Pilot-ace kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich - three times hero of the USSR. exploits and personal life. Four glorious feats of the best Soviet pilot

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Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich said that he learned to fly and be a real person from the first ace fighter of our domestic aviation Pokryshkin A.I., and he was far from phrase-mongering. Kozhedub did not know how to speak beautifully at all. Here to joke, to cheer up comrades - yes. This he loved and knew how, "to raise general tone". But his attitude to the three times Hero of the Soviet Union Pokryshkin (later also an air marshal) was sacred.

“At first I was not lucky in my favorite business - in aviation,” Ivan Nikitovich admitted. - I did everything on a grand scale, with a jerk, relying most of all on my strength. But it was the example of Alexander Ivanovich that convinced me: aviation - even if you can’t do a day without courage there - is a very accurate thing! Each feat of an ace pilot is not only desperate courage, but at the same time a very accurate calculation, built on impeccable knowledge of technology. That's when the risk is justified. And sometimes it changes - at the will of one person only! - the results of a major air battle, giving it a completely unexpected turn for the enemy.

It is not surprising that these two heroes were destined to become real, sincere friends. And now, when both are no longer there, it is strange and sad to read in some newspaper publications which of them is “better”, who is “first”. Into history Patriotic War they both entered as worthy. And in the grateful hearts of their compatriots - too.

The brief biographical dictionary "Heroes of the Soviet Union" reports that the famous ace Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich was born in the village. Obrazhievka, Shostka district, Sumy region, on June 8, 1920, he became the fifth youngest child in a poor peasant family. Vanya was born after a terrible famine in the country. However, according to Kozhedub himself, it is known that the true date of his birth is July 6, 1922. Ivan Nikitovich "aged" himself for two years, so that after seven years he could enter the Shostka Chemical-Technological College, and in 1938 - in the flying club. Not last role in the decision to study at the flying club, the smart uniform of the accountants played. In April 1939, Ivan first rose above the ground in a training aircraft.

In 1940, when he was actually only 18 years old, he entered the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School (now Kharkov Flight University), for excellent success after graduating from college in 1941, Sergeant Kozhedub was left as an instructor. He related to flying business “according to science”: he studied questions of tactics, outlined descriptions of air battles, drew diagrams and flew - to self-forgetfulness. Kozhedub recalled that time of his formation: “It would be possible, so it seems, and would not get out of the plane. The very technique of piloting, polishing aerobatics gave me incomparable joy. All days, including weekends, he had planned out by the minute, everything was subordinated to one goal - to become a worthy air fighter.

With the outbreak of World War II, Ivan Kozhedub bombarded his superiors with reports with a request to send him to the front, but they released him only in the fall of the 42nd, to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, where he had to retrain for the latest La-5 fighter at that time. Ivan Nikitovich himself wrote about the first combat “baptism” as follows: “In March 1943, I arrived at the Voronezh Front as an ordinary pilot in a regiment commanded by Major Soldatenko. The regiment was armed with La 5 aircraft. From the first day I began to look closely at the combat work of my new comrades. He listened attentively to the analysis of the performance of combat work during the day, studied the tactics of the enemy and tried to combine the theory acquired at school with front-line experience. Thus, day after day, I prepared myself for the battle with the enemy. Only a few days had passed, and it seemed to me that my preparation was endlessly delayed. I wanted to fly out together with my comrades towards the enemy as soon as possible.
Kozhebub at the nominal aircraft

The meeting with the enemy happened unexpectedly. It happened like this: on March 26, 1943, I, together with the leading junior lieutenant Gabunia, taxied to the start on duty. Suddenly, we were given the signal to take off. Junior Lieutenant Gabunia quickly took off. I was a little delayed on takeoff and after the first turn I lost the leader. I was not able to contact either the host or the land by radio. Then I decided to fly over the airfield. Having gained 1500 m of altitude, he began piloting. Suddenly, 800 meters below me, I noticed 6 aircraft that were approaching the airfield with a decrease. At first glance, I mistook them for Pe-2s, but after a few seconds I saw bomb explosions and anti-aircraft fire at our airfield.

Then I realized that these were German Me 110 aircraft. I remember how strongly my heart beat. There were enemy planes in front of me. I decided to attack the enemy, quickly turning around, on top speed went closer. There were 500 meters left when the air combat rule I had heard from the commander flashed through my mind: “Look back before attacking.” Looking around, I noticed how a plane with a white spinner was approaching me from behind at high speed. Before I could recognize whose plane it was, he had already opened fire on me. One shell exploded in my cockpit. With a sharp turn to the left with a slide, I get out from under the blow. Two Me 109s passed at high speed to my right. Now I realized that they, noticing my attack, dived and attacked me. However, my failed attack forced the Me 110 to abandon a second bombing run. In this meeting, I was convinced in practice how important the role of the follower is to cover the leader when attacking the target. (F.Ya. Falaleev "One hundred Stalinist falcons. In the battles for the Motherland", M., "Yauza", "Eksmo". 2005).

Ivan Kozhedub shot down the first German aircraft in tandem with the wingman Vasily Mukhin on the Kursk Bulge. And by October 1943, the track record of the squadron commander of the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Senior Lieutenant Kozhedub I.N. totaled 146 sorties, 20 personally shot down aircraft. Demanding and demanding of himself, frantic and tireless in battle, Kozhedub was an ideal air fighter, enterprising and executive, daring and prudent, brave and skillful. “Precise maneuver, stunning swiftness of attack and strike from the utmost short distance”, - so Ivan Nikitovich determined the basis of air combat. He was born for battle, he lived in battle, he thirsted for it. In the battles for the Dnieper, the pilots of the regiment in which Ivan Kozhedub fought for the first time met with Goering's aces from the Melders squadron and emerged victorious from the duel. In these battles, Kozhedub significantly increased his score. For 10 days of intense fighting, he personally shot down 11 enemy aircraft.

Here is a characteristic episode, noticed by his brother-soldier, another well-known ace Evstigneev K.A.: “Somehow Ivan Kozhedub returned from a mission, excited by the battle, excited and, perhaps, therefore unusually talkative: “They give bastards! None other than the "wolves" from the squadron "Udet". But we gave them the withers - be healthy! - Pointing towards the command post, he hopefully asked the squadron adjutant: - How is it? Is there anything more to come?"

The title of Hero of the Soviet Union Senior Lieutenant Kozhedub I.N. received only on February 4, 1944, when the number of downed aircraft reached 48. Therefore, soon - on August 19, 1944 he became twice a Hero. (In year Battle of Kursk The star of the Hero of the Soviet Union was deserved by the one who shot down 15 enemy planes, the second - 30 planes.) At the same time, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of captain, and he was appointed deputy commander of the 176th guards regiment. Kozhedub's attitude towards his fellow pilots is characteristic. In March 1944, during one of the battles of the six La-5s with a group of Junkers, one of our aircraft was shot down. Lieutenant P. Bryzgalov headed for the nearest airfield abandoned by the Germans. On landing, his plane rolled over and the pilot was trapped in the cockpit. Ivan Kozhedub ordered two more pilots to land, and he himself landed on his “belly” in liquid mud. By joint efforts, the pilots freed their comrade from "captivity".

“The attitude of Kozhedub to the car acquired the features of religion - its form that is called animatism. “The motor runs well. The plane is obedient to my every movement. I am not alone - I have a fighting friend with me ”- in these lines the attitude of the ace to the aircraft. This is not a poetic exaggeration, not a metaphor. Approaching the car before the flight, he always found a few affectionate words for her, in flight he spoke as if with a comrade doing an important part of the work. Indeed, besides flying, it is difficult to find a profession where the fate of a person would depend more on the behavior of the machine. During the war, he replaced 6 Lavochkins, and not a single plane let him down. And he did not lose a single car, although it happened to burn, bring holes, land on airfields dotted with funnels. (Ibid.).

In May-June, Kozhedub I.N. flew on a nominal plane La-5FN (tail number 14), built with the money of a collective farmer, beekeeper Vasily Konev, and shot down on it, to the pride of the donor, 7 fascist vultures. On the left side, this aircraft had the inscription "In the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel Konev G.N." (donor's nephew), on the right - "From the collective farmer Konev Vasily Viktorovich." In September, Kozhedub was transferred to the 176th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. And on his car, with bright, white with red edging inscriptions on both sides, Evstigneev K.A. flew, who destroyed 6 more enemy aircraft on it, and then Bryzgalov P.A.

As you know, the pilots did not particularly like catchy signs on the plane, but this did not stop them from fighting well. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Kirill Evstigneev by the end of the war had 53 personal victories and 3 in the group, and Pavel Bryzgalov - 20 victories - he also became the Hero of the Soviet Union by the end of the war. Another 17 enemy vehicles were destroyed by Kozhedub on La-7 (side number 27), on which he ended the war. Today this aircraft is an exhibit of the Air Force Museum-Exhibition in Monino.

“In April 1945, Kozhedub drove a couple of German fighters away from the American B-17 with a barrage of bursts and immediately noticed a group of approaching aircraft with unfamiliar silhouettes. The leader of the group opened fire on him from a very long distance. With a coup over the wing, Kozhedub quickly attacked the winger. He smoked heavily and with a decrease went towards our troops. Having completed a combat turn from an inverted position with a half-loop, the Soviet ace fired at the leader - he exploded in the air. Of course, he managed to see the white stars on the fuselages and wings and returned to his room with anxiety: a meeting with the allies promised trouble. Fortunately, one of the downed pilots managed to escape. To the question "Who knocked you down?" he replied: “Fockewulf with a red nose.” The regiment commander P. Chupikov gave Kozhedub the films, where the victories were recorded, over the Mustangs.
- Take them for yourself, Ivan ... don't show them to anyone. This battle was one of the first fights in the air with the Americans, the harbinger of a great air war in Korea, a long confrontation between the two superpowers. (Ibid.).

On August 18, 1945, Major Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich, the third after his teacher Pokryshkin A.I. and Marshal Zhukov G.K. , was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union three times. In total, during the war, Ivan Nikitovich conducted 330 sorties, 120 air battles. Among the 62 victories (Ivan Nikitovich names - 63) of Kozhedub over the fascist aces is the "new" world aviation - the jet Me-262, shot down over the Oder by a burst from behind and from below in 1945. During the years of the Great Patriotic War Kozhedub I.N. was never shot down, although his plane was damaged several times, but the skilled pilot landed his car every time.

After graduating in 1949 from the Air Force Academy Kozhedub I.N., he was appointed deputy, and then commander of the 326th aviation division stationed near Moscow, in Kubinka. And in 1951, in the skies of Korea, the 326th division of Kozhedub already met with armadas of jet aircraft. The division commander, three times Hero of the Soviet Union Kozhedub, was strictly forbidden to participate in the battles himself, but on the other hand he was obliged to teach his skills to young pilots and lead combat operations. For the first time in the world, there was an air war on swift jets with the US Air Force, recent allies, who invaded a small defenseless state bordering our country. Because who is stronger, depended on whether tomorrow will be peaceful or military?

From March to February 1951, in the skies of Korea, Kozhedub's division scored 215 victories over American aircraft, while losing 52 aircraft and 10 pilots. American aircraft shot down included both "flying fortresses" and "superfortresses". Superiority Soviet aviation, ready to repel any enemy, has been proven in practice.

In 1952, the 326th division was transferred to the air defense system and transferred to Kaluga. In the summer of 1953, Kozhedub became a major general. A year later, he was sent to study at the Academy of the General Staff. I took part of the course as an external student, as due to official reasons I was delayed with the start of classes. After graduating from the academy, Kozhedub was appointed first deputy head of the Combat Training Directorate of the country's Air Force, from May 1958 to 1964 he was first deputy commander of the Air Force of the Leningrad and then Moscow military districts.

Until 1970, Colonel General Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich regularly flew fighter jets, mastered dozens of types of aircraft and helicopters. He made his last flights on the MiG-23, then left the flight job. Interestingly, the units commanded by Kozhedub always differed low level accident rate, and he himself, as a pilot, had practically no accidents, although “emergency situations”, of course, happened. So, in 1966, while flying at low altitude, his MiG-21 collided with a flock of rooks; one of the birds hit the air intake and damaged the engine. It took all the flying skills of an ace to land the car ... In 1978, Kozhedub was appointed to the group of general inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1985 he was awarded the rank of air marshal.

Kozhedub I.N. was a very modest person, for example, he never entered into his own account the planes that he destroyed together with the newcomers. He never chalked up a shot down (on fire) enemy aircraft, if he himself did not see how he fell to the ground. I didn’t even report this to the commander, because the downed plane could reach his own. Therefore, in fact, the total number of aircraft shot down by him is much more than 63!

Kozhedub I.N. was simple and honest both with the first person of the state and with ordinary citizens during meetings, trips, speeches, interviews. He did not possess "noble" qualities, did not know how and did not consider it necessary to flatter, intrigue, cherish the necessary connections, notice the ridiculous, and sometimes even malicious jealousy for his glory. He was an officer, selflessly devoted to his work, an excellent pilot and commander.

Three times Hero of the Soviet Union Kozhedub I.N. He was also awarded two Orders of Lenin, seven Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Alexander Nevsky, Orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st class, two Orders of the Red Star, the Order of "For Service to the Motherland in the USSR Armed Forces" of the 3rd class, medals, six foreign orders and foreign medals.

Kozhedub I.N. - Author of the books: "Serving the Motherland" (1949), "Victory Holiday" (1963), "Loyalty to the Fatherland" (1969). Last years Ivan Nikitovich was seriously ill during his life: the stress of the war years and the difficult service in the peaceful years affected. He died at his dacha from a heart attack on August 8, 1991, was buried in Moscow on Novodevichy cemetery.

Name: Ivan Kozhedub

Age: 71 years old

Activity: military leader, ace pilot, deputy, three times Hero of the Soviet Union

Family status: was married

Ivan Kozhedub: biography

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub - three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Air Marshal, Soviet military leader and participant in the Great Patriotic War. On account of the pilot dozens of downed enemy aircraft.

Childhood and youth

On June 8, 1920, the future pilot Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub was born. The boy grew up in a peasant family, where his father served as a church warden. Ivan's childhood and youth were spent in the Glukhovsky district of the Chernihiv province, which was later renamed the Shostkinsky district of the Sumy region of Ukraine.

At the age of 14, Kozhedub received a matriculation certificate, after which he went to the city of Shostka. The young man submitted documents to the Chemical Technology College, passed the necessary tests, after which he was enrolled as a student in educational institution.

Ivan was drawn to aviation with youthful years, therefore, while studying at a technical school, he began to study at an flying club. In 1940, a new line appeared in the biography of Kozhedub - the Red Army. The young man turned into a soldier.

At the same time, Ivan completed his studies at the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School. Planes fascinated Kozhedub, so the guy decided to stay here as an instructor.

Military service

In 1941, the life of Ivan Kozhedub was divided into two eras: before and after the war. With the teaching staff of the aviation school, the young man ended up in Chimkent (now Shymkent). This city is located on the territory of Kazakhstan. Soon Ivan was promoted to the rank of senior sergeant, and a few months later Kozhedub was taken to the 240th Fighter Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division, which was stationed in Ivanovo. A year later, the pilot ended up on the Voronezh front.

Here Ivan's plane takes off into the air, but the first pancake turned out to be lumpy. La-5, on which Kozhedub moved, was damaged. Only the back made of impenetrable material allowed the pilot to save his life. The plane was completely wrecked, but the skill of the pilot allowed it to land on the runway. It was not possible to restore the single-engine fighter.

Due to the lack of aircraft, they tried to transfer Kozhedub to the alert post, but the direct commander came to the defense of the soldier. Already in the summer of 1943, Ivan received another star and began to bear the rank of junior lieutenant. With these changes, the pilot climbed up career ladder to Deputy Squadron Leader.

Ivan proved his loyalty to the Motherland every day, rising into the sky and defending the Russian land. On July 6, 1943, the Battle of Kursk began. This time, Kozhedub soared into the blue sky for the 40th time. The anniversary was marked by a pilot shot down by a German bomber. A day later, the pilot announced another aircraft that he shot down. On July 9, 2 enemy fighters came under fire.

Fighter La-7 Ivan Kozhedub

For such achievements, Ivan received the title of Lieutenant and Hero of the Soviet Union. In 1944, Kozhedub moved to the unique La-5FN aircraft. The aircraft was created at the donation of a beekeeper from the Stalingrad region V.V. Konev. At the same time, the pilot was awarded the rank of captain and transferred to the post of deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment. From now on, the serviceman was lifted into the sky by a brand new La-7 fighter. On the account of Kozhedub there are 330 sorties and 62 downed aircraft.

For Ivan, the Great Patriotic War ended on April 17, 1945. The pilot met the victory already in Berlin. Here the man was awarded another Gold Star medal. This award was given to those people who showed courage, courage and high military skill. One of the main features of Kozhedub is the desire to take risks. The pilot preferred to open fire on close range.

Later, Ivan Nikitovich will write an autobiography in which he will tell that in 1945, shortly before the end of hostilities, two "Americans" were on the tail of the plane. The US military perceived Kozhedub as an enemy, so they began to fire at the Soviet aircraft. They themselves suffered: Ivan did not plan to die, but, on the contrary, dreamed of setting foot on the ground again. As a result, the Americans died.

One cannot underestimate the feats that Ivan Nikitovich accomplished during the war years. More than once, Kozhedub found himself in unpleasant situations from which any other pilot could not get out. But the pilot came out of the battle every time as a winner. The man landed actually destroyed fighters and himself remained alive.

Kozhedub did not want to leave the service after the end of World War II, so he remained in the Air Force. For further advancement, Ivan Nikitovich needed to get higher education, so the pilot entered the Red Banner Air Force Academy. Gradually, aircraft manufacturing plants began to create unique designs. Kozhedub took to the air and tested aircraft.

So in 1948, Ivan Nikitovich tested the jet MiG-15. After 8 years, fate brought the pilot to military academy General Staff. It's time new war which took place in Korea. The commander could not leave the 324th Fighter Aviation Division without leadership, so he went with the soldiers to another country. Thanks to the skills of Kozhedub, 9 pilots were killed in the war during the year, 216 air victories were won.

After returning from Korea, he took up the post of Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. He left this position in 1971 in connection with the transfer to the central office Air force. After 7 years, Ivan Nikitovich ended up in the Group of General Inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In 1985, Kozhedub received the title of Air Marshal.

In addition to the love of military service, Ivan Nikitovich had another line of work. This is politics. Once Kozhedub was elected a people's deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR II-V convocations.

Personal life

In 1928, the future wife of Ivan Kozhedub, Veronika Nikolaevna, was born. About how young people met, how they started romantic relationship, the soldier preferred not to tell.

IN post-war years in the family of the Hero of the Soviet Union, a daughter was born, who was named Natalya. Later, the girl gave her parents a grandson, Vasily Vitalievich. Now the man works in a medical institution in Moscow.

In 1952, the Kozhedubs again had a replenishment. This time a son was born. The boy was named Nikita. The young man followed in the footsteps of his father, but not in a flight school, but in a nautical school. During the service, Nikita married a girl named Olga Fedorovna. In 1982, a girl, Anna, was born to a newly-made family. In 2002, the death of the captain of the 3rd rank of the USSR Navy was announced.

Death

On August 8, 1991, the relatives of Ivan Kozhedub announced that the Hero of the Soviet Union had died. The official cause of death was given heart attack. The Novodevichy Cemetery, located in Moscow, was chosen for the burial of the pilot.

Removed for the anniversary of the pilot documentary"Secrets of the century. Two wars of Ivan Kozhedub ”, which was presented to the viewer in 2010. On the set of the picture, personal notes, diaries and even family archives of the pilot, including photos, were used. main role played Russian actor Sergey Larin. It is interesting that the granddaughter of Ivan Nikitovich Anna reincarnated as the wife of the famous hero.

Awards

1943, 1945, 1951, 1968, 1970 - Commander of the Order of the Red Banner
1944, 1945 - Hero of the Soviet Union
1944, 1978 - Commander of the Order of Lenin
1945 - Commander of the Order of Alexander Nevsky
1955 - Commander of the Order of the Red Star
1975 - Commander of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree
1985 - Commander of the Order of the Patriotic War, I degree
1990 - Commander of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR", II degree

Ivan Kozhedub short biography military pilot is described in this article.

Kozhedub Ivan Nikitovich short biography

Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Kozhedub was born on June 08, 1920 in the village of Obrazhievka (now the Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a church warden.

Having received a secondary education, in 1934 he entered the Chemical-Technological College of the city of Shostok, which had an flying club, which the young man joined.

The Great Patriotic War began and Ivan Nikitovich, as a member of the aviation school, was evacuated to Kazakhstan and was soon awarded the rank of senior sergeant.

In November 1942, he was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment, located in the city of Ivanovo. From there, in March 1943, Kozhedub was sent to the Voronezh Front.

The first sortie of Ivan Kozhedub was not very successful, since his La-5 fighter first fired at the German Messerschmitt with a cannon burst, and then (by mistake) the Soviet anti-aircraft gunners (two shells hit). Despite the damage, Kozhedub managed to land the fighter.

Until February 1944, he made 146 sorties and destroyed 20 German aircraft. For this he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In August 1944, the hero was awarded the second Gold Star medal for 48 downed enemy vehicles and 256 sorties. And by the end of the war, he already had 62 enemy destroyed in the air.

His last feat took place over Berlin in April 1945, when another Nazi plane was shot down. During the war, the Germans did not manage to bring him down even once. In the same month, Ivan Nikitovich received another Gold Star medal, becoming a Hero of the Soviet Union three times.

In 1946, the hero continued his studies in the Air Force three times. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy and mastered the jet MiG-15. Despite Peaceful time in the USSR, his exploits did not end there - during the Korean War, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub led the 324th Fighter Aviation Division. Under his leadership, the pilots scored 216 victories in the sky with losses - nine people and 27 cars.

From 1964 to 1971 he was deputy commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1978, he was a member of the inspector general of the USSR Ministry of Defense. For services to the country and numerous feats, in 1985 he was awarded the title of Air Marshal.

Ivan Kozhedub interesting facts

What plane did Ivan Kozhedub fly on? During the war, Kozhedub replaced 6 Lavochkins (La-5), and not a single plane let him down. And he did not lose a single car, although it happened to burn, bring holes, land on airfields dotted with funnels ...

Biography

Ivan Nikittovich Kozhedub - Soviet military leader, ace pilot of the Great Patriotic War, the most successful fighter pilot in Allied aviation (64 victories). Three times Hero of the Soviet Union. Air Marshal (May 6, 1985).

The pseudonym during the fighting as part of the Group of Soviet military specialists in Korea was "Krylov".

Ivan Kozhedub was born in the village of Obrazhievka, Glukhovsky district, Chernihiv province (now the Shostkinsky district of the Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a peasant - a church elder. He belonged to the second generation of Soviet fighter pilots who took part in the Great Patriotic War.

In 1934, Kozhedub graduated from high school and entered the Chemical Technology College in the city of Shostka.

He made his first steps in aviation while studying at the Shostka flying club. At the beginning of 1940, he entered the Red Army and in the fall of the same year he graduated from the Chuguev Military Aviation Pilot School, after which he continued to serve as an instructor there.

After the start of the war, together with the aviation school, he was evacuated to Kazakhstan, the city of Chimkent. February 23, 1942 Kozhedub was awarded the rank of senior sergeant. In November 1942, Kozhedub was seconded to the 240th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 302nd Fighter Aviation Division (since 2/7/1944, the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Division), which is being formed in Ivanovo. In March 1943, as part of a division, he flew to the Voronezh Front.

First air battle ended in failure for Kozhedub and almost became the last - his La-5 was damaged by a Messerschmitt-109 cannon burst, the armored back saved him from an incendiary projectile, and upon returning the plane was fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft gunners, it hit 2 anti-aircraft projectile. Despite the fact that Kozhedub managed to land the plane, it was not subject to full restoration, and the pilot had to fly on the "remnants" - free planes available in the squadron. Soon they wanted to take him to the alert post, but the regiment commander stood up for him. At the beginning of the summer of 1943, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant, then he was appointed to the post of deputy squadron commander. Shortly thereafter, on July 6, 1943, on the Kursk Bulge, during the fortieth sortie, Kozhedub shot down his first German Junkers Yu-87 bomber. The very next day he shot down the second, and on July 9 he shot down 2 Bf-109 fighters at once. The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union Kozhedub (already a senior lieutenant) was awarded on February 4, 1944 for 146 sorties and 20 downed enemy aircraft.

Since May 1944, Ivan Kozhedub fought on the La-5FN (side number 14), built at the expense of the collective farmer-beekeeper of the Stalingrad region V.V. Konev. In August 1944, having received the rank of captain, he was appointed deputy commander of the 176th Guards Regiment and began to fight on the new La-7 fighter. Kozhedub was awarded the second Gold Star medal on August 19, 1944 for 256 sorties and 48 downed enemy aircraft.

By the end of the war, Ivan Kozhedub, by that time a major in the guards, flew La-7, made 330 sorties, shot down 62 enemy aircraft in 120 air battles, including 17 Ju-87 dive bombers, 2 Ju-88 and He bombers. -111, 16 Bf-109 and 21 Fw-190 fighters, 3 Hs-129 attack aircraft and 1 Me-262 jet fighter.

The last battle in the Great Patriotic War, in which he shot down 2 FW-190s, Kozhedub fought on April 17, 1945 in the sky over Berlin. Kozhedub received the third Gold Star medal on August 18, 1945 for high military skill, personal courage and courage shown on the fronts of the war. He was an excellent shooter and preferred to open fire at a distance of 200-300 meters, rarely approaching a shorter distance.

In his autobiography, Kozhedub claims that in 1945 he shot down two American aircraft A US Air Force P-51 Mustang that attacked it, mistaking it for a German aircraft.

I. N. Kozhedub was never shot down during the Great Patriotic War, and although he was knocked out, he always landed his plane. Kozhedub also has the world's first jet fighter, the German Me-262, which he shot down on February 19, 1945, but he was not the first to do this - on August 28, 1944, one downed Me-262 was recorded on account American pilots M. Croy and J. Myers, and in total, until February 1945, about 20 downed aircraft of this type were officially credited to American pilots.

At the end of the war, Kozhedub continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy. At the same time, he remained an active fighter pilot, having mastered the jet MiG-15 in 1948. In 1956 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. During the Korean War, he commanded the 324th Fighter aviation division(324th IAD) as part of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps. From April 1951 to January 1952, the division's pilots scored 216 air victories, losing only 27 cars (9 pilots died).

From June 1962 to August 1963 - commander of the 76th air army. In 1964-1971 - Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District. Since 1971 he served in the central apparatus of the Air Force, and since 1978 - in the Group of General Inspectors of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. In 1970, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of Colonel General of Aviation. And in 1985, I. N. Kozhedub was awarded military rank Air Marshal.

He was elected a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR II-V convocations, a people's deputy of the USSR.
Died August 8, 1991. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

List of aerial victories

In official Soviet historiography, the result of Kozhedub's combat activities looks like 62 enemy aircraft shot down personally. However, recent archival studies have shown that this figure is slightly underestimated - for unknown reasons, two air victories are missing in the award documents (where it was actually taken from) (June 8, 1944 - Me-109 and April 11, 1944 - PZL-24), while they were confirmed and officially entered into the personal account of the pilot.

Total aerial victories: 64+0
sorties - 330
air battles - 120

According to Channel One, at the end of World War II, American pilots shot down Soviet fighters. I. N. Kozhedub flew out and personally shot down two American fighters responsible for this act of aggression. In the book of Nikolai Bodrikhin "Soviet aces" slightly different circumstances of this episode are given: Kozhedub drove away the German planes attacking him from the American bomber, after which he himself was attacked American fighter from a very long distance. Kozhedub shot down two American planes; judging by the words of a surviving American pilot, the Americans mistook Kozhedub's plane for a German Focke-Wulf with a red nose.

Assignment of military ranks

sergeant (February 1941),
senior sergeant (02/23/1942),
junior lieutenant (05/15/1943), by order No. 0291 on the Voronezh Front
lieutenant (5.08.1943),
senior lieutenant (11/10/1943),
captain (04/24/1944),
major (11/19/1944),
lieutenant colonel (20.01.1949),
colonel (3.01.1951),
major general of aviation (3.08.1953),
lieutenant general of aviation (04/27/1962),
Colonel General of Aviation (04/29/1970),
Air Marshal (05/07/1985).

Awards

Three times Hero of the Soviet Union (02/04/1944, No. 1472; 08/19/1944, No. 36; 08/18/1945, No. 3).
Cavalier of two orders of Lenin (02/04/1944; 02/21/1978).

Cavalier of seven orders of the Red Banner (07/22/1943, No. 52212; 09/30/1943, No. 4567; 03/29/1945, No. 4108; 06/29/1945, No. 756; 06/02/1951, No. 122; 02/22/1968, No. 23; 26.06. 1970, no. 537483).

Cavalier of the Order of Alexander Nevsky (07/31/1945, No. 37500).
Cavalier of the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (04/06/1985).
Cavalier of two Orders of the Red Star (06/04/1955; 10/26/1955).
Cavalier of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces USSR "II degree (22.02.1990).
Cavalier of the Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" III degree (04/30/1975).
Foreign:
Cavalier of the Order of the Red Banner (Mongolia).
Cavalier of the Order of Merit to the Fatherland (GDR).
Knight of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland.
Commander of the Order State flag(DPRK).

Ranks:

Honorary citizen of the cities: Balti, Chuguev, Kaluga, Kupyansk, Sumy, Zvenigorod and others.

Memory

The bronze bust of Kozhedub was installed at home in the village of Obrazhievka.
His La-7 (tail number 27) is on display at the Air Force Museum in Monino.

A park in the city of Sumy (Ukraine) was named after Ivan Kozhedub, a monument to the pilot was erected near the entrance, as well as a street in the southeast of Moscow (Marshal Kozhedub Street). Also, streets in the cities of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan, Salavat, Balashikha, Semiluki (Russian Federation) are named after him.

The name of the Three Times Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Nikitich Kozhedub is Kharkiv University Air Force(former HVVAUL, HIL, HVU), as well as the Shostka Chemical-Technological College.

On June 8, 2010, in the city of Shostka, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Kozhedub, a bust was erected near the museum of Ivan Kozhedub.

On November 12, 2010, the monument to Kozhedub was erected in Kharkov, on the territory Kharkiv University Air Force.

A documentary film “Secrets of the Century. Two wars of Ivan Kozhedub.

In 2010, Ukraine celebrated on state level 90th anniversary of the birth of the hero. At the same time, a commemorative coin dedicated to Ivan Kozhedub was issued.

In the name of Ivan Kozhedub, a fast train No. 118/117 was named on the Sumy-Moscow route.

A street in the microdistrict of Aviators in the city of Balashikha, Moscow Region, is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

A small street in Alma-Ata, the Republic of Kazakhstan is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

A pioneer camp in the Moscow region (Odintsovsky district, near Kubinka) is named after Ivan Kozhedub.

The layout of the La-5 aircraft, on which I. N. Kozhedub made the first flight from the Urazovsky airfield during the war, was opened in May 1988 in the Belgorod region.

Foreign awards

Retired

Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub(ukr. Ivan Mikitovich Kozhedub; June 8, Obrazhievka, Glukhovsky district, Chernigov province, Ukrainian SSR - 8 August, Moscow, USSR) - Soviet military leader, ace pilot of the Great Patriotic War, the most successful fighter pilot in Allied aviation (64 victories). Three times Hero of the Soviet Union. Air Marshal (May 6).

Biography

Ivan Kozhedub was born in the village of Obrazhievka, Glukhovsky district, Chernihiv province (now the Shostkinsky district of the Sumy region of Ukraine) in the family of a peasant - a church warden. Belonged to the second generation [ ] Soviet fighter pilots who took part in the Great Patriotic War.

The first air battle ended in failure for Kozhedub and almost became the last - his La-5 was damaged by a Messerschmitt-109 cannon burst, the armored back saved him from an incendiary projectile, and upon returning the plane was fired upon by Soviet anti-aircraft gunners, it was hit by 2 anti-aircraft shells. Despite the fact that Kozhedub managed to land the plane, it was not subject to full restoration, and the pilot had to fly on the "remnants" - free planes available in the squadron. Soon they wanted to take him to the alert post, but the regiment commander stood up for him. At the beginning of the summer of 1943, Kozhedub was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant, then he was appointed to the post of deputy squadron commander. Shortly thereafter, on July 6, 1943, on the Kursk Bulge, during the fortieth sortie, Kozhedub shot down his first German Junkers Yu-87 bomber. The very next day he shot down the second, and on July 9 he shot down 2 Bf-109 fighters at once. The first title of Hero of the Soviet Union Kozhedub (already a senior lieutenant) was awarded on February 4, 1944 for 146 sorties and 20 downed enemy aircraft.

At the end of the war, Kozhedub continued to serve in the Air Force. In 1949 he graduated from the Red Banner Air Force Academy. At the same time, he remained an active fighter pilot, having mastered the MiG-15 jet in 1948. In 1956 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. During the Korean War, he commanded the 324th Fighter Aviation Division (324th IAD) as part of the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps. From April to January 1952, the division's pilots scored 216 air victories, losing only 27 aircraft (9 pilots died).

External images
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List of aerial victories

In official Soviet historiography, the result of Kozhedub's combat activities looks like 62 enemy aircraft shot down personally. However, recent archival studies have shown that this figure is slightly underestimated - in the award documents (where it, in fact, was taken from), for unknown reasons, there are no two air victories (June 8, 1944 - Me-109 and April 11, 1944 - PZL-24), while they were confirmed and officially entered into the personal account of the pilot.

List of air victories of I. N. Kozhedub
No. p / p	Victory date	aircraft type	Place of victory
1	06.07.1943	Yu-87	app. Envy
2	07.07.1943	Yu-87	Art. Gostishchevo
3	09.07.1943	Me-109	Krasnaya Polyana
4	09.07.1943	Me-109	east Pokrovka
5	09.08.1943	Me-109	Charming
6	14.08.1943	Me-109	iskrovka
7	14.08.1943	Me-109	Kolomna
8	16.08.1943	Yu-87	Rogan
9	22.08.1943	FV-190	Lyubotin
10	09.09.1943	Me-109	sowing iskrovka
11	30.09.1943	Yu-87	southwest Borodaevka
12	01.10.1943	Yu-87	app. Borodaevka
13	01.10.1943	Yu-87	app. Borodaevka
14	02.10.1943	Me-109	flat
15	02.10.1943	Yu-87	Petrovka
16	02.10.1943	Yu-87	southwest Andreevka
17	02.10.1943	Yu-87	southwest Andreevka
18	04.10.1943	Me-109	north-west Borodaevka
19	05.10.1943	Me-109	southwest Red Kut
20	05.10.1943	Me-109	app. Kutsevalovka
21	06.10.1943	Me-109	Borodaevka
22	10.10.1943	Me-109	Dneprovo-Kamenka
23	12.10.1943	Yu-87	sowing flat
24	12.10.1943	Me-109	south Petrovka
25	12.10.1943	Yu-87	south Home textile
26	29.10.1943	Yu-87	Krivoy Rog
27	29.10.1943	He-111	app. Budovka
28	16.01.1944	Me-109	Novo-Zlynka
29	30.01.1944	Me-109	east Nechaevka
30	30.01.1944	Yu-87	app. Lipovka
31	14.03.1944	Yu-87	Osievka
32	21.03.1944	Yu-87	Lebedin - Shpola
33	11.04.1944	PZL-24	Sirka
34	19.04.1944	He-111	sowing Iasi
35	28.04.1944	Yu-87	southeast Vulturu
36	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
37	29.04.1944	Khsh-129	Horlesti
38	03.05.1944	Yu-87	Targu Frumos - Dumbravica
39	31.05.1944	FV-190	east Vulturu
40	01.06.1944	Yu-87	Alien Water
41	02.06.1944	Khsh-129	app. Stynka
42	03.06.1944	FV-190	Rediu Ului - Teter
43	03.06.1944	FV-190	Rediu Ului - Teter
44	03.06.1944	FV-190	north-west Iasi
45	07.06.1944	Me-109	Pirlitsa
46	08.06.1944	Me-109	bricks
47	22.09.1944	FV-190	north-west strenci
48	22.09.1944	FV-190	southwest Ramnieki - Daksty
49	25.09.1944	FV-190	north-west Valmiera
50	16.01.1945	FV-190	south Studzyan
51	10.02.1945	FV-190	north-west env. Morin airfield
52	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
53	12.02.1945	FV-190	app. Kinitz
54	12.02.1945	FV-190	lake Kitzer See
55	17.02.1945	Me-262	east Alt Friedland
56	19.02.1945	Me-109	sowing Furstenfelde
57	11.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Brunchen
58	18.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Kustrin
59	18.03.1945	FV-190	north-west Kustrin
60	22.03.1945	FV-190	sowing Seelow
61	22.03.1945	FV-190	east Guzov
62	23.03.1945	FV-190	Art. Werbig
63	17.04.1945	FV-190	Writsen
64	17.04.1945	FV-190	Kinitz

Total aerial victories: 64+0
sorties - 330
air battles - 120

1 now living. 2 Subsequently received the rank of Chief Marshal of Artillery. 3 Stripped of rank in 1952, reinstated in 1953. 4 Demoted to the rank of Major General of Artillery in 1963. 5 Chief Marshal of Artillery, previously held the rank of General of the Army.

Air Marshals

	1 now living. 2 Subsequently promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal. 3 Stripped of his rank and shot in 1950, rehabilitated and reinstated in rank by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 6, 1965. 4 Stripped of his rank in 1946, reinstated in 1953. 5 The last bearer of the rank of Chief Marshal from all military branches.

Marshals of the armored forces

Marshals of the Engineering Troops

Marshals of the Signal Corps

An excerpt characterizing Kozhedub, Ivan Nikitovich

X
This letter had not yet been submitted to the sovereign, when Barclay conveyed to Bolkonsky at dinner that the sovereign personally wanted to see Prince Andrei in order to ask him about Turkey, and that Prince Andrei had to appear at Benigsen's apartment at six o'clock in the evening.
On the same day, news was received in the sovereign's apartment about Napoleon's new movement, which could be dangerous for the army - news that later turned out to be unfair. And on the same morning, Colonel Michaud, driving around the Dris fortifications with the sovereign, proved to the sovereign that this fortified camp, arranged by Pfuel and considered until now the chef d "?uvr" of tactics, supposed to destroy Napoleon - that this camp is nonsense and death Russian army.
Prince Andrei arrived at the apartment of General Benigsen, who occupied a small landowner's house on the very bank of the river. Neither Bennigsen nor the sovereign was there, but Chernyshev, the sovereign's adjutant wing, received Bolkonsky and announced to him that the sovereign had gone with General Benigsen and with Marquis Pauluchi another time that day to bypass the fortifications of the Drissa camp, the convenience of which was beginning to be strongly doubted.
Chernyshev was sitting with a book of a French novel by the window of the first room. This room was probably formerly a hall; there was still an organ in it, on which some kind of carpets were piled, and in one corner stood the folding bed of adjutant Benigsen. This adjutant was here. He, apparently worn out by a feast or business, sat on a folded bed and dozed off. Two doors led from the hall: one directly into the former living room, the other to the right into the office. From the first door came voices speaking German and occasionally French. There, in the former living room, at the request of the sovereign, not a military council was gathered (the sovereign loved uncertainty), but some persons whose opinion about the upcoming difficulties he wanted to know. It was not a military council, but, as it were, a council of the elect to clarify certain issues personally for the sovereign. The following were invited to this half-council: the Swedish general Armfeld, adjutant general Wolzogen, Winzingerode, whom Napoleon called a fugitive French subject, Michaud, Tol, not a military man at all - Count Stein and, finally, Pfuel himself, who, as Prince Andrei heard, was la cheville ouvriere [the basis] of the whole business. Prince Andrei had the opportunity to examine him well, since Pfuel arrived shortly after him and went into the drawing room, stopping for a minute to talk with Chernyshev.
Pfuel at first glance, in his Russian general's badly tailored uniform, which sat awkwardly, as if dressed up, seemed familiar to Prince Andrei, although he had never seen him. It included Weyrother, and Mack, and Schmidt, and many other German theorists of generals, whom Prince Andrei managed to see in 1805; but he was more typical than all of them. Prince Andrey had never seen such a German theoretician, who united in himself everything that was in those Germans.
Pful was short, very thin, but broad-boned, coarse, healthy build, with a wide pelvis and bony shoulder blades. His face was very wrinkled, with deep-set eyes. His hair in front at the temples, obviously, was hastily smoothed with a brush, behind it naively stuck out tassels. He, looking around uneasily and angrily, entered the room, as if he were afraid of everything in the large room into which he had entered. Holding his sword with an awkward movement, he turned to Chernyshev, asking in German where the sovereign was. He evidently wanted to go through the rooms as soon as possible, complete the bows and salutations, and sit down to work in front of the map, where he felt himself in the right place. He hurriedly nodded his head at Chernyshev's words and smiled ironically, listening to his words that the sovereign was inspecting the fortifications that he, Pfuel himself, had laid according to his theory. He was bassist and cool, as self-confident Germans say, muttered to himself: Dummkopf ... or: zu Grunde die ganze Geschichte ... or: s "wird was gescheites d" raus werden ... [nonsense ... to hell with the whole thing ... (German) ] Prince Andrei did not hear and wanted to pass, but Chernyshev introduced Prince Andrei to Pful, noting that Prince Andrei had come from Turkey, where the war had ended so happily. Pfuel almost glanced not so much at Prince Andrei as through him, and said with a laugh: "Da muss ein schoner taktischcr Krieg gewesen sein." ["That must have been the correct tactical war." (German)] - And, laughing contemptuously, he went into the room from which voices were heard.
Evidently, Pfuel, who was always ready for ironic irritation, was especially agitated today by the fact that they dared to inspect his camp without him and judge him. Prince Andrei, from this one short meeting with Pfuel, thanks to his memories of Austerlitz, made up a clear characterization of this man. Pfuel was one of those hopelessly, invariably, to the point of martyrdom, self-confident people that only Germans are, and precisely because only Germans are self-confident on the basis of an abstract idea - science, that is, an imaginary knowledge of perfect truth. The Frenchman is self-confident because he considers himself personally, both in mind and in body, irresistibly charming to both men and women. An Englishman is self-confident on the grounds that he is a citizen of the most comfortable state in the world, and therefore, as an Englishman, he always knows what he needs to do, and knows that everything he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly good. The Italian is self-confident because he is agitated and easily forgets himself and others. The Russian is self-confident precisely because he knows nothing and does not want to know, because he does not believe that it is possible to fully know anything. The German is self-confident worse than anyone, and harder than everyone, and more repulsive than everyone, because he imagines that he knows the truth, a science that he himself invented, but which for him is absolute truth. Such, obviously, was Pfuel. He had a science - the theory of oblique movement, which he derived from the history of the wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he met in recent history wars of Frederick the Great, and everything that he met in the latest military history, seemed to him nonsense, barbarism, an ugly clash in which so many mistakes were made on both sides that these wars could not be called wars: they did not fit the theory and could not serve as the subject of science.
In 1806, Pfuel was one of the drafters of the plan for the war that ended in Jena and Auerstet; but in the outcome of this war, he did not see the slightest evidence of the incorrectness of his theory. On the contrary, the deviations made from his theory, according to his concepts, were the only reason all the misfortune, and with his characteristic joyful irony he said: "Ich sagte ja, daji die ganze Geschichte zum Teufel gehen wird." [After all, I said that the whole thing would go to hell (German)] Pfuel was one of those theoreticians who love their theory so much that they forget the purpose of theory - its application to practice; in love with theory, he hated all practice and did not want to know it. He even rejoiced in his failure, because failure, which came from the deviation in practice from theory, proved to him only the validity of his theory.
He said a few words with Prince Andrei and Chernyshev about real war with the expression of a man who knows in advance that everything will be bad and that he is not even dissatisfied with it. The uncombed tassels of hair sticking out at the back of the head and the hastily slicked temples confirmed this with particular eloquence.
He went into another room, and the bassy and grumbling sounds of his voice were immediately heard from there.

Before Prince Andrei had time to follow Pfuel with his eyes, Count Benigsen hurriedly entered the room and, nodding his head to Bolkonsky, without stopping, went into the office, giving some orders to his adjutant. The sovereign followed him, and Bennigsen hurried forward to prepare something and meet the sovereign in time. Chernyshev and Prince Andrei went out onto the porch. The sovereign with a tired look dismounted from his horse. Marquis Pauluchi said something to the sovereign. The sovereign, bowing his head to the left, listened with an unhappy look to Paulucci, who spoke with particular fervor. The emperor moved forward, apparently wanting to end the conversation, but the flushed, agitated Italian, forgetting decency, followed him, continuing to say:
- Quant a celui qui a conseille ce camp, le camp de Drissa, [As for the one who advised the Drissa camp,] - said Pauluchi, while the sovereign, entering the steps and noticing Prince Andrei, peered into an unfamiliar face .
– Quant a celui. Sire, - Paulucci continued with desperation, as if unable to resist, - qui a conseille le camp de Drissa, je ne vois pas d "autre alternative que la maison jaune ou le gibet. [As for, sir, before that person , who advised the camp under Driesey, then, in my opinion, there are only two places for him: the yellow house or the gallows.] - Without listening to the end and as if not having heard the words of the Italian, the sovereign, recognizing Bolkonsky, graciously turned to him:
“I am very glad to see you, go to where they have gathered and wait for me. - The emperor went into the office. Behind him walked Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky, Baron Stein, and the doors closed behind them. Prince Andrei, using the permission of the sovereign, went with Pauluchi, whom he had known back in Turkey, to the drawing room where the council had gathered.
Prince Pyotr Mikhailovich Volkonsky served as the chief of staff of the sovereign. Volkonsky left the office and, bringing the cards into the drawing room and laying them out on the table, he passed on questions on which he wished to hear the opinion of the assembled gentlemen. The fact was that at night the news was received (later turned out to be false) about the movement of the French around the Drissa camp.
The first to speak was General Armfeld, unexpectedly, in order to avoid the present difficulty, by proposing a completely new, in no way (except to show that he, too, may have an opinion) inexplicable position away from the Petersburg and Moscow roads, on which, in his opinion, the army should have united to wait for the enemy. It was evident that Armfeld had drawn up this plan long ago, and that he now presented it not so much with the aim of answering the proposed questions, to which this plan did not answer, but with the aim of taking the opportunity to express it. It was one of millions of assumptions that could be made just as thoroughly as others without having any idea of what character the war would take. Some challenged his opinion, some defended it. The young Colonel Toll disputed the opinion of the Swedish general more ardently than others, and during the dispute took out side pocket written notebook, which he asked permission to read. In a lengthy note, Tol proposed a different plan of campaign - completely contrary to both Armfeld's plan and Pfuel's plan. Pauluchi, objecting to Tolya, proposed a plan for moving forward and attacking, which alone, according to him, could lead us out of the unknown and the trap, as he called the Dris camp in which we were. Pfuel during these disputes and his interpreter Wolzogen (his bridge in a courtly sense) were silent. Pfuel only snorted contemptuously and turned away, showing that he would never stoop to object to the nonsense that he now hears. But when Prince Volkonsky, who was in charge of the debate, called him to present his opinion, he only said:
- What should I ask? General Armfeld offered an excellent position with an open rear. Or attack von diesem italienischen Herrn, sehr schon! [this Italian gentleman, very good! (German)] Or retreat. Auch gut. [Also good (German)] Why ask me? - he said. “After all, you yourself know everything better than me. - But when Volkonsky, frowning, said that he was asking his opinion on behalf of the sovereign, then Pfuel stood up and, suddenly animated, began to say:
- They spoiled everything, confused everyone, everyone wanted to know better than me, and now they came to me: how to fix it? Nothing to fix. Everything must be done exactly according to the reasons I have set forth,” he said, tapping his bony fingers on the table. – What is the difficulty? Nonsense, Kinder spiel. [children's toys (German)] - He went up to the map and began to speak quickly, poking a dry finger on the map and proving that no chance could change the expediency of the Dris camp, that everything was foreseen and that if the enemy really goes around, then the enemy must inevitably be destroyed.
Pauluchi, who did not know German, began to ask him in French. Wolzogen came to the aid of his principal, who did not speak French well, and began to translate his words, barely keeping up with Pfuel, who quickly proved that everything, everything, not only what happened, but everything that could happen, everything was foreseen. in his plan, and that if now there were difficulties, then all the fault was only in the fact that everything was not executed exactly. He constantly laughed ironically, proved, and, finally, contemptuously gave up proving, as a mathematician quits to verify different ways once proven correctness of the task. Wolzogen replaced him, continuing to expound his thoughts in French and occasionally saying to Pfuel: "Nicht wahr, Exellenz?" [Isn't that right, Your Excellency? (German)] Pfuel, as in a battle a heated man beats his own, angrily shouted at Wolzogen:
– Nun ja, was soll denn da noch expliziert werden? [Well, yes, what else is there to interpret? (German)] - Pauluchi and Michaud attacked Wolzogen in French in two voices. Armfeld addressed Pfuel in German. Tol explained in Russian to Prince Volkonsky. Prince Andrew silently listened and watched.
Of all these persons, the embittered, resolute and stupidly self-confident Pful was the most arousing interest in Prince Andrei. He, one of all the people present here, obviously did not want anything for himself, did not harbor enmity towards anyone, but wanted only one thing - to put into action the plan drawn up according to the theory that he had deduced over the years of work. He was ridiculous, was unpleasant with his irony, but at the same time he inspired involuntary respect with his boundless devotion to the idea. In addition, in all the speeches of all the speakers, with the exception of Pfuel, there was one common feature, which was not at the military council in 1805 - it was now, although hidden, but panic fear before the genius of Napoleon, the fear that was expressed in every objection. Everything was supposed to be possible for Napoleon, they were waiting for him from all sides, and with his terrible name they destroyed one another's assumptions. One Pful, it seemed, considered him, Napoleon, the same barbarian as all the opponents of his theory. But, in addition to a sense of respect, Pful inspired Prince Andrei with a sense of pity. From the tone with which the courtiers treated him, from what Pauluchi allowed himself to say to the emperor, but most importantly from the somewhat desperate expression of Pfuel himself, it was clear that others knew and he himself felt that his fall was near. And, despite his self-confidence and German grumpy irony, he was pitiful with his smoothed hair on the temples and tassels sticking out at the back of his head. Apparently, although he hid it under the guise of irritation and contempt, he was in despair because the only opportunity now to check on vast experience and prove to the whole world the correctness of his theory eluded him.
The debate went on for a long time, and the longer it went on, the more disputes flared up, reaching shouts and personalities, and the less it was possible to draw any general conclusion from everything that was said. Prince Andrei, listening to this multilingual dialect and these assumptions, plans and denials and cries, was only surprised at what they all said. Those thoughts that came to him for a long time and often during his military activities, that there is not and cannot be any military science and therefore there can be no so-called military genius, now received for him a perfect evidence of the truth. “What kind of theory and science could there be in a matter in which the conditions and circumstances are unknown and cannot be determined, in which the strength of the leaders of the war can be even less determined? No one could and cannot know what the position of our and the enemy army will be in a day, and no one can know what the strength of this or that detachment is. Sometimes, when there is no coward in front who will shout: “We are cut off! - and he will run, and there is a cheerful, courageous person in front who will shout: “Hurrah! - a detachment of five thousand is worth thirty thousand, as at Shepgraben, and sometimes fifty thousand run before eight, as at Austerlitz. What kind of science can there be in such a matter, in which, as in any practical matter, nothing can be determined and everything depends on innumerable conditions, the significance of which is determined in one minute, about which no one knows when it will come. Armfeld says that our army is cut off, and Pauluchi says that we have placed French army between two fires; Michaud says that the worthlessness of the Drissa camp lies in the fact that the river is behind, and Pfuel says that this is his strength. Tol proposes one plan, Armfeld proposes another; and everyone is good, and everyone is bad, and the benefits of any situation can be obvious only at the moment when the event takes place. And why does everyone say: a military genius? Is a genius the person who manages to order the delivery of crackers in time and go to the right, to the left? Just because military people are clothed with brilliance and power, and masses of scoundrels flatter power, giving it the unusual qualities of a genius, they are called geniuses. On the contrary, the best generals I have known are stupid or distracted people. The best Bagration, - Napoleon himself admitted this. And Bonaparte himself! I remember his self-satisfied and limited face on the field of Austerlitz. Not only does a good commander not need a genius and any special qualities, but, on the contrary, he needs the absence of the best, highest, human qualities - love, poetry, tenderness, philosophical inquisitive doubt. He must be limited, firmly convinced that what he does is very important (otherwise he will lack patience), and then only he will be a brave commander. God forbid, if he is a man, he will love someone, take pity, think about what is fair and what is not. It is clear that from time immemorial the theory of geniuses has been forged for them, because they are the authorities. The merit in the success of military affairs does not depend on them, but on the person who shouts in the ranks: they are gone, or shouts: hurrah! And only in these ranks can you serve with confidence that you are useful!“
So thought Prince Andrei, listening to the talk, and woke up only when Pauluchi called him and everyone was already dispersing.
The next day, at the review, the sovereign asked Prince Andrei where he wanted to serve, and Prince Andrei lost himself forever in the court world, not asking to stay with the person of the sovereign, but asking for permission to serve in the army.

Before the opening of the campaign, Rostov received a letter from his parents, in which, briefly informing him of Natasha's illness and the break with Prince Andrei (this break was explained to him by Natasha's refusal), they again asked him to retire and come home. Nikolai, having received this letter, did not try to ask for a vacation or resignation, but wrote to his parents that he was very sorry about Natasha's illness and break with her fiancé and that he would do everything possible to fulfill their desire. He wrote to Sonya separately.
“Adored friend of my soul,” he wrote. “Nothing but honor could keep me from returning to the village. But now, before the opening of the campaign, I would consider myself dishonorable not only before all my comrades, but also before myself, if I preferred my happiness to my duty and love for the fatherland. But this is the last parting. Believe that immediately after the war, if I am alive and loved by you, I will drop everything and fly to you to press you forever to my fiery chest.
Indeed, only the opening of the campaign delayed Rostov and prevented him from coming - as he promised - and marrying Sonya. Otradnensky autumn with hunting and winter with Christmas time and with Sonya's love opened up to him the prospect of quiet aristocratic joys and tranquility, which he had not known before and which now beckoned him to them. “A glorious wife, children, a good flock of hounds, dashing ten - twelve packs of greyhounds, household, neighbors, election service! he thought. But now there was a campaign, and it was necessary to remain in the regiment. And since this was necessary, Nikolai Rostov, by his nature, was also pleased with the life he led in the regiment, and managed to make this life pleasant for himself.
Arriving from vacation, joyfully greeted by his comrades, Nikolai sent for repairs and brought excellent horses from Little Russia, which pleased him and earned him praise from his superiors. In his absence, he was promoted to captain, and when the regiment was put on martial law with an increased kit, he again received his former squadron.
A campaign began, the regiment was moved to Poland, a double salary was issued, new officers arrived, new people, horses; and, most importantly, that excitedly cheerful mood that accompanies the outbreak of war has spread; and Rostov, aware of his advantageous position in the regiment, gave himself up entirely to the pleasures and interests military service, although he knew that sooner or later he would have to leave them.