Marshals of the Soviet Union: how many were there? Day of Russia: First Marshals of the Soviet Union Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky.

On September 22, 1935, the military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established, which during its existence 41 people were awarded. A similar rank (rank) existed and exists in many countries in several versions: marshal, field marshal, field marshal general.

Initially, "marshal" was not a military rank, but a high court position in a number of European states. It is believed that for the first time as a designation of a high military rank, it was used in the Teutonic knightly order. Soon the rank (rank) of marshal began to be assigned to the commander-in-chief and major military leaders in many countries. This rank also appeared in Russia.

Creating a new army, Tsar Peter I introduced a rank for the commander-in-chief (chief commander of the Great Regiment) in 1695, but in 1699 replaced it with a rank that, according to the monarch, “is the commander-in-chief of the army. His order and orders must be read by everyone, the whole army has been handed over to him from his sovereign. " Until 1917, about 66 people received the rank of Field Marshal in Russia. In the sources, you can find slightly different numbers, this is due to the fact that the rank, as an honorary one, was also assigned to foreigners who had never served in the Russian army, and some Russian subjects had ranks equated to field marshals, for example, hetman.

In the young Red Army, until the mid-30s, there were no personal military ranks. Since 1924, 14 so-called service categories have been introduced into the Red Army and the RKKF, from the 1st (lowest) to the 14th (highest). The servicemen were addressed by the name of the position held, but if they did not know it, then by the main position corresponding to the assigned category - comrade of the commander, comrade of the army commander. As a distinction, metal triangles covered with red enamel (junior command personnel), squares (middle command personnel), rectangles (senior command personnel) and rhombuses (commanding personnel, categories 10-14) were used.

The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, by their decree of September 22, 1935, introduced personal military ranks for the personnel of the Red Army and the RKKF, corresponding to the main positions - battalion commander, division commander, brigade commissar, etc. categories that became marshals of the Soviet Union.

The renaming of categories into ranks was not an automatic act; orders or decrees were issued at all army levels to confer appropriate personal ranks on servicemen. On November 20, 1935, the first five people became Marshals of the Soviet Union. They were Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov, Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky, Alexander Ilyich Egorov and Vasily Konstantinovich Blucher.

The first marshals: Budyonny, Blucher (standing), Tukhachevsky, Voroshilov, Egorov (sitting)

Of the first marshals, the fate of three was tragic. Tukhachevsky and Yegorov during the period of repression were convicted, stripped of their military ranks and shot. In the mid-50s, they were rehabilitated and restored to the rank of marshals. Blucher died in prison before the trial and was not stripped of his marshal rank.

The next relatively massive assignment of marshal titles took place in May 1940, when they were received by Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko, Grigory Ivanovich Kulik (stripped of his rank in 1942, posthumously restored in 1957) and Boris Mikhailovich Shaposhnikov.

Until 1955, the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was conferred only on an individual basis by special decrees. During the Great Patriotic War, he was the first to receive it in January 1943.

P.D. Corinne. Portrait of Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov

That year A.M. Vasilevsky and I.V. Stalin. The rest of the wartime marshals received the highest military rank in 1944, then it was awarded to I.S. Konev, L.A. Govorov, K.K. Rokossovsky, R. Ya. Malinovsky, F.I. Tolbukhin and K.A. Meretskov.

Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky, awarded two Orders of Victory

The first post-war marshal was L.P. Beria. This happened when the special ranks of the state security officers were renamed into general army ones. Beria had the title of General Commissioner of State Security, which corresponded in status to the rank of marshal. He was Marshal for about 8 years. Arrested after Stalin's death, he was stripped of his rank in June 1953, and on December 26, 1953 he was shot. Naturally, the subsequent rehabilitation was not carried out.

From the major military leaders of the war period in 1946, V.D. Sokolovsky. The next year, N.A. Bulganin, who was then the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. This was the last assignment of the marshal rank during Stalin's lifetime. It is curious that in the presence of a significant number of experienced military commanders, the minister of defense, and then the marshal, became a politician who did not have military leadership experience, although he participated in the war in high political positions. In 1958 Bulganin was stripped of this title as a member of an "anti-party group", then transferred to Stavropol by the chairman of the economic council, and in 1960 he was retired.

For eight years, marshal ranks were not awarded, but before the 10th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, 6 prominent military leaders of the wartime immediately became marshals of the Soviet Union: I.Kh. Baghramyan, S.S. Biryuzov, A.A. Grechko, A.I. Eremenko, K.S. Moskalenko, V.I. Chuikov.

I.A. Penzov. Portrait of Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Khristoforovich Baghramyan

The next assignment of the marshal rank took place four years later, in 1959 it was received by M.V. Zakharov, who was at that time the commander-in-chief of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

In the 60s, 6 people became marshals of the Soviet Union: F.I. Golikov, who headed the Main Political Directorate of the SA and the Navy, N.I. Krylov, commander of the troops of the Moscow military district, I.I. Yakubovsky, who received the title simultaneously with the appointment to the post of first deputy minister of defense, P.F. Batitsky, who headed the country's air defense and P.K. Koshevoy, commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

Until the mid-70s, the assignment of the marshal rank was not made. In 1976, General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee L.I. Brezhnev and D.F. Ustinov, appointed Minister of Defense of the USSR. Ustinov had no military leadership experience, but he was closely associated with the army, since since 1941 for 16 consecutive years he was first the people's commissar (minister) of armaments, and then the minister of the defense industry of the USSR.

All subsequent marshals had combat experience, but they became military leaders in the post-war years, this is V.G. Kulikov, N.V. Ogarkov, S.L. Sokolov, S.F. Akhromeev, S.K. Kurkotkin, V.I. Petrov. The last in April 1990 received the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union D.T. Yazov.

Marshal of the Soviet Union Dmitry Timofeevich Yazov

As a member of the Emergency Committee, he was arrested and was under investigation, but he did not lose his military rank.

After the collapse of the USSR, the military rank of Marshal of the Russian Federation was established, which in 1997 was received by the Minister of Defense I.D. Sergeev. He was the first marshal, although he passed the main stages of officer and general service, but did not have combat experience.

In 1935, when the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced, they did not copy the main attribute of the distinction of marshals characteristic of Western armies - a special baton, but limited themselves to a large (5-6 cm) embroidered star on the buttonhole and sleeve. But in 1945, a special distinctive sign was nevertheless established, it was the platinum Marshall Star, decorated with diamonds, which was worn around the neck.

It is curious that this star existed unchanged until the cancellation of the marshal's rank. By the way, the marshal's shoulder straps, introduced in 1943, did not change either. More precisely, there was a change: initially, only a star embroidered with gold was placed on the chase, but after 20 days the type of epaulette was changed by adding the country's coat of arms. It is not known whether any of the five marshals of that time managed to receive the epaulettes of the first sample.

Napoleon liked to say that in his army any soldier carries a marshal's baton in his knapsack. We have our own specifics - instead of a wand, a marshal's star. Curious who is carrying it in their knapsack or duffel bag now?

On this topic: Stalin and the conspirators of the forty-first year || Who missed the beginning of the Second World War

Disgraced Marshal
February 18 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of S.K. Timoshenko / History of WWII: facts and interpretations. Mikhail Zakharchuk

During the years of Soviet power, the high military rank of Marshal was awarded 41 times. Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko(1895-1970) received it in May 1940, becoming the sixth and youngest at that time Marshal of the Soviet Union. In terms of age, no one subsequently surpassed him. Other

Marshal Tymoshenko

The future marshal was born in the village of Furmanovka, Odessa region. In the winter of 1914 he was drafted into the army. As a machine gunner he took part in battles on the Southwestern and Western fronts. He fought dashingly - he was awarded three St. George's crosses. But he also had a cool character.

In 1917, a court-martial brought him to justice for the impudent beating of an officer. Miraculously freed from the investigation, Tymoshenko participates in the suppression of the speeches of Kornilov and Kaledin. And then he decisively transferred to the Red Army. He commanded a platoon and squadron. At the head of a cavalry regiment, he participated in the defense of Tsaritsyn, where, according to some biographers of the military leader, he first came to Stalin's field of vision. At the end of the Civil War, he commanded the 4th Cavalry Division in the renowned 1st Cavalry Army. He was wounded five times, awarded with three Orders of the Red Banner and an Honorary Revolutionary Weapon. Then there were studies and just the same rapid advancement in the military career ladder. In the early thirties, Semyon Konstantinovich was only an assistant to the commander of the troops of the Belarusian Military District for cavalry. And after a few years, he was alternately assigned to command the troops of the North Caucasian, Kharkov, Kiev, Kiev Special Military Districts. During the Polish campaign of 1939, he led the Ukrainian front. In September 1935, Timoshenko was a corps commander, two years later - an army commander of the 2nd rank, and from February 8, 1939, already an army commander of the 1st rank and a knight of the Order of Lenin.

In 1939, war began with Finland. Stalin's opinion on this matter is well known: “Did the Government and the Party do the right thing in declaring war on Finland? This question concerns the Red Army especially. Couldn't war have been dispensed with? It seems to me that it was impossible. It was impossible to do without war. The war was necessary, since the peace negotiations with Finland did not yield results, and the security of Leningrad had to be ensured unconditionally, for its security is the security of our Fatherland. Not only because Leningrad represents 30-35 percent of the defense industry of our country and, therefore, the fate of our country depends on the integrity and safety of Leningrad, but also because Leningrad is the second capital of our country. "

On the eve of hostilities, the leader summoned the entire Soviet generals to the Kremlin and posed the question bluntly: "Who is ready to take command?" There was an oppressive silence. And then Timoshenko got up: “I hope I won't let you down, Comrade Stalin” - “Okay, Comrade Timoshenko. So we will decide. "

This situation looks simple and artless only at first glance. In fact, everything was more than complicated, and it is difficult for us, even now, burdened with voluminous historical knowledge, to imagine the full extent of that complexity. At the end of the thirties, the relations between the leader and that very generals became extremely aggravated. In those extreme conditions, Tymoshenko not only showed his loyalty to the leader, which in itself is also a lot, taking into account the above, but also fully shared with him the unbearable burden of responsibility for the course and outcome of the unprecedented severity of the Finnish campaign. By the way, it was under the direct supervision of Semyon Konstantinovich that the "Mannerheim line" was crossed - one of the most complex engineering and fortifications at that time.

After the Finnish campaign, Tymoshenko was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for "exemplary fulfillment of command assignments and displayed courage and heroism"; he was appointed People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, became Marshal of the Soviet Union. The fact that this generosity of Stalin was not just a form of his gratitude, but was dictated by the strategic considerations of the leader, is perfectly evidenced by the following historical document, if not written by Semyon Konstantinovich, then certainly verified by him personally to the last dot and comma. So, in front of me is the "Act on the Acceptance of the USSR People's Commissariat of Defense, Comrade Timoshenko S.K. from Comrade Voroshilova K.E. " This document with the highest classification of secrecy contains over fifty pages of typewritten text. Here are excerpts from it. “The current regulation on the People's Commissariat of Defense, approved by the Government in 1934, is outdated, does not correspond to the existing structure and does not reflect the current tasks assigned to the People's Commissariat of Defense. Newly created directorates exist under temporary provisions. The structure of other directorates (General Staff, Art. Directorate, Communications Directorate, Building and Apartment Directorate, Air Force and Inspection Directorate) has not been approved. The army has 1,080 operating regulations, manuals and manuals, however, the regulations: field service, combat regulations of the combat arms, internal service, disciplinary regulations require cardinal revision. Most of the military units exist on temporary states. 1400 states and timesheets, according to which the troops live and are supplied, are not approved by anyone. The issues of military legislation are not settled. Control over the execution of orders and decisions of the Government is organized extremely poorly. There is no lively effective leadership in the training of troops. Verification in the field, as a system, was not carried out and was replaced by paper reports.

There is no operational plan for the war in the West due to the occupation of Western Ukraine and Western Belarus; in Transcaucasia - in connection with a sharp change in the situation; in the Far East and Transbaikalia - due to the change in the composition of the troops. The General Staff does not have accurate data on the state of the state border cover along its entire perimeter.

The management of the operational training of the highest command personnel and staffs was expressed only in planning it and giving directives. The People's Commissar of Defense and the General Staff did not carry out studies with the highest command personnel. There is no control over operational training in the districts. There are no firmly established views on the use of tanks, aviation and airborne assault forces. The preparation of theaters of operations for war is extremely weak in all respects. The system of the pre-field has not been finally developed, and in the districts this issue is resolved in different ways. There are no instructions from the NKO and the General Staff about keeping the old fortified areas on alert. The new fortified areas do not have the weapons they are supposed to. The need for the troops in the cards is not provided. At the time of admission, the People's Commissariat does not have the exact number of the Red Army. The plan for the dismissal of the assigned personnel is in the process of being developed. Organizational measures for rifle divisions have not been completed. Divisions do not have new states. Private and junior command personnel are weak in their training. Western districts (KOVO, ZAPOVO and ODVO) are oversaturated with people who do not know the Russian language. No new regulation has been drawn up to define the order of service.

The mobilization plan has been violated. The People's Commissariat of Defense has no new plan. The re-registration of the reserve liable for military service has not been carried out since 1927. Unsatisfactory state of registration of horses, carts, teams and vehicles. The shortage of vehicles is 108,000 vehicles. The manuals on mobilization work in the troops and military registration and enlistment offices are outdated. The shortage of command personnel in the army is 21 percent. to the number of employees. The quality of training of command personnel is low, especially at the platoon-company level, in which up to 68 percent. have only a short 6-month training course for junior lieutenant. For the complete mobilization of the army in wartime, 290,000 reserve commanders are lacking. There is no plan for the preparation and replenishment of the command staff of the reserve.

The orders on combat training tasks issued annually by the People's Commissar for a number of years repeated the same tasks, which were never fully carried out, and those who did not carry out the order remained unpunished.

The infantry is less prepared than all other types of troops. The material part of the Air Force of the Red Army in its development lags behind the aviation of the advanced armies of other countries in terms of speed, engine power, armament and aircraft durability.

Airborne units did not receive proper development. The availability of the materiel of artillery lags behind in large caliber. The provision for 152-mm howitzers and cannons is 78 percent, for 203-mm howitzers - 44 percent. The provision of larger calibers (280 mm and above) is completely insufficient. Meanwhile, the experience of breaking through the Mannerheim line showed that 203-mm howitzers are not powerful enough to destroy and destroy modern bunkers. The Red Army turned out to be unsupported with mortars and unprepared for their use. The provision of engineering units with the main types of weapons is only 40 - 60 percent. The latest engineering equipment: trenches, deep drilling equipment, new road vehicles have not been introduced into the armament of the engineering troops. The introduction of new means of radio engineering is proceeding extremely slowly and in insufficient quantities. The troops are poorly provided for almost all types of communications equipment. Out of 63 items of chemical weapons, only 21 items have been approved and adopted. The condition and armament of the cavalry are satisfactory (Emphasis added - M.Z.). The organization of intelligence is the weakest area in the work of the People's Commissariat of Defense. Adequate protection against air attack is not provided. Over the past two years, there has not been a single special logistical exercise in the army, there were no training camps for the commanders of the logistic service, although by order of the People's Commissar it was proposed not to conduct a single exercise without studying logistical issues. The charter of the rear is classified and the command staff does not know it. The mobilization provision of the army in basic items (hats, greatcoats, summer uniforms, underwear and footwear) is extremely low. Cross stocks for parts, carry-over stocks for sub-warehouses are not generated. Fuel reserves are extremely low and provide the army for only 1/2 month of the war.

The sanitary service in the Red Army, as the experience of the war with the White Finns showed, turned out to be insufficiently prepared for a big war, there was a lack of medical personnel, especially surgeons, medical equipment and motor vehicles. The existing network of higher military educational institutions (16 military academies and 9 military faculties) and land military educational institutions (136 military schools) does not provide the army's need for command personnel. The quality of training both in academies and in military schools needs improvement.

The existing cumbersome organization of the central apparatus, with an insufficiently clear distribution of functions between the directorates, does not ensure the successful and rapid implementation of the tasks assigned to the People's Commissariat of Defense, set in a new way by modern war.

Passed - Voroshilov. Accepted - Tymoshenko. Chairman of the Commission Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU (b) - Zhdanov. Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party - Malenkov. Members - Voznesensky. TsAMO, f. 32, op. 11309, d. 15, ll. 1-31 ".

And here are excerpts from Stalin's speech to graduates of military academies on May 5, 1941: “Comrades, you left the army three or four years ago, now you will return to its ranks and do not recognize the army. The Red Army is no longer what it was several years ago. What was the Red Army like 3-4 years ago? The main type of troops was the infantry. She was armed with a rifle, which was reloaded after each shot, light and heavy machine guns, howitzers and a cannon with an initial speed of up to 900 meters per second. The aircraft had a speed of 400 - 500 kilometers per hour. The tanks had thin armor against the 37 mm cannon. Our division numbered up to 18 thousand men, but this was not yet an indicator of its strength. What has the Red Army become at the present time? We have rebuilt our army, equipped it with modern military equipment. There used to be 120 divisions in the Red Army. Now we have 300 divisions in the army. Out of 100 divisions, two-thirds are tank and one-third are mechanized. The army this year will have 50 thousand tractors and trucks. Our tanks have changed their appearance. We have tanks of the first line, which will tear the front. There are tanks of the second or third line - these are infantry escort tanks. The firepower of the tanks has increased. Modern warfare has amended and raised the role of cannons. Previously, the speed of aviation was considered ideal 400 - 500 km per hour. Now it has already lagged behind. We have in sufficient quantity and produce in large quantities airplanes with a speed of 600 - 650 km per hour. These are first line aircraft. In case of war, these aircraft will be used first. They will also clear the way for our relatively outdated I-15, I-16 and I-153 (Chaika) and SB aircraft. If we had started these cars in the first place, they would have been beaten. Previously, they did not pay attention to such cheap artillery, but a valuable type of weapon like mortars. We neglected them, now we are armed with modern mortars of various calibers. There were no scooter units before, now we have created them - this motorized cavalry, and we have enough of them. To manage all this new technology - a new army, command cadres are needed who perfectly know modern military art. These are the changes that have taken place in the organization of the Red Army. When you come to the units of the Red Army, you will see the changes that have taken place. "

It is simply impossible to overestimate Tymoshenko's merit in the “changes that have taken place”. Sometimes you think: well, would Hitler attack us when the army was headed by Klim Voroshilov, who really cared only about the cavalry?

However, Semyon Konstantinovich had the will, knowledge and skills to radically change the situation in the Red Army.

Indeed, the cited document not only named shortcomings, but also proposed radical measures to eliminate them. At the same time, the young marshal headed the People's Commissariat of Defense for only 14 months! Of course, in such a short period it was impossible to completely complete the reorganization and technical re-equipment of the troops. But all the same, how much has been done by him! In September 1940, Tymoshenko wrote a memo addressed to Stalin and Molotov, in which he predicted with amazing accuracy how military operations would develop when Germany attacked us, which he personally did not doubt one iota.

You can write a book about the Great Patriotic War of Marshal Tymoshenko. Actually, it has already been written by as many as three authors. Unfortunately, this collective work is sustained in the spirit of the agitprop of the fifties, although the voluminous work was published in the so-called post-perestroika time. The main thing - the Kharkov operation of 1942 or the Second Kharkov battle - is generally said in an indistinct patter. Meanwhile, this strategic offensive of the Soviet troops eventually ended with the encirclement and almost complete destruction of the advancing forces. Due to the disaster near Kharkov, the rapid advance of the Germans with the subsequent exit to Stalingrad became possible. In only one "Barvenkovo trap" our losses amounted to 270 thousand people, 171 thousand - irrecoverable. In the encirclement, the deputy commander of the Southwestern Front, Lieutenant General F.Ya. Kostenko, commander of the 6th Army Lieutenant General A.M. Gorodnyansky, commander of the 57th Army Lieutenant General K.P. Podlas, the commander of the army group, Major General L.V. Bobkin and several generals-divisional commanders. The commander-in-chief of the troops of the South-Western direction was Marshal Timoshenko, the chief of staff I.Kh. Baghramyan, member of the Military Council N.S. Khrushchev. Semyon Konstantinovich himself barely escaped captivity and, returning to Headquarters, of course, prepared for the worst. However, Stalin forgave all the surviving military leaders, including Tymoshenko. Some of them, like the same Baghramyan, R. Ya. Malinovsky, who commanded the Southern Front, later fully justified the confidence of the leader. But Semyon Konstantinovich followed this up with another front-line tragedy.

As part of the strategic offensive plan, codenamed "Polar Star", the North-Western Front, commanded by Timoshenko, carried out the Demyansk and Old Russian offensive operations. Their plan inspired considerable optimism, and Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov: “Near Demyansk it was necessary to repeat, however, on a more modest scale, what was recently accomplished on the banks of the Volga. But even then something confused me: the plan of the operation was developed without taking into account the nature of the terrain, the very unimportant road network, and most importantly, without taking into account the approaching spring thaw. The more I delved into the details of the plan, the more I became convinced of the validity of the saying: "It was smooth on paper, but they forgot about the ravines, and walk on them." It was difficult to choose a more unsuccessful direction for the use of artillery, tanks and other military equipment than what was planned. " As a result, the losses of our troops amounted to about 280,000 killed and wounded, while the enemy's Army Group North lost only 78,115 people. Stalin no longer instructed Timoshenko to command the fronts.

In fairness, it should be noted that Semyon Konstantinovich never shifted his miscalculations onto other military leaders and never cowardly humiliated himself before Stalin, as the same Khrushchev did.

He endured disgrace with courage, stoically, and until the end of the war, being a representative of the Headquarters, very skillfully, benevolently and competently coordinated the actions of a number of fronts, took part in the development and implementation of several operations, such as the Yassko-Kishinev. In 1943 he was awarded the Order of Suvorov 1 degree for this, and following the results of the Great Patriotic War - the Order of Victory.

As for the business qualities of the marshal, I do not use this for a figure of speech. “He had an unusual capacity for work,” wrote General of the Army A.I. Radzievsky. “He is amazingly hardy,” General I.V. Tyulenev. “Marshal Tymoshenko worked 18-19 hours a day, often staying in his office until the morning,” GK echoes them. Zhukov. On another occasion, he, who is not a very generous person in praise, admitted: “Tymoshenko is an old and experienced military man, a persistent, strong-willed and educated man both tactically and operationally. In any case, he was a much better people's commissar than Voroshilov, and in that short period, while he was, he managed to turn something for the better in the army. Stalin was angry with him after Kharkov, and in general, and this affected his fate throughout the war. He was a tough man. In fact, he should have been Stalin's deputy, not me. " Tymoshenko's special benevolence is noted in her memoirs by such military leaders as I.Kh. Baghramyan, M.F. Lukin, K.S. Moskalenko, V.M. Shatilov, S.M. Shtemenko, A.A. Grechko, A.D. Okorokov, I.S. Konev and V.I. Chuikov, K.A. Meretskov, S.M. Shtemenko. Frankly, a rather rare unanimity of military leaders in the assessment of a colleague.

... In April 1960, Tymoshenko, always distinguished by his good health, fell seriously ill. An avid smoker, he even gave up his addiction and soon recovered. He was elected chairman of the Soviet Committee of War Veterans. Those duties were not burdensome, so he spent most of the time at the dacha in Archengelskoye, next to Konev and Meretskov. I read a lot. In his personal library, there were more than two thousand books. The Marshal was often visited by children and grandchildren, relatives. Olga's husband served as a military attaché in France. Konstantin married the daughter of Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov. He named his son Semyon.

Tymoshenko died in the year of his seventy-fifth birthday. Fate seemed to have saved him from further tragic losses. Grandson Vasily died from drugs. Then another grandson, the full namesake of the Marshal, dies. Ninel Chuikova and Konstantin Timoshenko divorced. Yekaterina Timoshenko died tragically and under unclear circumstances in 1988.

A bronze bust was erected at home to Marshal Tymoshenko. A memorial plaque has been installed on the building of the former headquarters of the Belarusian Military District. Streets in St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Kiev, Izmail, Minsk, Rostov-on-Don bear his name. Moscow also has a street named after Timoshenko.

The vastness of the oceans is plowed by the anti-submarine ship "Semyon Timoshenko".

The Military Academy of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops and Engineering Troops also bears his name. In the USSR and Kyrgyzstan, postage stamps were issued dedicated to the marshal. And in faraway Honduras there is Timoshenko vodka. In the fall of 1941, the local moonshine heard the news on the radio that the commander of the South-Western Front Timoshenko took the city of Rostov-on-Don during a counteroffensive and thus marked this victory. By the way, the capture of Rostov-on-Don was the first major defeat of the Germans. “Our troubles began with Rostov. It was an ominous omen, "admitted G. Guderian. Stalin sent on November 29, 1941, the first in the history of the Great Patriotic War, congratulations to the front commander S.K. Tymoshenko.

Once upon a time, many boys dreamed of becoming commanders. Brave, smart, able to make decisions and lead. Of course, to a large extent these dreams were stimulated by the way the press and literature described the military. In those days, every schoolboy knew the names of the marshals! It is worth remembering what these people did, whom many sought to imitate!

How many marshals were there in the USSR?

In fact, a lot. Yes, this is not surprising, given that the title was introduced back in 1935, and abolished only in 1991. But at the same time, the significance of this designation is completely obvious: over the years, 41 people have become marshals of the Country of Soviets. Indeed, many of them became legends and role models during their lifetime. True, not all remained so in the future.

Most of all admiration was caused by those military leaders who earned the title of marshal not in peacetime, but in those years when the country was in danger.

Georgy Zhukov is a man who has become just a living legend. This native of a family of peasants fought for Russia since 1915. Note that he was clearly not only smart, but also very brave. In tsarist Russia, St. George's crosses were not given out for nothing, but Georgy Konstantinovich had two of them! Injuries and concussions did not prevent Zhukov from building a career. By the beginning, he was already an established professional. It is not surprising that this man became one of the members of the Headquarters and replaced Marshal Zhukov in 1943. Until the end of his days, this man was the Marshal of Victory. Such names of the marshals of the Soviet Union are known even to those who have never opened a history textbook!

Rodion Malinovsky is another of the heroes that the country knew by sight! He was born in Odessa, but became not a sailor. From a young age, he fought for his state. So, already in 1915, Malinovsky received the St. George Cross. A year later, he showed himself in France - there he was also awarded the military cross. When Russia became part of the Land of Soviets, Rodion Yakovlevich joined the Red Army. During the Second World War, he fought with the Germans in many areas. In particular, he took part in expelling enemies from Ukraine (by the way, from his native Odessa, too). Note that Malinovsky definitely did not sit deep in the rear, commanding operations. This is evidenced by the fact that he was wounded. This man became a marshal in 1944.

When listing the names of the marshals of the Soviet Union, it is necessary to mention Konstantin Rokossovsky, who also did a lot to defeat the armies of the fascists. By the way, he is a Pole by nationality. But, again, he fought for Russia all his life! His military career began in 1914. The St. George Cross and two medals were definitely received for a reason! He was always ahead, not afraid of anything. By the way, Rokossovsky was not always in mercy - from 1937 to 1940 he was imprisoned. But, nevertheless, in 1941 he again went into battle for his country! A severe wound near Sukhinichi (not the first in his life) did not put Rokossovsky out of action. And in 1944 he became a marshal.

Is it worth taking an example from all the marshals?

Not all the names of the marshals of the Soviet Union today are covered with an aura of glory and nobility. For example, Lavrenty Beria is such an odious figure that, most likely, few people want to imitate him. Well, Leonid Brezhnev, who also had the rank of marshal, by definition was not a hero who went into battle and defended the Motherland by shedding blood.

To date, only the one who received the rank of marshal in 1990 is alive. He is already 90 years old. The same marshals of the Soviet Union, whose photos are published in the article, unfortunately, are no longer with us.

years of life: 5.5.1923-24.8.1991

date of the title award: 25.3.1983

In WWII battalion commander, pom. early regiment 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. GKChP offered his services; after his failure, he committed suicide in the Kremlin office, condemning the State Emergency Committee in his suicide note as a "gamble".
years of life: 2.12.1897-21.9.1982

date of the title award: 11.3.1955

In WWII - chief of staff of fronts, army 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. defense minister, Chief of Logistics (1958-68).
years of life: 27.6.1910-17.2.1984

date of the title award: 15.4.1968

In WWII - chief of staff of a division, division commander, corps 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 the title award: 7/9/1945; deprived of 6/26/1953

People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR(1938-45), Commissioner General of State Security (1941). The rank of Marshal was conferred upon the replacement of the state's own ranks with general military ones. Minister of the Interior (March-June 1953). 6/26/1953 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 the title award: 11.3.1955

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

date of the title award: 20.11.1935

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

date of the title award: 7.5.1976

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

date of the title award: 20.11.1935

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

date of the title award: 11/3/1947; stripped of his rank 11/26/1958

Party leader. In the Second World War, a member of the military council of the fronts, general of the army (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. Deposed by NS Khrushchev and demoted (retired Colonel General).
years of life: 30.9.1895-5.12.1977

date of the title award: 16.2.1943

In 1942-45 chief of 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 the title award: 20.11.1935

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

date of the title award: 18.6.1944

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

date of the title award: 6.5.1961

Before the war (1940-1941) - head of the GRU, in WWII, 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 the title award: 28.10.1967

In WWII he commanded the Azov and Danube military flotillas, vice-admiral (1944), in 1948-55 in the Black Sea Fleet. 1956-85 Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy. Minister of Defense of the USSR... The creator of the oceanic 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 the title award: 11.3.1955

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

date of the title award: 20.11.1935

In the GV, the commander of the army and the front 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 deprived of the title. Rehabilitated in 1956
years of life: 14.10.1892-19.11.1970

date of the title award: 11.3.1955

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

date of the title award: 18.1.1943

The largest commander of the Second World War. Chief of General Staff (1941), front commander, member of the Supreme Command headquarters, 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 the title award: 8.5.1959

In WWII - chief of staff of fronts, general of the army (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 the title award: 3.3.1955; from 05/25/1945 he bore the rank of "Admiral of the Fleet", equal to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union

In 1938-50 the deputy. Commissar of the Navy; in 1941-43 and 1946-50 early. Chapters headquarters of the Navy, then deputy. commander-in-chief of the Navy, deputy. Minister of the Navy... Author of historical and fictional works, editor of the Marine Atlas, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
years of life: 28.12.1897-21.5.1973

date of the title award: 20.2.1944

In the Second World War commander of armies and fronts, from 1944 - the 1st Ukrainian Front. In 1946-50 and 1955-56, the commander-in-chief of the ground forces; in 1956-60 the commander-in-chief of the Joint Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact. Chevalier of the Order of "Victory".
years of life: 21.12.1904-30.8.1976

date of the title award: 15.4.1968

In WWII - division commander, corps commander, lieutenant general (1944), had two combat Gold stars. In 1957-65 commander of the Siberian, Kiev military district, in 1965-69 commander of a group of forces in Germany.
years of life: 29.4.1903-9.2.1972

date of the title award: 28.5.1962

In WWII - army 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 the title award: 3.3.1955; 25.5.1945-3.2.1948 and 11.5.1953-3.3.1955 bore the rank of "Admiral of the Fleet", equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union; 02/17/1956 demoted to vice admiral; 07/26/1988 posthumously restored

In 1939-46, the People's Commissar of the Navy, a member of the headquarters of the Supreme High Command: played an extremely important role in the Second World War. In 1948 he was tried 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... In 1956 he was again in disgrace.
years of life: 11/9/1890-24. (according to other sources 29.) 8.1950

date of the title award: 7.5.1940; stripped of his rank on 02/19/1942; posthumously restored on September 28, 1957

In the Civil War, chief of artillery of the 1st cavalry, in 1937-41 head of the (Main) artillery department of the Red Army... Then he commanded the fronts and armies; for failure to ensure the defense of Kerch was brought to trial, demoted to major general, expelled from the party and deprived of awards. After the war, he served in the Volga Region; 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 the title award: 14.1.1977

In WWII - 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 Joint Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact.
years of life: 13.2.1917-16.9.1990

date of the title award: 25.3.1983

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

date of the title award: 10.9.1944

In the Second World War commanding armies 2nd Ukrainian Front. 1957-67 Minister of Defense of the USSR. Chevalier of the Order of "Victory".
years of life: 7.6.1897-30.12.1968

date of the title award: 26.10.1944

In the Finnish war he took Vyborg; one of the first three Soviet army generals (1940). In 1940-January 1941 chief of the General Staff, in June-September 1941 imprisoned; after liberation he commanded the Volkhov front (1941-1944, with a break). From February 1944 to the end of the Second World War Commander of the Karelian Front, then the 1st Far Eastern Front against Japan. Chevalier of the Order of "Victory".
years of life: 11.5.1902-17.6.1985

date of the title award: 11.3.1955

In the Second World War and the first years after it - army commander, colonel general (1943). In 1953-60 he was the 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 the title award: 14.1.1977

In the Second World War, a divisional engineer. Since 1968 in the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, in 1977-84 Chief of General Staff - 1st Deputy Minister of Defense.
years of life: 15.1.1917-1.2.2014

date of the title award: 25.3.1983

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

date of the title award: 29.6.1944

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

date of the title award: 17.2.1978

In the Second World War com. front tank troops, 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 the title award: 3.7.1946

In WWII - Chief of Staff of the fronts commanded by Zhukov, General of the Army (1943). After the war - commander-in-chief in Germany(1946-49), Chief of the General Staff (1952-60).

Disgraced Marshal

February 18 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of S.K. Timoshenko / History of WWII: facts and interpretations. Mikhail Zakharchuk

Marshal Tymoshenko

However, Semyon Konstantinovich had the will, knowledge and skills to radically change the situation in the Red Army.

The vastness of the oceans is plowed by the anti-submarine ship "Semyon Timoshenko".