Generals of the Second World War. Obverse and reverse of Prussia's highest military award

· 2014-12-09

The fate of millions of people depended on their decisions!

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

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)

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

After the civil war, he completed the courses for 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 and deputy people's commissar of defense.

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 Belarusian, Vistula-Oder and Berlin operations. Four times Hero of the Soviet Union , holder of two Orders of Victory, many other Soviet and foreign orders and medals.

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

Born on September 16 (September 30), 1895 in the village. Novaya Golchikha, Kineshma district, Ivanovo region, in the family of a priest, Russian. In February 1915, after graduating from the Kostroma Theological Seminary, he entered Alekseevskoe military school(Moscow) and completed it in 4 months (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. From February 1945, he commanded the 3rd Belorussian Front and led the assault on Königsberg. In 1945, the commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops at 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 Velikie Luki (formerly Pskov province), in the family of a Pole railway driver, Xavier-Józef Rokossovsky and his Russian wife Antonina. After the birth of Konstantin, the Rokossovsky family moved to Warsaw. At less than 6 years old, Kostya was orphaned: his father was in a train accident and died in 1902 after a long illness. In 1911, his mother also died. With the outbreak of World War I, Rokossovsky asked to join one of the Russian regiments heading west through Warsaw.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he commanded the 9th Mechanized Corps. In the summer of 1941 he was appointed commander of the 4th Army. He managed to somewhat hold back the advance of the German armies on the western front. In the summer of 1942, he became commander of the Bryansk Front. The Germans managed to approach the Don and, from advantageous positions, create threats to capture Stalingrad and break through to the North Caucasus. With a blow from his army, he prevented the Germans from trying to break through to the north, towards the city of Yelets. Rokossovsky took part in the counteroffensive Soviet troops near Stalingrad. His skill in combat played big role, in the success of the operation. In 1943, he led the central front, which, under his command, began defensive battles on 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 Headquarters plan - “Bagration”.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

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

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

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

During the Great Patriotic War, Ivan Stepanovich managed to be 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 the 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 direct part in the assault on the city.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

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

Born on December 16, 1901 in the village of Chepukhino, 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 worker turned into a brilliant combat commander.

On February 21, Headquarters instructed Vatutin to prepare an attack on Dubno and further on Chernivtsi. On February 29, the general was heading 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 district, Moscow province, into a large peasant family (his father had seven children from two marriages). He graduated with a diploma of commendation from an elementary rural school, during which he was the first student in the class and schools.

IN Soviet Army– since 1919.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, 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 a tank battle with superior enemy forces. These qualities were brilliantly demonstrated in the Battle of Moscow, when he commanded the 4th Tank Brigade. In the first half of October 1941 near Mtsensk on a number defensive lines The brigade steadfastly held back the advance of enemy tanks and infantry and inflicted enormous damage on them. Having completed a 360-km march to the Istra orientation, the M.E. brigade. Katukova, as part of the 16th Army of the Western Front, heroically fought in the Volokolamsk direction and participated in the counter-offensive near Moscow. On November 11, 1941, for brave and skillful military actions, the brigade was the first in the tank forces to receive the rank of guards. In 1942, M.E. Katukov commanded the 1st Tank Corps, which repelled 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 the 1st of the Ukrainian Front differed in Battle of Kursk and during the liberation of Ukraine. In April 1944, the armed forces were transformed into the 1st Guards Tank Army, which, under the command of M.E. Katukova participated in the Lviv-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, into a large peasant family (he had 8 brothers and sisters). In 1916 he graduated from higher primary school.

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

During the Great Patriotic War P.A. Rotmistrov fought on the Western, Northwestern, Kalinin, Stalingrad, Voronezh, Steppe, South-Western, 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, liberation of the cities of Borisov, Minsk, Vilnius. Since 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, Yagotinsky district, Kyiv region of Ukraine, in a peasant family. Ukrainian. Member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) since 1925. Participant in the Civil War. Graduated from the Poltava Military Infantry School in 1923, 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 tank 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). Since 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). Commanded the 2nd (07/2/1942 - 09/13/1942) and 4th (from 02/7/43 - 5th Guards; from 09/18/1942 to 01/24/1944) tank corps.

In November 1942, the 4th Corps took part in the encirclement of the 6th German Army at Stalingrad, in July 1943 - in the tank battle near Prokhorovka, in October of the same year - in the Battle of 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, Nerekhta district, Kostroma region. He received his education at the teachers' seminary in 1918.

In the Soviet Army since 1919

In aviation since 1933. Participant 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, he was 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, Vologda province (now in the Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region).

In 1919, at the age of 15, he joined the Severodvinsk flotilla, giving himself two years to be accepted (the erroneous birth year of 1902 is still found in some reference books). In 1921-1922 he was a combatant in 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 led the fleet promptly and energetically, coordinating its actions with the operations of other armed forces. The admiral was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command and constantly traveled to ships and fronts. The fleet prevented an invasion of the Caucasus from the sea. In 1944, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded military rank 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.

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 a railway school. In 1919, a real tragedy occurred in the family: his parents died due to typhus, so the boy was forced to leave school and study agriculture. He worked as a shepherd, driving cattle into the field in the morning, and sat down to his textbooks every free minute. Immediately after dinner, I ran to the teacher for clarification of the material.

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

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

Generals of World War II is a new free browser-based multiplayer online strategy game set during World War II. The player is given the opportunity to influence the course historical events in a global conflict, fighting on any side of the confrontation.

By siding with the Soviet troops, there is a chance to raise the red flag over Berlin. There is also the possibility of capturing the Kremlin with the help of powerful Wehrmacht forces or winning with the support of the brilliant Allied forces. In the hands of the player, as the Commander-in-Chief, the decision is in whose hands the victory in the battle will be and who will be able to become the Commander-in-Chief of the new empire.

Game Features

• Free access.
• The ability to personally develop a battle strategy.
• Availability of game currency.
• Possibility of improving equipment, technology, infrastructure.
• Daily tournaments “Corps War”, “Big Battle” and others.
• Realistic battles with the enemy.
• Long and difficult maneuvers.
• Possibility of concluding agreements and pacts.
• Opportunity to become a leader.
• Opportunity to become a participant in the Great Battle.

Pros

At the beginning of the game, the events of the German army's attack on Austria are narrated. Subsequently, some of the most dramatic and brutal events unfold modern history. But there is a huge plus in the game - it is the Commander-in-Chief who has the opportunity, using a correctly defined strategy, to decide how much effort will be spent to defeat the enemy. After all, a frontal attack is not always the best solution in conducting a battle. IN economic development with a military bias of all buildings, troops and equipment, the game fully complies with all the requirements of modern military strategy. And for combat it is very important to be able to defend and go on the offensive following all the rules of military strategy.

Review of the game “Generals of the Second World War”

The events of the game unfold on the battlefields, where from 1939 until the victorious moment of 1945, fierce battles took place against the occupying forces of selfless defenders of their homeland. Landscapes of dense forests, meadows burned by heavy armored vehicles, unconquered cities and destroyed water crossings in the territories different countries– battles await the player everywhere.

The blood runs cold from the deafening roar of exploding shells, the screams of infantry, the powerful roar of tanks and the whistle of diving attack aircraft. But battle after battle young commander General's shoulder straps gradually appear on the shoulders.

The beginning of the game is quite simple: the plane of the detachment where the player serves with the rank of sergeant crashes, a small detachment of infantry remains alive and the sergeant boldly takes command of it, entering into battle with his first enemy - an unknown paramilitary unit.
The expected victory in the battle will bring the player a promotion to the head of the base, which is in a destroyed state and now he will have to restore it. This moment will mark the beginning military career player, and from the battlefields he will take away vast experience of participating in bloody battles.

About the characters

When playing the game “Generals of the Second World War”, the player becomes the Commander-in-Chief and has his own Generals under his command, to whom he must give commands. For beginners, there is a training mission in which the main adviser, the General, will require the impeccable implementation of his advice.

Subsequently, the player has the opportunity to receive more qualified generals under his command, allowing him to win battles during the “auto-battle” mode. But this is not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

To do this, you need to gain experience, which makes it possible to obtain Officer Points. Thanks to the mobilization system in the game, everyone will be able to acquire a worthy commander.

Types of troops

There are three types of troops in the game:

• infantry with the weakest defense, but phenomenally capable of destroying the enemy’s artillery defense;
• artillery with an average degree of protection (especially against infantry troops), but capable of delivering critical blows to enemy tank units;
• tanks– degree of protection is high. With their help, you can mow down entire legions of lightly armed infantry.

Combine all types of troops to inflict maximum damage on the enemy.

Battles in the game "Generals of the Second World War"

The combat system in the game is turn-based. This provides an excellent opportunity to strategically and tactically plan the operation. Each battle is assigned a separate map, with its own terrain, cities, bridges and other landscape elements.

There are confrontations like individual character, and group. Single duels have a place in the Colosseum, taking place several days a week and allowing players to earn the maximum possible honor points and individual rating.

The best players are given the opportunity to participate in the global “Big Battle” as a reward, after winning which the participant receives a special title and the privilege of purchasing exclusive items by visiting a specialized store.

There are different options for conducting combat: carry out a frontal attack on the enemy with a well-equipped army, or carry out complex maneuvers with insufficient staffing, for example, artillery.

There are also situations in which one’s own strength is not enough to defeat the enemy. In such cases, it is worth engaging in diplomatic negotiations and concluding alliance agreements with other players. In short, possible tactical actions are present in unlimited quantities.

Conclusion

"Generals of the Second World War" is a new free browser-based multiplayer online military strategy that fans will appreciate historical reconstructions of that time. It allows you to try your hand at reproducing many real battles. And to demonstrate your own talents as a military leader, you can try your hand at changing the results of famous battles in either direction.

The following participants took part in determining the rating: Marshal of the Soviet Union V.G. Kulikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union S.L. Sokolov, Army General V.I. Varennikov, military doctor and doctor historical sciences Army General M.A. Gareev (leader of the research group), Army General V.L. Govorov, Army General I.M. Tretyak, Marshal of Armored Forces O.A. Losik, Fleet Admiral I.M. Captain, Marshal of Artillery V.M. Mikhalkin, Doctor of Military Sciences, Colonel General V.V. Korobushin, Colonel General V.N. Verevkin-Rakhalsky, Colonel A.A. Koltyukov (Head of the Institute military history Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation), Lieutenant General V.S. Ryabov, Doctor of Military Sciences, Major General V.G. Rog, Major General A.V. Kirilin, Doctor of Historical Sciences G.A. Kumanev, Doctor of Historical Sciences A.S. Orlov, Doctor of Historical Sciences O.A. Rzheshevsky, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Colonel Yu.V. Rubtsov, Colonel V.A. Semidetko.

I. SOVIET COMMANDERS AND MILITARY LEADERS.

1. Generals and military leaders of the strategic and operational-strategic level of the USSR.

Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich (1896-1974)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Armed Forces, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. He commanded the troops of the Reserve, Leningrad, Western, and 1st Belorussian fronts, coordinated the actions of a number of fronts, and made a great contribution to achieving victory in the battle of Moscow, in the Battles of Stalingrad, Kursk, in the Belarusian, 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 - commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front and commander-in-chief of Soviet troops in the Far East.
Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich (1896-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union, Marshal of Poland. Commanded the Bryansk, Don, Central, Belorussian, 1st and 2nd Belorussian fronts.
Konev Ivan Stepanovich (1897-1973) - Marshal of the Soviet Union. 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. From October 1942 - Deputy Commander of the Voronezh Front, Commander of the 2nd Guards Army, Southern, 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, and in February-March 1945 he simultaneously coordinated the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Baltic Fronts.
Antonov Alexey Innokentievich (1896-1962)- army general. Since 1942 - first deputy chief, chief (since 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 - People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, member of the Supreme Command Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief of the Western and South-Western directions, from July 1942 he commanded the Stalingrad and North-Western Fronts. Since 1943 - 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 the 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 Afanasyevich (1897-1968)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the war, he was a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters on the Volkhov and Karelian fronts, commanding the 7th and 4th armies. Since December 1941 - commander of the troops of the Volkhov, Karelian and 1st Far Eastern fronts. He 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 defensive operations in 1941. He made an important contribution to the organization of the defense of Moscow and the transition of the Red Army to the counteroffensive. From 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 the tank corps, the 60th Army, and from April 1944 the 3rd Belorussian Front. Mortally wounded in February 1945.
Vatutin Nikolai Fedorovich (1901-1944)- army general. From June 1941 - Chief of Staff of the North-Western Front, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Commander of the Voronezh, South-Western and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. He showed the highest art of military leadership in the Battle of Kursk, during the crossing of the river. Dnieper and the liberation of Kyiv, in the Korsun-Shevchenko operation. Mortally wounded in battle in February 1944.
Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich (1897-1982)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chief of Staff Southwestern Front, then at the same time the headquarters of the troops of the South-Western direction, commander of the 16th (11th Guards) Army. Since 1943, he commanded the troops of the 1st Baltic and 3rd Belorussian fronts.
Eremenko Andrey Ivanovich (1892-1970)- Marshal of the Soviet Union. 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 Battle of Stalingrad.
Petrov Ivan Efimovich (1896-1958) - army general. Since May 1943 - commander of the North Caucasus Front, 33rd Army, 2nd Belorussian and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, chief of staff of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

II. COMMANDERS AND MILITARY LEADERS OF THE ALLIED ARMIES OF THE USA

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 Forces 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 southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean.
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 US and Great Britain in World War II.
Lehi William (1875-1959) - Admiral of the Fleet. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the same time - Chief of Staff to the Supreme Commander of the US Armed Forces in 1942-1945.
Halsey William (1882-1959) - Admiral of the Fleet. He commanded the 3rd Fleet and led American forces in the battle for the Solomon Islands in 1943.
Patton George Smith Jr. (1885-1945)- general. Since 1942, he commanded an operational group of troops 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 US Forces in the Central Pacific from 1942-1945.
Arnold Henry (1886-1950)- army general. In 1942-1945. - Chief of Staff of the US Army Air Forces.
Clark Mark (1896-1984) - general Commander of the 5th American Army in Italy in 1943-1945. He became famous for his landing operation in the Salerno area (Operation Avalanche).
Spaats Karl (1891-1974) - general Commander of US Strategic Air Forces in Europe. He led strategic aviation operations during the air offensive against Germany.

United Kingdom

Montgomery Bernard Law (1887-1976)- Field Marshal. Since July 1942 - commander of the 8th British Army in Africa. During the Normandy operation he commanded an army group. In 1945 - Commander-in-Chief of the British occupation forces in Germany.
Brooke Alan Francis (1883-1963)- Field Marshal. 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 Allied Army Group that landed on the island. Sicily and Italy. Since December 1944 - Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.
Cunningham Andrew (1883-1963)- Admiral. Commander of the British fleet in the eastern Mediterranean in 1940-1941.
Harris Arthur Travers (1892-1984)- Air Marshal. Commander of the bomber force that carried out the “air offensive” against Germany in 1942-1945.
Tedder Arthur (1890-1967)- Air Chief Marshal. Eisenhower's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe for Aviation during 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 Southeast Asia.

France

De Tassigny Jean de Lattre (1889-1952)- Marshal of France. Since September 1943 - Commander-in-Chief of the troops of "Fighting France", since June 1944 - Commander of the 1st French Army.
Juin Alphonse (1888-1967)- Marshal of France. Since 1942 - commander of the troops of "Fighting France" in Tunisia. In 1944-1945 - commander of the French expeditionary force in Italy.

III. THE MOST PROMINENT COMMANDERS AND NAVAL LEADERS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR (FROM THE ENEMY SIDE)

Germany
Rundstedt Karl Rudolf (1875-1953)- Field Marshal General. In the Second world war commanded Army Group South and Army Group A during the attack on Poland and France. He headed Army Group South on the Soviet-German front (until November 1941). From 1942 to July 1944 and from September 1944 - 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 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, 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). At the beginning of May 1945 - Reich Chancellor and Supreme Commander.
Keselring Albert (1885-1960)- Field Marshal General. He commanded air fleets operating against Poland, Holland, France, and England. At the beginning of the war with the USSR, he commanded the 2nd Air Fleet. From December 1941 - Commander-in-Chief of the Nazi forces of the South-West (Mediterranean - Italy), in 1945 - the troops of the West (West Germany).

Finland

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

Japan

Yamamoto Isoroku (1884-1943) - admiral. During World War II - Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Navy. Carried out the operation to defeat the American fleet at Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

When people talk about Soviet military leaders of the Great Patriotic War, they most often remember Zhukov, Rokossovsky, and Konev. In honoring them, we have almost forgotten the Soviet generals who made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany.
COMMANDARM REMEZOV

In 1941, the Red Army abandoned city after city. Rare counter-offensives by our troops did not change the oppressive feeling of impending disaster. However, on the 161st day of the war - November 29, 1941 - the elite German troops of the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler tank brigade were driven out of the largest southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Stalin telegraphed congratulations to senior officers taking part in this battle, including the commander of the 56th division, Fyodor Remezov.

It is known about this man that he was a Soviet general and called himself not a Russian, but a Great Russian. He was also appointed to the post of commander of the 56th on the personal order of Stalin, who appreciated Fyodor Nikitich’s ability, without losing composure, to conduct a stubborn defense against the advancing Germans, who were significantly superior in strength.

For example, his strange, at first glance, decision to attack German armored vehicles in the area of ​​Koshkino station (near Taganrog) with the forces of the 188th Cavalry Regiment on October 17, 1941. This made it possible to withdraw the Rostov cadets infantry school and parts of the 31st Division from under a crushing blow. While the Germans were chasing the light cavalry, running into fiery ambushes, the 56th Army received the necessary respite and was saved from the Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler tanks that broke through the defenses. Subsequently, Remezov’s bloodless fighters, together with the soldiers of the 9th Army, liberated Rostov, despite Hitler’s categorical order not to surrender the city. This was the first major victory of the Red Army over the Nazis.
VASILY ARKHIPOV

By the beginning of the war with the Germans, Vasily Arkhipov already had successful combat experience with the Finns, as well as the Order of the Red Banner for breaking through the Mannerheim Line and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the personal destruction of four enemy tanks. According to many military men who knew Vasily Sergeevich well, he at first glance, he accurately assessed the capabilities of German armored vehicles, even if they belonged to the new products of the fascist military-industrial complex. Thus, in the battle for the Sandomierz bridgehead in the summer of 1944, his 53 tank brigade met the “royal tigers” for the first time. The brigade commander decided to attack the steel monster in his command tank in order to inspire his subordinates by personal example. Using the high maneuverability of his vehicle, he several times entered the side of the “clumsy and slow beast” and opened fire. Only after the third hit did the “German” burst into flames. Soon his tank crews captured three more “royal tigers”. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Arkhipov, about whom his colleagues said “doesn’t drown in water, doesn’t burn in fire,” became a general on April 20, 1945.
ALEXANDER RODIMTSEV

Alexander Rodimtsev in Spain was known as Camarados Pavlito, who fought in 1936-1937 with Franco's Falangists. For the defense of the university city near Madrid he received the first gold star hero of the Soviet Union. During the war against the Nazis, he was known as the general who turned the tide of the Battle of Stalingrad.

According to Zhukov, Rodimtsev’s guards literally at the last moment struck at the Germans who had come to the banks of the Volga. Later, recalling these days, Rodimtsev wrote: “On that day, when our division approached the left bank of the Volga, the Nazis took Mamayev Kurgan. They took it because for every one of our fighters there were ten fascists advancing, for every one of our tanks there were ten enemy tanks, for every “Yak” or “Il” that took off there were ten “Messerschmitts” or “Junkers”... the Germans knew how to fight, especially in such numerical and technical superiority."

Rodimtsev did not have such forces, but his well-trained soldiers of the 13th Guards rifle division, also known as the Airborne Forces formation, fighting in the minority, turned the fascist Goth tanks into scrap metal and killed a significant number in hand-to-hand urban battles German soldiers 6th Army of Paulus. As in Spain, in Stalingrad Rodimtsev repeatedly said: “but pasaran, the Nazis will not pass.”
ALEXANDER GORBATOV

Former non-commissioned officer tsarist army Alexander Gorbatov, who was awarded the rank of major general in December 1941, was not afraid to conflict with his superiors.

For example, in December 1941, he told his immediate commander Kirill Moskalenko that it was stupid to throw our regiments into a frontal attack on the Germans if there was no objective need for this. He responded harshly to the abuse, declaring that he would not allow himself to be insulted. And this was after three years of imprisonment in Kolyma, where he was shocked as an “enemy of the people” under the notorious Article 58.

When Stalin was informed about this incident, he grinned and said: “Only the grave will correct the hunchback.” Gorbatov also entered into a dispute with Konstantin Zhukov regarding the attack on Orel in the summer of 1943, demanding not to attack from an existing bridgehead, but to cross the Zushi River in another place. At first Zhukov was categorically against it, but, on reflection, he realized that Gorbatov was right.

It is known that Lavrenty Beria had a negative attitude towards the general and even considered the stubborn man his personal enemy. Indeed, many did not like Gorbatov’s independent judgments. For example, after carrying out a number of brilliant operations, including the East Prussian one, Alexander Gorbatov unexpectedly spoke out against the assault on Berlin, proposing to begin a siege. He motivated his decision by the fact that the “Krauts” would surrender anyway, but this would save the lives of many of our soldiers who went through the entire war.
MIKHAIL NAUMOV

Finding himself in occupied territory in the summer of 1941, wounded senior lieutenant Mikhail Naumov began his war against the invaders. At first he was a private partisan detachment Chervony district of the Sumy region (in January 1942), but after fifteen months he was awarded the rank of major general.

Thus, he became one of the youngest senior officers, and also had an incredible and one-of-a-kind military career. However, such a high rank corresponded to the size of the partisan unit led by Naumov. This happened after the famous 65-day raid stretching almost 2,400 kilometers across Ukraine to Belarusian Polesie, as a result of which the German rear was pretty bled dry.

August 29th, 2013

Hello dears!
Today we will finally reach the home stretch of the topic of the Wehrmacht Field Marshals, which began here: and continued here: , here: and here:
I just have to go through the biographies of the 5 best of the best German military leaders, in my humble opinion, in World War II.
This top five is closed by Hans Günther Adolf Ferdinand von Kluge, nicknamed “Clever Hans” (here not only the very German name was played on, but also the surname, because Kluge can be translated from German as “smart”), although it seems to me that his other name was more suitable for him nickname - “Cunning Gunther”, for he was indeed a very resourceful and cunning man. A sort of improved version of Panikovsky, who “will sell, then buy, then sell again, but more expensive” :-)
The son of a general and heir to Prussian military traditions, von Kluge realized from childhood that excellent education and military talent are not enough to reach the heights of success - it is also necessary to learn how to intrigue well. Over time, he achieved great skill in this matter. However, right up until the Nazis came to power, he simply honestly pulled the burden of the army. Having graduated from the Military Academy before the First World War, he, as a capable student, was transferred to the General Staff. From there he went to the front. He was a General Staff officer at the 21st Army Corps, then a battalion commander, and finally, a General Staff officer at the 89th Infantry Division. In 1918 he was seriously wounded by shrapnel near Verdun. He ended the war as a captain, a holder of the Iron Cross of both classes and a number of other awards, including the Austrian Order of the Iron Crown.

Order of the Iron Crown

After recovering from his wound, von Kluge continued to serve in the Reichswehr. By 1933, he had the rank of major general and served as chief of artillery of the 3rd Military District (Berlin). The Nazis' rise to power first accelerated his career, since already in the spring of 1934 he received the rank of lieutenant general, and first the position of inspector of the Army Signal Corps, and then became commander of the 6th Division and commander of the 6th Military District in Münster. However, he soon fell out with Goering (they were enemies until the very end of his life) and fell into disgrace. What makes his situation even worse is that von Kluge openly supports von Fritsch, and is outraged by the party's interference in military affairs. Accordingly, he was almost the first to be sent to the reserve in 1938 during the “general cleansing of the army ranks.” However, the disgrace did not last long - there are not many good, competent, experienced generals, which Kluge undoubtedly was, in the army and he was again called up for active service. Despite Goering's active opposition, he was tasked with forming and leading the 6th Army Group, which included the 9th, 10th and 11th Military Districts (a total of 6 divisions). In August 1939, the 4th Army was deployed on the basis of this group, and Kluge became its commander. “Clever Hans” simply brilliantly confirmed his skills, both in Poland and in France, was able to enlist the support of Keitel, and most importantly attracted the attention of Hitler. So Goering’s machinations no longer bothered him. For excellent military work, he was promoted to field marshal general (July 19, 1940) and awarded the Knight's Cross.

"Clever Hans"

Realizing where the wind was blowing, he began to strongly support any plans of the Reich Chancellor. So von Kluge is one of the few who supported the implementation of the Barbarossa plan and a war on 2 fronts. Kluge began his campaign against the USSR by encircling our group near Bialystok, and then he was responsible for the capture of Smolensk. He was against an active late autumn attack on Moscow, which he repeatedly reported to von Bock, and most importantly to Hitler. And so on December 19, 1941, Kluge was appointed commander of the forces of Army Group Center instead of the displaced Bock. First of all, “Cunning Gunther” carried out a purge and removed the generals he did not like (Gepner, Guderian, Strauss) as a result of a cunning intrigue, placing all the blame on them for the failure to capture Moscow and the tactical retreat from the capital. And only then did he take up the problems of the army group. He held this position until July 1942, and it should be noted that he acted brilliantly - he repelled a number of strong attacks by Soviet troops (near Rzhev and Belev, for example), and also defeated the cavalry corps of General P. Belov near Kirov. Plus, I was able to “feed the misconception” to our headquarters that the offensive must be expected in the Moscow direction, and not at all in the south, as it should have been. No wonder some called him the “lion of defense.” For all this, Hitler awarded him the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on January 18, 1943. Kluge showed the full extent of the master of intrigue before the Germans carried out Operation Citadel. Thus, during the preparation of the operation in May 1943, he arrived at the Reich Chancellor's headquarters with the intention of delaying the offensive, believing that the operation was not prepared well enough. When he found out that Hitler had already made such a decision, he began to oppose the delay of the operation, while pursuing the goal of protecting himself from responsibility in case of failure of the offensive, acting on the principle “I warned you...” As a result, he was excluded from the operation itself removed, the task was assigned to the Model. But when the latter failed, Kluge’s reputation was in no way damaged.


From left to right Kluge, Himmler, Dönitz, Keitel

It suffered somewhat a little later, when the magnificent Rokossovsky first broke through the front at Orel, and then crossed the Dnieper during the Chernigov-Pripyat operation. And even then, Kluge, unlike many others, was able to avoid complete defeat and withdraw his troops to Belarus, once again proving himself to be a very good military leader. True, it is not completely known how everything would have turned out further if on October 28, 1943, his car had not flown into a ditch on the Orsha-Minsk highway. The field marshal survived, but received quite serious injuries and was forced to undergo treatment in Germany for 8 months. Thus, this accident saved him from his final defeat and the stigma of being a loser.
On July 2, 1944, Kluge replaced Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as commander of the Western Front and was initially very energetic and hopeful. However, all his rosy dreams instantly dissipated when he was faced with the real picture emerging on the Western Front. He repeatedly asked Hitler to begin a retreat across the Seine River, but received a categorical refusal. As a result, 15 German divisions fell into the so-called Falaise bag, and although some soldiers and equipment were able to be removed from the encirclement (though without Kluge’s participation), losses were still high (especially in equipment). Hitler immediately removed Kluge from his post as commander and summoned him to his headquarters. Then “clever Hans” realized that the map of his bit was finally and unequivocally and it was not worth returning to Germany. As an experienced gambler, he bet not only on Hitler, but also on the failed conspirators, and the latter gave him up. As a result, near the French city of Metze, Hans Gunther von Kluge committed suicide by biting into a capsule of potassium cyanide. This happened on August 18, 1944. He was 61 years old.

The famous "African partisan of World War I" P. von Lettow-Vorbeck visiting G. von Kluge

What can we say in conclusion about this general - he was good from a military point of view and certainly was valued as a strong professional by our illustrious marshals; he advocated a humane attitude towards prisoners of war and was an ardent opponent of punitive operations against civilians. He respected the SS, but only as fighters at the front, and not as an organization engaged in racial cleansing. That is, on the one hand, he is an honest, professional, strong opponent and a good warrior. On the other hand, for his own good and to advance his career, at first he supported almost any of Hitler’s undertakings and was his faithful follower. And it seems he outwitted himself.

One of the most famous WWII commanders

The following man is considered by most English and American historians to be the best German commander of World War II. I am now talking about the one they called “The Desert Fox”, and we know him under the name Erwin Eugen Johannes Rommel. As you can understand, I do not share our assessments foreign researchers and I don’t think it’s the best. I will explain why at the very end of the story. Although, in general, I recognize him as an outstanding military leader, and there are reasons for this too.
Erwin was born on November 15, 1891, the son of a school teacher and the daughter of the former president of the government of Württemberg. In addition to him, there were 2 more sons in the family, and a little later a daughter was born. Since childhood, his father did not encourage Erwin’s dream of a military career and tried in every possible way to persuade him to become a teacher. However, Rommel Jr. was adamant and entered a military school. In 1912, he received his first officer rank - chief lieutenant. Rommel was an active participant in the First World War on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts. In 1914, he served as a platoon commander in the 19th Artillery Regiment, then returned to his native 124th Infantry Regiment. In 1915, in this regiment he received command of a company and the rank of lieutenant. Since the autumn of the same year, he has been a company commander in the Württemberg mountain rifle battalion. In 1917 he fought in Romania, then in Italy. At the end of the war, he served at the headquarters of a regiment located in Germany. For military distinctions during the war he was awarded the Iron Cross of the 2nd and 1st degrees and the Order "Pour le Merite". He was repeatedly wounded and accomplished several feats. He finished the war with the rank of captain. After the war he was retained in the Reichswehr.

Young Erwin with his future wife

His career took off very sharply when the Nazis came to power. The secret of success is simple - Rommel was Hitler's favorite. It was in such people that the future field marshal, the Reich Chancellor saw help to counterbalance the old Prussian army elite. Judge for yourself - in just 6 years, Rommel went from major to general (and this is in peacetime!), and less than 3 years later - Field Marshal General and one of the most famous and recognizable commanders of the Third Reich.
His star rose in the French Company and Rommel is without a doubt one of its brightest heroes. Back in February 1940, the future field marshal asked to be appointed commander of the 7th Panzer Division. Hitler was quite surprised (since before this Rommel had dealt only with infantry) but granted the request. And this unit, armed, by the way, with captured Czech tanks, showed itself in all its glory. During the fighting in France, this division lost about 2.5 thousand people killed and wounded, while capturing up to 100 thousand people, including 17 generals and 5 admirals. Its trophies amounted to about 400 tanks and armored vehicles, over 360 artillery pieces and 10 aircraft. It is quite understandable that such brilliant results of the division commander were awarded the Knight's Cross and the rank of lieutenant general. And most importantly - fame and fame. This played into Rommel's hands. On February 6, 1941, he was appointed commander of the newly formed Afrika Korps (tank and light infantry divisions), which was sent by Hitler to North Africa to help the Italian army defeated there by the British. I will not describe all the vicissitudes of these races in the desert now - because this is worthy of at least a separate large post, but I will say that here Erwin Rommel showed himself very, very well. And this is in conditions of superiority of the enemy in forces and means, and most importantly, the total supremacy of the British fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Describing Rommel’s military talents, it is enough to recall only 2 topographical points - Tobruk and Benghazi. For almost 2.5 years, the “Desert Fox” and his troops fought like a lion in Africa, almost took Alexandria and Cairo, and by and large his big problems began when he met a worthy opponent in Montgomery. However, the ending was a little predictable. On June 22, 1942, Rommel was awarded the rank of Field Marshal, thus becoming the youngest Wehrmacht officer to achieve this rank. Hitler recalled his newly appointed field marshal from Africa shortly before the final surrender of the Italo-German troops there and awarded him the highest (at that time) military award of the 3rd Reich - he was awarded the Diamonds (No. 6) to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (for the entire war Only 27 people were awarded).

E. Rommel and A. Kesselring in Libya

After a short rest and treatment, he led Army Group B, which was transferred to Italy, but could not get along with another Field Marshal General (whom we will talk about in the next part, since this concerns the Luftwaffe) A. Kesselring, who commanded the group armies "C". Hitler took the latter’s side, reassigning to him all the troops located on the Apennine Peninsula, and sent Rommel to inspect the Atlantic Wall. The “Desert Fox” was in quiet horror from the inspection trip - there was simply no active defense in the West, and the Val was a chain of scattered fortified areas. What the commanders had been doing there before, including the current von Rundstedt, was absolutely not clear. A number of conflicts occurred between the two field marshals, which they were more or less able to extinguish in December 1943 and jointly approached Hitler with proposals to improve the situation. The result was a kind of two-tier chain of command. Von Runstedt remained the commander of the entire western front, but Army Group B was created again under the command of Rommel, who was subordinate to Runstedt. Erwin Rommel energetically took up the matter and in six months was able to seriously strengthen the defense line. I did a lot, but not everything. Well, on June 6, 1944, D-Day broke out, or, more correctly, “Operation Neptune”... On June 9, Rommel tried to carry out a counterattack, and on June 15 his nerves lost. He sent a message to Hitler in which he unequivocally proposed ending the war and sitting down at the negotiating table with the British and Americans. However, the latter did not react in any way and the “Desert Fox” led the troops until July 17, when he came under bombing English plane and received a shrapnel wound to the head. Everyone believed that he would not survive, but the strong body of the relatively young field marshal survived. Until October 14, he was treated surrounded by his family in the small town of Herlingen near Ulm. And on this day, 2 generals came to see him - the head of the OKH personnel department, Lieutenant General V. Burgdorf and his deputy, Major General E. Meisel. They said without offense that Hitler knew about the field marshal’s participation in the conspiracy of Colonel Schauffenberg’s group against the Reich Chancellor and offered a choice: a court of honor or suicide. Rommel, who was indeed actively in contact with the conspirators, but was categorically against the elimination of Hitler, did not hesitate to choose the first. This answer did not suit the generals at all - apparently they did not count on it. They began to prove to the “Desert Fox” that the court of honor had already pronounced its verdict and, in fact, was a farce. Rommel insisted that he was right. Then the generals began to blackmail the field marshal with his family. The choice is either suicide and an honorable funeral, or a trial with a 100% guarantee that loved ones will fall into the hands of “Himmler’s boys.” Rommel naturally chose suicide. Having said goodbye to his loved ones, he drove towards Ulm and took poison along the way. It was officially announced that he had died of a cerebral hemorrhage and a magnificent funeral was held. No one touched the family - from this point of view, the agreement was respected.


Rommel's family home

Thus ended the life of one of the most famous military men of World War 2.
Let's return to the beginning of our story, and I will try to answer you, dear ones, why for me Rommel is not No. 1 or even No. 2 among the top generals of the Third Reich. It seems that he is brave and experienced, and skillful, and talented, and theoretically brilliant (back in 1937 he published his war diaries under the title “Infantry Attacks”, and previously taught a little at the military academy). Plus, it's almost the only general, to whom Hitler asked forgiveness for not listening to him on his actions in Africa and admitted that it was Rommel who was right, and not the Chancellor himself.
But the whole point is that Rommel never fought on the Eastern Front, and for me this is the most important indicator - I just can’t fully understand how cool he really was as a commander. And then, no matter what you say, Rommel screwed up the landing in Normandy. The blame for the fact that the Allies successfully landed and began to advance deep into France can be equally shared by 3 people - Hitler, von Rundstedt and Rommel. That's it.
Have a nice day!
To be continued...

Summer is leaving... Summer is leaving? Do you want to extend it? Yes, it’s easy - you just need to visit one of the most unique countries on our planet - hospitable and hospitable Cuba - the country of eternal summer! The bright sun, warm sea, wonderful people of the island of Freedom will not only fill you with energy for new achievements - they will give you something more important - understanding and taste for life. Cuba is far away and not easy to get to. Therefore, I suggest you trust the professionals: . Have a nice holiday and pleasant impressions!