Rating of the generals of the second world war. Summary: Generals of the Great Patriotic War

The fate of millions of people depended on their decisions!

This is not the whole list of our great commanders of the Second World War!

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)

Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was born on November 1, 1896 in the Kaluga Region, into a peasant family. During the First World War, he was drafted into the army and enlisted in a regiment stationed in the Kharkov province. In the spring of 1916 he was enrolled in a group directed to officer courses. After studying Zhukov became a non-commissioned officer, and went to the dragoon regiment, in which he participated in the battles of the Great War. Soon he received a shell shock from a mine explosion, and was sent to the hospital. He managed to prove himself, and for the capture of a German officer was awarded the St. George Cross.

After the civil war, he graduated from the courses of the red commanders. He commanded a cavalry regiment, then a brigade. He was an assistant inspector of the Red Army cavalry.

In January 1941, shortly before the German invasion of the USSR, Zhukov was appointed Chief of the General Staff, Deputy People's Commissar for Defense.

He commanded the troops of the Reserve, Leningrad, Western, 1st Belorussian fronts, coordinated the actions of a number of fronts, made a great contribution to achieving victory in the battle of Moscow, in the battles of Stalingrad, Kursk, in the Belorussian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations. , holder of two orders "Victory", many other Soviet and foreign orders and medals.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich (1895-1977)- Marshal of the Soviet Union.

During the Great Patriotic War, as Chief of the General Staff (1942-1945), he took an active part in the development and implementation of almost all major operations on the Soviet-German front. Since February 1945, he commanded the 3rd Belorussian Front, led the assault on Koenigsberg. In 1945, commander-in-chief of Soviet troops in the Far East in the war with Japan.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland.

Born on December 21, 1896 in the small Russian town of Velikiye Luki (formerly the Pskov province), in the family of the Polish railway driver Xavier-Jozef Rokossovsky and his Russian wife Antonina. After the birth of Konstantin, the Rokossovsky family moved to Warsaw. In less than 6 years, Kostya became an orphan: his father got into a train accident and after a long illness he died in 1902. His mother died in 1911. With the outbreak of World War I, Rokossovsky asked to join one of the Russian regiments heading west through Warsaw.

With the outbreak of World War II, he commanded the 9th Mechanized Corps. In the summer of 1941, he was appointed commander of the 4th Army. He managed to somewhat restrain the offensive of the German armies on the western front. In the summer of 1942 he became the commander of the Bryansk front. The Germans managed to approach the Don and from favorable positions create threats for the capture of Stalingrad and a breakthrough into the North Caucasus. With a blow with his army, he prevented the Germans from trying to break through to the north, towards the city of Yelets. Rokossovsky took part in the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad. His ability to conduct hostilities played a large role in the success of the operation. In 1943, he led the central front, which, under his command, began defensive battles on the Kursk Bulge. A little later, he organized an offensive, and liberated significant territories from the Germans. He also led the liberation of Belarus, implementing the plan of the Headquarters - "Bagration".

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973)- Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Born in December 1897 in a village in the Vologda province. His family was peasant. In 1916, the future commander was drafted into the tsarist army. In the First World War, he participates as a non-commissioned officer.

At the beginning of World War II, Konev commanded the 19th Army, which took part in battles with the Germans and closed the capital from the enemy. For the successful leadership of the army, he receives the rank of colonel general.

Ivan Stepanovich during the Great Patriotic War managed to visit the commander of several fronts: Kalinin, Western, Northwestern, Steppe, second Ukrainian and first Ukrainian. In January 1945, the first Ukrainian front, together with the first Belorussian front, launched an offensive Vistula-Oder operation. The troops managed to occupy several cities of strategic importance, and even liberate Krakow from the Germans. At the end of January, the Auschwitz camp was liberated from the Nazis. In April, two fronts launched an offensive in the Berlin direction. Soon Berlin was taken, and Konev took a direct part in the storming of the city.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Vatutin Nikolay Fedorovich (1901-1944)- army General.

Born on December 16, 1901 in the village of Chepukhin, Kursk province, into a large peasant family. He graduated from four classes of the zemstvo school, where he was considered the first student.

In the first days of the Great Patriotic War, Vatutin visited the most critical sectors of the front. The staff member has become a brilliant combat commander.

On February 21, the Stavka instructed Vatutin to prepare an offensive on Dubno and further on Chernivtsi. On February 29, the general went to the headquarters of the 60th Army. On the way, his car was fired upon by a detachment of Ukrainian Bandera partisans. The wounded Vatutin died on the night of April 15 in a Kiev military hospital.

In 1965 Vatutin was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Katukov Mikhail Efimovich (1900-1976)- Marshal of the armored forces. One of the founders of the Tank Guard.

Born on September 4 (17), 1900 in the village of Bolshoye Uvarovo, then Kolomna Uyezd, Moscow Province, into a large peasant family (his father had seven children from two marriages). schools.

In the Soviet Army since 1919.

At the beginning of World War II, he took part in defensive operations in the area of the cities of Lutsk, Dubno, Korosten, showing himself to be a skillful, proactive organizer of tank battles with superior enemy forces. These qualities were dazzlingly manifested in the battle of Moscow, when he commanded the 4th Tank Brigade. In the first half of October 1941, near Mtsensk, on a number of defensive lines, the brigade staunchly restrained the advance of enemy tanks and infantry and inflicted enormous damage on them. Having completed a 360-km march towards the Istra orientation, the brigade of M.E. Katukova, as part of the 16th Army of the Western Front, heroically fought in the Volokolamsk direction and participated in the counteroffensive near Moscow. On November 11, 1941, the brigade was the first in the tank forces to receive the title of Guards for brave and skillful military operations. Katukov commanded the 1st Tank Corps, which repulsed the onslaught of enemy troops in the Kursk-Voronezh direction, from September 1942 - the 3rd Mechanized Corps.In January 1943, he was appointed commander of the 1st Tank Army, which was part of the Voronezh, and later 1- The first of the Ukrainian Front was distinguished in the Battle of Kursk and during the liberation of Ukraine. In April 1944, the sun was transformed into the 1st Guards Tank Army, which, under the command of M.E. Katukova took part in the Lvov-Sandomierz, Vistula-Oder, East Pomeranian and Berlin operations, crossed the Vistula and Oder rivers.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Rotmistrov Pavel Alekseevich (1901-1982)- Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces.

Born in the village of Skovorovo, now Selizharovsky district, Tver region in a large peasant family (had 8 brothers and sisters) .. In 1916 he graduated from a higher primary school.

In the Soviet Army since April 1919 (he was enlisted in the Samara Workers' Regiment), a participant in the Civil War.

During the Great Patriotic War P.A. Rotmistrov fought in the West, North-West, Kalinininsky, Stalingrad, Voronezh, Steppe, South-West, 2nd Ukrainian and 3rd Belorussian fronts. He commanded the 5th Guards Tank Army, which distinguished itself in the Battle of Kursk. In the summer of 1944, P.A. Rotmistrov with his army participated in the Belarusian offensive operation, the liberation of the cities of Borisov, Minsk, Vilnius. In August 1944, he was appointed deputy commander of the armored and mechanized forces of the Soviet Army.

Hero of the Soviet Union.

Kravchenko Andrey Grigorievich (1899-1963)- Colonel General of Tank Forces.

Born on November 30, 1899 on the Sulimin farm, now the village of Sulimovka, Yagotynsky district, Kiev region, Ukraine, into a peasant family. Ukrainian. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1925. Participant in the Civil War. He graduated from the Poltava Military Infantry School in 1923, the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze in 1928.

From June 1940 to the end of February 1941 A.G. Kravchenko - Chief of Staff of the 16th Panzer Division, and from March to September 1941 - Chief of Staff of the 18th Mechanized Corps.

On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War since September 1941. Commander of the 31st Tank Brigade (09/09/1941 - 01/10/1942). From February 1942, deputy commander of the 61st Army for tank forces. Chief of Staff of the 1st Tank Corps (03/31/1942 - 07/30/1942). He commanded the 2nd (07/02/1942 - 09/13/1942) and 4th (from 02/07/43 - 5th Guards; from 09/18/1942 to 01/24/1944) tank corps.

In November 1942, the 4th corps participated in the encirclement of the 6th German army at Stalingrad, in July 1943 in a tank battle near Prokhorovka, in October of the same year in the battle for the Dnieper.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Novikov Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1976)- Air Chief Marshal.

Born on November 19, 1900 in the village of Kryukovo, Nerekhtsky District, Kostroma Region. Educated at the teachers' seminary in 1918.

In the Soviet Army since 1919

In aviation since 1933. Member of the Great Patriotic War from the first day. He was the commander of the Northern Air Force, then the Leningrad Front. From April 1942 until the end of the war - the commander of the Red Army Air Force. In March 1946 he was illegally repressed (together with A. I. Shakhurin), rehabilitated in 1953.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Kuznetsov Nikolay Gerasimovich (1902-1974)- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. People's Commissar of the Navy.

Born on July 11 (24), 1904 in the family of Gerasim Fedorovich Kuznetsov (1861-1915), a peasant in the village of Medvedki, Veliko-Ustyug district of the Vologda province (now in the Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region).

In 1919, at the age of 15, he entered the Severodvinsk flotilla, attributing to himself two years to be accepted (the erroneous 1902 year of birth is still found in some reference books). In 1921-1922 he was a combatant of the Arkhangelsk naval crew.
During the Great Patriotic War N.G. Kuznetsov was the chairman of the Main Military Council of the Navy and the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. He quickly and energetically led the fleet, coordinating its actions with the operations of other armed forces. The admiral was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, constantly went to ships and fronts. The fleet prevented an invasion of the Caucasus from the sea. In 1944, N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the military rank of Admiral of the Fleet. On May 25, 1945, this rank was equated to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and marshal-type shoulder straps were introduced.

Hero of the Soviet Union.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich (1906-1945)- army General.

Was born in the city of Uman. His father was a railway worker, so it is not surprising that in 1915 his son followed in his father's footsteps and entered the railway school. In 1919, a real tragedy happened in the family: his parents died because of typhus, so the boy was forced to leave school and go into agriculture. He worked as a shepherd, driving cattle into the field in the morning, and sat down at his textbooks every free minute. Immediately after dinner, I ran to the teacher to clarify the material.

During the Second World War, he was one of those young military leaders who, by their example, motivated soldiers, gave them confidence and gave them faith in a bright future.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

I. SOVIET COMMANDERS AND COMMANDERS.

1. Commanders and military leaders of the strategic and operational-strategic level.

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Deputy Supreme Commander of the USSR Armed Forces, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. He commanded the troops of the Reserve, Leningrad, Western, 1st Belorussian fronts, coordinated the actions of a number of fronts, made a great contribution to achieving victory in the battle of Moscow, in the battles of Stalingrad, Kursk, in the Belorussian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich (1895-1977)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chief of the General Staff in 1942-1945, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. He coordinated the actions of a number of fronts in strategic operations, in 1945 - the commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front and the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland. He commanded the Bryansk, Donskoy, Central, Belorussian, 1st and 2nd Belorussian fronts.

Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. He commanded the troops of the Western, Kalinin, North-Western, Steppe, 2nd and 1st Ukrainian fronts.

Malinovsky Rodion Yakovlevich (1898-1967)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Since October 1942 - Deputy Commander of the Voronezh Front, Commander of the 2nd Guards Army, South, Southwestern, 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian, Transbaikal Fronts.

Govorov Leonid Alexandrovich (1897-1955)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From June 1942 he commanded the troops of the Leningrad Front, in February-March 1945 he simultaneously coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic fronts.

Antonov Alexey Innokentievich (1896-1962)- army General. From 1942 - First Deputy Chief, Chief (from February 1945) of the General Staff, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters.

Timoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich (1895-1970)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, he was the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, a member of the Supreme Command Headquarters, the commander-in-chief of the Western and South-Western directions, since July 1942 he commanded the Stalingrad and North-Western Fronts. Since 1943 - the representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters at the fronts.

Tolbukhin Fedor Ivanovich (1894-1949)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the war - chief of staff of a district (front). Since 1942 - Deputy Commander of the Stalingrad Military District, Commander of the 57th and 68th Armies, Southern, 4th and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts.

Meretskov Kirill Afanasevich (1897-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Since the beginning of the war - the representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters on the Volkhov and Karelian fronts, commanded the 7th and 4th armies. Since December 1941 - Commander of the Volkhov, Karelian and 1st Far Eastern Fronts. Particularly distinguished himself during the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army in 1945.

Shaposhnikov Boris Mikhailovich (1882-1945)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Member of the Supreme Command Headquarters, Chief of the General Staff during the most difficult period of the defensive operations of 1941. He made an important contribution to the organization of the defense of Moscow and the transition of the Red Army to the counteroffensive. Since May 1942 - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, Head of the Military Academy of the General Staff.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich (1906-1945)- army General. He commanded a tank corps, 60th Army, from April 1944 - 3rd Belorussian Front. Fatally wounded in February 1945.

Vatutin Nikolay Fedorovich (1901-1944)- army General. From June 1941 - Chief of Staff of the Northwestern Front, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Commander of the Voronezh, Southwestern and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. He showed the highest military leadership skills in the Battle of Kursk, when crossing the river. Dnieper and the liberation of Kiev, in the Korsun-Shevchenko operation. Fatally wounded in action in February 1944.

Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich (1897-1982)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chief of Staff of the Southwestern Front, then at the same time of the headquarters of the troops of the Southwestern direction, commander of the 16th (11th Guards) Army. From 1943 he commanded the troops of the 1st Baltic and 3rd Belorussian fronts.

Eremenko Andrey Ivanovich (1892-1970)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. He commanded the Bryansk Front, the 4th Shock Army, the South-Eastern, Stalingrad, Southern, Kalinin, 1st Baltic Fronts, the Separate Primorsky Army, the 2nd Baltic and 4th Ukrainian Fronts. Particularly distinguished himself in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Petrov Ivan Efimovich (1896-1958)- army General. Since May 1943 - Commander of the North Caucasian Front, 33rd Army, 2nd Belorussian and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, Chief of Staff of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

2. Naval commanders of the strategic and operational-strategic level.

Kuznetsov Nikolay Gerasimovich (1902-1974)- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. People's Commissar of the Navy in 1939-1946, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, a member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. Provided the orderly entry of the naval forces into the war.

Isakov Ivan Stepanovich (1894-1967)- Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. In 1938-1946. - Deputy and First Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, at the same time in 1941-1943. Chief of the Main Staff of the Navy. Ensured the successful management of the forces of the fleets during the war.

Tributs Vladimir Filippovich (1900-1977)- admiral. Commander of the Baltic Fleet in 1939-1947 He showed courage and skillful actions during the relocation of the BF Forces from Tallinn to Kronstadt and during the defense of Leningrad.

Golovko Arseny Grigorievich (1906-1962)- admiral. In 1940-1946. - Commander of the Northern Fleet. Provided (together with the Karelian Front) reliable cover for the flank of the Soviet Armed Forces and sea communications for the supply of the allies.

Oktyabrsky (Ivanov) Philip Sergeevich (1899-1969)- admiral. Commander of the Black Sea Fleet from 1939 to June 1943 and from March 1944. From June 1943 to March 1944 - Commander of the Amur Military Flotilla. Provided an organized entry into the war of the Black Sea Fleet and successful operations during the war.

3. Commanders of combined arms armies.

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich (1900-1982)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From September 1942 - Commander of the 62nd (8th Guards) Army. Particularly distinguished himself in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Batov Pavel Ivanovich (1897-1985)- army General. Commander of the 51st and 3rd armies, assistant to the commander of the Bryansk front, commander of the 65th army.

Beloborodov Afanasy Pavlantievich (1903-1990)- army General. Since the beginning of the war - the commander of a division, a rifle corps. Since 1944 - commander of the 43rd, in August-September 1945 - the 1st Red Banner armies.

Grechko Andrey Antonovich (1903-1976)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Since April 1942 - Commander of the 12th, 47th, 18th, 56th Armies, Deputy Commander of the Voronezh (1st Ukrainian) Front, Commander of the 1st Guards Army.

Krylov Nikolay Ivanovich (1903-1972)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From July 1943 he commanded the 21st and 5th armies. He had a unique experience in the defense of besieged large cities, being the chief of staff for the defense of Odessa, Sevastopol and Stalingrad.

Moskalenko Kirill Semenovich (1902-1985)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. From 1942 he commanded the 38th, 1st Tank, 1st Guards and 40th Armies.

Pukhov Nikolay Pavlovich (1895-1958)- Colonel General. In 1942-1945. commanded the 13th Army.

Chistyakov Ivan Mikhailovich (1900-1979)- Colonel General. In 1942-1945. commanded the 21st (6th Guards) and 25th armies.

Gorbatov Alexander Vasilievich (1891-1973)- army General. From June 1943 - Commander of the 3rd Army.

Kuznetsov Vasily Ivanovich (1894-1964)- Colonel General. During the war, he commanded the troops of the 3rd, 21st, 58th, 1st Guards armies since 1945 - commander of the 3rd Shock Army.

Luchinsky Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1990)- army General. Since 1944 - commander of the 28th and 36th armies. Especially distinguished himself in the Belarusian and Manchurian operations.

Lyudnikov Ivan Ivanovich (1902-1976)- Colonel General. During the war he commanded a rifle division, a corps, in 1942 he was one of the heroic defenders of Stalingrad. Since May 1944 - Commander of the 39th Army, which took part in the Belarusian and Manchurian operations.

Galitsky Kuzma Nikitovich (1897-1973)- army General. Since 1942 - Commander of the 3rd Shock and 11th Guards Armies.

Zhadov Alexey Semenovich (1901-1977)- army General. From 1942 he commanded the 66th (5th Guards) Army.

Glagolev Vasily Vasilievich (1896-1947)- Colonel General. He commanded the 9th, 46th, 31st, in 1945 - the 9th Guards armies. Distinguished himself in the Battle of Kursk, the battle for the Caucasus, during the crossing of the Dnieper, the liberation of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Kolpakchi Vladimir Yakovlevich (1899-1961)- army General. He commanded the 18th, 62nd, 30th, 63rd, 69th armies. He acted most successfully in the Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Issa Pliev (1903-1979)- army General. During the war years - the commander of the guards cavalry divisions, corps, the commander of the cavalry-mechanized groups. He was especially distinguished by his bold and daring actions in the Manchurian strategic operation.

Fedyuninsky Ivan Ivanovich (1900-1977)- army General. During the war, he was the commander of the 32nd and 42nd armies, the Leningrad front, the 54th and 5th armies, the deputy commander of the Volkhov and Bryansk fronts, the commander of the 11th and 2nd shock armies.

Belov Pavel Alekseevich (1897-1962)- Colonel General. He commanded the 61st Army. He was distinguished by decisive maneuvering actions during the Belorussian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations.

Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich (1895-1975)- Colonel General. From August 1942 until the end of the war, he commanded the 64th Army (from 1943 - the 7th Guards), which together with the 62nd Army heroically defended Stalingrad.

Berzarin Nikolay Erastovich (1904-1945)- Colonel General. Commander of the 27th and 34th armies, deputy commander of the 61st and 20th armies, commander of the 39th and 5th shock armies. He was especially distinguished by his skillful and decisive actions in the Berlin operation.

4. Commanders of tank armies.

Katukov Mikhail Efimovich (1900-1976)- Marshal of the armored forces. One of the founders of the Tank Guard was the commander of the 1st Guards Tank Brigade and the 1st Guards Tank Corps. Since 1943 - Commander of the 1st Tank Army (since 1944 - Guards).

Bogdanov Semyon Ilyich (1894-1960)- Marshal of the armored forces. From 1943 he commanded the 2nd (from 1944 - the Guards) Tank Army.

Rybalko Pavel Semenovich (1894-1948)- Marshal of the armored forces. From July 1942 he commanded the 5th, 3rd and 3rd Guards Tank Armies.

Lelyushenko Dmitry Danilovich (1901-1987)- army General. From October 1941 he commanded the 5th, 30th, 1st, 3rd Guards, 4th Tank (from 1945 - Guards) armies.

Rotmistrov Pavel Alekseevich (1901-1982)- Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces. He commanded a tank brigade, corps, distinguished himself in the Stalingrad operation. From 1943 he commanded the 5th Guards Tank Army. Since 1944 - Deputy Commander of the Armored and Mechanized Forces of the Soviet Army.

Kravchenko Andrey Grigorievich (1899-1963)- Colonel General of Tank Forces. Since 1944 - Commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army. He showed an example of highly maneuverable, swift actions during the Manchurian strategic operation.

5. Aviation commanders.

Novikov Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1976)- Air Chief Marshal. Commander of the Air Force of the Northern and Leningrad Fronts, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR for Aviation, Commander of the Air Force of the Soviet Army.

Rudenko Sergey Ignatievich (1904-1990)- Air Marshal, commander of the 16th Air Army since 1942. He paid great attention to training combined-arms commanders in the combat use of aviation.

Krasovsky Stepan Akimovich (1897-1983)- Air Marshal. During the war years - Commander of the Air Force of the 56th Army, the Bryansk and Southwestern Fronts, the 2nd and 17th Air Armies.

Vershinin Konstantin Andreevich (1900-1973)- Air Chief Marshal. During the war - commander of the Air Force of the Southern, Transcaucasian fronts and the 4th Air Army. Along with effective actions to support the front troops, he paid special attention to the fight against enemy aircraft and the conquest of air supremacy.

Sudets Vladimir Alexandrovich (1904-1981)- Air Marshal. Commander of the Air Force of the 51st Army, Air Force of the Military District, since March 1943 - the 17th Air Force.

Golovanov Alexander Evgenievich (1904-1975)- Air Chief Marshal. From 1942 he commanded long-range aviation, from 1944 - the 18th Air Army.

Khryukin Timofei Timofeevich (1910-1953)- Colonel General of Aviation. He commanded the Air Force of the Karelian, Southwestern Fronts, the 8th and 1st Air Armies.

Zhavoronkov Semyon Fedorovich (1899-1967)- Air Marshal. During the war years - Commander of the Navy. Provided the survivability of naval aviation at the beginning of the war, increasing its efforts and skillful combat use during the war.

6. Artillery commanders.

Voronov Nikolay Nikolaevich (1899-1968)- Chief Marshal of Artillery. During the war years - head of the Main Directorate of Air Defense of the country, head of artillery of the Soviet Army - Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR. Since 1943 - commander of the artillery of the Soviet Army, representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters on the fronts during the Stalingrad and a number of other operations. He developed the most advanced theory and practice of the combat use of artillery for his time, incl. artillery offensive, for the first time in history created a reserve of the High Command, which made it possible to maximize the use of artillery.

Kazakov Nikolay Nikolaevich (1898-1968)- Marshal of Artillery. During the war years - chief of artillery of the 16th Army, Bryansk, Donskoy, commander of artillery of the Central, Byelorussian and 1st Byelorussian fronts. One of the highest class experts in organizing an artillery offensive.

Nedelin Mitrofan Ivanovich (1902-1960)- Chief Marshal of Artillery. During the war - chief of artillery of the 37th and 56th armies, commander of the 5th artillery corps, commander of the artillery of the Southwestern and 3rd Ukrainian fronts.

Odintsov Georgy Fedotovich (1900-1972)- Marshal of Artillery. With the beginning of the war - chief of staff and chief of artillery of the army. From May 1942 - commander of the artillery of the Leningrad Front. One of the largest specialists in organizing the fight against enemy artillery.

II. COMMANDERS AND COMMANDERS OF THE ALLOYED US ARMYS

Eisenhower Dwight David (1890-1969)- American statesman and military leader, army general. Commander of American Forces in Europe since 1942, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe in 1943-1945.

MacArthur Douglas (1880-1964)- army General. Commander of the US Armed Forces in the Far East in 1941-1942, since 1942 - Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific.

Marshall George Catlett (1880-1959)- army General. Chief of Staff of the US Army in 1939-1945, one of the main authors of the military-strategic plans of the United States and Great Britain in World War II.

Legey William (1875-1959)- Admiral of the Fleet. Chairman of the Committee of Chiefs of Staff, at the same time - Chief of Staff under the Supreme Commander of the US Armed Forces in 1942-1945.

Helsey William (1882-1959)- Admiral of the Fleet. He commanded the 3rd Fleet, led the American forces in the battles for the Solomon Islands in 1943.

Patton George Smith Jr. (1885-1945)- general. From 1942 he commanded an operational group of forces in North Africa, in 1944-1945. - 7th and 3rd American armies in Europe, skillfully used tank troops.

Bradley Omar Nelson (1893-1981)- army General. Commander of the 12th Army Group of the Allied Forces in Europe in 1942-1945.

King Ernest (1878-1956)- Admiral of the Fleet. Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy, Chief of Naval Operations 1942-1945

Nimitz Chester (1885-1966)- admiral. Commander of the US armed forces in the Central Pacific Ocean 1942-1945

Arnold Henry (1886-1950)- army General. In 1942-1945. - Chief of Staff of the US Army Air Force.

Clark Mark (1896-1984)- general. Commander of the 5th American Army in Italy in 1943-1945. He became famous for the landing operation in the Salerno area (Operation Avalanche).

Spaats Karl (1891-1974)- general. Commander of the US Strategic Air Force in Europe. He directed strategic aviation operations during the air offensive against Germany.

Great Britain

Montgomery Bernard Lowe (1887-1976)- Field Marshal. From July 1942 - Commander of the 8th British Army in Africa. During the Normandy operation, he commanded an army group. 1945 - Commander-in-Chief of the British occupation forces in Germany.

Brooke Alan Francis (1883-1963)- Field Marshal. He commanded the British army corps in France, in 1940-1941. troops of the metropolis. In 1941-1946. - Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

Alexander Harold (1891-1969)- Field Marshal. In 1941-1942. commander of British troops in Burma. In 1943 he commanded the 18th army group in Tunisia and the 15th group of allied armies, which landed on about. Sicily and Italy. From December 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

Cunningham Andrew (1883-1963)- admiral. Commander of the British Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1940-1941

Harris Arthur Travers (1892-1984)- Air Marshal. Commander of the bomber aviation that carried out the "air offensive" on Germany in 1942-1945.

Tedder Arthur (1890-1967)- Air Chief Marshal. Deputy Supreme Commander of the Joint Armed Forces in Europe Eisenhower for aviation during the operation of the second front in Western Europe in 1944-1945.

Wavell Archibald (1883-1950)- Field Marshal. Commander of British troops in East Africa in 1940-1941 In 1942-1945. - Commander-in-chief of the allied forces in Southeast Asia.

France

De Tassigny Jean de Latre (1889-1952)- Marshal of France. From September 1943 - commander-in-chief of the troops of the "Fighting France", from June 1944 - commander of the 1st French army.

Juen Alphonse (1888-1967)- Marshal of France. Since 1942 - commander of the troops of the "Fighting France" in Tunisia. In 1944-1945. - Commander of the French Expeditionary Force in Italy.

China

Zhu De (1886-1976)- Marshal of the People's Republic of China. During the national liberation war of the Chinese people in 1937-1945. commanded the 8th Army operating in North China. Since 1945 - Commander-in-Chief of the People's Liberation Army of China.

Pin Dehuai (1898-1974)- Marshal of the People's Republic of China. In 1937-1945. - Deputy Commander of the 8th Army of the PLA.

Chen Yi- Commander of the New 4th Army of the PLA, operating in the regions of Central China.

Liu Bochen- Commander of the PLA formation.

Poland

Zimersky Michal (pseudonym - Role) (1890-1989)- Marshal of Poland. During the Nazi occupation of Poland he participated in the Resistance movement. Since January 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Ludova, since July 1944 - the Polish Army.

Burling Sigmund (1896-1980)- General of the armor of the Polish Army. In 1943 - organizer on the territory of the USSR of the 1st Polish Infantry Division. Kosciuszko, in 1944 - commander of the 1st Army of the Polish Army.

Poplavsky Stanislav Gilyarovich (1902-1973)- Army General (in the Soviet Armed Forces). During the war years in the Soviet Army - the commander of a regiment, division, corps. Since 1944 in the Polish Army - commander of the 2nd and 1st armies.

Sverchevsky Karol (1897-1947)- General of the Polish Army. One of the organizers of the Polish Army. In the Great Patriotic War - commander of a rifle division, since 1943 - deputy commander of the 1st Polish corps of the 1st army, from September 1944 - commander of the 2nd army of the Polish Army.

Czechoslovakia

Liberty Ludwik (1895-1979)- statesman and military leader of the Czechoslovak Republic, army general. One of the initiators of the creation of Czechoslovak units on the territory of the USSR, since 1943 - the commander of a battalion, brigade, 1st Army Corps.

III. THE MOST Eminent Generals, Fleet Leaders of the Great Patriotic War (from the side of the enemy)

Germany

Rundstedt Karl Rudolph (1875-1953)- Field Marshal General. During World War II, he commanded Army Group South and Army Group A in attacks on Poland and France. He headed the Army Group South on the Soviet-German front (until November 1941). From 1942 to July 1944 and from September 1944 he was the commander-in-chief of German troops in the West.

Manstein Erich von Lewinsky (1887-1973)- Field Marshal General. In the French campaign of 1940 he commanded a corps, on the Soviet-German front - a corps, an army, in 1942-1944. - Army Group Don and South.

Keitel Wilhelm (1882-1946)- Field Marshal General. In 1938-1945. - Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.

Kleist Ewald (1881-1954)- Field Marshal General. During World War II, he commanded a tank corps and a tank group operating against Poland, France, and Yugoslavia. On the Soviet-German front he commanded a tank group (army), in 1942-1944. - Army Group "A".

Guderian Heinz Wilhelm (1888-1954)- Colonel General. During World War II, he commanded a tank corps, a group and an army. In December 1941, after the defeat near Moscow, he was removed from office. In 1944-1945. - Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces.

Rommel Erwin (1891-1944)- Field Marshal General. In 1941-1943. commanded the German expeditionary forces in North Africa, Army Group B in Northern Italy, in 1943-1944. - Army Group B in France.

Doenitz Karl (1891-1980)- Grand Admiral. Commander of the Submarine Fleet (1936-1943), Commander-in-Chief of the Navy of Nazi Germany (1943-1945). In early May 1945 - Reich Chancellor and Supreme Commander.

Keselring Albert (1885-1960)- Field Marshal General. He commanded the air fleets operating against Poland, Holland, France, England. At the beginning of the war with the USSR, he commanded the 2nd air fleet. From December 1941 - Commander-in-Chief of the German fascist troops in the South-West (Mediterranean - Italy), in 1945 - the troops of the West (West Germany).

Finland

Mannerheim Karl Gustav Emil (1867-1951)- military and statesman of Finland, Marshal. Commander-in-chief of the Finnish army in the wars against the USSR in 1939-1940. and 1941-1944.

Japan

Yamamoto Isoroku (1884-1943)- admiral. During the Second World War, he was the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Navy. Carried out an operation to defeat the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

On December 27, the outstanding Russian commander Mikhail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly was born. It was he who commanded the entire Russian army at the initial stage of the Patriotic War of 1812. We decided to remember other great commanders of the Patriotic War of 1812

The feat of Raevsky's soldiers near Saltanovka. N. S. Samokish, 1912
2013-12-27 10:04

Michael Barclay de Tolly

He commanded the entire Russian army at the initial stage of the Patriotic War of 1812, after which he was replaced by Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov. In the overseas campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814, he commanded the united Russian-Prussian army as part of the Bohemian army of the Austrian field marshal Prince Schwarzenberg.

In Russian history, he is remembered as a commander who was forced to make a strategic retreat before Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812 and for this he was unfairly condemned by his contemporaries. In the Battle of Borodino, he commanded the center and the right wing of the Russian troops. In the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814, he headed the united Russian-Prussian army, defeated the troops of Napoleon, and entered Paris with the allies.

Barclay de Tolly became the second of the four full Knights of St. George in the history of the order. He was also awarded the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and had more than ten military awards.

Mikhail Kutuzov

Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov - Russian Field Marshal General from the Golenishchev-Kutuzov family, commander-in-chief during the Patriotic War of 1812.

With the outbreak of the war of 1812, he was elected head of the Petersburg and then Moscow militia, since August Kutuzov - the commander-in-chief of the Russian army that defeated the French army of Napoleon I. He raised the Russian military art to a higher degree of development. Kutuzov became the first of four full St. George Knights in the entire history of the order. He also had the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Andrew the First-Called.

Peter Bagration

Russian General of Infantry, Chief of the Life Guards Jäger Regiment, Commander-in-Chief of the 2nd Western Army at the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812.

In the Battle of Borodino, his army made up the left wing of the Russian troops, repelling all the attacks of the French. In battle he was mortally wounded. Its motto is “ To defend the Motherland at the cost of any sacrifice, the whole people to fall on the enemy, or to win, or to lie at the walls of the Fatherland».

He was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky with Diamonds and the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

Nikolay Raevsky

Nikolai Nikolaevich Raevsky - Russian commander, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, cavalry general. For thirty years of impeccable service, he participated in many of the largest battles of the era.

In the Battle of Borodino, the corps staunchly defended the central redoubt, against which large forces of the French army were brought into battle. The redoubt entered Russian military history under the name "Rayevsky's Battery". Distinguished in battles near Maloyaroslavets, Krasny.

He was awarded the Order of St. George, the Order of St. Vladimir and the Order of St. Anna.

Alexander Tuchkov

Alexander Alekseevich Tuchkov - Russian commander, major general. At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, he commanded a brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, distinguished himself in battles near Vitebsk and Smolensk. In the battle of Borodino, inspiring the Revel regiment, which was shaking under the hurricane enemy fire, rushed forward with a regimental banner in his hands and was mortally wounded in the chest by a grapeshot bullet near the middle Semyonovskaya flush. They could not take him out of the battlefield, plowed up by artillery shells and swallowing the hero without a trace.

He was awarded the orders of St. George, 4th degree and St. Vladimir, 4th degree.

The fate of millions of people depended on their decisions! This is not the whole list of our great commanders of the Second World War!

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974) Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was born on November 1, 1896 in the Kaluga Region, into a peasant family. During the First World War, he was drafted into the army and enlisted in a regiment stationed in the Kharkov province. In the spring of 1916 he was enrolled in a group directed to officer courses. After studying Zhukov became a non-commissioned officer, and went to the dragoon regiment, in which he participated in the battles of the Great War. Soon he received a shell shock from a mine explosion, and was sent to the hospital. He managed to prove himself, and for the capture of a German officer was awarded the St. George Cross.

After the civil war, he graduated from the courses of the red commanders. He commanded a cavalry regiment, then a brigade. He was an assistant inspector of the Red Army cavalry.

In January 1941, shortly before the German invasion of the USSR, Zhukov was appointed Chief of the General Staff, Deputy People's Commissar for Defense.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich (1895-1977) - Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Born September 16 (September 30) 1895 in the village. Novaya Golchikha, Kineshemsky District, Ivanovo Region, in a priest's family, Russian. In February 1915, after graduating from the Kostroma Theological Seminary, he entered the Alekseevsk Military School (Moscow) and finished it in 4 months (in June 1915).
During the Great Patriotic War, as Chief of the General Staff (1942-1945), he took an active part in the development and implementation of almost all major operations on the Soviet-German front. Since February 1945, he commanded the 3rd Belorussian Front, led the assault on Koenigsberg. In 1945, commander-in-chief of Soviet troops in the Far East in the war with Japan.
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Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968) - Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland.

With the outbreak of World War II, he commanded the 9th Mechanized Corps. In the summer of 1941, he was appointed commander of the 4th Army. He managed to somewhat restrain the offensive of the German armies on the western front. In the summer of 1942 he became the commander of the Bryansk front. The Germans managed to approach the Don and from favorable positions create threats for the capture of Stalingrad and a breakthrough into the North Caucasus. With a blow with his army, he prevented the Germans from trying to break through to the north, towards the city of Yelets. Rokossovsky took part in the Soviet counteroffensive at Stalingrad. His ability to conduct hostilities played a large role in the success of the operation. In 1943, he led the central front, which, under his command, began a defensive battle on the Kursk Bulge. A little later, he organized an offensive, and liberated significant territories from the Germans. Also led the liberation of Belarus, implementing the plan of the Headquarters - "Bagration"
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union

Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973) - Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union

Vatutin Nikolai Fedorovich (1901-1944) - army general.

Born on December 16, 1901 in the village of Chepukhin, Kursk province, into a large peasant family. He graduated from four classes of the zemstvo school, where he was considered the first student.

In the first days of the Great Patriotic War, Vatutin visited the most critical sectors of the front. The staff member has become a brilliant combat commander.

Katukov Mikhail Efimovich (1900-1976) - Marshal of the armored forces. One of the founders of the Tank Guard.

Born on September 4 (17), 1900 in the village of Bolshoye Uvarovo, then Kolomna Uyezd, Moscow Province, into a large peasant family (his father had seven children from two marriages). schools.
In the Soviet Army since 1919.

Rotmistrov Pavel Alekseevich (1901-1982) - Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces.

Born in the village of Skovorovo, now in the Selizharovsky district of the Tver region in a large peasant family (had 8 brothers and sisters) ... In 1916 he graduated from a higher primary school

In the Soviet Army since April 1919 (he was enlisted in the Samara Workers' Regiment), a participant in the Civil War.

During the Great Patriotic War P.A. Rotmistrov fought on the West, North-West, Kalinin, Stalingrad, Voronezh, Steppe, South-West, 2nd Ukrainian and 3rd Belorussian fronts. He commanded the 5th Guards Tank Army, which distinguished itself in the Battle of Kursk. In the summer of 1944, P.A. Rotmistrov with his army participated in the Belarusian offensive operation, the liberation of the cities of Borisov, Minsk, Vilnius. In August 1944, he was appointed deputy commander of the armored and mechanized forces of the Soviet Army.

Kravchenko Andrey Grigorievich (1899-1963) - colonel-general of tank forces.
Born on November 30, 1899 on the Sulimin farm, now the village of Sulimovka, Yagotynsky district, Kiev region, Ukraine, into a peasant family. Ukrainian. Member of the CPSU (b) since 1925. Participant in the Civil War. He graduated from the Poltava Military Infantry School in 1923, the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze in 1928.
From June 1940 to the end of February 1941 A.G. Kravchenko - Chief of Staff of the 16th Panzer Division, and from March to September 1941 - Chief of Staff of the 18th Mechanized Corps.
On the fronts of the Great Patriotic War since September 1941. Commander of the 31st Tank Brigade (09/09/1941 - 01/10/1942). From February 1942, deputy commander of the 61st Army for tank forces. Chief of Staff of the 1st Tank Corps (03/31/1942 - 07/30/1942). He commanded the 2nd (07/02/1942 - 09/13/1942) and 4th (from 02/07/43 - 5th Guards; from 09/18/1942 to 01/24/1944) tank corps.
In November 1942, the 4th corps participated in the encirclement of the 6th German army at Stalingrad, in July 1943 in a tank battle near Prokhorovka, in October of the same year in the battle for the Dnieper.

Novikov Alexander Alexandrovich (1900-1976) - Chief Marshal of Aviation.
Born on November 19, 1900 in the village of Kryukovo, Nerekhtsky District, Kostroma Region. Educated at the teachers' seminary in 1918.
In the Soviet Army since 1919
In aviation since 1933. Member of the Great Patriotic War from the first day. He was the commander of the Northern Air Force, then the Leningrad Front. From April 1942 until the end of the war - the commander of the Red Army Air Force. In March 1946 he was illegally repressed (together with A. I. Shakhurin), rehabilitated in 1953.

Kuznetsov Nikolai Gerasimovich (1902-1974) - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. People's Commissar of the Navy.
Born on July 11 (24), 1904 in the family of Gerasim Fedorovich Kuznetsov (1861-1915), a peasant in the village of Medvedki, Veliko-Ustyug district of the Vologda province (now in the Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region).
In 1919, at the age of 15, he entered the Severodvinsk flotilla, attributing to himself two years to be accepted (the erroneous 1902 year of birth is still found in some reference books). In 1921-1922 he was a combatant of the Arkhangelsk naval crew.
During the Great Patriotic War N.G. Kuznetsov was the chairman of the Main Military Council of the Navy and the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. He quickly and energetically led the fleet, coordinating its actions with the operations of other armed forces. The admiral was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, constantly went to ships and fronts. The fleet prevented an invasion of the Caucasus from the sea. In 1944, N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the military rank of Admiral of the Fleet. On May 25, 1945, this rank was equated to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and marshal-type shoulder straps were introduced.

Hero of the Soviet Union,Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich (1906-1945) - Army General.
Was born in the city of Uman. His father was a railway worker, so it is not surprising that in 1915 his son followed in his father's footsteps and entered the railway school. In 1919, a real tragedy happened in the family: his parents died because of typhus, so the boy was forced to leave school and go into agriculture. He worked as a shepherd, driving cattle into the field in the morning, and sat down at his textbooks every free minute. Immediately after dinner, I ran to the teacher to clarify the material.
During the Second World War, he was one of those young military leaders who, by their example, motivated soldiers, gave them confidence and gave them faith in a bright future.

The names of some are honored to this day, the names of others are consigned to oblivion. But all of them are united by their leadership talent.

the USSR

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)

Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Zhukov had a chance to take part in serious hostilities shortly before the start of the Second World War. In the summer of 1939, the Soviet-Mongolian troops under his command defeated the Japanese group on the Khalkhin-Gol River.

By the beginning of World War II, Zhukov headed the General Staff, but was soon sent to the active army. In 1941 he was assigned to the most critical sectors of the front. Putting order in the retreating army with the most stringent measures, he managed to prevent the capture of Leningrad by the Germans, and to stop the Nazis in the Mozhaisk direction on the outskirts of Moscow. And already in late 1941 - early 1942 Zhukov led a counteroffensive near Moscow, throwing the Germans away from the capital.

In 1942-43, Zhukov did not command individual fronts, but coordinated their actions as a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters both at Stalingrad, and on the Kursk Bulge, and during the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad.

At the beginning of 1944, Zhukov took command of the 1st Ukrainian Front instead of the seriously wounded General Vatutin and led the planned Proskurov-Chernivtsi offensive operation. As a result, Soviet troops liberated most of the Right-Bank Ukraine and reached the state border.

At the end of 1944, Zhukov led the 1st Belorussian Front and launched an offensive against Berlin. In May 1945, Zhukov accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, and then two Victory Parades, in Moscow and in Berlin.

After the war, Zhukov was on the sidelines, commanding various military districts. After Khrushchev came to power, he became deputy minister, and then headed the Ministry of Defense. But in 1957 he finally fell into disgrace and was removed from all posts.

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968)

Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Shortly before the start of the war, in 1937, Rokossovsky was repressed, but in 1940, at the request of Marshal Timoshenko, he was released and reinstated in his former position as corps commander. In the first days of the Great Patriotic War, units under the command of Rokossovsky were one of the few who managed to provide decent resistance to the advancing German troops. In the battle of Moscow, Rokossovsky's army defended one of the most difficult areas, Volokolamskoye.

Returning to service after being seriously wounded in 1942, Rokossovsky took command of the Don Front, which completed the defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad.

On the eve of the Battle of the Kursk Bulge, Rokossovsky, contrary to the position of most military leaders, managed to convince Stalin that it was better not to start the offensive himself, but to provoke the enemy into active actions. Having accurately determined the direction of the main attack of the Germans, Rokossovsky, just before their offensive, undertook a massive artillery barrage, which bled the enemy striking forces.

His most famous military leadership achievement, included in the annals of military art, was the operation to liberate Belarus under the code name "Bagration", which actually destroyed the German army group "Center".

Shortly before the decisive offensive on Berlin, the command of the 1st Belorussian Front, to the disappointment of Rokossovsky, was transferred to Zhukov. He was also instructed to command the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front in East Prussia.

Rokossovsky possessed outstanding personal qualities and was the most popular in the army of all Soviet military leaders. After the war, Rokossovsky, a Pole by birth, for a long time headed the Ministry of Defense of Poland, and then held the posts of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR and Chief Military Inspector. The day before his death, he finished writing his memoir, entitled "Soldier's Duty."

Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973)

Marshal of the Soviet Union.

In the fall of 1941, Konev was appointed commander of the Western Front. In this position, he suffered one of the biggest setbacks of the outbreak of the war. Konev failed to obtain permission to withdraw the troops in time, and, as a result, about 600,000 Soviet soldiers and officers were surrounded near Bryansk and Yelnya. Zhukov saved the commander from the tribunal.

In 1943, the troops of the Steppe (later the 2nd Ukrainian) Front under the command of Konev liberated Belgorod, Kharkov, Poltava, Kremenchug and crossed the Dnieper. But most of all, Konev glorified the Korsun-Shevchensk operation, as a result of which a large group of German troops was surrounded.

In 1944, already as the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Konev led the Lvov-Sandomierz operation in western Ukraine and southeastern Poland, which opened the way for a further offensive against Germany. The troops distinguished themselves under the command of Konev and the Vistula-Oder operation, and in the battle for Berlin. During the latter, rivalry between Konev and Zhukov appeared - each wanted to take the German capital first. The tense relations between the marshals persisted until the end of their lives. In May 1945, Konev directed the liquidation of the last major focus of Nazi resistance in Prague.

After the war, Konev was the commander-in-chief of the ground forces and the first commander of the combined forces of the Warsaw Pact countries; he commanded troops in Hungary during the events of 1956.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich (1895-1977)

Marshal of the Soviet Union, Chief of the General Staff.

As chief of staff, which he held since 1942, Vasilevsky coordinated the actions of the fronts of the Red Army and participated in the development of all major operations of the Great Patriotic War. He, in particular, has a key role in planning the operation to encircle German troops at Stalingrad.

At the end of the war, after the death of General Chernyakhovsky, Vasilevsky asked to be relieved of his post as chief of the General Staff, took the place of the deceased and led the assault on Konigsberg. In the summer of 1945, Vasilevsky was transferred to the Far East and commanded the defeat of the Kwatun army of Japan.

After the war, Vasilevsky headed the General Staff, and then was the Minister of Defense of the USSR, but after Stalin's death he went into the shadows and occupied less high positions.

Tolbukhin Fyodor Ivanovich (1894-1949)

Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Before the start of World War II, Tolbukhin served as chief of staff of the Transcaucasian District, and with its beginning - the Transcaucasian Front. Under his leadership, a surprise operation was developed to bring Soviet troops into the northern part of Iran. Developed by Tolbukhin and the operation of the landing of the Kerch landing, the result of which was to liberate the Crimea. However, after its successful start, our troops were unable to build on the success, suffered heavy losses, and Tolbukhin was removed from office.

Distinguished as commander of the 57th Army in the Battle of Stalingrad, Tolbukhin was appointed commander of the Southern (later 4th Ukrainian) Front. Under his command, a significant part of Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula were liberated. In 1944-45, when Tolbukhin was already in command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, he led the troops in the liberation of Moldova, Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and ended the war in Austria. The Yassy-Kishinev operation, planned by Tolbukhin and leading to the encirclement of the two hundred thousandth group of German-Romanian troops, entered the annals of military art (sometimes it is called the “Yassy-Kishinev Cannes).

After the war, Tolbukhin commanded the Southern Group of Forces in Romania and Bulgaria, and then the Transcaucasian Military District.

Vatutin Nikolai Fedorovich (1901-1944)

Soviet army general.

Before the war, Vatutin served as deputy chief of the General Staff, and with the outbreak of World War II he was sent to the North-Western Front. In the Novgorod area, under his leadership, several counterattacks were carried out, which slowed down the advance of Manstein's tank corps.

In 1942, Vatutin, then head of the South-Western Front, commanded Operation Little Saturn, whose goal was to prevent the German-Italian-Romanian troops from helping Paulus's army surrounded at Stalingrad.

In 1943, Vatutin headed the Voronezh (later the 1st Ukrainian) Front. He played a very important role in the Battle of the Kursk Bulge and the liberation of Kharkov and Belgorod. But the most famous military operation of Vatutin was the crossing of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kiev and Zhitomir, and then Rivne. Together with Konev's 2nd Ukrainian Front, Vatutin's 1st Ukrainian Front also carried out the Korsun-Shevchenko operation.

At the end of February 1944, Vatutin's car came under fire from Ukrainian nationalists, and a month and a half later, the commander died of his wounds.

Great Britain

Montgomery Bernard Lowe (1887-1976)

British Field Marshal.

Until the outbreak of World War II, Montgomery was considered one of the bravest and most talented British military leaders, but his harsh, difficult temper hindered his promotion. Montgomery, himself distinguished by his physical endurance, paid great attention to the daily hard training of the troops entrusted to him.

At the beginning of World War II, when the Germans defeated France, Montgomery units covered the evacuation of the Allied forces. In 1942, Montgomery became the commander of British forces in North Africa, and achieved a turning point in this sector of the war, defeating the German-Italian group of forces in Egypt at the Battle of El Alamein. Its meaning was summed up by Winston Churchill: “Before the Battle of Alamein, we did not know victories. After it, we did not know defeat. " For this battle, Montgomery received the title of Viscount of Alamein. True, the enemy of Montgomery, German Field Marshal Rommel, said that with such resources as a British military leader, he would conquer the entire Middle East in a month.

After that, Montgomery was deployed to Europe, where he was supposed to act in close contact with the Americans. This was due to his quarrelsome nature: he came into conflict with the American commander Eisenhower, which had a bad effect on the interaction of troops and led to a number of relative military failures. Towards the end of the war, Montgomery successfully resisted the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes, and then conducted several military operations in Northern Europe.

After the war, Montgomery served as Chief of the British General Staff and later as First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Allied NATO Forces in Europe.

Alexander Harold Rupert Leofric George (1891-1969)

British Field Marshal.

At the beginning of World War II, Alexander oversaw the evacuation of British troops after the German capture of France. Most of the personnel were successfully removed, but almost all the military equipment went to the enemy.

In late 1940, Alexander was assigned to Southeast Asia. He failed to defend Burma, but he managed to block the Japanese path to India.

In 1943, Alexander was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Ground Forces in North Africa. Under his leadership, a large German-Italian group in Tunisia was defeated, and this, by and large, completed the campaign in North Africa and opened the way to Italy. Alexander commanded the landing of the allied forces in Sicily, and then on the mainland. At the end of the war, he served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean.

After the war, Alexander received the title of Earl of Tunisia, was for some time Governor General of Canada, and then Secretary of Defense of Great Britain.

USA

Eisenhower Dwight David (1890-1969)

General of the US Army.

He spent his childhood in a family whose members were pacifist for religious reasons, but Eisenhower chose a military career.

Eisenhower met the beginning of the Second World War in a rather modest rank of colonel. But his abilities were noticed by the chief of the American General Staff, George Marshall, and soon Eisenhower became the chief of the operational planning department.

In 1942, Eisenhower led Operation Torch to land the Allies in North Africa. In early 1943, he was defeated by Rommel at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, but later the superior Anglo-American forces brought a turning point in the North African campaign.

In 1944, Eisenhower oversaw the landing of the Allied forces in Normandy and the subsequent offensive against Germany. At the end of the war, Eisenhower became the creator of the notorious camps for "disarmed enemy forces" that did not fall under the Geneva Convention on the Rights of Prisoners of War, which actually became death camps for German soldiers who got there.

After the war, Eisenhower was the commander of NATO forces, and then was twice elected president of the United States.

MacArthur Douglas (1880-1964)

General of the US Army.

In his youth, MacArthur did not want to be admitted to the West Point military academy for health reasons, but he achieved his goal and, after graduating from the academy, was recognized as its best graduate in history. He received the rank of general in the First World War.

In 1941-42, MacArthur led the defense of the Philippines against Japanese troops. The enemy managed to catch the American units by surprise and gain a great advantage at the very beginning of the campaign. After the loss of the Philippines, he uttered the now famous phrase: "I did what I could, but I'll be back."

After being appointed commander of the Southwest Pacific, MacArthur opposed Japanese plans to invade Australia and subsequently launched successful offensive operations in New Guinea and the Philippines.

On September 2, 1945, MacArthur, already with all the US armed forces in the Pacific, aboard the battleship Missouri accepted the surrender of Japan, which ended the Second World War.

After World War II, MacArthur commanded the occupying forces in Japan and later led the American forces in the Korean War. The American landing at Incheon, designed by him, became a classic of military art. He called for the nuclear bombing of China and the invasion of that country, after which he was dismissed.

Nimitz Chester William (1885-1966)

Admiral of the United States Fleet.

Before World War II, Nimitz was involved in the design and combat training of the American submarine fleet and headed the Bureau of Navigation. At the start of the war, following the Pearl Harbor disaster, Nimitz was named commander of the US Pacific Fleet. His task was to confront the Japanese in close contact with General MacArthur.

In 1942, the American fleet under the command of Nimitz managed to inflict the first serious defeat on the Japanese at Midway Atoll. And then, in 1943, win the battle for the strategically important island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands archipelago. In 1944-45, the fleet led by Nimitz played a decisive role in the liberation of other Pacific archipelagos, and at the end of the war it carried out a landing in Japan. During the fighting, Nimitz used a tactic of sudden rapid movement from island to island, called the "frog jump".

Nimitz's return to his homeland was celebrated as a national holiday and was called "Nimitz Day". After the war, he led the demobilization of troops, and then oversaw the creation of a nuclear submarine fleet. At the Nuremberg trials, he defended his German colleague, Admiral Dennitz, stating that he himself used the same methods of conducting submarine warfare, thanks to which Dennitz avoided the death sentence.

Germany

Von Bock Theodor (1880-1945)

German Field Marshal General.

Even before the outbreak of World War II, von Bock led the troops that carried out the Anschluss of Austria and invaded the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. With the outbreak of the war, he commanded Army Group North during the war with Poland. In 1940, von Bock directed the capture of Belgium and the Netherlands and the defeat of the French forces at Dunkirk. It was he who hosted the parade of German troops in occupied Paris.

Von Bock objected to an attack on the USSR, but when the decision was made, he led the Army Group Center, which carried out a strike on the main axis. After the failure of the offensive on Moscow, he was considered one of the main responsible for this failure of the German army. In 1942, he led the Army Group South and for a long time successfully held back the Soviet offensive against Kharkov.

Von Bock was distinguished by an extremely independent character, repeatedly clashed with Hitler and demonstratively stayed away from politics. After in the summer of 1942, von Bock opposed the Fuehrer's decision to divide Army Group South into 2 directions, Caucasian and Stalingrad, during the planned offensive, he was removed from command and sent to the reserve. A few days before the end of the war, von Bock was killed in an air raid.

Von Rundstedt Karl Rudolf Gerd (1875-1953)

German Field Marshal General.

By the beginning of World War II, von Rundstedt, who had held important command positions back in World War I, had already retired. But in 1939, Hitler returned him to the army. Von Rundstedt became the main developer of the plan for the attack on Poland, code-named Weiss, and during its implementation he commanded Army Group South. He then led Army Group A, which played a key role in the capture of France, and also devised the unfulfilled Sea Lion attack plan against England.

Von Rundstedt objected to the Barbarossa plan, but after the decision was made to attack the USSR, he led the Army Group South, which captured Kiev and other major cities in the south of the country. After von Rundstedt, in order to avoid encirclement, violated the order of the Fuhrer and withdrew the troops from Rostov-on-Don, he was dismissed.

However, the very next year he was again drafted into the army to become the commander-in-chief of the German armed forces in the West. Its main task was to counteract the possible landing of the allies. After familiarizing himself with the situation, von Rundstedt warned Hitler that a prolonged defense with the available forces would be impossible. At the decisive moment of the landing in Normandy, June 6, 1944, Hitler canceled von Rundstedt's order to transfer troops, thereby losing time and allowing the enemy to develop an offensive. Already at the end of the war, von Rundstedt successfully resisted the Allied landing in Holland.

After the war, von Rundstedt, thanks to the intercession of the British, managed to escape the Nuremberg Tribunal, and participated in it only as a witness.

Von Manstein Erich (1887-1973)

German Field Marshal General.

Manstein was considered one of the strongest strategists in the Wehrmacht. In 1939, as Chief of Staff of Army Group A, he played a key role in developing a successful plan for the invasion of France.

In 1941, Manstein was part of the Army Group North, which captured the Baltic states, and was preparing to attack Leningrad, but was soon transferred to the south. In 1941-42, the 11th Army under his command captured the Crimean Peninsula, and for the capture of Sevastopol, Manstein received the rank of Field Marshal.

Then Manstein commanded Army Group Don and unsuccessfully tried to rescue Paulus's army from the Stalingrad cauldron. Since 1943, he led the Army Group South and inflicted a painful defeat on the Soviet troops near Kharkov, and then tried to prevent the crossing of the Dnieper. During the retreat, Manstein's troops used the scorched earth tactics.

After being defeated in the Korsun-Shevchensk battle, Manstein retreated, violating Hitler's orders. Thus, he saved part of the army from encirclement, but after that he was forced to resign.

After the war, he was sentenced by a British tribunal for war crimes for 18 years, but in 1953 he was released, worked as a military adviser to the German government and wrote his memoirs "Lost Victories".

Guderian Heinz Wilhelm (1888-1954)

German Colonel General Commander of the Armored Forces.

Guderian is one of the main theorists and practitioners of the "blitzkrieg" - lightning war. He assigned the key role in it to tank units, which were supposed to break through to the rear of the enemy and disable command posts and communications. Such tactics were considered effective, but risky, creating the danger of being cut off from the main forces.

In 1939-40, in the military campaigns against Poland and France, the blitzkrieg tactics fully justified themselves. Guderian was at the height of his fame: he received the rank of colonel general and high awards. However, in 1941, in the war against the Soviet Union, this tactic failed. The reason for this was both the vast Russian space and the cold climate in which the equipment often refused to work, and the readiness of the Red Army units to resist this method of warfare. Guderian's tank forces suffered heavy losses near Moscow and were forced to retreat. After that, he was sent to the reserve, and later served as inspector general of tank forces.

After the war, Guderian, who was not charged with war crimes, was quickly released and lived out his life writing his memoirs.

Rommel Erwin Johann Eugen (1891-1944)

German Field Marshal General, nicknamed "Desert Fox". He was distinguished by great independence and a tendency to risky attacking actions, even without the sanction of the command.

At the beginning of World War II, Rommel took part in the Polish and French campaigns, but his main successes are associated with military operations in North Africa. Rommel led the Afrika Korps, which was originally assigned to aid the Italian forces defeated by the British. Instead of strengthening the defenses as ordered by the order, Rommel, with small forces, went on the offensive and won important victories. He acted in a similar way in the future. Like Manstein, Rommel assigned the main role to rapid breakthroughs and maneuvering of tank forces. And only by the end of 1942, when the British and Americans in North Africa had a great advantage in manpower and equipment, Rommel's troops began to suffer defeat. Subsequently, he fought in Italy and tried, together with von Runstedt, with whom he had serious disagreements affecting the combat capability of the troops, to stop the Allied landing in Normandy.

In the pre-war period, Yamamoto paid great attention to the construction of aircraft carriers and the creation of naval aviation, thanks to which the Japanese fleet became one of the strongest in the world. For a long time, Yamamoto lived in the United States and had the opportunity to study well the army of the future enemy. On the eve of the start of the war, he warned the country's leadership: “In the first six to twelve months of the war, I will demonstrate a continuous chain of victories. But if the confrontation lasts two or three years, I have no confidence in the ultimate victory. "

Yamamoto planned and personally led the Pearl Harbor operation. On December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft taking off from aircraft carriers defeated the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and inflicted huge damage on the US Navy and aviation. After that, Yamamoto won a number of victories in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. But on June 4, 1942, he was severely defeated by the Allies at Midway Atoll. This happened largely due to the fact that the Americans were able to decipher the codes of the Japanese Navy and get all the information about the impending operation. After that, the war, as Yamamoto feared, took on a protracted nature.

Unlike many other Japanese generals, Yamashita did not commit suicide after Japan's surrender, but surrendered. In 1946 he was executed on war crimes charges. His case became a legal precedent, called the "Yamashita Rule": according to him, the commander is responsible for not suppressing the war crimes of subordinates.

Other countries

Von Mannerheim Karl Gustav Emil (1867-1951)

Finnish marshal.

Before the 1917 revolution, when Finland was part of the Russian Empire, Mannerheim was an officer in the Russian army and rose to the rank of lieutenant general. On the eve of World War II, as chairman of the Finnish Defense Council, he was strengthening the Finnish army. According to his plan, in particular, powerful defensive fortifications were erected on the Karelian Isthmus, which went down in history as the "Mannerheim Line".

When the Soviet-Finnish war broke out at the end of 1939, 72-year-old Mannerheim led the country's army. Under his command, the Finnish troops for a long time held back the offensive of the significantly outnumbered Soviet units. As a result, Finland retained its independence, although the conditions of peace were very difficult for it.

During the Second World War, when Finland was an ally of Hitler's Germany, Mannerheim showed the art of political maneuver, avoiding active hostilities with all his might. And in 1944, Finland broke the pact with Germany, and at the end of the war already fought against the Germans, coordinating with the Red Army.

At the end of the war, Mannerheim was elected President of Finland, but in 1946 he left this post for health reasons.

Tito Josip Broz (1892-1980)

Marshal of Yugoslavia.

Before the outbreak of World War II, Tito was a leader of the Yugoslav communist movement. After the German attack on Yugoslavia, he started organizing partisan detachments. At first, the Titovites acted together with the remnants of the tsarist army and the monarchists, who were called "Chetniks". However, the discrepancies with the latter over time became so strong that it came to military clashes.

Tito managed to organize scattered partisan detachments into a powerful partisan army of a quarter of a million fighters under the leadership of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia. She used not only the methods of war traditional for partisans, but also entered into open battles with fascist divisions. At the end of 1943, Tito was officially recognized by the Allies as the leader of Yugoslavia. When the country was liberated, Tito's army acted in conjunction with Soviet troops.

Soon after the war, Tito took over the leadership of Yugoslavia and remained in power until his death. Despite his socialist orientation, he pursued a fairly independent policy.