Gorbachev came to power and began actively replacing old, proven personnel with his own people at senior government posts. Therefore, in 1987, D.T. was appointed to the post of Minister of Defense. Yazov, who remained until August 1991. At the age of seventeen he volunteered for the front and ended the war as a platoon commander. Dmitry Timofeevich was not forgiven for his attempt to remain faithful to the military oath and save the Soviet Union; he was removed from his post and arrested. Air Marshal E.I. Shaposhnikov was appointed to the vacant seat. have not fought for a single day. He turned out to be the last one to hold this post and actively participate in the destruction of his country.
Russian Defense Ministers
Both the USSR and independent Russia were and are perceived by Western politicians as a geopolitical adversary. Therefore, the post of Minister of Defense should always be held by a principled and honest military man who is not indifferent to the fate of his country. Some Russian officials who held this position at different times did not always meet these criteria. You can give an example of P.S. Gracheva or A.E. Serdyukov. However, the current minister is S.K. Shoigu has so far fully justified the hopes placed on him by the people of Russia.
1. Alexander Chernyshev
Cavalry guard, intelligence officer, diplomat and partisan hero of the War of 1812, he accepted Active participation in the investigation of the “Decembrist case,” 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 and suppressed the uprising in Poland, the minister enjoyed the trust 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).
3. Peter Vannovsky
Before his appointment in May 1881 as head of the Ministry of War, Adjutant General Vannovsky managed to take part in the Hungarian campaign of 1849, the Crimean and Russian-Turkish wars. As head of the military department, he was involved in the construction of fortifications and replenishment of mobilization supplies. Under him, the famous “three-line” rifle, the Mosin rifle of the 1891 model, was adopted. He left the post of Minister of War “due to illness” on January 1, 1898, having worked for almost 17 years ( 6068 days).
5. Rodion Malinovsky
In 1914, 16-year-old Malinovsky ran away from home, becoming a carrier of cartridges in a machine gun team, and a year later 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.
7. Dmitry Ustinov
Before his appointment as Minister of Defense, he had no military experience (except for participation 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 USSR Council of Ministers, 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 deployment of troops to Afghanistan. Died on December 20, 1984, having worked as a minister 3157 days.
9. Vladimir Sukhomlinov
A participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, Sukhomlinov since 1905 combined the posts of commander of the Kyiv district troops and governor general. On March 11, 1909, he took over as Minister of War. After the outbreak of the First World War, mistakes were revealed in the organization of army supplies. Sukhomlinov was accused of corruption and called the “patron of spies.” On June 13, 1915, he was removed from his post (in which he spent 2285 days) and was arrested. In September 1917 he was sentenced to hard labor, but in 1918 he was released under an amnesty and emigrated.
10. Alexey Kuropatkin
Served in Central Asia, participant in the Kokand Campaign. He took up the post of minister in January 1898. He increased the salaries of officers and reformed the General Staff. After the start Russo-Japanese War left the post of minister (where he spent 2221 days) and commanded the Manchurian army. After the defeat at Mukden he was dismissed. 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 on his estate near Pskov and taught at school.
*The top ten included 5 pre-revolutionary ministers and 5 Soviet ones. Not the most “long-lived” of modern Russian defense ministers, Sergei Ivanov ( 2150 days at his post), 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 “overstayed their welcome” on the post of minister of Joseph Stalin, who was the People’s Commissar of Defense 2053 days.