Biography 19/03/20 Why Zhukov was “the chief Marshal of the Victory”
“Chief Marshal of Victory” – as it is informally called in the Soviet time and it will remain so in history. However, the victory except Georgy Zhukov, forged and other equally outstanding military leaders. Furthermore, it is known that there are no generals, no victims of mishaps. What was the real contribution of Zhukov in the victory?
Strategic thinking
it is Characteristic that none of the historians can not give an example of any brilliant plan any operation proposed by Zhukov. That is, there is evidence of his outstanding strategic talent. Zhukov himself attributed the authorship of the designs of some operations. As they turned out to be a good idea to implement?
In “Memories and reflections” Zhukov said that in the conversation with Stalin on the night of July 30, 1941, proposed to launch a counterattack against German troops in the area of Yelnya. He explained that it formed a front projection, which can be used by the Germans in the attack on Moscow, and offered to cut it off.
as a result of successful offensive actions of the Reserve front, the commander of which, after this conversation, was assigned to Zhukov himself, elninskaya ledge the enemy was eliminated, and 6 September, Soviet troops liberated the city of Yelnya. In Soviet historiography, it was called the first major success of the red Army in the great Patriotic war and stated that yelnia was destroyed eight enemy divisions.
the Publication of documents, including German in modern times has forced a different perspective on the battle of yelnia. On the same day, 30 July, when Zhukov assumed command of the Reserve front, the Hitler’s Directive No. 34 ordered army group “Center” to go on the defensive on the Moscow direction. Consequently, no threat of German offensive from El’ninskogo guide at that moment, was not expected.
In August, Soviet troops unsuccessfully attacked the Germans at yelnia, incurring heavy losses. Finally, the last offensive launched on 30 August, led to the fact that the Germans left elninskaya ledge, slashing the front line. The chief of staff of the land forces of the Wehrmacht Halder noted with satisfaction that “the hidden withdrawal of troops from this arc was a good achievement command”, adding that “the enemy for a long time after our troops were fired on those positions”.
Elninskaya ledge was defended by only four German infantry divisions, and none of them was not destroyed. Moreover, during the offensive in the environment were almost completely lost the Soviet 109th tank division. The loss of El’ninskogo the ledge did not prevent the Germans in less than a month to launch a new offensive on Moscow and win an impressive victory at Vyazma.
Strategic plans of the operations that led to major victories of the Soviet troops and remaining forever in the history of the art of war – Stalingrad, Belarus, Berlin, etc. – was a collaborative effort, mainly in the General staff. Characteristically, Zhukov himself never claimed their authorship.
with regard to the operations, here, in addition to success, Zhukov led the Soviet forces in very poor taste. A striking example is the operation “Mars” in November-December 1942 against German troops in the area of Rzhev. The idea is to attack the Rzhev-Vyazma salient the enemy were among the favorite designs Zhukov since then, he in the winter of 1941/42 G. as commander of the Western front failed when trying to eliminate it.
this time Zhukov was the representative of Stavka coordinated the two fronts – the Western and Kalinin. The Soviet offensive, which began on 25 November 1942, a month later ended in a major defeat. This time it was not division, but an army – 41-I – were surrounded and byla defeated due to the fact that Zhukov did not care about the flanks of the advancing troops. Total losses of Soviet troops in this battle are estimated at more than 200 thousand people.
Marshal Andrey Yeryomenko, who commanded the Stalingrad front, wrote: “Zhukovskoe operational art is the superiority in strength is 5-6 times, otherwise it will not take up the case. He does not know how to fight not quantity and in the blood builds a career”. This assessment is confirmed by data on the balance of forces and means in those offensive operations, which successfully led by Zhukov.
However, in fairness, it should be noted that other Soviet commanders fought in the same way. We can not say that Zhukov was worse than their colleagues on their strategic talents. He basically was the same as all of them.
“Crisis Manager” Stalin
due to what bugs so moved to the front during the war? First of all, he appealed to Stalin with his determination, his willful attitude. He never despaired, never give up in difficult situations. Stalin quickly realized that if somewhere on the front was a disaster, its latest wand- this is bugs.
beetles arriving at a new destination, above all, restoring order brutal measures, established the unquestioning discipline and obedience among subordinates, not hesitating to assault and threats of execution. Now became known the order of Zhukov by him as commander of the Leningrad front, 28 September 1941, No 4976. For him, the family surrendered red army soldiers were subject to indiscriminate shooting, and the red army, on his return from captivity, expecting the same fate. It is clear that such an order was not carried out literally, as it was contrary to the order of Rate per No 270 (too draconian, but not so much).
it is not known how the fear of reprisals beetles really strengthened their discipline and fighting capacity of the troops entrusted to him. The main thing – to Stalin it seemed that strengthens, because Stalin himself nnever attempt to think differently. All of these measures, they were adequate to the current situation or not, conform to the image of the Bolsheviks.
And yet – Stalin was sure that there where bugs, where he can be quiet for their power. Zhukov was absolutely loyal to the master of the Kremlin. Completely unfounded some of the current fictions about the fact that Zhukov, as chief of the General staff before the war, almost on purpose the defeat of the Soviet forces to cause the fall of Stalin and take his place. After the war, when Stalin put Zhukov disgrace, many of envious colleagues Zhukov would like to erase it, by walking the expression, “in a camp dust”. And only the intervention of Stalin allowed Zhukov to get rid of only a modest demotion.
In the war, in which he saw many millions of people and tasaciones wall of iron and fire, not much depended on the individual. It would be absurd to say that if it wasn’t Zhukov, there would be no victory. Same nonsense would be to say that someone else could lead to victory faster than Zhukov.
Yaroslav Butakov
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© Russian Seven
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