Marshal Zhukov, USSR

WORLD WAR II HERO

(1896-1974)

ISP by: Nikolay Makarenko

Russia and the USSR during WWII and WW was in a very difficult situation. Russia suffered from revolution, and therefore there was a huge number murdered people. The leader of the Soviet Union during World War II Joseph Stalin brutally smoothed 40,000 Soviet officers, which he considered politically unreliable, and at that time had executed three out of five major generals of the Red Army. Because of Russian restructuring, Russian troops were in a huge shortage of military chiefs. George Zhukov was one of them. He established himself as a competently leader and made an impetuous career in the newly created Soviet army. Out of poverty George Zhukov became the pride and faith of the Soviet people. George Zhukov - one of the prominent heroes and one of the most talented commanders of the Second World War, who made a huge contribution in the victory, development of military study and craft. Without his excellent command and very elaborated tactics, war could end differently and maybe we would not exist nowadays.

George Konstantinovich Zhukov, like most peasants lived in poverty. "That was such a joy, later remembered Zhukov - when out of Maloyaroslavets when they brought to us the steering wheel or gingerbread! If you could save some money for Christmas or Easter for the pies, then there will be no end to our delights." (http://bobych.ru/doklad/deyateli-rossii/geor.html) In the age of 10 Zhukov was sent in Moscow to work for his uncle. Work was hard. George had to work 12 hours a day, at night he slept on the cold floor, and had almost nothing to eat. Later, during WWI, George showed his talents to the leadership. In the Russian Army, there were many problems according to him. The majority of the officers disparagingly treated their own soldiers, didn't try to listen them and understand. This is the lack which Zhukov uprooted, while being the General of the Soviet Army. During the revolution Zhukov had to decide which side he chooses. After the revolution, Zhukov became one of the members communist Army. He fell sick and went home to his homeland. The characteristics of the new commander would be - strict careful planner, cast-iron discipline. In 1930, Constantine began to command the 2nd Artillery Brigade. Regularly held seminars, and by being a great strategist, shared plans for large-scale manoeuvres. Zhukov was one of the generals, who with great pleasure and interest tried and experimented on new weapons, including tanks, which were recently appeared on battlefields of World War II.

In 1938-39, General Zhukov took part in the battles against Japanese, where he performed his tactical talents. In 1940, Zhukov was appointed as a general. Stalin assessed his strategic abilities and respected his policies. In 1941, Zhukov was appointed as a Chief of General Staff. He worked without interruption, preparing the Soviet troops to fight the Nazis, but there was a big lack of defence machines, equipment and experienced officers. The first serious challenge to Zhukov became the surprise attack of the Germans in June 1994, and plan Barbarossa. Zhukov tried to do correct counter-attack and raise the spirit of Soviet soldiers who were dying on the battlefields and were taken by the Germans. It was necessary to maintain the right spirit, and strengthen trust to him. General Zhukov wanted to leave positions and leave Kiev. Stalin didn't agree his proposal, and removed Zhukov from his post. In September 1941, Zhukov was returned and sent tom command northern fleet, to the blockade of Leningrad. "Of course, the fact that Leningrad did not fell, and stayed in the blockade, and the fact that the Germans turned back to Moscow - a historical merit not to two and not twenty people, but millions of military and non-military people... But if we talk about the role of personality in history, and applied it to Zhukov, then his name is associated in people's memory to the salvation of Leningrad and Moscow's rescue.” (Marshal Zhukov's greatest battles, pg 65

) His first act when he arrived in Leningrad was suspension of commanders and officers, by which restored trust in the staff. Zhukov rigidly planned defence of the starving city. During the siege of Leningrad, German tanks moved to Moscow. "Zhukov, constantly monitor the situation on the entire Soviet-German front, firmly told Stalin: Leningrad couldn't give up. If we lose it, we wouldn't be able to keep Moscow." (Marshal Zhukov's greatest battles, pg 66).Zhukov was recalled back. All Zhukov's decisions on the giving ground, rejected by Stalin, failed.

During the blockade of Stalingrad, Stalin ordered to defend and protect Stalingrad and never back down, defending oil supplies. "Never give up" - was Stalin's order. The first and only vice commander of Stalin was Zhukov. The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles. Stated, that "Zhukov in this operation had to demonstrate the skill of maximizing the existing minimum military forces and within solve major operational problems. He is used to specifically take care of the soldiers, to appreciate each gun, tank or projectile, was forced to constantly think and dodge, how to take the most efficient usage from them. "(Marshal Zhukov's greatest battles, pg 109)To encircle German Army, Marshal Zhukov mobilized six armies, one million soldiers. Zhukov cleverly put Germans into a trap. However, despite the victory of the Soviets casualties were enormous. Nearly a million died and thousands were killed by their own soldiers for "showing cowardice". The commanders of the Red Army often drove soldiers at gunpoint. "To attack- meant to die, step back - meant to die." (Heroes of WWII, Marshal Zhukov) Stalingrad became the greatest victory of Zhukov, the loss of the German armies were nearly equal with Soviet losses. Hitler had declared a day of mourning for the shame, the defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad. After the Stalingrad victory, Russian soldiers with a new force marched into battles, their morale raised up incredibly high. They were ready to follow Marshal Zhukov, they trusted him. He was a leader who came from the peasants. For his fearlessness soldiers and the entire Russian people loved him. After Stalingrad, Zhukov became a national hero. "God of War went to the other side" - Adolph Hitler. (Heroes of WWII, Marshal Zhukov)

"When Eisenhower asked Zhukov how were his soldiers trained to deal with minefields, Zhukov immediately answered - Russian Army treated mine fields as they didn't exist - Marshal Zhukov "(Heroes of WWII, Marshal Zhukov) Because of Zhukov's tactics, just 2 months later Russian troops could join British and American troops on the Normandy territories. In 1945, the battle for Berlin is the most important Zhukov's victory. Under Zhukov’s command Soviet Army reached Berlin. Unlike Hitler, Stalin sometimes listened to advices of his military commanders. Because of Zhukov German fortifications were destroyed. Zhukov artillery continued attack bringing death and destruction. May 8, 1945 Zhukov completed capitulation of the German Army. The capture of Berlin became the top military Zhukov's career.

But always triumph has two sides. Stalin saw a danger in Zhukov, and sent him away from Moscow. Hero of Russia and the Soviet Union was buried with full honors at the Red Square in Moscow, the Kremlin wall. Unfortunately, WWII hero, who did so much for his country and went through so pain and death by the end of his life he wasn’t happy. He wanted to gain a title of The Greatest Commander (Heroes of WWII, Marshal Zhukov

). Because of the love for his people Zhukov became the pride and honor for them. His intelligence and faith helped him to discover great general, and for a reason he stayed into memories as the Great Patriotic Hero!

Citation.

http://bobych.ru/doklad/deyateli-rossii/geor.html

Heroes of WWII, 2005, Creation Films Documentaries, documentary movie

Marshal Zhukov's greatest battles (Cooper Square Press; 1 edition (April 15 2002))

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30