Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. Unbroken Admiral Kuznetsov N.G.

Naval commander and statesman. He preserved the fleet at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, successfully commanded it during the war, and did a lot for it in peacetime.

Biography

Start of a career

Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was 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). Since 1917, N. G. Kuznetsov worked as a delivery boy in the Arkhangelsk port. In 1919, at the age of 15, he joined the Severodvinsk Flotilla, giving himself two years to be accepted. Participant in the Civil War: he served as a sailor in the Severodvinsk River Flotilla, as well as in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk.

Since 1920, he was sent to study at the preparatory school at the Naval School named after. Frunze, graduated from it in 1922 and was enrolled in the school itself. He graduated with honors in 1926. Member of the CPSU (b) CPSU since 1925.

He chose the Black Sea Fleet and the cruiser Chervona Ukraine, the first of the cruisers built in the USSR, as his place of service. He held the positions of battery commander, company commander, and senior watch commander.

I.V. Stalin on the deck of the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine"..

In 1929-1932, N. G. Kuznetsov was a student at the Naval Academy, from which he also graduated with honors. In 1932-1933 he was senior assistant to the commander of the cruiser "Red Caucasus (1916)". From November 1933 to August 1936 he commanded the cruiser Chervona Ukraine.

In August 1936, he was sent to the Spanish Civil War, where he was the chief naval adviser to the Republican government (adopted the pseudonym Don Nicholas Lepanto, in honor of Spain's greatest naval victory). He participated in the preparation and conduct of combat operations of the Republican fleet, and ensured the reception of transports from the USSR. For successful activities in Spain he was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner.

From August 1937 - captain 1st rank and deputy commander, and from January 1938 to March 1939 - commander of the Pacific Fleet. On February 2, 1938, he was awarded the next military rank of flagship of the 2nd rank. Fleet forces under the command of Kuznetsov supported the actions of ground forces during the battles near Lake Khasan.

On April 29, 1939, 34-year-old Kuznetsov was appointed People's Commissar of the USSR Navy. In this post, he managed to make a great contribution to strengthening the fleet before the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. A number of major exercises were conducted under the leadership of N. G. Kuznetsov. He personally visited many ships, resolving organizational and personnel issues. He initiated the opening of new maritime schools and maritime special schools (later the Nakhimov schools), as well as several higher naval educational institutions. For his services during the introduction of the ranks of general and admiral in June 1940, he was awarded the rank of admiral.

Great Patriotic War

By mid-June 1941, relations with Germany were increasingly strained. Having assessed the current situation, N.G. Kuznetsov decided with his order to increase the combat readiness of the fleets. Admiral Kuznetsov, risking not even his career, but his head, these days, by his order, transferred the entire fleet to combat readiness No. 2, ordered bases and formations to disperse forces and strengthen surveillance of water and air, and prohibit the dismissal of personnel from units and ships. The ships received the necessary supplies, put their equipment in order, and stood ready for battle and voyage.

On June 19, 1941, the Baltic and Northern fleets were transferred to operational readiness No. 2. On June 20, the Black Sea Fleet completed the exercise and returned from the Odessa area to Sevastopol. The fleet was given the order to remain in operational readiness No. 2. By reports of the Main Naval Staff, the People's Commissar of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff were informed of the transfer of fleet forces from June 19, 1941 to operational readiness No. 2. Against the measures taken in the Navy to increase There was no readiness to object, but there was no approval either. Until the last moment, the People's Commissar of Defense did not send a directive to the commanders of the military districts to increase readiness, which played a fatal role at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War.

Only at 23.00 on June 21, People's Commissar of Defense Marshal Timoshenko informed Kuznetsov about a possible attack by the Nazis that night. The fleets were immediately declared operational readiness No. 1. And at midnight, the naval forces were ready to repel aggression. On the first day of the war, not a single warship, not a single coastal battery, not a single naval aircraft was hit. In fact, the sailors and fleet were saved from destruction. And at five o’clock in the morning, under his responsibility, the People’s Commissar of the Navy ordered that the fleets be told that Germany had launched an attack on our bases and ports, which should be repelled by force of arms. Then, at three o’clock in the morning on June 22, having reported to the Kremlin about the raid on Sevastopol, Admiral Kuznetsov, without waiting for instructions from above, ordered all fleets: “Immediately begin laying minefields according to the cover plan.” The minesweepers that went out to sea covered our bases with a mine ring and placed mine banks on the routes of the German convoys. Fleets and flotillas began to operate in accordance with pre-war defense plans. In the most difficult August 1941 for the country, at his suggestion, naval aviation bombed Berlin 10 times!

This is what N.G. wrote about the initial period of the war. Kuznetsov: “The reasons for the failures and mistakes in the first days of the war must be examined more seriously, deeply, and with full responsibility. These mistakes do not lie on the conscience of the people who survived the war and retained in their souls the sacred memory of those who did not return home. These mistakes largely on our conscience, on the conscience of leaders of all levels. And so that they do not repeat themselves, they should not be hushed up, not transferred to the souls of the dead, but courageously, honestly admit them, because repeating past mistakes is already a crime... Because of this. "that there was no clear organization at the center, many issues remained unresolved locally." And here’s another: “We paid for a long time for organizational unpreparedness in the first year of the war. Why did everything happen this way? I think it was because there was no clear regulation of the rights and responsibilities among high-ranking military leaders and senior officials of the country. And yet they are the ones who should were to know our place and the limits of responsibility for the fate of the state. After all, at that time we were already sure that in the upcoming war, military operations would begin from its very first hours and even minutes."

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 the military rank of fleet admiral. On May 25, 1945, this rank was equated to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and marshal-type shoulder straps were introduced. In 1945, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Post-war ups and downs

Marshal Zhukov and Admiral Kuznetsov.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the main tasks of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov, were the revival and construction of a modern Navy, establishing its place in the system of the country's Armed Forces and its organization, taking into account the experience of the past war. Under his leadership, a ten-year shipbuilding program was developed, which outlined the construction of modern ships, including aircraft carriers. Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov predetermined the development of the Russian Navy. However, after the war, the combative, straightforward and uncompromising People's Commissar becomes unnecessary. The “Arkhangelsk” admiral represented an inconvenient figure for I.V. Stalin’s entourage; his removal from office was also associated with the adoption of the first post-war shipbuilding program. His persistence and determination to implement the shipbuilding program, disagreement with the division of the Baltic Fleet came into conflict with the position of I.V. Stalin and the country's top military leadership.

The People's Commissariat of the Navy was divided, and N. G. Kuznetsov was removed from office. Then he had to experience the shameful “court of honor of admirals” and the trial of the Supreme Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. During the trial, Nikolai Gerasimovich with all his might defended, first of all, not himself, but his subordinates - admirals L. M. Galler, V. A. Alafuzov and Vice Admiral G. A. Stepanov, showing everyone a vivid example of courage and civil courage. Unfortunately, honor and dignity then turned out to be powerless in the face of lies and meanness. They did not dare put him in prison, but he was removed from his job and demoted to rear admiral. From 1948 to 1951, N. G. Kuznetsov served in Khabarovsk as deputy commander-in-chief of the Far East forces for naval forces, and then as commander of the Pacific (5th) Fleet.

Leading such a complex organism as the Navy is not given to everyone. They say that no one is irreplaceable. However, there are exceptions... In the summer of 1951, Stalin returned Kuznetsov, who had remembered the “lesson,” to work in Moscow as Minister of the Navy. The admiral again ascended to the “captain’s bridge” of the country’s fleet when his broad outlook, national scale and erudition, knowledge, practical experience, talent as a naval commander, special human qualities were in demand - self-confidence, independence, strength of character, simplicity and accessibility.

After the death of I.V. Stalin, Nikolai Gerasimovich was restored to his previous rank - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union - and all charges were completely dropped from him, as well as from his subordinates, due to the absence of crimes in the “admirals case”.

In 1953-1955, Kuznetsov was the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. On March 3, 1955, his rank was renamed “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union” and he was awarded the Marshall Star. During this period, Kuznetsov paid great attention to the technological re-equipment of the fleet, in particular, the development of aircraft carriers. With his direct participation, the creation of the first Soviet nuclear submarine and the introduction of missile weapons into the Navy began, which laid the foundations for the creation of an ocean-going nuclear missile fleet.

However, his relations with the Minister of Defense G.K. Zhukov and the new Secretary General N.S. quickly deteriorated. Khrushchev. In December 1955, Kuznetsov, under the pretext of guilt in the explosion on the battleship Novorossiysk, was removed from his post (although at that time he was on sick leave), and on February 17, 1956, he was demoted to the rank of vice admiral and sent into a humiliating resignation. with the wording “without the right to work in the navy.”

On land

The contribution of Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov to the construction, development and strengthening of the Soviet Navy, to the training and education of naval personnel is invaluable. However, his life later developed very dramatically. Once again there followed a disgrace that was outrageous in its injustice. Kuznetsov was deprived of both his position and the highest naval rank rightfully deserved during the Great Patriotic War - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. At fifty-one, in the prime of his physical and mental strength, he again found himself retired “without the right to work in the navy.”

Over the 18 years of his “disgraced” life, N. G. Kuznetsov wrote five books of military memoirs, about 100 articles on naval topics and memoirs about the people of the fleet, returning to history the names of the dead and repressed. Nikolai Gerasimovich was one of the first to tell the truth about the reasons for the country’s unpreparedness for war and its tragic course over the course of two years, calling for an analysis of the mistakes and failures of the leadership of the Armed Forces for the future. In a word, not a single Soviet military leader or naval commander of the 20th century left such an extensive historical and literary heritage.

Name restoration

After the resignation of Zhukov in 1957 and Khrushchev in 1964, a group of Navy veterans repeatedly petitioned the government to have Kuznetsov restored to his rank and placed in the Group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense (which would give him, in addition to symbolic, material advantages). Nevertheless, all these initiatives encountered opposition from the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Kuznetsov’s successor, S.G. Gorshkov.

Even posthumously, Kuznetsov could not be restored to his rank while Gorshkov was alive. Only on July 26, 1988, Kuznetsov was posthumously restored to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Before this, for 14 years, by the will of his relatives, no military rank was listed on his grave.

Awards

USSR awards

• Hero of the Soviet Union
• 4 Orders of Lenin
• 3 Orders of the Red Banner
• 2 Orders of Ushakov, 1st degree
• Order of the Red Star
• Order of the Badge of Honor
• Medal "For the Defense of Moscow"
• Medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus"
• Medal "For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
• Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Medal "For Victory over Japan"
• Medal "XX Years of the Red Army"
• Medal "30 years of the Soviet Army and Navy"
• Medal "40 Years of the USSR Armed Forces"
• Medal "50 Years of the USSR Armed Forces"
• Badge “Participant in the battles near Lake Khasan”

Personalized weapon

• Foreign awards
• Order "For Military Merit"
• Knight of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland
• Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 1st class
• Order of National Liberation
• Order of the Partisan Star, 1st class
• Medal "For our and your freedom"
• Medal "For the Liberation of Korea"

Perpetuation of memory

• One of the largest ships of the Russian fleet (the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”) is named after Kuznetsov.
• In Arkhangelsk, where Nikolai Gerasimovich’s naval career began, a street was named after him, and in 2010 a monument was erected.
• In 2004, the centenary of his birth was widely celebrated in the navy.
• By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 25 of January 27, 2003, the departmental medal of the Ministry of Defense of the *Russian Federation “Admiral Kuznetsov” was established.
• Streets in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Vladivostok, Zheleznodorozhny and Kotlas; square in Barnaul
• Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" - the flagship of the Russian Navy
• Naval Academy named after. N. G. Kuznetsova
• Memorial plaque on the building of the General Staff of the Navy in Moscow
• Underwater island in the Pacific Ocean
• Strait located between the Bering and Medny islands (Commander Islands)
• River boat on the river. Northern Dvina
• Public Fund in Memory of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov
• Memorial Museum in the village of Medvedki, Kotlas district, Arkhangelsk region
• Secondary school No. 4 in the city of Tara, Omsk region - “named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov”
• Secondary school No. 1465 in Moscow named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov
• Bust of Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov in the courtyard of school No. 1465 in Moscow
• Bust in the courtyard of the Peter the Great Children's Marine Center in Moscow
• Monument in Sevastopol on the street. Bolshaya Morskaya
• Monument at the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok
• Monument to Admiral Kuznetsov in Arkhangelsk
• Bust in the city of Kotlas, Arkhanegl region. at the House of Children's Creativity
• Memorial plaque in Khabarovsk, on the house where the admiral lived, on the street. Zaparina, opposite the headquarters of the Eastern Military District

In many cities of the former Soviet Union you can find memorial plaques to the twice Admiral of the Soviet Union.

Image in art and media

Movies

• Far and Close (film interview) Tsentrnauchfilm, dir. V. A. Nikolaeva, 1971
• The first day - the last day (War through the eyes of the Minister of the Navy) doc. film APN
• Unknown war. part 17. Allies (documentary series, directed by R. Carmen) (episodes)

Literature and sources of information

• Bulatov V.N. Admiral Kuznetsov
• Rudny V.A. readiness number 1

Links

Gallery

Video

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union,
People's Commissar of the Navy and Minister of the Navy of the USSR,
Commander-in-Chief of the Navy

N.G. Kuznetsov was born on July 24 (11), 1904 in the village of Medvedki, Kotlas district, Arkhangelsk (until 1937, Vologda) region in the family of state-owned peasants Gerasim Fedorovich and Anna Ivanovna Kuznetsov.

From 1912 to 1915 Nikolai studied at a parochial school. Graduated from 3rd grade.

After his father's death in 1915, he helped his mother with the housework. From the autumn of 1917 to 1918 he worked in the Arkhangelsk port, then returned to the village again, helped his family, and worked at the village mill.

In the fall of 1919, the mother took her son to Kotlas to see her brother so that he could get him a job at the depot. Here, instead, Nikolai entered the North Dvina flotilla. He was only 15 years old, they took him there at the age of 17, because of his height he looked older and he managed to get a certificate from the village council, which indicated the year of his birth as 1902. The path to becoming a sailor was open to Nikolai.

Military service began on September 13, 1919. Later N.G. Kuznetsov wrote: “I did not have to change professions in search of a job that would be more to my liking. My whole life is connected with the Soviet Navy. I made a choice once, when I was very young, and I have never regretted it.” Nikolai was assigned to print secret reports at headquarters. By the end of the year, he begged the commander to assign him to the combat crew of a gunboat. Soon after the liberation of Arkhangelsk, the flotilla was disbanded and the Red Navy man Kuznetsov continued his service in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

In the fall of 1920, Kuznetsov was enlisted in the Central Fleet Crew and transferred to Petrograd. From December 6, 1920 to May 20, 1922 he studied at the preparatory school at the college, and in 1921 he joined the Komsomol.

On September 20, 1922, N. Kuznetsov was enrolled in the Navy Command School, which was then renamed the Naval School named after. M.V. Frunze. “...My dream - to forever link my destiny with the fleet - has become a reality. The yellow building of the former Marine Corps became my home…” recalled Nikolai Gerasimovich in the book “On the Eve”.

In January 1924, as part of the best unit of sailor cadets in Petrograd, he participated in the funeral of V.I. Lenin. In 1925, he saw off on his last journey the People's Commissar of Military Affairs M.V. Frunze, whose dreams of what the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet should become N.G. Kuznetsov later tried to bring to life. At the school he joined the ranks of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks).

On October 1, 1924, cadet N. Kuznetsov was allowed to perform the duties of a squad commander. The description of him at that time said: “Above average development. The course is easy to follow. Decisive, self-possessed... Speaks briefly, sensibly, in command language... Concisely and competently expresses thoughts in writing...” In October 1925, he was appointed platoon commander of the first course of the new recruitment.

In May-September 1926, he took part in a practical voyage on the battleship Paris Commune. The reference noted: “Very capable, general development is good. Aged. Calm. Initiative. Healthy. The bearing is good. The special training is excellent. Political preparation is good. He will be a good artilleryman.”

On October 5, 1926, Nikolai Kuznetsov graduated with honors from the Naval School, received the rank of commander of the RKKF with enrollment in the average combatant command corps of the Red Army Navy and with the right to choose a fleet. He refused the request to serve at the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet naval forces. He chose the Black Sea Fleet and the cruiser “Chervona Ukraine” as his place of future service. He was appointed watch commander of the cruiser while simultaneously performing the duties of commander of the first plutong and commander of the combat company.

He took on new positions with enthusiasm and learned a lot.

From August 1927 to October 1, 1929, N.G. Kuznetsov was the cruiser’s senior watch commander. From the evaluation of this period: “Deserves promotion out of priority.”

From October 1, 1927 to May 4, 1932, N.G. Kuznetsov studied at the Naval Academy, also graduating with honors and with the right to choose the fleet. “At the Naval Academy,” he wrote in “On the Eve,” “we received a solid operational-tactical education, thoroughly studied many of the problems of a future war at sea... we were instilled with the correct views on the role of the fleet in the defense of our Motherland. Based on a strategy common to all Armed Forces, we clearly began to see the place of the fleet as one of the branches of the Armed Forces.” Here N.G. Kuznetsov studied German and French. He was awarded a pistol with the inscription of the Chief of the Naval Forces of the Red Army: “To the shock commander Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov for successful completion of the academy.”

Once again N.G. Kuznetsov chose the Black Sea and went to serve as senior mate of the new cruiser “Red Caucasus”. Over the course of a year, the ship's crew has turned into a friendly, close-knit combat team, capable of operating efficiently in any difficult environmental conditions. In 1933, the cruiser became part of the combat core of the Black Sea Fleet. The fleet headquarters noted during its inspection that the organization of service on the cruiser was worked out much better than on other ships - this is the merit of the senior assistant commander. In his certification for 1932, an entry appeared: “Shows love and care for the cruiser. In a field situation, he is hardy... Leave him in the position of senior mate due to the short practical experience to gain experience, after which he can be promoted to the category... The position is quite appropriate.” He improved his skills on long campaigns in 1933. In his certification for the year it was noted: “Deserves an extraordinary promotion.”

In November 1933, Captain 2nd Rank N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed commander of the cruiser “Chervona Ukraine”. So his dream came true - to command a ship. He had been going to her all these years. And all my life I believed that commanding a ship was a worthwhile job for a real sailor. He literally enjoyed this work until August 15, 1936 when he received a sudden call to Moscow, and from there a business trip to Spain. In November 1935, he was awarded the rank of captain 1st rank.

The period of service on the Chervonnaya Ukraina had important consequences not only for the young commander, but also for the crew of the cruiser and the fleet as a whole. Under the leadership and active participation of N.G. Kuznetsov, a combat readiness system for a single ship was developed, a method of emergency heating of turbines was developed, which made it possible to prepare turbines instead of 4 hours in 15-20 minutes, firing of the main caliber was practiced at the highest cruiser speeds and at the maximum target detection distance. Later innovations were adopted in all USSR fleets. The “Fight for the first salvo” movement has been launched on the cruiser. The purely artillery concept of “first salvo” turned into a general naval, strategic one, which made it possible to significantly increase the combat readiness of naval formations. For the first time, gunners began to use aircraft to correct an invisible target. The newspaper “Red Fleet” noted: “Many people in the fleet started talking about methods of organizing combat training “according to the Kuznetsov system.” For his successes in the exercises N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the Order of “Badge of Honor”.

In 1935, the cruiser “Chervona Ukraine” took first place in the USSR Naval Forces. S.G. Ordzhonikidze made the cruise on the cruiser, rewarding the commander with a passenger car.

Closely monitoring everything that happened on the cruiser, fleet commander I.K. Kozhanov subjected it to a comprehensive inspection in November 1935. He ordered emergency heating of the turbines, going to sea on alert, and checked the organization of the service during a general ship exercise, simulating a battle with the “enemy” and receiving “severe damage.” The team had to repel aircraft attacks, eliminate the consequences of a torpedo hitting the side, fight a fire, and conduct live firing at the shield and cone towed by the aircraft. As a result, the exercises were highly appreciated and personal gratitude was declared to the commander and the entire team.

The newspaper “Red Star” published an article by I.K. Kozhanov “Captain of the 1st Rank” about Kuznetsov. In it, Nikolai Gerasimovich was called “the youngest captain of the 1st rank of all the seas of the world.”

For outstanding services in organizing the underwater and surface naval forces of the Red Army and for success in combat and political training of the Red Navy (for first place in all types of combat training of the cruiser “Chervona Ukraine”) in December 1935, N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the Order of the Red Navy Stars.

In August 1936, N.G. Kuznetsov was entrusted with a responsible mission. He is sent to civil war-torn Spain as a naval attaché and chief naval adviser, as well as the leader of Soviet volunteer sailors. Much was done by Don Nicholas (Lepanto) to ensure that the Republican fleet completed its tasks. His work in helping the Spanish fleet was highly appreciated by the Soviet government: in 1937 he was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Red Banner.

In July 1937, N.G. Kuznetsov was recalled to his homeland and in August was appointed deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet, and from January 10, 1938 to March 28, 1939, he was commander of the Pacific Fleet with the rank of flagship of the 2nd rank. Here it fell to the young commander not only to build up the forces and resources of the fleet, to improve its organization, to fight against arrests, to protect and defend his subordinates, and to begin to see the light. He took measures to increase the combat readiness of the fleet, closely monitored the situation and opposed Japanese provocations near the island. Hasan, organizing assistance to the Ground Forces and personally visiting the battle area. For the first time at the Pacific Fleet, under the leadership of N.G. Kuznetsov, a three-stage fleet combat readiness system begins to be developed and implemented.

In January 1939, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved a new text of the military oath for the Red Army and Navy and a new regulation on the procedure for its adoption. On February 23, the commander of the Pacific Fleet, N.G. Kuznetsov, was one of the first in the fleet to take the oath and swore to defend the Motherland “without sparing his blood and life itself to defeat the enemy.” He remained faithful to this oath until the end of his life.

In March 1938, N.G. Kuznetsov was included in the Main Military Council of the Navy under the People's Commissariat of the Navy created in December 1937.

On March 17, 1939, N.G. Kuznetsov spoke at the XVIII Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), of which he was elected as a delegate at the 1st regional party conference of Primorye. At the congress he was elected to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks.

On March 28, 1939, N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, and on April 28, 1939, he was appointed People's Commissar of the Navy. He was awarded the rank of fleet flagship 2nd rank (admiral). N.G. Kuznetsov was a little over 34 years old at that time. He was the youngest People's Commissar in the Soviet Union and the first People's Commissar of the Navy - a combat sailor.

One of the main problems facing the People's Commissar was that when creating the People's Commissariat of the Navy, its place in the system of management of the Armed Forces was not clearly defined. Each People's Commissariat in the Government system was linked to one of the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars. The exceptions were NPOs, NKVD, NKID and NK Navy. They were led by J.V. Stalin personally. N.G. Kuznetsov had to resolve naval issues during this period mainly with Stalin.

In the first months of work in Moscow, the People's Commissar of the Navy often visited Stalin, who held meetings on issues of fleet construction. But Nikolai Gerasimovich soon became convinced that a special atmosphere reigned in the Kremlin. At first, Kuznetsov had great hope in I.V. Stalin. He directly admitted that during this period he “bowed before the authority of Stalin, without questioning anything emanating from him.” But gradually the People's Commissar of the Navy began to “be puzzled by some of his decisions” in matters of organization and combat training of the fleet. “Often I left his office with the most difficult mood and a feeling of hopelessness to achieve a reasonable solution... I came to the conclusion with disappointment that Stalin did not want to delve into naval issues and therefore made the wrong decisions...” wrote N.G. Kuznetsov.

The path that Nikolai Gerasimovich followed until the end of his life was service to the Motherland. It was the sense of duty that helped the People's Commissar to timely foresee and realize the main task, which was to prepare the fleet for the approaching war. And he had to solve this problem, in fact, alone - “it was not easy to get to Stalin. No one else wanted to give an answer.”

In his new position, Nikolai Gerasimovich proved himself to be a statesman and military leader. A huge burden of state responsibility fell on his shoulders. The issues that were among the first to be faced were related to the preparation of the fleet for war and the implementation of a large shipbuilding program.

In preparing the fleets for war, Nikolai Gerasimovich relied on high professionalism, his inherent intuition, eight years of experience in sailing and commanding cruisers, two years of command of the fleet in the Pacific Ocean and combat experience gained during the war in Spain and during the Khasan battles of 1938. The People's Commissar was it is clear that the very beginning of a war with unexpected air strikes on naval bases and ships could be a disaster for the fleet. The only way to prevent this is to reduce to a minimum the time it takes to bring fleet forces into combat readiness, to create a clear system that would immediately go into action upon a specific signal given in one word. In May 1939, large exercises of the Black Sea Fleet took place under the flag of the People's Commissar; in June it travels to the North; at the end of July, N.G. Kuznetsov leads the exercises of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet and analyzes their results. In September, the People's Commissar again in the Northern Fleet, together with the headquarters and military council of the fleet, develops plans for the combat training of the Navy.

On October 16 of the same year, by his order, the People's Commissar put into effect the “Ship Charter of the USSR Navy”, and at the end of the month – the “Disciplinary Charter of the USSR Navy”.

On November 11, 1939, N.G. Kuznetsov approved and put into effect the first instruction on a three-stage system of readiness of forces and means of the Navy, which obligated to have forces in a preliminary deployment position and in a state of combat readiness to repel an attack and conduct the first operations.

Since the introduction of readiness in the fleets, constant training began to bring the fleet to readiness No. 2 and No. 1 and instructions on readiness were finalized.

In addition, the People's Commissar was involved in many matters - adjusting the shipbuilding program, developing the fleet infrastructure, building coastal defenses, bases and batteries, developing new ships and airfields, organizing the work of the young People's Commissariat, the General Staff and the Main Military Forces of the Navy. “Organization is the key to victory,” this is his credo. N.G. Kuznetsov works tirelessly to create a team of conscientious, professional and competent people in the People's Commissariat, inspired by unity of goals and mutual understanding.

In connection with the repressions of 1937-38. and the catastrophic shortage of personnel, the People's Commissar paid great attention to improving existing and creating new educational institutions. In 1939, the naval command schools were transformed into higher education institutions. In 1940, at the proposal of the People's Commissar of the Navy, the government decided to open seven naval special schools - paramilitary secondary educational institutions, where, in addition to general education disciplines, students received basic naval training. The good Russian tradition, founded by Peter I, was being revived - to prepare the most courageous and talented young men for naval service. Pupils of special schools have shown themselves to be worthy defenders of the Motherland, and some have become prominent figures in the Armed Forces.

By decision of the People's Commissar of the Navy on the island. Valaam (Lake Ladoga) at the beginning of 1941, a boatswain school was created. Her students subsequently participated in the defense of the Ladoga Islands, in the battles on the famous Nevsky “patch” and in other operations. And already during the Great Patriotic War, on May 25, 1942, the People's Commissar issued an order on the creation of the Solovetsky school of cabin boys “in order to create highly qualified future naval specialists, requiring long-term training and practical sailing on Navy ships.

Kuznetsov managed to do a lot already in the first months of his tenure as People's Commissar, much of which still lives and forms an integral part not only of the life of the fleet, but also of our modern life. One of these “Kuznetsov” innovations was Navy Day, first celebrated on July 24, 1939.

In February 1940, the People's Commissar of the Navy issued a special directive to the fleets, in which he indicated the possibility of a simultaneous action against the USSR by a coalition led by Germany and including Italy, Hungary and Finland.

In December 1940, a meeting of the highest command staff of the fleets was held at the People's Commissariat of the Navy. The lessons of the Finnish war and the problems raised by the experience of World War II were examined, as well as the current activities of the fleets, taking into account the course of the war in Europe. The need was emphasized to pay special attention to the training of commanding officers, especially the senior ones, since particularly high demands are placed on them. He should be assessed by his operational-tactical training, by his ability to lead the formations subordinate to him during the war. The People's Commissar said that “the experience of war must be studied not for the sake of knowledge, not just for the sake of science, but in order to find and unravel the probable means and methods of the enemy’s fight and to find an antidote against them in a timely manner.” N.G. Kuznetsov organizes training at the academy for the command of formations, divisions and ships.

The People's Commissar is taking measures to secure long-term conscripts in the fleet - as the most trained and experienced core of junior command personnel. At the insistence of Kuznetsov, in May 1939, by government decree, the salaries and benefits of long-term naval personnel were increased. The People's Commissar demanded that the fleets resolve specific issues of interaction at sea, and he himself went to the fleets when the situation required it. On March 3, 1941, the People's Commissar gave instructions to open fire without any warning on foreign aircraft, which increasingly began to appear over naval bases. However, he was summoned to I.V. Stalin, where he received a reprimand and an order to cancel his orders. In May 1941, on the orders of the People's Commissar of the Navy, the fleets increased the composition of their combat core and strengthened ship patrols and reconnaissance. On June 19, 1941, by his order, all fleets switched to operational readiness No. 2. Bases and formations were instructed to disperse forces and strengthen surveillance of water and air, and prohibit the dismissal of personnel from units and ships. The ships received the necessary supplies, put their materiel in order, and operational duty was established. All personnel remained on the ships. Political work among the Red Navy men was strengthened, calling for constant readiness to meet and repel the enemy.

On June 21, 1941, after receiving a warning from the People's Commissar of Defense at about 11 p.m. about a possible attack on the USSR by Nazi Germany that night, the People's Commissar of the Navy at 23:50 ordered the fleets and flotillas to immediately switch to combat operational readiness No. 1 with permission to use in the event of an attack weapon. Even earlier, before 11 p.m., the same order was conveyed to the fleets by telephone. Thanks to the system of operational readiness created and tested in the fleet on the eve of the war under the leadership of Kuznetsov, the fleet did not allow itself to be taken by surprise and met enemy air strikes with organized fire. On this day, not a single ship was lost in the fleets, not a single naval aircraft was lost, not a single base was taken from the sea.

In the first days of the enemy invasion, People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov had to act at his own peril and risk. After all, in the country before the war, a system of leadership and management of the Armed Forces was never created, in which the two People's Commissariats (Defense and Navy) would find their definite place and in which they would rely in their work on a clear organization, and not on the instructions of I. V. Stalin. With all this, “from the very first days of the war, the actions of the fleets were combined with the general strategy of the Armed Forces. It couldn't be otherwise. This was recorded in our operational-tactical documents and was tested in all large and small exercises,” N.G. Kuznetsov later wrote. Having received reports from the fleets that the enemy attacks had been repelled, the People's Commissar of the Navy began to implement pre-war plans for the use of naval forces in the war.

On June 22-25, 1941, aviation and ships of the Black Sea Fleet attacked Constanta, and aviation of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet attacked the port of Memel. On June 30, Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov ordered the destruction of oil industry facilities in Ploiesti by Black Sea Fleet aviation. At the end of July, together with the General Medical School, N.G. Kuznetsov developed a plan, which he and V.A. Alafuzov had conceived, for bombing Berlin by Red Banner Baltic Fleet aviation. Kuznetsov personally organized it, controlled it and was responsible to Headquarters for its implementation.

However, soon, due to the rapid advance of the Germans inland, which led to the loss of first the advanced (Libava, Odessa) and then the main (Tallinn, Sevastopol) naval bases, the fleet had to temporarily abandon active independent actions. On June 23, 1941, the highest body of strategic management of military operations of the Soviet Armed Forces was formed - the Headquarters of the Main Command. As People's Commissar of the Navy, N.G. Kuznetsov was part of it from June 23 to July 10, 1941.

The operational-strategic use of the Navy and the nature of its tasks during the Great Patriotic War were determined by the continental nature of the war, the specific conditions of the prevailing situation and the general tasks of the Soviet Armed Forces that arose at one or another stage of the war.

The fleet began to carry out the necessary work subordinate to the ground forces: ships, aviation, coastal defense and marine units, closely interacting with the ground forces, provided all possible assistance to the fronts in coastal areas. Naval aviation was redirected against enemy tank groups and enemy aircraft, surface ships were attracted by fire to support the coastal flanks of the Red Army groupings. The fleet transported millions of people, millions of tons of various cargo. In October 1941, 25 naval rifle brigades were formed in the fleets and flotillas, which took part in the battle for Moscow and then in all the battles and offensives of our troops all the way to Berlin.

The operating fleets were operationally subordinate to the fronts at the beginning of the war. The leadership role of the People's Commissar of the Navy in fleets turned out to be difficult, because tasks were set for them by the front-line command and, less often, by Headquarters. But there were also purely maritime tasks, in addition to those solved by fleets on land. The main task of N.G. Kuznetsov during this period was to ensure interaction between the army and navy in coastal areas. Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov, as a representative of the Headquarters, traveled to the fleets and fronts to personally lead the most critical operations. The interaction between the coastal units of the armies and the naval forces had to be worked out literally during the battles.

The actions of the Soviet Navy during this period were highly praised by the allies. “During the current war,” wrote the English historian B. Tonstall in 1942, “Russia’s naval strategy was planned and implemented very soberly; in addition, it contributed to the successes of the Red Army to a much greater extent than is well known. On the Black Sea, this strategy prevented a naval invasion of the Caucasus; at the same time, the Russian fleet harassed enemy sea communications off the coast of Bulgaria and Romania.”

During the war, Soviet military-strategic planning and operational-tactical art were constantly improved. The successes achieved were largely a consequence of N.G. Kuznetsov’s enormous attention to the study and assimilation of combat experience in the fleets. In January 1943, a department was created within the State Medical School to study and summarize the experience of the war. In fact, the People's Commissar of the Navy created a system for recording combat experience and conducting combat training of fleet forces on its basis.

The primary tasks of the People's Commissar of the Navy during the war included organizing the escort of allied convoys carrying out deliveries under Lend-Lease to the northern ports of the USSR. Kuznetsov personally coordinated the actions of the Northern Fleet, the country's air defense aviation and the Headquarters reserve to protect convoys from enemy attacks.

In 1944, due to changes in the situation at the fronts, the nature of naval operations also changed. Their goal was to participate in the liberation of the coast and coastal cities. The management organization also changed. On March 31, 1944, a directive from Headquarters was issued on the appointment of the People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet N.G. Kuznetsov, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy with direct subordination of fleets and flotillas to him.

The role of the Navy command in strategic planning has increased significantly. The People's Commissar of the Navy and the General Staff directly developed large naval operations, coordinated them with the General Staff or front commanders and were fully responsible for their implementation.

In February 1944, N.G. Kuznetsov was the first in the USSR to be awarded the highest military rank in the fleet “Admiral of the Fleet”, and he was the only one who wore shoulder straps with four stars, and on May 31, 1944 - the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet” with marshal stars on shoulder straps, equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. On June 27, 1944 and June 28, 1945, he was twice awarded the Commander's Order of Ushakov, 1st degree, for Nos. 5 and 17.

On February 2, 1945, a GKO resolution was adopted to change the Supreme Command Headquarters. It additionally included General A.I. Antonov, Marshal A.M. Vasilevsky and Fleet Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov. Official inclusion in the General Headquarters changed little in his work. As the People's Commissar of the Navy and a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters, he had previously attended its meetings and the State Defense Committee, where he was called on naval issues. Often he turned to Headquarters himself in order to achieve the decisions of the government or the Supreme High Command that the fleets needed.

A special page of N.G. Kuznetsov’s activity during the war years was his participation in negotiations with the Allied naval missions in 1941 - 1945, as well as as a member of the Soviet delegation in conferences of heads of state in Yalta and Potsdam.

In Crimea, he had to resolve issues related to the joint actions of the allies in Europe, the Far East, naval supplies under Lend-Lease, and carry out important orders from Headquarters to organize and ensure the reception and security of ships and aircraft of allied delegations. While participating in the Potsdam Conference, N.G. Kuznetsov showed extraordinary diplomatic skill, resolving one of the most painful issues - the division of the German fleet. As a result, the Soviet Union received 150 combat and more than 420 auxiliary ships.

The long-awaited Victory has arrived. During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet fleet was able not only to repel a surprise attack by the enemy, but also to take decisive action in all naval theaters. Of the nine largest strategic offensive operations of the Soviet Armed Forces in the war, fleets and flotillas of the Navy took part in six. Assisting the Red Army, the sailors fought while remaining on ships, fought the enemy fleet on communications, and carried out raiding operations. But about 500 thousand marines were sent from the fleet to the land fronts, and 113 amphibious assault forces numbering about 330 thousand people were landed. Up to 2,000 warships and several thousand auxiliary vessels took part in the landing operations. More than 100 million tons of cargo and about 10 million people were transported via sea communications. The fleet forces destroyed over 1,285 warships and auxiliary vessels, about 1,300 enemy transports with a displacement of over 3 million tons. Fleet aviation destroyed up to 5,000 enemy aircraft. All our fleets and almost all flotillas became Red Banner.

On the Day of the USSR Navy, July 22, 1945, in order No. 371, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief assessed the Navy during the Great Patriotic War:

“In the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people against Nazi Germany, the Navy of our state was a faithful assistant to the Red Army.

...As you know, the plans of German strategists on land and sea completely failed...

The combat activities of Soviet sailors were distinguished by selfless steadfastness and courage, high combat activity and military skill.

Sailors of submarines, surface ships, naval pilots, artillerymen and infantrymen adopted and developed everything valuable from the centuries-old traditions of the Russian fleet.

During the four years of war, Soviet sailors wrote new pages in the book of Russian naval glory. The fleet fully fulfilled its duty to the Soviet Motherland.

The Soviet people want to see their fleet even stronger and more powerful."

For the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet N.G. Kuznetsov, the war did not end on May 9, 1945. He went to the Far East to organize the interaction of the forces of the Pacific Fleet and the Amur Flotilla with units of the Red Army in the war with Japan.

During the Great Patriotic War, N.G. Kuznetsov proved himself to be an outstanding organizer of interaction between the fleet and ground forces. For Nikolai Gerasimovich’s contribution to the victory and the courage and heroism shown during the war, on September 14, 1945, he was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

War is a cruel test for everyone - from soldier to marshal, from sailor to admiral. A test of courage and maturity. N.G. Kuznetsov turned into a mature government leader and naval commander, with established views on the role and development of the fleet, its place in the system of the country's Armed Forces. He dreamed of the prospects of creating a “balanced sea and ocean fleet” and could not imagine that severe disappointments, injustice and disgrace awaited him ahead.

The stumbling block was the problem of shipbuilding. The results of the war, the severe losses suffered by the Soviet fleet during the hostilities, forced N.G. Kuznetsov to critically evaluate the quality of domestically built ships.

The main ideas of the new shipbuilding program were based on the study of the rich experience of the war. Back in the summer of 1945, the People's Commissar of the Navy ordered the General Staff, under the leadership of L.M. Galler, to prepare a draft of a new shipbuilding program. The main classes of warships were aircraft carriers (large and small), cruisers with 9-inch artillery, submarines, destroyers, etc.

Kuznetsov very early understood and highly appreciated the prospects of using nuclear energy in the navy for ships and especially for submarines. In the Soviet Navy, as part of the preparation of a new program, a lot of scientific work began on developing methods of protection against nuclear weapons and studying the possibilities of using nuclear energy.

However, the fate of this program, as well as the development of the fleet, turned out to be very difficult, affecting the fate of N.G. Kuznetsov himself. J.V. Stalin played a decisive role in this. N.G. Kuznetsov had to defend his views and interests of the fleet almost alone, constantly risking the wrath of Stalin, who did not understand the specifics of the organization and management of the fleet. On January 12, 1946, N.G. Kuznetsov presented his report to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on the need to have a unified organization of all Armed Forces. But the report was not considered anywhere and the entire reorganization of the management of the Armed Forces came down to the renaming of the People's Commissariat of Defense and the abolition of the People's Commissariat of the Navy.

In the draft ten-year shipbuilding plan for 1946-1955, Nikolai Gerasimovich considered the creation of a fleet balanced in terms of types of forces and classes of ships, including. aircraft carriers with fighter aircraft, primarily for the Northern and Pacific fleets, where they were supposed to significantly strengthen the air defense of surface ship squadrons.

The then leadership of the People's Commissariat of the Shipbuilding Industry strongly objected to the construction of aircraft carriers, constantly citing their “unpreparedness” to build fundamentally new ships for the domestic fleet. Therefore, the draft plan was repeatedly adjusted.

N.G. Kuznetsov categorically objected to the construction of heavy cruisers, but his opinion was ignored at the highest level. The shipbuilding industry, not wanting to quickly change technology, managed to defend the construction of ships according to obsolete designs.

Stalin apparently strengthened his intention to remove the unyielding Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. A wave of post-war repressions was already sweeping across the country. At the beginning of January 1947, at a meeting of the Main Military Council of the Navy, Stalin unexpectedly proposed to relieve N.G. Kuznetsov from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. No one dared to object to the leader.

A month later, Admiral of the Fleet N.G. Kuznetsov went to serve in Leningrad as the head of the Department of Higher Educational Institutions, and in November 1947 he was again summoned to Moscow, where a “court of honor” and a trial of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR on denunciation awaited him. Together with Kuznetsov, the Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy, Admirals L.M. Galler, V.A. Alafuzov and Vice Admiral G.A. Stepanov, were accused in this “case”. On February 3, 1948, a verdict was passed - the admirals were sent to prison, and N.G. Kuznetsov, having been found criminally guilty, but taking into account his merits in the construction of the Navy and especially during the Great Patriotic War, they decided not to go to prison. He was demoted to rear admiral and deprived of his job. Only six months later, at his personal written request to Stalin, he was sent to serve in the Far East as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Far East for the Navy. In February 1950, N.G. Kuznetsov took command of the 5th Navy in the Far East. On January 27, 1951, he received the next military rank of “vice admiral” for the second time and was awarded the Order of Lenin.

In the summer of 1951, another “sharp turn” took place in the life of N.G. Kuznetsov. At a meeting of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, it was decided to “return Kuznetsov” to the place of Minister of Navy. I.V. Stalin, again captivated by the idea of ​​​​creating a “large fleet,” realized that “a modern fleet has not been built,” and the post of Minister of Navy should be an independent person, truly of national scale and outlook, deeply understanding the importance of the fleet, capable of defending his interests.

Immediately after returning to Moscow in September 1951, N.G. Kuznetsov presented to I.V. Stalin a detailed report on the lag of our fleet behind the world technical level, the need to begin work on the design of submarines with nuclear power plants (in the USA, work began in 1947), speeding up work on jet (in the terminology of that time) weapons, and implementing other urgent measures to increase the combat capability of the fleet. However, he failed to get the government to consider the issues raised and adopt relevant resolutions on them.

Nikolai Gerasimovich wrote with bitterness: “...neither formally nor essentially can I be blamed for those ships that were built in the period 1947 - 1951. The program was adopted without me and against my proposals. Construction was carried out in my absence... But I am sure that if my proposals had been accepted, then by 1952-1953 we would have aircraft carriers, submarines, landing ships, cruisers, strong in anti-aircraft terms, and would have the most modern destroyers."

In the summer of 1952, N.G. Kuznetsov again turned to I.V. Stalin with a report on the main shortcomings of the fleet's weapons and equipment with specific proposals for eliminating them. All attempts by the Minister of Navy to change the unfavorable situation in the construction of the fleet and the system of relations with shipbuilders were actually blocked again. This was explained by the fact that Stalin was less and less involved in state affairs, and among his inner circle Kuznetsov remained as before “like a byword.”

The death of I.V. Stalin did not change anything. Soon a new reorganization of the Armed Forces took place. The Naval Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Defense without taking into account the point of view of the sailors and to the detriment of the fleet. On March 16, 1953, N.G. Kuznetsov assumed the post of First Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. On May 11, 1953, he was restored to his former rank of “Admiral of the Fleet.” The verdict of the Supreme Collegium of 02/03/48 was overturned due to the lack of corpus delicti in the case. His comrades were also rehabilitated.

On March 3, 1955, an amendment was made to the USSR PVS Decree of 1940 on the introduction of the rank “Admiral of the Fleet”, in connection with which the highest rank in the Navy, introduced in 1940, became known as “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.” N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded it on May 31, 1944. On April 27, 1955, N.G. Kuznetsov received the marshal's badge of the Diamond Star and a Certificate for it.

Full of plans, Kuznetsov, with new strength and energy, set about developing a ten-year fleet construction program for 1956-1965. Along with the creation of nuclear submarines and surface ships with missile weapons, it provided for the construction of aircraft carriers and landing ships. N.G. Kuznetsov’s plan was characterized by the desire to create a balanced fleet capable of fulfilling its tasks in the World Ocean. N.G. Kuznetsov did the maximum possible for the future fleet. Back in September 1954, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy approved a project to equip the B-67 submarine with ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, and in November approved the task for a project to rearm the cruisers of Project 68-bis with the S-75 anti-aircraft missile system, and in January 1955 - anti-ship missile system "Strela". But he was not destined to complete this, already his third, shipbuilding program.

N.S. Khrushchev opposed it, who considered it generally inappropriate to build large ships, much less aircraft carriers, and decided to “restore order” to the fleet. But his ebullient energy came across the strength of character of N.G. Kuznetsov. The Commander-in-Chief's conviction in the correctness of the main ideas of the program for building a new fleet gave him the determination to stand to the end. And Kuznetsov honestly expressed to N.S. Khrushchev his indignation at the irresponsible attitude towards the fleet on the part of Nikita Sergeevich and his entourage.

The appointment of G.K. Zhukov to the post of Minister of Defense did not bring anything good for N.G. Kuznetsov. In addition, N.G. Kuznetsov made an honest, but careless step. To the confidential question of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers N.A. Bulganin: “What do you think about the appointment of Zhukov?” N.G. Kuznetsov expressed a wish to draw the marshal’s attention to the need for his more objective attitude towards the fleet. This wish was conveyed to the new minister as an objection to his appointment. “I didn’t think that this would become known to Zhukov himself,” Nikolai Gerasimovich writes in his notes. - But it turned out differently. I was exposed to Zhukov as his opponent. At the first opportunity, he expressed his dissatisfaction to me: “So you were against my appointment?”... My fate was decided. I realized that I needed to leave on good terms.”

N.G. Kuznetsov realized that fruitful work with the new Minister of Defense, his direct superior, was becoming impossible. Nikolai Gerasimovich suffered his second (after 1948) heart attack. In May 1955, he wrote a letter to G.K. Zhukov with a request to relieve him of his position due to illness, but received no response.

Now all that remains is to regret the failed collaboration of two absolutely outstanding people of their time, two commanders who went through the war and were wise from its experience.

N.S. It was not enough for Khrushchev to simply remove him from office. There was a need for reprisals against the Commander-in-Chief as a warning to the “obstinate” military. The reason was the death of the battleship Novorossiysk in Sevastopol. Formally, N.G. Kuznetsov had already been on sick leave for six months. The duties of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, on the recommendation of N.G. Kuznetsov, were performed by the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral S.G. Gorshkov. But all the blame for “Novorossiysk” was placed on N.G. Kuznetsov.

On December 8, 1955, N.G. Kuznetsov was removed from his post, and on February 17, 1956, he was demoted to the rank of vice admiral and dismissed “without the right to work in the fleet.” At the age of 51, the experienced military leader was irrevocably excommunicated from his beloved and only work of his life. Soon after the dismissal of N.G. Kuznetsov, the country's leadership decided to create a “nuclear missile ocean fleet.” The main branches of the force were identified as nuclear submarines and shore-based missile-carrying naval aircraft. Large surface ships were assigned a supporting role, and aircraft carriers were declared “weapons of aggression.”

N.S. Khrushchev, who had the most superficial views on the most complex issues of creating a modern fleet, categorically asserted that “...submarines can solve all problems, large surface ships are not needed, and aircraft carriers are “dead.” Only three years after the removal of N. .S. Khrushchev and the appointment of A.A. Grechko as Minister of Defense, the creation of the balanced fleet proposed by N.G. Kuznetsov began, which was reflected in the plans for military shipbuilding for 1971-1980 and for 1981-1990.

A year before his death, Nikolai Gerasimovich noted with satisfaction: “Now, when these lines are being written, my views on various classes of ships have been justified. The option of a “balanced” fleet with submarines and surface ships is now recognized as the most reasonable.”

“I was removed from service in the fleet,” wrote N.G. Kuznetsov, “but it is impossible to remove me from service in the fleet.” Having recovered from his illness in 1956 and until the end of his life in 1974, N.G. Kuznetsov was forced to limit his “service to the fleet” to writing memoirs and works on the history and military-theoretical problems of the Navy. The books by N.G. Kuznetsov “On a distant meridian” about the events during the national revolutionary war in Spain in 1936-39, “On the eve”, “Combat alert in the fleets”, “On a course to victory” were published - summarizing the experience of the Great Patriotic War war, “Sharp turns”, about a hundred articles were published about the fleet and its heroic activities during the Great Patriotic War, about people who devoted themselves to the country’s Navy. He expressed considerations on the organization and construction of the Navy, its interaction with other branches of the military. N.G. Kuznetsov learned English (previously he knew Spanish, French and German) and translated several books on maritime topics.

He registered with the party organization at the Institute of General and Pedagogical Psychology of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR. Here he organized and led seminars, spoke to scientists, teachers, students with memories and stories about historical events, about the history of the Soviet Army and Navy, about the Great Patriotic War, about the people with whom he worked and whom he knew.

Nikolai Gerasimovich was always helped by his family. In 1938, after Spain, he met Verochka - a man who would never betray him in his life, as many would later do.

She, Vera Nikolaevna, his wife, was always his loving and faithful friend, shared with him the bitterness of the most tragic events, years of oblivion and the joy of success, and became a wonderful mother and role model for his children. Even now, to the best of her strength and capabilities, she is doing everything to preserve the memory of Nikolai Gerasimovich, together with her daughter-in-law Raisa Vasilievna, she is preparing for the re-release of his books, sorting out and systematizing his archives. Nikolai Gerasimovich has three sons - Victor, Nikolai and Vladimir, who tried not only to support him morally, but also not to give him reasons for unnecessary concern. Now his grandchildren and granddaughter are growing up, raised in an atmosphere of love and admiration for their grandfather, his great-grandchildren are growing up, brought up with love for the Motherland and the Navy.

And although outwardly everything looked decent, 18 years of oblivion and lack of demand for his encyclopedic knowledge, colossal experience, and enormous desire to bring at least some benefit to his native Navy were not in vain for him.

Bitter thoughts were preserved in his personal notebook. Here are some of them: 1966 “Today I was at the Polish Embassy. They awarded a medal for Spain. In recent years I have received three medals for Spain and none for defending my homeland. Well, whoever deserves what gets it!”, 1968 “Experiences on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Armed Forces did not cost me so much: it cost me a small hypertensive crisis... During the celebration, I was given quite a few pin pricks with the stamp of low revenge... ", "08/16/74. We live quietly. More and more often I look at the shortened end of life’s journey. It is important to finish it while maintaining presence of mind...”, “10/19/74. I signed the book for printing - it will be released in January (It hasn’t been published. The already printed edition was delayed and was not released for Victory Day - editor’s note). There will be two pieces in “October” in issues 11 and 12, I’ve already looked and signed it. In the magazine “History of the USSR” No. 5-74 there is an article “The first day and the last day.” I signed for Victory Day - the 30th anniversary - there will be five articles. But the trouble is, for some reason this doesn’t make me happy as before. Obviously, the shells falling nearby shocked me and apathy takes over.”

N.G. Kuznetsov died on December 6, 1974 at 1 hour 15 minutes. after medical surgery on the kidney as a result of a subsequent massive heart attack (the third) and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. N.G. Kuznetsov was “removed from the fleet” in 1956. Until his death, he wrote to various authorities with a request to call him, to deal with him, he wanted to understand what he was guilty of and, if he was really guilty, he was ready to suffer an even more severe punishment. After painful thought and experience of mental suffering, he came to the conclusion that the state should be governed by law.

From 1956 to 1988 the public, military leaders, veteran sailors, Navy employees, the family of N.G. Kuznetsov sent letters to higher authorities addressed to all General Secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee and to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR with requests to sort out the substance and restore justice. No decisions were made until July 26, 1988, when, 32 years later, he was restored to the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.” This happened 14 years after his death and all this time no military rank was written on his tombstone.

For services to the Fatherland and the Navy, N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, four Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, two Orders of Ushakov 1st degree, foreign orders and medals.

The flagship of the Russian Navy, the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", was named after him, the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg was named after him, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the General Staff of the Navy in Moscow, his portrait was placed in the gallery of naval commanders of the Russian State Maritime Historical Museum. -cultural center under the Government of the Russian Federation, streets in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk and Kotlas are named after him, thanks to the efforts of the public and local administration, a small memorial museum was created in the village of Medvedki near the city of Kotlas. A river ship on the Northern Dvina and an underwater island in the Pacific Ocean are named after Kuznetsov. Various museums have exhibitions dedicated to him. In 1997, on the initiative of naval, veteran and other public organizations, colleagues and family members of N.G. Kuznetsov, the Public Foundation in Memory of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov was created. In May 2000, secondary school No. 4 in the city of Tara, Omsk Region, where the 2nd Naval Special School was located during the war, succeeded in naming it after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov, in Sevastopol on B. Morskaya Street. a monument was erected to him.

One can say about Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov: he was not retired. And it will be the honest truth.

People's Commissar of the USSR Navy

Great Patriotic War

The first fall

Second fall

Name restoration

Military ranks

USSR awards

Foreign awards

Essays

(July 11 (24), 1904, Medvedki, now Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region - December 6, 1974, Moscow) - Soviet naval leader, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (March 3, 1955), headed the Soviet Navy in 1939-1947 and 1951-1955 (as People's Commissar of the Navy (1939-1946), Minister of the Navy (1951-1953) and Commander-in-Chief). Member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks in 1939-1956, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 2nd and 4th convocations. From the 1950s to the 1980s, his role in the war was often hushed up.

Start of a career

Son of state-owned peasant Gerasim Fedorovich Kuznetsov (1861-1915). Since 1917, he has been a delivery boy at the Arkhangelsk port. In 1919, 15-year-old Kuznetsov 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 of the Arkhangelsk naval crew. From 1922 he served in Petrograd, in 1923-1926 he studied at the Naval School named after. Frunze, which he graduated with honors on October 5, 1926. His place of service was chosen by the Black Sea Fleet and the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine", the first of the cruisers built in the USSR (battery commander, company commander, senior watch commander). In 1929-1932 he attended the Naval Academy, from which he also graduated with honors. In 1932-1933 - senior assistant commander of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". From November 1933 to August 1936 he commanded the cruiser Chervona Ukraine, where he perfected the combat readiness system of a single ship. In August 1936 he was sent to the Spanish Civil War, where he was the chief naval adviser to the Republican government (adopted the pseudonym Don Nicholas Lepanto, in honor of Spain's greatest naval victory). He participated in the preparation and conduct of combat operations of the Republican fleet, and ensured the reception of transports from the USSR. For his activities in Spain he was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner.

From August 1937 - deputy commander, from January 1938 to March 1939 - commander of the Pacific Fleet. Fleet forces under the command of Kuznetsov supported the actions of ground forces during the battles near Lake Khasan.

In March 1939, Kuznetsov was transferred to Moscow to the post of Deputy People's Commissar of the USSR Navy.

People's Commissar of the USSR Navy

On April 29, 1939, 34-year-old Kuznetsov was appointed People's Commissar of the USSR Navy: he was the youngest People's Commissar in the Union and the first sailor in this position (previously the People's Commissars were Commissar Smirnov and Chekist Frinovsky; both of them were active organizers of repressions in the Navy and both themselves became their victims ). He made a great contribution to strengthening the fleet that had been decapitated by purges before the war; conducted a number of major exercises, personally visited many ships, resolving organizational and personnel issues. He initiated the opening of new maritime schools and maritime special schools (later Nakhimov schools). Also, by his order in 1939, the old St. Petersburg Engineering Scientific and Pedagogical School was preserved, the Marine Engineering Faculty was returned to Leningrad, and the Nikolaev Engineering School was restored under the name VITU. With his active participation, the disciplinary and ship regulations of the Navy were adopted. On July 24, 1939, on his initiative, Navy Day was introduced. With the introduction of the ranks of general and admiral in June 1940, he was awarded the rank of admiral.

Great Patriotic War

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Admiral Kuznetsov made a significant contribution to strengthening combat power and increasing the combat readiness of the Navy's forces and assets. On the eve of Germany's surprise attack on the USSR, without waiting for instructions from above, he took effective measures to increase the combat readiness of the fleets, and on the night of June 22, he gave the order to bring them to full combat readiness, which made it possible to avoid losses of ships and naval aviation.

During the war, Kuznetsov promptly and energetically led the fleet, coordinating its actions with the operations of other Armed Forces. He 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. Naval aviation and the submarine fleet played a major role in countering the enemy. The Navy accompanied Lend-Lease convoys and provided assistance to the Allies. A significant role was given to maritime education and taking into account the experience of the war.

In 1945, he participated as part of the Soviet delegation in the Crimean and Potsdam conferences of the leaders of the three allied powers.

On May 31, 1944, Kuznetsov was awarded the military rank of fleet admiral (four stars, equal to army general). On May 25, 1945, this rank was equated to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and marshal-type shoulder straps were introduced. On September 14, 1945, Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The first fall

On February 25, 1946, the independent People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was abolished and the Navy was included in the united People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Kuznetsov was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy People's Commissar (then Minister) of the USSR Armed Forces. In January 1947, as a result of disagreements with Stalin over the program for the further development of the Navy, he was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and in February 1947 appointed head of the Directorate of Naval Educational Institutions.

On January 12, 1948, Kuznetsov, together with a group of admirals (L. M. Galler, V. A. Alafuzov and G. A. Stepanov) was handed over to the Court of Honor of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR, chaired by Marshal of the Soviet Union Govorov. The accusation was that in 1942-1944, without the permission of the USSR Government, they transferred to Great Britain and the USA secret drawings and descriptions of a high-altitude parachute torpedo, a remote grenade, several ship artillery systems, fire control circuits, as well as a large number of secret nautical charts. The Court of Honor found them guilty and decided to petition the Council of Ministers of the USSR to bring the perpetrators to trial by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR.

On February 2 - 3, 1948, the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR found Kuznetsov guilty of the charges brought against him, but, given his great services in the past, decided not to apply criminal punishment to him. At the same time, the Military Collegium decided to petition the Council of Ministers to reduce Kuznetsov in military rank to rear admiral. The remaining defendants were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

Since June 1948, Kuznetsov has been Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Far East for naval forces.

Since February 1950 - commander of the 5th Navy in the Pacific Ocean.

In January 1951, Kuznetsov was awarded the “next” military rank - vice admiral.

On July 20, 1951, Kuznetsov again headed the fleet as the USSR Minister of Navy (until March 15, 1953), but the conviction was cleared and the rank of fleet admiral was returned only after Stalin's death, on May 11, 1953.

Second fall

From 1953 to 1955, Kuznetsov was 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR and Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. On March 3, 1955, his rank was renamed “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union”, and he was awarded the Marshall Star. During this period, he paid great attention to the technological re-equipment of the fleet, in particular, the development of aircraft carriers.

However, his relationship with Defense Minister G.K. Zhukov quickly deteriorated, with whom they did not quite get along during the war. In December 1955, Kuznetsov, under the pretext of guilt in the explosion on the battleship Novorossiysk, was removed from his post (although at that time he was on sick leave), and on February 17, 1956, he was demoted to vice admiral and dismissed with the humiliating wording “ without the right to work in the navy.”

Wrote and published memoirs. Author of the “official” book “On the Course to Victory” and memoirs about the war, repressions, and Stalin, which were published only posthumously; in them he sharply criticizes party interference in the affairs of the army and argues that “the state must be ruled by law.” Unlike many other “marshal” memoirs, the notes were written by Kuznetsov personally and are distinguished by good style. In the official history of the war, his role was often obscured due to his disgrace.

Name restoration

After the resignation of Zhukov in 1957 and Khrushchev in 1964, a group of Navy veterans repeatedly petitioned the government to have Kuznetsov restored to his rank and placed in the Group of Inspectors General of the Ministry of Defense (which would give him, in addition to symbolic, material advantages). Nevertheless, all these initiatives encountered opposition from the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Kuznetsov’s successor, S.G. Gorshkov.

Even posthumously, Kuznetsov could not be restored to his rank while Gorshkov was alive. Only on July 26, 1988, Kuznetsov was posthumously restored to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Before this, for 14 years, by the will of his relatives, no military rank was listed on his grave.

Nowadays, one of the largest ships of the Russian fleet is named after Kuznetsov (the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”), monuments have been erected to him, naval schools and a square in Barnaul are named after him.

In Arkhangelsk, where Nikolai Gerasimovich’s naval career began, a street was named after him, and in 2010 a monument was erected.

In 2004, the centenary of his birth was widely celebrated in the navy.

By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 25 of January 27, 2003, the departmental medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “Admiral Kuznetsov” was established.

Military ranks

• June 4, 1940 - admiral;
• May 31, 1944 - Admiral of the Fleet;
• February 10, 1948 - rear admiral;
• January 27, 1951 - vice admiral;
• May 13, 1953 - Admiral of the Fleet;
• March 3, 1955 - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union;
• February 17, 1956 - vice admiral;
• July 26, 1988 - reinstated in the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (posthumously).

Awards

USSR awards

• Hero of the Soviet Union (September 14, 1945)
• 4 Orders of Lenin (1937, February 1945, September 1945, 1952)
• 3 Orders of the Red Banner (1937, 1944, 1950)
• 2 Orders of Ushakov, 1st degree (1944, 1945)
• Order of the Red Star (1935)
• Order of the Badge of Honor
• Medal "For the Defense of Moscow"
• Medal "For the Defense of the Caucasus"
• Medal "For Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
• Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Medal "XX Years of the Red Army"
• Medal "30 years of the Soviet Army and Navy"
• Medal "40 Years of the USSR Armed Forces"
• Medal "50 Years of the USSR Armed Forces"
• Badge “Participant in the battles at Lake Khasan” (1939)
• Personalized weapon (1932)

Foreign awards

• Order "For Military Merit" (Mongolian People's Republic, 1972)
• Knight of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland (Poland, 1945)
• Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 1st class (Poland, 1946)
• Order of National Liberation (SFRY, 1946)
• Order of the Partisan Star, 1st class (SFRY, 1946)
• Medal “For our and your freedom” (Poland, 1967)
• Medal "For the Liberation of Korea" (DPRK, 1945)

Essays

• “On the Eve” - M.: Voenizdat, 1966
• “Combat alert in the fleets” - M.: Voenizdat, 1971
• “On a Course to Victory” - M.: Voenizdat, 1976
• “On a distant meridian” - M.: Nauka, 1988. ISBN 5-02-008923-0
• “Sharp turns: from the notes of the admiral” - M.: Mol. Guard, 1995

Memory

• streets in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Vladivostok and Kotlas; square in Barnaul
• heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" - the flagship of the Russian Navy
• Naval Academy named after. N. G. Kuznetsova
• memorial plaque on the building of the General Staff of the Navy in Moscow
• underwater island in the Pacific Ocean
• strait located between the Bering and Medny islands (Commander Islands)
• river boat on the river Northern Dvina
• a public fund has been created in memory of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov.
• memorial museum in the village of Medvedki, Kotlas district, Arkhangelsk region
• secondary school No. 4 in the city of Tara, Omsk region - “named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N. G. Kuznetsov”
• Medal "Admiral Kuznetsov"
• Education Center No. 1465 Moscow “named after Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsova"
• monument in Sevastopol on the street. Bolshaya Morskaya
• monument at the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok

Movies

• Far and Close (film interview) Tsentrnauchfilm, dir. V. A. Nikolaeva, 1971
• The first day - the last day (War through the eyes of the Minister of the Navy) doc. film APN
• Unknown war. part 17. Allies (documentary series, directed by R. Carmen) (episodes)

The life and work of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, is a worthy role model for officers of the Navy (Navy), for all patriots of Russia. Thanks to his activities as People's Commissar of the Navy, on June 22, 1941, the Navy met the Great Patriotic War in full combat readiness, without losing a single ship in the first hours of the war.

During the war, People's Commissar of the Navy, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov professionally and successfully led the Navy, was the chairman of the Main Military Council of the Navy, a member of the Supreme Command Headquarters and the State Defense Committee. After the Great Patriotic War N.G. Kuznetsov directed all his efforts towards creating a new, modern and balanced fleet, building ships, including those with nuclear power plants, adopting nuclear weapons, developing naval missile-carrying aviation, and coastal troops. Nikolai Gerasimovich was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st - 4th convocations, a deputy of the RSFSR of the 3rd convocation.

Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was born on July 11 (24), 1904 in the village of Medvedki (now Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region), in the family of a state-owned peasant. In 1915, left without a father, he decided to work as a messenger in the Department of Work to Improve the Arkhangelsk Port. In 1919, having added exactly 2 missing years to himself (the date of birth remained in his personal file - July 11 (24), 1902), he became a naval officer, joining the Northern Dvina military flotilla. In 1920 - 1922 studied at a preparatory school, after which, after passing the entrance exams, he was enrolled as a cadet at the naval school. In his book “On the Eve,” Nikolai Gerasimovich wrote: “...my dream - to forever link my destiny with the fleet - has become a reality. The yellow building of the former naval building became my home...” Having graduated from the Naval School with honors in 1926 (and thereby earning the right to choose his place of service), he continued to serve in the Black Sea Naval Forces as a watch commander (from 1927 - a senior watch commander) on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine".

In 1929 he entered the Naval Academy, which he also graduated with honors in 1932, returning to serve in the Black Sea as the first mate of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". From 1933 to 1936 - commander of the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine". He initiated and personally developed the single ship combat readiness system, which was later adopted for the entire fleet; introduced a method of emergency heating of ship turbines (instead of 4 hours - only 20 minutes), practiced firing the main caliber at maximum distances and maximum ship speeds. The movement “Fight for the first salvo”, which he started, as a purely artillery concept, developed into a general naval concept, which made it possible to increase the combat readiness of naval formations. The organization of service on the ships "Chervona Ukraine" and "Red Caucasus" was recognized as exemplary.

N.G. Kuznetsov, constantly in search, studied himself and taught his subordinates, improved the art of ship control, and worked out the new crew training system he was creating. In November 1935, Kuznetsov’s ship was subjected to a comprehensive inspection, according to the results of which the commander of the Black Sea Fleet I.K. Kozhanov highly appreciated the preparedness of the ship and crew, noting the activities of the commander and calling him “the youngest captain of the 1st rank of all the seas of the world.” Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov considered naval service and command of a ship to be the work of a real man, a defender of the Fatherland. Over the years, he took part in long campaigns abroad, visiting many European countries. Fluent in English, German, French, Spanish.

From August 1936 to July 1937 N.G. Kuznetsov participates in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Republicans - first as a naval attaché, later as a naval adviser, directs the actions of Soviet volunteer sailors, organizes sea transportation of military cargo and people. During hostilities, he goes to sea on ships of the Republican fleet as a volunteer.

In July 1937, Nikolai Gerasimovich was recalled from Spain and appointed 1st deputy commander, and in January 1938 - commander of the Pacific Fleet. In February he was awarded the military rank of 2nd rank flagship. During this time, he participates in organizing the interaction of naval forces and army units, speeds up the transfer of troops and cargo by sea, organizes the transportation of the wounded, and in the midst of battles gives the first directives to ships and fleet units on operational readiness.

His activities N.G. Kuznetsov is directing not only the improvement of the combat readiness of ships and units of the Pacific Fleet, the organization of air defense, the implementation of operational camouflage measures, and the transformation of Vladivostok into a well-fortified fleet base. During this period, he is already comprehending the necessary transformations on the scale of the entire Navy, which would significantly strengthen the fleet. At the April meeting of the Main Military Council of the People's Commissariat of the Navy, Kuznetsov proposes to reconsider issues such as: the process of training naval personnel, especially privates and junior commanding officers; provisions on military service by privates and junior commanding officers - on increasing the terms of their service, on establishing the percentage of long-term service members to the staff, on increasing monetary and clothing allowances, etc.

In April 1939 N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed to the post of People's Commissar of the Navy. He was awarded the military rank of fleet flagship of the 2nd rank. In the short time (2 years and 2 months) remaining before the start of the war, the young People's Commissar, working literally around the clock, manages to do a lot to organize, build and prepare the Navy for war.

In July, he conducts exercises of the Baltic Fleet, summing up the results, talks about the progress of the development of a system of three degrees of combat readiness in the People's Commissariat of the Navy, in August he participates in a meeting of the three powers: the USSR, England, France, and during the negotiations prepares data on the state of the English fleets for the Chief of the General Staff and France. In September, I.V. reports. Stalin and the justification for the need to move the main base of the Dnieper flotilla to Pinsk and receives approval, in November he approves the first instruction on operational readiness, which obligated to have forces in a preliminary deployment position to repel a surprise attack and conduct the first operations. On the instructions of People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov and with his participation, work begins on the preparation of the “Marine Atlas”, which is still very popular (published after the war).

During the war with Finland 1939 - 1940. he organizes the interaction of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet with the front, whose troops, with the support of naval aviation, surface ships and submarines, successfully land troops on the islands of Gogland, Seskar, Lavensaari. After the end of the war with Finland in March 1940, under the leadership of N.G. Kuznetsov, work continues to quickly create a naval base on the Hanko Peninsula.

On June 4, 1940, by resolution No. 946 of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR N.G. Kuznetsov is awarded the military rank of “admiral”. Being a commander himself, Kuznetsov understood the importance and complexity of training command personnel for the fleet. At his proposal, the government decided to open 7 naval special schools, classes in which began in September 1940. The People's Commissar of the Navy continued the good Russian tradition established under Peter I: to prepare the most courageous and talented young men for naval service.

In the summer of 1940, Kuznetsov traveled to Sevastopol and Odessa to organize interaction between the Black Sea Fleet and ground forces during the Bessarabian campaign of the Red Army. Then work in the Baltic Fleet, where the Libau naval base was being restored, resolving issues about the construction of coastal batteries and strengthening the defense of the base from land.

The People's Commissar's special attention is focused on methods of training and education of Navy personnel, taking into account the use of the experience of modern wars. Combat training is carried out in conditions close to combat, without unnecessary restrictions, taking into account the experience of the war in Spain. Through his efforts, the interaction of ships and formations in conditions of complex maneuvering, both day and night, is brought to perfection, and high training of naval crew personnel is achieved. One of the main places in the People's Commissar's activities is the implementation of the shipbuilding program and the vigorous increase in the combat power of the fleet. From January 1941 until the start of the war, People's Commissar Kuznetsov sent reports to I.V. Stalin about the facts of Germany's preparation for war.

Literally on the eve of the war, at 23:50 on June 21, 1941, People's Commissar of the Navy Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov signs directive No. zn/87, in which he instructs the command of the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea fleets, Pinsk and Danube flotillas to switch to increased combat readiness - operational readiness No. 1; June 22, 1941 at 1:50 a.m. No. ZN/88 about the possibility of a surprise attack by the Germans. After receiving information on June 22, 1941 at 3:15 a.m. about a German air raid on Sevastopol, under his own responsibility, he notified the fleets about the beginning of the German attack and gave instructions to repel aggression by force of arms.

The Navy met the attack of Nazi Germany with organized fire, without losing a single ship, not a single aircraft, or a single naval base in the first hours of the war.

During the war, People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov acted as a member of the State Defense Committee, a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters and its member (June - July 1941 and from February 1945) and as Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy (from February 1944).

N.G. Kuznetsov in the Black Sea Fleet. 1942

Nikolai Gerasimovich worked on his own initiative or on instructions from Headquarters where the most difficult situation arose on the fleets and fronts, proving himself to be an outstanding organizer of interaction between naval forces and ground forces, making proposals on operations and plans for their conduct to the Supreme High Command, incl. on naval aviation raids on Berlin, ensuring the escort of allied convoys, etc. He set tasks for the fleet: to strengthen the fight against enemy communications and protect their own communications, military transportation, evacuation of cargo, population, troops, blockade of areas of the coast occupied by the enemy, to assist ground forces in operations for the defense and liberation of coastal cities and coastal areas, landings and building up forces in the conquered territories, supporting flank formations with naval artillery fire, regarding supplies and reinforcements, etc.

Nikolai Gerasimovich showed high organizational skills in the defense of naval bases - Tallinn, Odessa, Sevastopol, as well as in developing plans and conducting the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation. At the final stage of the Second World War - during the Soviet-Japanese War in September 1945, he resolved issues of interaction between the Pacific Fleet and the Amur Flotilla, fleet forces with the troops of the 1st and 2nd Far Eastern Fronts, etc.

Kuznetsov did a lot to ensure that the Naval Academy and research institutes of the Navy constantly worked together with academic and other organizations to develop research and development work, improve the organization and activities of the fleet, and develop naval art; theoretical works and operational-tactical documents of the Navy were created. The People's Commissar paid special attention to organizing naval training - naval exercises close to a combat situation, voyages at any time of the year, and improving combat training in wartime conditions. On his initiative, in August 1941, a department was created at the Main Naval Staff to study and summarize the experience of the war, which subsequently made it possible to systematize combat experience and, on its basis, combat training of the fleet. At the suggestion of Nikolai Gerasimovich, preparatory maritime schools and a boatswain school, Nakhimov naval schools were created, orders and medals of F.F. were established. Ushakova and P.S. Nakhimov. During the war years N.G. Kuznetsov proved himself to be a major organizer of interaction between naval forces and ground forces. The actions of the Navy in the Great Patriotic War were highly appreciated by the Supreme High Command and allies. For his contribution to the victory, exemplary leadership of fleet combat operations, personal courage of N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 14, 1945.

Particularly noteworthy is the activity of N.G. Kuznetsov in the military-diplomatic field as a member of the USSR delegation as part of diplomatic missions at international conferences. He took part in negotiations between the USSR, England and France (1939), the USSR, USA and Great Britain (1941) on joint actions in the war against Germany. He worked as part of the delegation at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences in 1945. During these events, he participated in the preparation, discussion and development of decisions on such important issues as the actions of the allies in Europe and the Far East, naval supplies under Lend-Lease, organization and ensuring the reception and safety of ships and aircraft of allied delegations, the division of the German fleet, etc. For his service to the Motherland, Nikolai Gerasimovich was awarded four Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Ushakov 1st class, the Order of the Red Star and medals, as well as foreign orders.

The highest military rank in the Navy - “Admiral of the Fleet” was awarded to Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov on May 31, 1944. According to the Table of Ranks, this rank corresponded to the rank of “Marshal of the Soviet Union”. Since 1953, the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet” began to be called “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union” (the status of the rank did not change, this was explained in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 3, 1955).

After the end of the war, Nikolai Gerasimovich’s main concern was the issue of building a new fleet that would meet the demands of modern times, and establishing its place in the system of the country’s Armed Forces. Under the leadership of N.G. Kuznetsov is developing a project for a 10-year fleet construction program, which included the commissioning of aircraft carriers. Back in 1946, he persistently expressed proposals to I.V. Stalin on the use of nuclear power plants on ships. However, high authority, independent thinking, and the courage to express their proposals on the organization and construction of the fleet came into conflict with the opinion of the country's top leadership.

In February 1946, the independent People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was abolished and included in the united People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Kuznetsov is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy People's Commissar (then Minister) of the USSR Armed Forces. In January 1947, as a result of disagreements with Stalin over the program for the further development of the Navy, he was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and in February of the same year he was appointed head of the Directorate of Naval Educational Institutions. In 1947, on unfounded charges, Nikolai Gerasimovich was tried by the court of honor, and in 1948 by the court of the Supreme Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. He will be demoted to the rank of “rear admiral” and removed from his post. The first heart attack occurs during the trial, at the age of 44...

Only six months later, after a personal appeal to I.V. Stalin N.G. Kuznetsov is given the opportunity to continue his service. He was appointed to the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Far East for the Naval Forces, and in 1950 - commander of the 5th (Pacific) Fleet. In 1951, he was awarded the rank of “vice admiral” for the second time.

In the early 50s. last century in the Armed Forces of the USSR there was an unfavorable situation with the construction of the fleet. The country's leadership again turns to N.G. Kuznetsov, he is returned to service in the newly created naval department to the post of Minister of the Navy. With renewed energy, Nikolai Gerasimovich gets to work, trying to change the state of affairs in the construction of the fleet for the better. The Commander-in-Chief begins to solve problems associated with the development and implementation of new technology. Organizes joint work of naval research institutes and the Naval Academy with the research institutes of the Ministry of Defense, the USSR Academy of Sciences, and industry research centers. Resolves issues related to the construction of the first nuclear submarine, personally conducts regular fleet exercises. As before, he pays great attention to the problems of personnel training. After Stalin's death, the Navy Ministry was liquidated again, and on March 16, 1953, Kuznetsov was appointed to the post of 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. During this period, Nikolai Gerasimovich worked intensively on issues of fleet construction, explaining the need for “a sharp leap towards new high-quality equipment, not to mention its quantity.” The appearance of the new fleet was determined in the military shipbuilding program for 1955 - 1964 prepared under his leadership. In May 1953, he was completely rehabilitated and restored to the highest naval rank.

However, Nikolai Gerasimovich’s repeated attempts to achieve a positive decision from the USSR Government on the shipbuilding program do not lead to the desired results. In April 1955, at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee, N.G. Kuznetsov again reports on the need to approve the shipbuilding program. The First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N.S. is against it. Khrushchev. In response, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy openly expresses his indignation at the irresponsible attitude towards fleet construction issues. The harsh speech of the Navy Commander-in-Chief is regarded by Khrushchev as an encroachment on his authority as the leader of the country and the leader of the party (after all, the program for building a balanced fleet was adopted and began to be implemented under Nikolai Gerasimovich, he laid the foundation for the creation of a nuclear missile fleet, which became the most important component of reliable defense countries). The situation in which Kuznetsov worked worsened. The absurdity and hopelessness of the situation affected his health - in May 1955 he suffered a second heart attack. At the end of May N.G. Kuznetsov makes a written request to be relieved of his position for health reasons. The request remains unanswered. The temporary performance of duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy during the illness of Nikolai Gerasimovich is assigned to Vice Admiral S.G. Gorshkova. Until October 1955 N.G. Kuznetsov is undergoing treatment. And on October 28, 1955, a tragedy occurred in the roadstead of Sevastopol - the death of the battleship Novorossiysk. The state commission that investigated the death of the ship did not establish the causes of the tragedy, charges against N.G. Kuznetsova was not nominated. However, this was a suitable reason for reprisals against the unwanted admiral: in the report of the USSR Minister of Defense “On the death of the battleship Novorossiysk” to the CPSU Central Committee N.G. Kuznetsov was presented as the culprit of the incident. At the beginning of 1956, he was removed from his post with the wording “For unsatisfactory leadership of the Navy,” demoted in military rank to vice admiral and dismissed from the Armed Forces without the right to reinstatement.

His family and friends surrounded him with love and care and helped him survive during this difficult period.

Nikolai Gerasimovich decides to write a book dedicated to the struggle of the Spanish people against fascism in 1936 - 1937. and the assistance that the Soviet Union provided her. Creativity captured him, confusion passed, the thirst for activity found its channel and time quickly rushed forward again. Despite the fact that Kuznetsov’s request for information necessary for the book from the archives of the General Staff (in particular, his reports from the “Spanish” period, signed with the name Lepanto) does not even receive a refusal, the work continues. He was helped out by his own memory, which, by the way, was excellent. An essay has been published. Academician I.M. helped Maisky, who, after reading the manuscript, praised N.G. Kuznetsov, noting that this is the first work of an eyewitness to those events of such a high rank. The essay was published in a collection of articles by the publishing house of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1959 under the pseudonym N. Nikolaev. Continuing to work on this topic, in 1966 N.G. Kuznetsov publishes the book “On a Distant Meridian”, which received positive reviews. And memory returned all new names and events. Working on essays about L. Galler, V. Alafuzov, I. Kozhanov, L. Vladimirsky, R. Muklevich, V. Orlov, V. Blucher, B. Shaposhnikov, M. Koltsov, I. Rogov, A. Marinesko. He wrote the book “On the Eve”, published in 1966 as a separate edition in Vladivostok, easily and joyfully. Letters from readers came in streams. Former front-line soldiers - participants in the events - wrote especially a lot, thanking for the honest story about the past.

After the speech of the new General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee L.I. Brezhnev in the year of the 20th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany, in which he called N.G. Kuznetsov, among the outstanding military leaders of the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945, Nikolai Gerasimovich gradually began to enter public life. He was invited to speak at reader conferences in public and government institutions.

During 18 years of his creative life N.G. Kuznetsov wrote 5 books - military memoirs. In the first four, he summarized the pre-war period and the experience of the Great Patriotic War: “On a distant meridian”, “On the eve”, “Combat alert in the fleets”, “Course to victory”. “Sharp Turns” is a memoir “for purely personal reasons.” And from his pen, about a hundred articles came out on naval topics and in the memoir genre - about naval people, returning to history the names of those killed and unjustly repressed. Kuznetsov's translations have published 3 books and several works by foreign authors on the history, strategy and tactics of the navies of the leading world powers.

N.G. Kuznetsov against the background of the cruiser "Red Caucasus"

For Nikolai Gerasimovich, like no one else, the saying of another famous Russian admiral - P.S. Nakhimova: “A sailor has no difficult or easy path. The sailor has one path - a glorious one! All his life he was engaged in work necessary for the Fatherland, which he loved selflessly. They sent him into retirement, tried to consign him to oblivion, but it was impossible to remove him from serving the fleet and the Fatherland. N.G. Kuznetsov’s heart stopped at the 71st year of his life - December 6, 1974. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow, and 14 years later, the title “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union”, which he earned during the war years and was restored, was carved on the labrodite tombstone By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 26, 1988

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”, Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, is named after the outstanding admiral.

Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"

Memorial plaques have been unveiled in his memory on the building of the General Staff of the Navy and the house on Tverskaya Street in Moscow where he lived. Monuments to the hero-sailor were erected in Sevastopol, Veliky Ustyug, and Kotlas. In Kotlas, Arkhangelsk and St. Petersburg, streets bear his name, and in his homeland, in the village of Medvedki, a memorial museum of the admiral was created. The motor ship "Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov" sails along the Northern Dvina. In 1997, the Foundation in Memory of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. was established in Moscow. Kuznetsova. A sea strait and a cliff in the Pacific Ocean, a star in the constellation Leo, are named after the naval commander.

Roman Yurov, captain 1st rank,
Deputy Head of the 4th Directorate
Research Institute of Military History
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Kuznetsov

Nikolay Gerasimovich

Battles and victories

Outstanding Soviet naval commander and statesman. He preserved the fleet at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, successfully commanded it during the war, and did a lot for it in peacetime. Kuznetsov’s integrity in defending the interests of the Navy often cost him a lot, but the Admiral of the Fleet was loved by the sailors for it.

“It is impossible to remove me from service in the fleet,” said Kuznetsov.

Our positions may be different, but we are all - admirals, officers, sailors - people of Soviet society, our interests are the same. This consciousness must permeate every action of the commander, every thought. It happens that a commander has to act cool, speak sharply, but even then there should not be a shadow of arrogance or indifference to people in his words and actions. This is never forgiven to anyone.

Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was born into a peasant family in the village of Medvedki, Vologda province (now Kotlas district, Arkhangelsk region). In 1919, as a volunteer, adding two years to himself, he began serving in the Red Fleet. During the Civil War he fought as a sailor in the Northern Dvina Flotilla. In 1925 he joined the CPSU(b). In 1926 he graduated with honors from the Frunze Naval School, and in 1932 he also graduated from the operational department of the Naval Academy with honors. He served on the cruiser "Red Caucasus", then as a watch commander, assistant commander and senior assistant commander on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" of the Black Sea Fleet. “I never suffered from great ambition,” N.G. Kuznetsov later recalled, “and did not strive to climb to the top of the career ladder, but, to be honest, I dreamed of becoming the commander of a ship - large or small - and, standing on the bridge, controlling it. An example for me were such commanders as K.N. Samoilov, who commanded the battleship, or L.A. Polenov, who had the opportunity to serve as a midshipman on the cruiser Aurora during the storming of the Winter Palace and commanded the same ship when we, as cadets, went on foreign voyages on it in the 20s.”

The young sailor’s dream came true after graduating from the Naval Academy in 1933 - he was appointed commander of the cruiser Chervona Ukraine. Under him, the cruiser became the best in the fleet. N.G. himself Kuznetsov recalled: “For three years I literally enjoyed the difficult but pleasant responsibility of steering a large ship. What could be better when you feel how a cruiser, equipped with four powerful turbines, is moving at your will in the right direction. And when considerable experience was acquired, I served very well on the ship, which I fell in love with deeply during the five years of service on it.” During one of the shootings in the presence of the commander of the Navy, the cruiser Chervona Ukraine hit the target with the first salvo of main-caliber artillery, which surprised the high authorities. Thus arose a movement called “for the first salvo.”

In 1935, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet I. Kozhanov in the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper gave his subordinate the following description:

Undoubtedly, he is the youngest among the captains of all navies in the world. But this young commander's growth is continuous. I have had to criticize Kuznetsov’s mistakes more than once and probably will have to do so more than once. But while I criticize Kuznetsov, I at the same time admire him, because his mistakes are not due to idleness, complacency or laziness. These are mistakes of growth, young energy and bold initiative, which are not always within the framework of strict calculation, mistakes of accumulated experience. Kuznetsov is growing as an organizer.

In 1936-1937 Kuznetsov was on military-diplomatic work in Spain, where he was a naval attaché, the chief naval adviser to the Republican government and led a group of Soviet sailors sent to counter the Nazis during the Spanish Civil War. Here he took an active and creative part in developing the combat operations of the Republican Fleet and working out the interaction of its forces with ground forces and aviation. From Spain, captain first rank N.G. Kuznetsov returned with two of the highest government awards - the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner.

In 1937-1939 Kuznetsov held the position of deputy. commander, then commander of the Pacific Fleet.

Admiral V.A. Kasatonov, at that time the commander of the submarine division of the TF, recalled his commander this way:

He visited surface ships and submarines, aviation and coastal units, headquarters, reached every commander and sailor, delved into the organization of service, life, and leisure of the personnel of ships, units and formations. More than once at official meetings and in personal conversations, Nikolai Gerasimovich pointed out how carefully it is necessary to study and take care of weapons and equipment, prepare personnel for combat operations and bring them into combat readiness, study the enemy, and know the theater of combat operations. He showed great concern for the floating personnel, paying a lot of attention to the training of ship commanders - single commanders, their ability to independently solve problems at sea, as well as in interaction with others. The abilities of our commander - firmness, initiative, determination - were clearly demonstrated during the armed conflict on Lake Khasan, in the summer of 1938. He steadily implemented a clear system of warning, communications, operational readiness of the fleet, which he practically implemented so that we could not to be taken by surprise - he reminded, demanded, taught about this.

In March 1939 N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed Deputy People's Commissar, and a month later - People's Commissar of the USSR Navy, Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet. Kuznetsov himself later explained his rapid rise through the ranks as a result of purges in the army and navy in 1937-1938, when the USSR Armed Forces lost many commanders and commissars of the highest rank. Indeed, his predecessors in this post, Army Commissar 1st Rank P.A. Smirnov and Army Commander 1st Rank M.P. Frinovsky, were repressed, so there was no one to take over Kuznetsov’s cases. In addition, having no relation to the fleet due to the nature of his previous activities, P.A. Smirnov and M.P. Frinovsky could not properly engage in operational-strategic training of the Navy, naval art, etc. Therefore, Kuznetsov had to face a large number of unresolved problems.

First of all, when the People's Commissariat of the Navy was created in 1938, its place in the structure of the Armed Forces was not clearly defined. The People's Commissariat of Defense and the General Staff of the Red Army were, in fact, concerned only with the ground forces, and “naval issues hung like a stone around their neck,” N.G. wrote in his memoirs. Kuznetsov. In addition, each People's Commissariat "closed" to one of the government members, with the exception of NGOs, NKID and NKVD, and the newly created People's Commissariat of the Navy - Stalin led them himself. “It was both good and bad,” Kuznetsov recalled, “good because many of the most important issues were resolved quickly and at the highest authority, but bad because no one other than Stalin (not even Molotov) could solve them.” wanted."

History gave Kuznetsov almost two years to prepare for the big war. Under his leadership, combat regulations, manuals and guidelines were developed and updated, and a system of operational readiness in case of war was developed.

N.G. Kuznetsov recalled:

I, the then young People's Commissar of the Navy, had young commanders like myself, who had no combat experience, but everyone with full effort prepared the fleets subordinate to them for war. “The fight for the first salvo” - this is how one can characterize the two pre-war years - 1939 and 1940. What is the essence of this slogan? The danger of a surprise attack - for which there was ample reason - was recognized by everyone in the fleet and therefore hundreds of exercises were carried out to quickly increase readiness in case of an unexpected war. Looking back, I see a lot of mistakes and shortcomings on my part, but in hindsight I always see more and better...

Thanks to the timely actions of Kuznetsov, who learned on the eve of the war that the country’s top military leadership was preparing an alarming directive for the border districts, the fleet met June 22, 1941 in a state of combat readiness No. 1 and did not suffer serious losses that day.

In the summer of 1941, Kuznetsov was one of the initiators of bombing attacks on Berlin by naval aviation based in the Baltic. In August-September 1941, naval pilots flew 52 sorties and dropped 36 tons of high-explosive bombs and 34 bombs with leaflets on Berlin. Although the material damage to the capital of the Third Reich was not too great, the political, moral and psychological significance of these bombings is quite obvious.

Due to the rapid advance of the Germans inland, which led to the loss of first the forward (Libava, Odessa) and then the main (Tallinn, Sevastopol) naval bases, the fleet had to temporarily abandon active independent actions. The operating fleets were operationally subordinate to the fronts at the beginning of the war. The leadership role of the People's Commissar of the Navy in fleets turned out to be difficult, because tasks were set for them by the front-line command and, less often, by Headquarters. Ships, aviation, coastal defense and marine units, working closely with ground forces, provided all possible assistance to the fronts in coastal areas. Naval aviation was redirected against enemy tank groups and enemy aircraft, surface ships were attracted by fire to support the coastal flanks of the Red Army groupings. The ships of the fleets transported hundreds of thousands of people, millions of tons of various cargo. In October 1941, 25 naval rifle brigades were formed in the fleets and flotillas, which took part in the battle for Moscow and then in all the battles and offensives of our troops all the way to Berlin.

Throughout the war, Kuznetsov was the permanent commander-in-chief of the Soviet Navy and a member of the Supreme Command Headquarters. About 20 times he traveled to fleets and front headquarters, directing naval operations and coordinating them with the actions of ground forces. He had to work most intensely during the preparation and conduct of a number of landing operations: Kerch-Feodosia, Novorossiysk, Kerch-Eltingen, Petsamo-Kirkines, etc. He constantly studied the experience of the combat use of ships and quickly brought it to the naval commanders. He did a lot for the interaction of naval and army forces in carrying out both defensive and offensive operations.

In February 1944 N.G. Kuznetsov was the first in the USSR to be awarded the highest military rank in the fleet, “Admiral of the Fleet,” and he was the only one to wear shoulder straps with four stars, and on May 31, 1944, he was awarded the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet” with marshal’s stars on shoulder straps, equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

During the war with Japan in 1945, N.G. Kuznetsov led the actions of the Pacific Fleet and the Amur Military Flotilla, being directly at the Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Far East, and coordinated the actions of the fleet with the ground forces during landings on Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and the ports of North Korea. After the defeat of Japan, Kuznetsov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Kuznetsov was one of the initiators of the creation of Nakhimov colleges and schools.

In 1945 he participated in the Crimean and Berlin conferences of the leaders of the “Big Three” - the USSR, the USA and Great Britain. In Crimea, he had to resolve issues related to the joint actions of the allies in Europe, the Far East, naval supplies under Lend-Lease, and carry out important orders from Headquarters to organize and ensure the reception and security of ships and aircraft of allied delegations. During the Potsdam Conference, Kuznetsov participated in resolving the issue of dividing the German fleet between the allies. As a result, the Soviet Union received 150 combat and more than 420 auxiliary ships.

After the end of the war N.G. Kuznetsov, based on the analysis and generalization of combat experience, put forward a shipbuilding plan for 1946-1955, according to which the main classes of warships of the Soviet fleet were to become aircraft carriers (large and small), cruisers with 9-inch artillery, submarines, destroyers, etc. In addition, in the Soviet Navy, as part of the preparation of a new shipbuilding program, a lot of scientific work began on developing methods of protection against nuclear weapons and exploring the possibilities of using nuclear energy. Nikolai Gerasimovich considered the creation of a fleet balanced in terms of types of forces and classes of ships as a priority task. However, the leadership of the People's Commissariat of Shipbuilding strongly opposed the construction of aircraft carriers, so the draft plan was repeatedly adjusted. Disagreements also concerned the continuation of the construction of heavy cruisers, which N.G. categorically objected to. Kuznetsov. His opinion, however, was ignored at the highest level.

It should be borne in mind that in 1946 the People's Commissariat of the Navy was abolished, and Kuznetsov became Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. “When the war ended,” recalled Nikolai Gerasimovich, “and the question arose about a new shipbuilding plan, disputes flared up with representatives of the People’s Commissariat of Shipbuilding, and after I left [from the post of People’s Commissar of the Navy] they carried out all their provisions with Stalin to the detriment of the cause. So, they agreed to build heavy cruisers, which were clearly not needed by the modern fleet after the war. So, due to the difficulty of construction, the aircraft carriers that I insisted on were “killed”, so we stayed for a long time on old submarines. Many, many similar issues were decided after the war, clearly incorrectly and to the detriment of the cause, only because Stalin, not understanding them, no longer listened to anyone and did not tolerate objections. The shipbuilders (Malyshev and Nosenko) proceeded from the interests of their department, and the sailors were not able to prove that they were right. At this time, the unstable position of Zhdanov and Bulganin, who did not want to object to Stalin, had a particularly negative impact.”

With the name N.A. Bulganin Nikolai Gerasimovich connected the reasons for both experienced “sharp turns” - post-war disgraces, the first of which occurred under Stalin, the second under Khrushchev. “In the matter of “sharp turns,” my evil genius, both in the first case (putting on trial) and in the second (resignation), was N.A. Bulganin..." he wrote. - A certain V. Alferov, sensing the situation (conjuncture), wrote a report that Kuznetsov had an admiration for foreigners, and cited the case of a parachute torpedo. We went through all the archives in search of something more “criminal.” I was just surprised how during my entire time at the head of the People's Commissariat and throughout the war, despite the very large connections that I was forced to maintain with the British, Americans and other allies, and all kinds of mutual transfers in pursuance of certain directives and personal instructions, there were so few or almost nothing of any significance that would violate the strictest standards of behavior. Bulganin picked up on this and, inspired, did everything possible to “inflate the censer.” In those conditions it was not difficult to do. It was not logic, facts or justice that acted and decided the matter, but personal opinions. Bulganin also knew little about military affairs, although he had well learned the usefulness of obeying. He followed all the instructions without having his own government position. He was a bad politician, but a good politician."

According to Nikolai Gerasimovich, the success of the intrigues launched against him was due to a personal disagreement with Stalin that occurred in 1946 over the issue of dividing the Baltic Fleet.

Over time, I became confident in myself, recalled Nikolai Gerasimovich, more stubbornly defended the interests of the fleet and dared to object even to Stalin himself when he considered it necessary for the cause. On this, in fact, I “broke my neck”... One day in the spring of 1946, I had a conversation with Stalin on the phone. He proposed dividing the Baltic Fleet into two. First, as always, I asked for time to think, and then, two days later, I answered him that I thought it was wrong. The theater is small and, from an operational point of view, indivisible. Stalin, as it turned out later, was dissatisfied with my position, but then, without saying anything, he hung up... Summoned the next day to Stalin's office, we reported our opinion to him... I remained in my positions, deeply convinced that I was right. I.S. Isakov was silent, A.I. Mikoyan, referring to him, said that Isakov was for Stalin’s proposal. Stalin began to scold me, but I could not stand it and replied that if I did not fit, I asked him to remove me. What I said cost me dearly. Stalin replied: “We will remove you when necessary,” and this was the signal for the preparation of the reprisal against me that followed later. True, I was fired almost a year later, but this issue was predetermined precisely at that ill-fated meeting... Looking back, I come to the conclusion that I acted as an honest person should act.

As a result, in 1947, Kuznetsov was released from leadership of the fleet and appointed to Leningrad as head of the department of naval educational institutions, and in 1948, together with three admirals, he was accused of transferring to foreigners documents constituting a military secret (about a parachute torpedo), and demoted to rear admiral. “Later, while working in Moscow, I heard from Stalin himself that “someone” insisted on “imprisoning” me, promising “important material” (that I was an English spy),” recalled N.G. . Kuznetsov. - “I walked around for some time as an “untouchable” and began to ask to be used for some work. Stalin personally resolved this issue. He sent me to Khabarovsk as Deputy Commander-in-Chief for the Far East to R.Ya. Malinovsky [Commander-in-Chief of the Far East troops]. Molotov, who met me by chance in the Kremlin - after all, I remained a member of the Central Committee (for more than seventeen years in total) - said allegorically that “I’ll have to go there for a while...” After natural experiences, I calmed down and got to work in Khabarovsk. Traveled a lot from Kamchatka to Port Arthur. I’ve been to Sakhalin and Dalny several times. A year later he was appointed to command the Pacific Fleet for the second time.” On January 27, 1951, he received the next military rank of “vice admiral” for the second time and was awarded the Order of Lenin.

In 1951, I. Stalin decided to restore the People's Commissariat (now the Ministry) of the Navy and return Kuznetsov to leadership of the fleet. Kuznetsov became Minister of the Navy, he was again awarded the rank of admiral, and then admiral of the fleet. After returning to Moscow in September 1951, N.G. Kuznetsov presented Stalin with a detailed report on the need to begin work on designing submarines with nuclear power plants (in the USA, work began back in 1947), speeding up work on jet weapons (in the terminology of that time), and implementing other urgent measures to increase the combat effectiveness of the fleet. However, he failed to achieve the adoption of relevant resolutions on these issues. Stalin did not decide anything, limiting himself to hearing the report at a meeting of government members at his dacha. “Together with my report, I was handed over to the “troika”: Bulganin, Beria, Malenkov. - Nikolai Gerasimovich recalled. - This is where we need to look for the reasons for my further misadventures. Bulganin finally hated me. Being then in close friendship with Khrushchev, he conveyed to him all his hatred of me.”

In 1953-1956. Kuznetsov was Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. In 1955, Kuznetsov suffered a heart attack and asked to be given a job in accordance with his state of health. The management ignored the request. At the same time, in 1955, the battleship Novorossiysk exploded in a roadstead in Sevastopol for reasons still unclear. The commission investigating the disaster did not find Kuznetsov guilty, but since he strongly objected to N.S.’s line. Khrushchev to curtail the program for the construction of large ships, he was removed from the post of commander in chief under the pretext of unsatisfactory leadership of the Navy, demoted to vice admiral and dismissed.

Of no small importance were also the hostile relations that Nikolai Gerasimovich developed at that time with his immediate superior, USSR Minister of Defense G.K. Zhukov, who not only did not object, but also contributed to the dismissal of N.G. Kuznetsov, including indictments in the memo he prepared to the CPSU Central Committee regarding the death of the battleship Novorossiysk.

In particular, it stated:

The leadership of the Navy is in an unsatisfactory state. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov he led the fleet unsatisfactorily, incorrectly assessed the role of the fleet in a future war, made mistakes in his views and development of directions for the construction and development of the fleet, and missed the training of leading personnel.

“I don’t deny,” Nikolai Gerasimovich wrote in his memoirs, “there were apparently shortcomings, but there was even less legality in reducing me in rank in 1956 than under Stalin. Simply, on the instructions of Khrushchev, a decision was made without explanation of guilt and crimes. And in order to demote the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union in rank to vice admiral, you need to have enough grounds, if, of course, you adhere to the laws... I do not see any crimes behind me that could explain the deprivation of my high military rank. The facts cited by Zhukov are easily refutable, and I did this in my letter to the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee in 1957. Decisions, both on party and state lines, cannot be considered legal if they are made in absentia, without hearing my explanations and bringing charges.”

In retirement, Kuznetsov wrote five books of memoirs and a number of articles. I learned English (previously I knew Spanish, French and German) and translated several books on maritime topics. Organized and led seminars at the Institute of General and Pedagogical Psychology of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR, spoke to scientists, teachers, and students with memories and stories about the history of the Soviet Army and Navy. As a consultant, he participated in the work of the Main Editorial Commission of the scientific work “History of the Second World War 1939-1945.”

I was removed from service in the navy, but it is impossible to remove me from service in the fleet.

- wrote N.G. Kuznetsov.

In the pre-war period and especially during the Great Patriotic War, and in the post-war years, due to the nature of the work assigned to me, I always had the opportunity to observe exclusively party, highly qualified leadership from N.G. Kuznetsov. all those responsible areas of work that were entrusted to him by the party and the government. I am more than sure that the restoration of Comrade N.G. Kuznetsov. in a rank of which he was unjustifiably deprived, and his inclusion in the group of inspectors general at the Ministry of Defense would, of course, be fair and would be received with great pleasure by all the personnel of the Armed Forces and especially the Navy who knew him, great and well deserved the authority he enjoyed and enjoys to this day. A. Vasilevsky

From a letter from A.M. Vasilevsky to the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee, April 9, 1966

December 6, 1974 N.G. Kuznetsov died after the operation - his heart could not stand it. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. In 1988, on the initiative of a group of veterans of the Great Patriotic War, the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was posthumously restored to him. The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser that entered service was given the name “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov” (1989).

Yu.A. Nikiforov, Ph.D., Head. Department of History, Philosophy and Cultural Studies of Moscow State University for the Humanities. Sholokhov

Essays

Literature

Admiral Kuznetsov: Moscow in the life and fate of a naval commander. Sat. documents and materials. M., 2000

Sidorenko L.G.“...The commander has to act cool, speak sharply, but...there should not be a shadow of arrogance or indifference to people.” Military and statesman, who is considered a national hero // Military-historical magazine. 2003. No. 7. P.16-22.

Naval commander. Materials about the life and work of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. Kuznetsov. M., 1999

Naval commander. / Auto-stat. R.V. Kuznetsova. M., 2004

Internet

Eremenko Andrey Ivanovich

Commander of the Stalingrad and South-Eastern Fronts. The fronts under his command in the summer and autumn of 1942 stopped the advance of the German 6th field and 4th tank armies towards Stalingrad.
In December 1942, the Stalingrad Front of General Eremenko stopped the tank offensive of General G. Hoth's group on Stalingrad, for the relief of the 6th Army of Paulus.

Denikin Anton Ivanovich

One of the most talented and successful commanders of the First World War. Coming from a poor family, he made a brilliant military career, relying solely on his own virtues. Member of the RYAV, WWI, graduate of the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. He fully realized his talent while commanding the legendary “Iron” brigade, which was then expanded into a division. Participant and one of the main characters of the Brusilov breakthrough. He remained a man of honor even after the collapse of the army, a Bykhov prisoner. Member of the ice campaign and commander of the AFSR. For more than a year and a half, possessing very modest resources and much inferior in numbers to the Bolsheviks, he won victory after victory, liberating a vast territory.
Also, do not forget that Anton Ivanovich is a wonderful and very successful publicist, and his books are still very popular. An extraordinary, talented commander, an honest Russian man in difficult times for the Motherland, who was not afraid to light a torch of hope.

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

The greatest Russian commander! He has more than 60 victories and not a single defeat. Thanks to his talent for victory, the whole world learned the power of Russian weapons

Rurik Svyatoslav Igorevich

Year of birth 942 date of death 972 Expansion of state borders. 965 conquest of the Khazars, 963 march south to the Kuban region, capture of Tmutarakan, 969 conquest of the Volga Bulgars, 971 conquest of the Bulgarian kingdom, 968 founding of Pereyaslavets on the Danube (the new capital of Rus'), 969 defeat of the Pechenegs in the defense of Kyiv.

Spiridov Grigory Andreevich

He became a sailor under Peter I, participated as an officer in the Russian-Turkish War (1735-1739), and ended the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) as a rear admiral. His naval and diplomatic talent reached its peak during the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774. In 1769 he led the first passage of the Russian fleet from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the difficulties of the transition (the admiral's son was among those who died from illness - his grave was recently found on the island of Menorca), he quickly established control over the Greek archipelago. The Battle of Chesme in June 1770 remained unsurpassed in terms of loss ratio: 11 Russians - 11 thousand Turks! On the island of Paros, the naval base of Auza was equipped with coastal batteries and its own Admiralty.
The Russian fleet left the Mediterranean Sea after the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace in July 1774. The Greek islands and lands of the Levant, including Beirut, were returned to Turkey in exchange for territories in the Black Sea region. However, the activities of the Russian fleet in the Archipelago were not in vain and played a significant role in world naval history. Russia, having carried out a strategic maneuver with its naval forces from one theater to another and achieved a number of high-profile victories over the enemy, for the first time made people talk about itself as a strong maritime power and an important player in European politics.

Dovator Lev Mikhailovich

Soviet military leader, major general, Hero of the Soviet Union. Known for successful operations to destroy German troops during the Great Patriotic War. The German command placed a large reward on Dovator's head.
Together with the 8th Guards Division named after Major General I.V. Panfilov, the 1st Guards Tank Brigade of General M.E. Katukov and other troops of the 16th Army, his corps defended the approaches to Moscow in the Volokolamsk direction.

Wrangel Pyotr Nikolaevich

Participant in the Russo-Japanese and First World Wars, one of the main leaders (1918−1920) of the White movement during the Civil War. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army in Crimea and Poland (1920). General Staff Lieutenant General (1918). Knight of St. George.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

Chairman of the State Defense Committee, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Armed Forces during the Great Patriotic War.
What other questions might there be?

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich

Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1955). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945).
From 1942 to 1946, commander of the 62nd Army (8th Guards Army), which particularly distinguished itself in the Battle of Stalingrad. He took part in defensive battles on the distant approaches to Stalingrad. From September 12, 1942, he commanded the 62nd Army. V.I. Chuikov received the task of defending Stalingrad at any cost. The front command believed that Lieutenant General Chuikov was characterized by such positive qualities as determination and firmness, courage and a great operational outlook, a high sense of responsibility and consciousness of his duty. The army, under the command of V.I. Chuikov, became famous for the heroic six-month defense of Stalingrad in street battles in a completely destroyed city, fighting on isolated bridgeheads on the banks of the wide Volga.

For the unprecedented mass heroism and steadfastness of its personnel, in April 1943, the 62nd Army received the honorary title of Guards and became known as the 8th Guards Army.

Vladimir Svyatoslavich

981 - conquest of Cherven and Przemysl. 983 - conquest of the Yatvags. 984 - conquest of the Rodimichs. 985 - successful campaigns against the Bulgars, tribute to the Khazar Khaganate. 988 - conquest of the Taman Peninsula. 991 - subjugation of the White Croats. 992 - successfully defended Cherven Rus in the war against Poland. In addition, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Shein Alexey Semyonovich

The first Russian generalissimo. Leader of the Azov campaigns of Peter I.

Gagen Nikolai Alexandrovich

On June 22, trains with units of the 153rd Infantry Division arrived in Vitebsk. Covering the city from the west, Hagen's division (together with the heavy artillery regiment attached to the division) occupied a 40 km long defense line; it was opposed by the 39th German Motorized Corps.

After 7 days of fierce fighting, the division's battle formations were not broken through. The Germans no longer contacted the division, bypassed it and continued the offensive. The division appeared in a German radio message as destroyed. Meanwhile, the 153rd Rifle Division, without ammunition and fuel, began to fight its way out of the ring. Hagen led the division out of encirclement with heavy weapons.

For the demonstrated steadfastness and heroism during the Elninsky operation on September 18, 1941, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 308, the division received the honorary name “Guards”.
From 01/31/1942 to 09/12/1942 and from 10/21/1942 to 04/25/1943 - commander of the 4th Guards Rifle Corps,
from May 1943 to October 1944 - commander of the 57th Army,
from January 1945 - the 26th Army.

Troops under the leadership of N.A. Gagen took part in the Sinyavinsk operation (and the general managed to break out of encirclement for the second time with weapons in hand), the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, battles in the Left Bank and Right Bank Ukraine, in the liberation of Bulgaria, in the Iasi-Kishinev, Belgrade, Budapest, Balaton and Vienna operations. Participant of the Victory Parade.

Barclay de Tolly Mikhail Bogdanovich

Finnish War.
Strategic retreat in the first half of 1812
European expedition of 1812

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

The great Russian commander, who did not suffer a single defeat in his military career (more than 60 battles), one of the founders of Russian military art.
Prince of Italy (1799), Count of Rymnik (1789), Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Generalissimo of the Russian land and naval forces, Field Marshal of the Austrian and Sardinian troops, Grandee of the Kingdom of Sardinia and Prince of the Royal Blood (with the title "King's cousin"), Knight of all Russian orders of their time, awarded to men, as well as many foreign military orders.

Bennigsen Leonty

An unjustly forgotten commander. Having won several battles against Napoleon and his marshals, he drew two battles with Napoleon and lost one battle. Participated in the Battle of Borodino. One of the contenders for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army during the Patriotic War of 1812!

Gurko Joseph Vladimirovich

Field Marshal General (1828-1901) Hero of Shipka and Plevna, Liberator of Bulgaria (a street in Sofia is named after him, a monument was erected). In 1877 he commanded the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division. To quickly capture some passes through the Balkans, Gurko led an advance detachment consisting of four cavalry regiments, a rifle brigade and the newly formed Bulgarian militia, with two batteries of horse artillery. Gurko completed his task quickly and boldly and won a series of victories over the Turks, ending with the capture of Kazanlak and Shipka. During the struggle for Plevna, Gurko, at the head of the guard and cavalry troops of the western detachment, defeated the Turks near Gorny Dubnyak and Telish, then again went to the Balkans, occupied Entropol and Orhanye, and after the fall of Plevna, reinforced by the IX Corps and the 3rd Guards Infantry Division , despite the terrible cold, crossed the Balkan ridge, took Philippopolis and occupied Adrianople, opening the way to Constantinople. At the end of the war, he commanded military districts, was governor-general, and a member of the state council. Buried in Tver (Sakharovo village)

Rokhlin Lev Yakovlevich

He headed the 8th Guards Army Corps in Chechnya. Under his leadership, a number of districts of Grozny were captured, including the presidential palace. For participation in the Chechen campaign, he was nominated for the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, but refused to accept it, stating that “he has no moral right to receive this award for military operations on his own territory.” countries".

Ushakov Fedor Fedorovich

During the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791, F. F. Ushakov made a serious contribution to the development of sailing fleet tactics. Relying on the entire set of principles for training naval forces and military art, incorporating all the accumulated tactical experience, F. F. Ushakov acted creatively, based on the specific situation and common sense. His actions were distinguished by decisiveness and extraordinary courage. Without hesitation, he reorganized the fleet into a battle formation even when approaching the enemy directly, minimizing the time of tactical deployment. Despite the established tactical rule of placing the commander in the middle of the battle formation, Ushakov, implementing the principle of concentration of forces, boldly placed his ship in the forefront and occupied the most dangerous positions, encouraging his commanders with his own courage. He was distinguished by a quick assessment of the situation, an accurate calculation of all success factors and a decisive attack aimed at achieving complete victory over the enemy. In this regard, Admiral F. F. Ushakov can rightfully be considered the founder of the Russian tactical school in naval art.

The greatest commander of the Second World War. Two people in history were awarded the Order of Victory twice: Vasilevsky and Zhukov, but after the Second World War it was Vasilevsky who became the Minister of Defense of the USSR. His military genius is unsurpassed by ANY military leader in the world.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

The only commander who carried out the order of Headquarters on June 22, 1941, counterattacked the Germans, drove them back in his sector and went on the offensive.

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich

Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (September 18 (30), 1895 - December 5, 1977) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943), Chief of the General Staff, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. 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, commander-in-chief of Soviet troops in the Far East in the war with Japan. One of the greatest commanders of the Second World War.
In 1949-1953 - Minister of the Armed Forces and Minister of War of the USSR. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), holder of two Orders of Victory (1944, 1945).

Bennigsen Leonty Leontievich

Surprisingly, a Russian general who did not speak Russian, became the glory of Russian weapons of the early 19th century.

He made a significant contribution to the suppression of the Polish uprising.

Commander-in-Chief in the Battle of Tarutino.

He made a significant contribution to the campaign of 1813 (Dresden and Leipzig).

Yulaev Salavat

Commander of the Pugachev era (1773-1775). Together with Pugachev, he organized an uprising and tried to change the position of peasants in society. He won several victories over the troops of Catherine II.

Drozdovsky Mikhail Gordeevich

He managed to bring his subordinate troops to the Don in full force, and fought extremely effectively in the conditions of the civil war.

Slashchev Yakov Alexandrovich

A talented commander who repeatedly showed personal courage in defending the Fatherland in the First World War. He assessed rejection of the revolution and hostility to the new government as secondary compared to serving the interests of the Motherland.

Romodanovsky Grigory Grigorievich

An outstanding military figure of the 17th century, prince and governor. In 1655, he won his first victory over the Polish hetman S. Pototsky near Gorodok in Galicia. Later, as commander of the army of the Belgorod category (military administrative district), he played a major role in organizing the defense of the southern border of Russia. In 1662, he won the greatest victory in the Russian-Polish war for Ukraine in the battle of Kanev, defeating the traitor hetman Yu. Khmelnytsky and the Poles who helped him. In 1664, near Voronezh, he forced the famous Polish commander Stefan Czarnecki to flee, forcing the army of King John Casimir to retreat. Repeatedly beat the Crimean Tatars. In 1677 he defeated the 100,000-strong Turkish army of Ibrahim Pasha near Buzhin, and in 1678 he defeated the Turkish corps of Kaplan Pasha near Chigirin. Thanks to his military talents, Ukraine did not become another Ottoman province and the Turks did not take Kyiv.

John 4 Vasilievich

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

Well, who else but him is the only Russian commander who has not lost more than one battle!!!

Ermolov Alexey Petrovich

Hero of the Napoleonic Wars and the Patriotic War of 1812. Conqueror of the Caucasus. A smart strategist and tactician, a strong-willed and brave warrior.

Senyavin Dmitry Nikolaevich

Dmitry Nikolaevich Senyavin (6 (17) August 1763 - 5 (17) April 1831) - Russian naval commander, admiral.
for courage and outstanding diplomatic work shown during the blockade of the Russian fleet in Lisbon

Belov Pavel Alekseevich

He led the cavalry corps during the Second World War. He showed himself excellently during the Battle of Moscow, especially in defensive battles near Tula. He especially distinguished himself in the Rzhev-Vyazemsk operation, where he emerged from encirclement after 5 months of stubborn fighting.

Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich

The greatest Commander and Diplomat!!! Who utterly defeated the troops of the “first European Union”!!!

Prince Svyatoslav

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich

In World War I, commander of the 8th Army in the Battle of Galicia. On August 15-16, 1914, during the Rohatyn battles, he defeated the 2nd Austro-Hungarian Army, capturing 20 thousand people. and 70 guns. On August 20, Galich was captured. The 8th Army takes an active part in the battles at Rava-Russkaya and in the Battle of Gorodok. In September he commanded a group of troops from the 8th and 3rd armies. From September 28 to October 11, his army withstood a counterattack by the 2nd and 3rd Austro-Hungarian armies in battles on the San River and near the city of Stryi. During the successfully completed battles, 15 thousand enemy soldiers were captured, and at the end of October his army entered the foothills of the Carpathians.

Rumyantsev Pyotr Alexandrovich

Russian military leader and statesman, who ruled Little Russia throughout the reign of Catherine II (1761-96). During the Seven Years' War he commanded the capture of Kolberg. For victories over the Turks at Larga, Kagul and others, which led to the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace, he was awarded the title “Transdanubian”. In 1770 he received the rank of Field Marshal. Knight of the Russian orders of St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. George 1st class and St. Vladimir 1st class, Prussian Black Eagle and St. Anna 1st class

Dokhturov Dmitry Sergeevich

Defense of Smolensk.
Command of the left flank on the Borodino field after Bagration was wounded.
Battle of Tarutino.

Nevsky, Suvorov

Of course, the holy blessed prince Alexander Nevsky and Generalissimo A.V. Suvorov

A talented commander who distinguished himself during the Time of Troubles at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1608, Skopin-Shuisky was sent by Tsar Vasily Shuisky to negotiate with the Swedes in Novgorod the Great. He managed to negotiate Swedish assistance to Russia in the fight against False Dmitry II. The Swedes recognized Skopin-Shuisky as their undisputed leader. In 1609, he and the Russian-Swedish army came to the rescue of the capital, which was under siege by False Dmitry II. He defeated detachments of adherents of the impostor in the battles of Torzhok, Tver and Dmitrov, and liberated the Volga region from them. He lifted the blockade from Moscow and entered it in March 1610.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

“I studied I.V. Stalin thoroughly as a military leader, since I went through the entire war with him. I.V. Stalin knew the issues of organizing front-line operations and operations of groups of fronts and led them with full knowledge of the matter, having a good understanding of large strategic questions...
In leading the armed struggle as a whole, J.V. Stalin was helped by his natural intelligence and rich intuition. He knew how to find the main link in a strategic situation and, seizing on it, counter the enemy, carry out one or another major offensive operation. Undoubtedly, he was a worthy Supreme Commander."

(Zhukov G.K. Memories and reflections.)

Kornilov Lavr Georgievich

KORNILOV Lavr Georgievich (08/18/1870-04/31/1918) Colonel (02/1905). Major General (12/1912). Lieutenant General (08/26/1914). Infantry General (06/30/1917). Graduated from the Mikhailovsky Artillery School (1892) and with a gold medal from the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff (1898). Officer at the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District, 1889-1904. Participant in the Russian-Japanese War 1904 - 1905: staff officer of the 1st Infantry Brigade (at its headquarters). During the retreat from Mukden, the brigade got surrounded. Having led the rearguard, he broke through the encirclement with a bayonet attack, ensuring freedom of defensive combat operations for the brigade. Military attaché in China, 04/01/1907 - 02/24/1911. Participant in the First World War: commander of the 48th Infantry Division of the 8th Army (General Brusilov). During the general retreat, the 48th Division was surrounded and General Kornilov, who was wounded, was captured on 04.1915 at the Duklinsky Pass (Carpathians); 08.1914-04.1915. Captured by the Austrians, 04.1915-06.1916. Dressed in the uniform of an Austrian soldier, he escaped from captivity on 06/1915. Commander of the 25th Rifle Corps, 06/1916-04/1917. Commander of the Petrograd Military District, 03-04/1917. Commander of the 8th Army, 04/24-07/8/1917. On 05/19/1917, by his order, he introduced the formation of the first volunteer “1st Shock Detachment of the 8th Army” under the command of Captain Nezhentsev. Commander of the Southwestern Front...

Slashchev Yakov Alexandrovich

Skopin-Shuisky Mikhail Vasilievich

In the conditions of the disintegration of the Russian state during the Time of Troubles, with minimal material and personnel resources, he created an army that defeated the Polish-Lithuanian interventionists and liberated most of the Russian state.

Kazarsky Alexander Ivanovich

Captain-lieutenant. Participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-29. He distinguished himself during the capture of Anapa, then Varna, commanding the transport "Rival". After this, he was promoted to lieutenant commander and appointed captain of the brig Mercury. On May 14, 1829, the 18-gun brig Mercury was overtaken by two Turkish battleships Selimiye and Real Bey. Having accepted an unequal battle, the brig was able to immobilize both Turkish flagships, one of which contained the commander of the Ottoman fleet. Subsequently, an officer from the Real Bay wrote: “During the continuation of the battle, the commander of the Russian frigate (the notorious Raphael, which surrendered without a fight a few days earlier) told me that the captain of this brig would not surrender, and if he lost hope, then he would blow up the brig If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should overshadow all of them, and the name of this hero is worthy of being inscribed in gold letters on the Temple of Glory: he is called captain-lieutenant Kazarsky, and the brig is “Mercury”

Rurikovich Svyatoslav Igorevich

He defeated the Khazar Khaganate, expanded the borders of Russian lands, and successfully fought with the Byzantine Empire.

Kolchak Alexander Vasilievich

A prominent military figure, scientist, traveler and discoverer. Admiral of the Russian Fleet, whose talent was highly appreciated by Emperor Nicholas II. The Supreme Ruler of Russia during the Civil War, a true Patriot of his Fatherland, a man of a tragic, interesting fate. One of those military men who tried to save Russia during the years of turmoil, in the most difficult conditions, being in very difficult international diplomatic conditions.

Skopin-Shuisky Mikhail Vasilievich

I beg the military historical society to correct the extreme historical injustice and include in the list of the 100 best commanders, the leader of the northern militia who did not lose a single battle, who played an outstanding role in the liberation of Russia from the Polish yoke and unrest. And apparently poisoned for his talent and skill.

Olsufiev Zakhar Dmitrievich

One of the most famous military leaders of Bagration's 2nd Western Army. Always fought with exemplary courage. He was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd degree, for his heroic participation in the Battle of Borodino. He distinguished himself in the battle on the Chernishna (or Tarutinsky) River. His reward for his participation in defeating the vanguard of Napoleon's army was the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree. He was called "a general with talents." When Olsufiev was captured and taken to Napoleon, he said to his entourage the words famous in history: “Only Russians know how to fight like that!”

Linevich Nikolai Petrovich

Nikolai Petrovich Linevich (December 24, 1838 - April 10, 1908) - a prominent Russian military figure, infantry general (1903), adjutant general (1905); general who took Beijing by storm.

Yudenich Nikolai Nikolaevich

The best Russian commander during the First World War. An ardent patriot of his Motherland.

Platov Matvey Ivanovich

Military Ataman of the Don Cossack Army. He began active military service at the age of 13. A participant in several military campaigns, he is best known as the commander of Cossack troops during the Patriotic War of 1812 and during the subsequent Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army. Thanks to the successful actions of the Cossacks under his command, Napoleon’s saying went down in history:
- Happy is the commander who has Cossacks. If I had an army of only Cossacks, I would conquer all of Europe.

Makarov Stepan Osipovich

Russian oceanographer, polar explorer, shipbuilder, vice admiral. Developed the Russian semaphore alphabet. A worthy person, on the list of worthy ones!

Margelov Vasily Filippovich

Dzhugashvili Joseph Vissarionovich

Assembled and coordinated the actions of a team of talented military leaders

Uborevich Ieronim Petrovich

Soviet military leader, commander of the 1st rank (1935). Member of the Communist Party since March 1917. Born in the village of Aptandrius (now Utena region of the Lithuanian SSR) in the family of a Lithuanian peasant. Graduated from the Konstantinovsky Artillery School (1916). Participant of the 1st World War 1914-18, second lieutenant. After the October Revolution of 1917, he was one of the organizers of the Red Guard in Bessarabia. In January - February 1918 he commanded a revolutionary detachment in battles against Romanian and Austro-German interventionists, was wounded and captured, from where he escaped in August 1918. He was an artillery instructor, commander of the Dvina brigade on the Northern Front, and from December 1918 head of the 18th Infantry divisions of the 6th Army. From October 1919 to February 1920, he was the commander of the 14th Army during the defeat of General Denikin's troops, and in March - April 1920 he commanded the 9th Army in the North Caucasus. In May - July and November - December 1920, commander of the 14th Army in battles against the troops of bourgeois Poland and the Petliurists, in July - November 1920 - 13th Army in battles against the Wrangelites. In 1921, assistant commander of the troops of Ukraine and Crimea, deputy commander of the troops of the Tambov province, commander of the troops of the Minsk province, led the military operations during the defeat of the gangs of Makhno, Antonov and Bulak-Balakhovich. From August 1921 commander of the 5th Army and the East Siberian Military District. In August - December 1922, Minister of War of the Far Eastern Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the People's Revolutionary Army during the liberation of the Far East. He was commander of the troops of the North Caucasus (from 1925), Moscow (from 1928) and Belarusian (from 1931) military districts. Since 1926, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, in 1930-31, deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and chief of armaments of the Red Army. Since 1934 member of the Military Council of NGOs. He made a great contribution to strengthening the defense capability of the USSR, educating and training command staff and troops. Candidate member of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in 1930-37. Member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee since December 1922. Awarded 3 Orders of the Red Banner and Honorary Revolutionary Weapon.

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

He was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War! Under his leadership, the USSR won the Great Victory during the Great Patriotic War!

Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich

Soldier, several wars (including World War I and World War II). passed the way to Marshal of the USSR and Poland. Military intellectual. did not resort to “obscene leadership”. He knew the subtleties of military tactics. practice, strategy and operational art.

Makhno Nestor Ivanovich

Over the mountains, over the valleys
I've been waiting for my blue ones for a long time
Father is wise, Father is glorious,
Our good father - Makhno...

(peasant song from the Civil War)

He was able to create an army and conducted successful military operations against the Austro-Germans and against Denikin.

And for * carts * even if he was not awarded the Order of the Red Banner, this should be done now

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

He was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief during the Great Patriotic War, in which our country won, and made all strategic decisions.

Ridiger Fedor Vasilievich

Adjutant General, Cavalry General, Adjutant General... He had three Golden sabers with the inscription: “For bravery”... In 1849, Ridiger took part in a campaign in Hungary to suppress the unrest that arose there, being appointed head of the right column. On May 9, Russian troops entered the Austrian Empire. He pursued the rebel army until August 1, forcing them to lay down their arms in front of Russian troops near Vilyagosh. On August 5, the troops entrusted to him occupied the Arad fortress. During the trip of Field Marshal Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich to Warsaw, Count Ridiger commanded the troops located in Hungary and Transylvania... On February 21, 1854, during the absence of Field Marshal Prince Paskevich in the Kingdom of Poland, Count Ridiger commanded all troops located in the area of ​​​​the active army - as a commander separate corps and at the same time served as head of the Kingdom of Poland. After the return of Field Marshal Prince Paskevich to Warsaw, from August 3, 1854, he served as Warsaw military governor.

Grachev Pavel Sergeevich

Hero of the Soviet Union. May 5, 1988 “for completing combat missions with minimal casualties and for the professional command of a controlled formation and the successful actions of the 103rd Airborne Division, in particular, in occupying the strategically important Satukandav pass (Khost province) during the military operation “Magistral” "Received the Gold Star medal No. 11573. Commander of the USSR Airborne Forces. In total, during his military service he made 647 parachute jumps, some of them while testing new equipment.
He was shell-shocked 8 times and received several wounds. Suppressed the armed coup in Moscow and thereby saved the system of democracy. As Minister of Defense, he made great efforts to preserve the remnants of the army - a similar task to few people in the history of Russia. Only because of the collapse of the army and the reduction in the number of military equipment in the Armed Forces was he unable to victoriously end the Chechen War.

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich

An outstanding commander of the First World War, the founder of a new school of strategy and tactics, who made a huge contribution to overcoming the positional deadlock. He was an innovator in the field of military art and one of the most prominent military leaders in Russian military history.
Cavalry General A. A. Brusilov showed the ability to manage large operational military formations - the army (8th - 08/05/1914 - 03/17/1916), the front (South-Western - 03/17/1916 - 05/21/1917), group of fronts (Supreme Commander-in-Chief - 05/22/1917 - 07/19/1917).
The personal contribution of A. A. Brusilov was manifested in many successful operations of the Russian army during the First World War - the Battle of Galicia in 1914, the Battle of the Carpathians in 1914/15, the Lutsk and Czartory operations in 1915 and, of course, in the Offensive of the Southwestern Front in 1916 (the famous Brusilovsky breakthrough).