H ovikov Alexander Alexandrovich
November 19, 1900 – December 3, 1976

Born in the village of Kryukovo in the Nerekhtsky district of the Kostroma province (now the Nerekhtsky district of the Kostroma region). In 1918 he graduated from the Kineshma-Khrenov Teachers' Seminary. He worked as a teacher in the village of Peshevo, near his native village.

In the Red Army since 1919. After the call, he was sent to serve in the 27th reserve Privolzhsky regiment, stationed in the city of St. Nizhny Novgorod. In February 1920, Novikov was sent to study at command courses, after graduating, who in June of the same year was appointed commander of a platoon of the 22nd Reserve Infantry Regiment. In the same 1920, Novikov became a member of the CPSU (b).

In July 1920, the young commander was transferred to the 7th Army, which led fighting with the interventionists and the White Guards as part of the troops of the Northern Front. Here he led the intelligence of the 384th rifle regiment, acted as adjutant of the 127th rifle brigade and assistant chief of intelligence of the 128th rifle brigade and the 43rd rifle division. In March 1921, he took part in the suppression of the counter-revolutionary rebellion in Kronstadt.

In November 1921, Novikov entered the Shot infantry courses, which he successfully completed in August 1922. after completing the course, he is sent for further service in the Transcaucasus, where he successively serves as assistant company commander of the 14th infantry command courses in Batumi, company commander of the Red Army University and battalion commander of the Military-Political School of the Separate Caucasian Army in Tbilisi. During this period, he takes part in battles with bandits in the Transcaucasian region.

From 1926 to 1930, Novikov studied at the M.V. Frunze Military Academy, after which he was appointed to the post of intelligence chief of the 11th Rifle Corps, which was stationed in Smolensk. In September of the same year, a new appointment as head of the 1st (operational) department of the headquarters of the same corps. In 1932, by order of the commander of the district, Novikov undergoes an internship in one of the aviation units as an observer pilot. This was done in order to broaden the horizons of the combined arms commanders, who had to organize interaction with aviation.

In March 1933, a radical change took place in the service of our countryman. The fact is that at that time the Air Force of the Red Army received rapid development. The production of aviation equipment increased, new military units and formations of the Air Force were created, and there were not enough competent commanders who could organize the competent operation and combat use of aviation. In this regard, it was decided to replenish the command staff of the Air Force with representatives of other military branches.

In March 1933, Novikov was appointed chief of staff of the 450th Aviation Brigade of the Belarusian Military District, which was stationed here in Smolensk. But he was not limited only to the performance of the duties of chief of staff. He began to master aviation technology. First, he made an independent flight on a training U-2, and then on a combat reconnaissance R-5. After two years of service in aviation, Novikov still felt a lack of knowledge and experience. Then he turned to the commander of the district with a request to appoint him as the commander of an air squadron. The request was granted and he was appointed commander of the 42nd Light Bomber Squadron.

(From the funds of the Nerekhta Museum of Local Lore)

In 1938, Novikov was appointed chief of staff of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District. The volume and complexity of the tasks before him have increased significantly. But the experience gained while serving in Smolensk allowed him to successfully solve the problems that arose not only in peacetime, but also during the war with Finland. The successes of Alexander Alexandrovich in his new post were duly appreciated. In 1940, he was awarded the Order of Lenin and appointed commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

In this position, he met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The Air Force of the Leningrad Front was able to give a due rebuff to the enemy. The results of two months of unusually fierce skirmishes in the air on the near approaches to Leningrad testify to the very high combat effectiveness of Leningrad aviation and its correct use. In total, during this time, in air battles, at airfields and from anti-aircraft artillery fire, the enemy lost 780 aircraft, we lost 534. Novikov's contribution to the protection of the Leningrad sky was appreciated and in 1941 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Details about his activities as Commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District and the Front A.A. Novikov spoke in the book "In the sky of Leningrad" published by the Nauka publishing house in 1970.

In February 1942, by decision of the State Defense Committee, Novikov was appointed first deputy commander of the Red Army Air Force, and in April of the same year, commander of the Air Force - deputy (until May 1943) of the USSR People's Commissar of Defense for Aviation. Alexander Alexandrovich made a great contribution to the development of the Air Force. Under his leadership, since May 1942, aviation operational formations began to be created in front-line aviation - air armies. In the autumn of 1942, the formation of separate aviation corps and divisions of the reserve of the Supreme High Command began, which made it possible to quickly concentrate large aviation forces in the most important areas.

As a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, Novikov coordinated the combat operations of a number of air armies in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Kuban air battle, on the Kursk salient. The contribution of our countryman to the defeat of the Nazi troops was appreciated. For his skillful leadership of the Air Force in the defeat of the Nazi troops near Stalingrad on March 17, 1943, he was the first among aviators to be awarded the title of Air Marshal. For the battles on the Kursk Bulge, he was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree.

Air Marshal Novikov A.A. 1943

The Air Force made a huge contribution to the defeat of the enemy, while Novikov, as a representative of the headquarters, coordinated the actions of units and formations of the Air Force during the liberation of Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states. In February 1944, Novikov was the first to receive only the introduced military rank Air Chief Marshal, in addition, this year he was awarded two Orders of Suvorov 1st degree, the Order of Kutuzov 1st degree and the Order of the Red Banner.

The victorious year 1945 came and again Novikov coordinated the actions of aviation, now with the liberation of East Prussia, Romania, Hungary, Poland. In February 1945, he was awarded the Order of Lenin, and on April 17, 1945, by the Decree of the Presidium Supreme Council USSR he was awarded the title Hero Soviet Union. In addition, in May-June 1945, he was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor of the degree of commander in chief (USA), Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor (France) and the Order of the Military Cross (France).

Novikov A.A. and Smirnov D.I. at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

(From the funds of the Kostroma Museum-Reserve)

After defeating Nazi Germany Novikov did not have to rest for a long time; he left for the Far East to coordinate the actions of Air Force units and formations in the upcoming war with Japan. With the start of the attack Soviet troops army and naval aviation inflicted powerful strikes on fortified areas in the border zone, as well as on the administrative and political centers of Changchun, Harbin, the ports of Yuki, Rasin and naval base Seishin. Subsequently, aviation ensured the advancement of mechanized and cavalry formations deep into the territory of Manchuria, and also landed troops in Mukden, Port Arthur and a number of other cities.

For the skillful leadership of the combat operations of aviation on Far East By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 8, 1945 Novikov A.A. was awarded V second medal "Gold Star". In addition, he was awarded the Orders of the Mongolian People's Republic of the Red Banner of War "For military valor" and "For military merit".

After the war, in April 1946, after the son of I.V. Stalin, Vasily complained to his father that American planes are better than Soviet ones, together with the minister aviation industry USSR A.I. Shakhurin was arrested. In May 1946, at the trial, together with Shakhurin, a member of the Military Council of the Air Force, N.S. Shimanov, Deputy Commander of the Air Force A.K. Repin, head of the Air Force Main Directorate of Orders N.P. Seleznev, heads of departments of personnel management of the Central Committee A.V. Budnikov and G.M. Grigoryan was sentenced to prison. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 20, 1946, he was deprived of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and all state awards. After the death of Stalin, in May 1953 he was amnestied and reinstated in the service of Armed Forces ah USSR.

Title of Hero of the Soviet Union and state awards returned by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 13, 1953.

In 1953-1955 Novikov commanded long-range aviation and at the same time in 1954-1955 - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Force. Since 1956 - in the reserve, and from the same year - the head of the Higher Aviation School of the Civil Fleet. His memoirs "In the sky of Leningrad" (1970) belong to his pen, study guides and works on the history of Soviet aviation. In 1958 A.A. Novikov was awarded the title of professor. He was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd convocation. For the contribution to ensuring the combat readiness of the Air Force in peacetime Novikov A.A. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and two Orders of the Red Star.

He died on December 3, 1976, and was buried in the Hero City of Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

A bronze bust of the Hero was installed in Kostroma, memorial plaques - in Moscow, Kostroma. Streets of Marshal Novikov in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Kostroma, Novikov Square in Nerekhta, Kostroma Region. His name was also given to the State Secondary Special educational institution"Aviation Transport College civil aviation"(St. Petersburg), was previously assigned to the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School, a vessel of the Ministry of Fisheries, one of the Tu-160 strategic bombers of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.

Aircraft Tu-160 "Alexander Novikov"

at Caracas Airport Venezuela October 2013

During the celebration of the 70th anniversary Great Victory name Novikov A.A. listed on commemorative plaques placed on the Monument of Glory on Peace Square in Kostroma.

Sources:

Heroes of the Soviet Union. Brief biographical dictionary. Volume 2. M.: Voeniz., 1988

Golubev E.P. Battle stars. - Yaroslavl: Verkh.-Volzh.kn.izd., 1972

Golubev E.P. Battle stars. Kostroma 2009 pp. 438 - 446

Air Force Commanders. Moscow: Patriot, 2006.

People of immortal feat. Book 2. M., 1975

Druzhnev V. Triumphs and tragedies of Marshal Novikov. Newspaper Kostroma Vedomosti April 4, 2001.

Zaitsev E. Portrait of a father depicted by his daughter. Newspaper Severnaya Pravda July 10, 2001.

Novikova S.A. The case of aviators. Newspaper Kostroma Vedomosti No. 90 November 16-22, 2010.

Novikova T.P. Remembers the widow of the hero - countryman. Newspaper Nerekhtskaya Pravda July 16, 2000.

Materials from the funds of the Kostroma Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

Materials from the funds of the Nerekhta Local Lore Museum of the Kostroma Region.

Site "Heroes of the Country"

Head of the military history department

Kostroma State Historical and Architectural

and art museum-reserve

Belous Mikhail Alexandrovich

Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov(November 19, 1900, the village of Kryukovo, Nerekhtsky district, Kostroma province (now the Nerekhtsky district of the Kostroma region) - December 3, 1976, Moscow) - Soviet military leader, commander of the Air Force of the Red Army (1942-1946). Air Chief Marshal (21 February 1944). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1945, 1945).

Service start

In 1915-1918 he studied at the Khrenovskaya teacher's seminary, after which he began working as a teacher in the village of Peshevo, near his native village.

In the army since 1919. Member of the Civil War.

In 1922 he graduated from the courses "Shot", in 1930 - military academy them. M. V. Frunze. Since 1933 he served in the Air Force. Member of the Soviet-Finnish war, chief of staff of the Air Force of the North-Western Front. Since 1940, the commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

The Great Patriotic War

During the Great Patriotic War he commanded the Air Force of the Northern and Leningrad fronts. The initiator and main leader of the air operation of the Red Army Air Force against Finland in June 1941.

In 1942-1943 - Deputy People's Commissar defense of the USSR in aviation.

From May 1943 to 1946 he was commander of the Air Force. As a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, he coordinated the combat operations of the aviation of several fronts in the battles of Stalingrad and on the Kursk Bulge, during the assault on Koenigsberg, in Berlin operation. In 1943, A. A. Novikov was the first in the USSR to be awarded the title "Marshal of Aviation", in 1944, also the first in the country - "Chief Marshal of Aviation", and in April 1945 the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In September 1945, "for the successful execution of the operation in the battles against imperialist Japan" he was awarded the second Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. June 24, 1945 was to command canceled due to rain air parade during the Victory Parade.

Arrest and imprisonment

In 1946-1952, in custody with the sanction of A. A. Cheptsov on a fabricated "aviation case" (sentenced to 5 years in prison on May 11, 1946 and served a year overtime). The arrest of Novikov and the Minister of Aviation Industry Shakhurin is sometimes explained by Novikov's conflict with Vasily Stalin.

Rehabilitated with the participation of A. A. Cheptsov and reinstated in rank in 1953.

After release

After his release, in 1953-1955, commander of long-range aviation, deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Force.

From January 1956 - in reserve, from August 1956 - head of the Higher Aviation School of the Civil Fleet. Professor.

Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov died on December 3, 1976 in Moscow. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Daughter - Svetlana Novikova, journalist.

USSR awards

• Hero of the Soviet Union (04/17/1945, 09/08/1945);
• three orders of Lenin (1940, 02/21/1945, 04/17/1945);
• three orders of the Red Banner (10/22/1941, 11/03/1944, 1953);
• three orders of Suvorov, I degree (01/28/1943, 06/1/1944, 08/19/1944);
• Order of Kutuzov, 1st class (07/29/1944);
• Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1961);
• two Orders of the Red Star (1967, 1968);
• Honorary weapon - personalized checker with a golden image of the State Emblem of the USSR (02/22/1968)
• medals.

Foreign awards

• Order of the Legion of Honor of the degree of commander in chief (USA);
• Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor (France);
• Order of the Military Cross (France);
• Order of the Red Banner of War "For Military Valor" (MPR);
• Order "For Military Merit" (MPR).

Memory

• Marshal Novikov street in Moscow.
• Marshal Novikov Street in the Primorsky district of St. Petersburg.
• On November 6, 1958, a bronze bust of twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. A. Novikov (sculptor E. Vuchetich) was installed in the park on Komsomolskaya Street in Kostroma. By decision of the regional executive committee No. 378 of November 13, 1980, Volnaya Street in Kostroma was renamed Marshal Novikov Street.
• Marshal Novikov Street in Kaliningrad.
• Square named after A. A. Novikov in Nerekhta.
• Balashov Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots named after Chief Marshal of Aviation A. A. Novikov in the city of Balashov, Saratov Region
• A memorial plaque in memory of Novikov was installed by the Russian Military Historical Society at the school in the village of Sedelnitsy, where he studied.

Movies

• Documentary film "Alexander Novikov" from the series "Legends of the Army" on the Zvezda TV channel, 2015. http://tvzvezda.ru/schedule/programs/content/201509181301-qpj0.htm/201512231324-k97g.htm

Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army, Air Chief Marshal

Born on November 6 (19), 1900 in the village of Kryukovo, now the Nerekhtsky district of the Kostroma region, into a peasant family. Russian. He graduated from elementary and 2-class school, in 1918 - Kineshma-Khrenovsky teacher's seminary. He worked as a teacher in the village of Peshevo, near his native village.

In the Red Army since 1919. Member of the Civil War. He served in the 27th Volga Infantry Regiment. In June 1920 he fought as part of the 384th Infantry Regiment of the 43rd Infantry Division of the 7th Army against the Finnish troops. In 1920 he graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod infantry courses. Member of the CPSU (b) / CPSU since 1920. In 1921 he participated in the suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion as part of the 128th brigade.

In 1922 he graduated from the Higher Tactical and Rifle School for Command Staff of the Red Army (Shot course). From August 1922 to 1924 he served in the Caucasian Army in Transcaucasia. In 1922-1927 - commander of a rifle platoon, company commander, battalion commander. In 1930 he graduated from the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze. Since 1930 - at the headquarters of the 11th Rifle Corps: head of the operational department.

IN Air force since March 1933. He independently learned to fly, mastered the profession of an observer pilot. In 1933-1935 he was chief of staff of an air brigade, in 1935-1938 he was commander of a light bomber air squadron. From April 1938 to 1939 - Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

Member of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940: Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the North-Western Front. From 1940 to June 1941 - Commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

Member of the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. In June-August 1941 - Commander of the Air Force of the Northern Front, from August 1941 to 1942 - Commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Front. Member of the battles for Leningrad.

In February-April 1942 - First Deputy Commander of the Red Army Air Force. From April 11, 1942 to March 1946 - Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army, at the same time from April 1942 to May 20, 1943 - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation.

During the war years, he proved to be a thoughtful and enterprising aviation commander. Under his leadership, the air forces of the fronts were transformed into air armies, the central apparatus of the air force was reorganized, aviation corps and aviation divisions of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command were created. He was a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. The organizer of the air blockade, the encirclement of the enemy forces near Stalingrad, coordinated the combat operations of the aviation of several fronts in the battles of Stalingrad, on the Kursk Bulge, the organizer of the destruction of enemy aircraft in the air battle in the Kuban (spring 1943), a participant in operations to liberate the North Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus , the Baltic States, Poland, the assault on Koenigsberg (Kaliningrad), the Berlin operation. Member of the war with Japan. He was the initiator of the transition of Soviet aviation to more advanced types of aircraft, the creation of the same type of aviation divisions (bomber, attack, fighter), the formation of air armies and aviation corps.

By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 17, 1945, Air Chief Marshal Aleksandr Alexandrovich Novikov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 7277).

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 8, 1945, for the skillful leadership of the military operations of aviation in the Far East, Air Chief Marshal Alexander Aleksandrovich Novikov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 77 / II).

After the war: from April 1946 to February 1952 he was repressed. He was imprisoned on a fabricated case. By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 20, 1946, A.A. Novikov was deprived of his military rank, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and state awards. On May 29, 1953, the Military Collegium closed the case for lack of corpus delicti. On June 12, 1953, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU canceled the corresponding decision of the Politburo of May 16, 1946, and by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 13, 1953, the military rank, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and all state awards were returned to A.A. Novikov. Completely rehabilitated in June 2003.

In 1953-March 1955 - Commander of Long-Range Aviation and at the same time in 1954-1955 - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Air Force. Since January 1956 - in reserve with the right to wear military uniform. From August 6, 1956 - Head of the Higher Aviation School of the Civil Fleet. Professor (1958).

His memoirs “In the Sky of Leningrad. Notes of the Commander of Aviation "(1970), textbooks and works on the history of Soviet aviation (articles" Soviet aviation in the battles for Koenigsberg "," Soviet pilots in the battles for the Motherland”, “On the far southwestern approaches to Leningrad”, “On the Karelian Isthmus”, “In the Battle for Berlin” and others).

Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd convocation (in 1946-1950).

Major General of Aviation (06/04/1940);
lieutenant general of aviation (10/29/1941);
Colonel General of Aviation (01/18/1943);
air marshal (03/17/1943);
Air Chief Marshal (02/21/1944).

He was awarded 3 Orders of Lenin (1940, 02.1945, 04/17/1945), 3 Orders of the Red Banner (10/22/1941, 1944, 1953), 3 Orders of Suvorov 1st degree (01/28/1943, 06/1/1944, 08/19/1944), orders Kutuzov of the 1st degree (07/29/1944), the Red Banner of Labor (1961), 2 Orders of the Red Star (1967, 1968), Honorary Weapons (02/22/1968), medals of the USSR (“In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of V. I. Lenin", "For the defense of Leningrad", "For the defense of Stalingrad", "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945", "Twenty years of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", "Thirty years of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945", "For the victory over Japan", "For the capture of Koenigsberg", "For the capture of Berlin", "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR", "XX years of the Red Army", "30 years Soviet army and Navy", "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", "50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", "In memory of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad"); foreign awards (including the Order of the Legion of Honor 2nd class (senior officer) (France), the Order of the Legion of Honor of the degree of commander (Commander), USA).

Honorary citizen of the city of Kostroma.

A bronze bust of the Hero was installed in Kostroma, memorial plaques - in Moscow, Kostroma. His name was given to the State Secondary Special Educational Institution "Aviation and Transport College of Civil Aviation" (St. Petersburg), previously it was given to the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School, streets in Moscow and Kostroma, a ship of the former Ministry of Fisheries.

A direct participant in the defense of Stalingrad, the organizer of the air blockade of the enemy group surrounded by the Volga, in the Kuban, the Kursk Bulge. During the preparation of the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky, Belorussian, Lvov-Sandomierz operations, Novikov reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief the plan and considerations for the use of aviation, then monitored the execution, coordinated the actions of our aviation groupings.

Biography

Born on November 19, 1900 in the village of Kryukovo, Kostroma province, into a peasant family. After graduating from school and teacher's seminary, he worked as a rural teacher. Since 1919 in the Red Army, a participant in the Civil War and the suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion. In 1930 he graduated from the Military Academy of the Red Army. M.V. Frunze. He served in rifle units, and from March 1933 - in the Air Force. In a short time he mastered flying, held command and staff positions. Since 1940, Major General Novikov headed the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District.

Who was

In the first days of the war, he prepared and carried out an air operation to weaken the opposing enemy grouping by attacking airfields in Finland. The actions of our aviation, led by General Novikov, in the summer and autumn of 1941 contributed to the disruption of Hitler's plans to capture Leningrad. In February 1942, General Novikov was appointed deputy commander of the Air Force, and from April - commander. Under his leadership, strategic air supremacy was won on the Soviet-German front, many issues of interaction between aviation and ground forces were worked out. Alexander Novikov paid great and invariable attention to the creation of powerful aviation reserves as the most important link in increasing the combat readiness of the Air Force, and initiated the creation of air armies. On false accusations of the so-called "aviation case" in March 1946, he was arrested, stripped of titles and awards and spent almost six years in prison, and in June 1953 he was fully rehabilitated. In 1953-1955. Commander of Long-Range Aviation and at the same time in 1954-1955. deputy commander in chief of the Air Force. Since 1956 - Head of the Higher Aviation School of the Civil Fleet. Author of memoirs "In the Sky of Leningrad" (1970).

What is famous

He was the first to combine the efforts of aviation in a certain operational direction, prepared and organized the restructuring of the Air Force in relation to the requirements of the war, repeatedly organized the maneuver of large formations both within the fronts and between them, and was one of the first to introduce the practice of controlling flight crews using radio means.

Battle sites

As a representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Alexander Novikov coordinated the combat operations of aviation of several fronts in the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, in operations to liberate the North Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states, during the assault on Koenigsberg, in the Berlin operation, during the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army. He led the organization of the air blockade of the encircled group of enemy troops near Stalingrad.

Case of manifestation the highest degree heroism

During the implementation of the East Prussian operation and the assault on Koenigsberg, he led the development of the Air Force combat plan, ordered massive strikes involving long-range night bombers in the daytime actions, which largely determined the success of the assault on the enemy fortress. Shortly after the surrender of the enemy, Air Chief Marshal Novikov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for outstanding services in the leadership of the Air Force, and for the second time he was awarded this high title for his skillful leadership of aviation to defeat the Kwantung Army.

Circumstances of death

State awards

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded three Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, three Orders of Suvorov 1st Class, Orders of Kutuzov 1st Class, Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, Red Star, as well as foreign orders.

A very interesting historical figure is Alexander Novikov - Air Marshal of the USSR. He was born in the village of Kryukovo (Kostroma Region) in 1919, he joined the Red Army and took part in civil war. Since 1920 he has been a member of the RCP (b). In the same year he graduated from infantry courses, and in 1922 - courses "Shot". He commanded units from platoon to battalion. In 1930 Alexander Novikov graduated from the Military Academy. After that, he was sent to staff work in the rifle corps.

During the Soviet-Finnish conflict, the future Marshal Novikov was on the North-Western Front, where he headed the Air Force headquarters. In 1940, Alexander Alexandrovich was appointed to the post of commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District, and in 1941 he received the rank of Major General of Aviation. During the Second World War, Novikov first led the Northern Air Force, and then the aviation of the Leningrad Fronts. In April 1942, he was appointed commander of the Air Force. In 1942-1943, he simultaneously served as deputy people's commissar of defense. Novikov was the first in the USSR to be awarded the rank of Air Marshal.

As a representative of the headquarters, Alexander Alexandrovich repeatedly coordinated the military operations of the Air Forces of several fronts - during the offensive near Stalingrad, during Battle of Kursk, at offensive operations in the North Caucasus, in Belarus, in Ukraine, in the Baltic states, in Germany and during the battles with In 1944, he became Chief Air Marshal. This title appeared in the USSR for the first time.

Marshal Novikov led the air blockade of the encircled army of Paulus and the defeat of German aviation in air battles in the Kuban. He participated in the transfer of the USSR Air Force to the same type of units (fighter, assault, bomber) and in the creation of a new organizational structure(air corps, air armies). After the end of the war, Marshal Novikov worked in various command positions in the Air Force. In 1946 he became a deputy of the Supreme Soviet.

On there was a meeting of I. Stalin with his son Vasily, who was a military pilot. He told the leader that American planes were much better than domestic ones. Stalin ordered an investigation. The head of the MGB Abakumov decided to "bend" and started a campaign against the aviators. In March 1946, Marshal Novikov was arrested along with the people's commissar of the aviation industry, Shakhurin, and a number of other officials.

Investigators from Alexander Alexandrovich demanded a confession to criminal acts, otherwise they promised to shoot the whole family. After a whole week of night interrogations, Marshal Novikov signed a document already typed on a typewriter in the name of Stalin, with compromising information on Zhukov and Malenkov. However, here the investigators made a mistake. In the "sincere confession" signed by Marshal Novikov, there was a list of persons unknown to him. Abakumov, as if nothing had happened, made a remark to the investigator Likhachev: “Here, it seems, they went too far ...”. According to Novikov's memoirs, he was given some kind of cigarette, after which the marshal finally lost his sense of the reality of what was happening. Under her influence, he signed the amended document page by page.

It is believed that the MGB needed the knocked-out "confessions" of the marshal and other arrested aviators in order to use them against G.K. Zhukov. Alexander Alexandrovich was sentenced to a considerable term, which he served in one of the institutions of the Gulag. He was rehabilitated after in 1953 and appointed to the post of commander of the ADD action). In 1956, Marshal Novikov retired. He lived in Moscow and published his memoirs. Alexander Alexandrovich died in 1976.