Famous generals of Russia

During the entire period of the existence of mankind, a lot of wars took place, which radically changed the course of history. A lot of them were on the territory of our country. The success of any hostilities depended entirely on the experience and skill of military commanders. Who are they, the great commanders and naval commanders of Russia, who brought their homeland to victory in hard battles? We present you the brightest domestic military commanders, since the times of the Old Russian state and ending with the Great Patriotic War.

Svyatoslav Igorevich

The famous commanders of Russia are not only our contemporaries. They were in the period of the existence of Russia. The brightest commander of that time historians call the Kiev prince Svyatoslav. He ascended the throne in 945, immediately after the death of his father Igor. Since Svyatoslav was not yet an adult enough to rule the state (he was only 3 years old at the time of the succession), his mother Olga became the regent. This heroic woman had to head the Old Russian state and after her son grew up. The reason was his endless military campaigns, because of which he practically never visited Kiev.

Svyatoslav himself began to rule his lands only in 964, but even after that he did not stop his aggressive campaigns. In 965, he succeeded in defeating the Khazar Khaganate and annexing a number of conquered territories to Ancient Rus. Svyatoslav conducted a series of campaigns to Bulgaria (968-969), capturing in turn her city. He stopped only after he captured Pereyaslavets. In this Bulgarian city the prince planned to move the capital of Russia and expand his possessions to the Danube, but because of raids on the Kiev lands of the Pechenegs he had to return home with the army. In 970-971 the Russian troops led by Svyatoslav fought for the Bulgarian territories with the Byzantium that claimed them. The prince was not able to defeat the mighty enemy. The result of this struggle was the conclusion between Russia and Byzantium of advantageous military-trade agreements. It is not known how many conquest campaigns Svyatoslav Igorevich managed to hold, if in 972 he did not die in the battle with the Pechenegs.

Alexander Nevskiy

Outstanding commanders of Russia were also in the period of feudal disunity of Russia. To such politicians should be attributed Alexander Nevsky. As prince of Novgorod, Vladimir and Kiev, he went down in history as a talented military commander who led the people in the fight against Swedes and Germans who claim to the northwest territories of Russia. In 1240, despite prevailing in the enemy's forces, he scored a brilliant victory on the Neva, inflicting a devastating blow to the Swedish army. In 1242, he defeated the Germans on Lake Peipsi. The merits of Alexander Nevsky not only in military victories, but also in diplomatic abilities. Through negotiations with the rulers of the Golden Horde, he succeeded in securing the liberation of the Russian army from participation in the wars waged by the Tatar khans. After the death, Nevsky was canonized by the Orthodox Church. It is considered the patron saint of Russian soldiers.

Dmitry Donskoy

Continuing to talk about who the most famous commanders of Russia, you need to remember about the legendary Dmitry Donskoy. Prince Moscow and Vladimir went down in history as a man who initiated the liberation of Russian lands from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Charter to endure the arbitrariness of the Golden Horde ruler Mamai, Donskoy with the army came out against him. The decisive battle took place on Kulikovo Field in September 1380. The troops of Dmitry Donskoy were twice inferior in strength to the strength of the enemy's army. Despite the unequal power, the great commander managed to smash the enemy, almost completely destroying his numerous regiments. The defeat of the army Mamaia not only accelerated the moment of liberation of the Russian lands from the Golden Horde dependence, but also contributed to the strengthening of the Moscow principality. Like Nevsky, Donskoy after his death was canonized by the Orthodox Church.

Mikhail Golitsyn

Famous commanders of Russia lived during the time of Emperor Peter I. One of the most prominent commanders of this era was Prince Michael Golitsyn, famous in the 21-year-old Northern War with the Swedes. He rose to the rank of general-field marshal. Distinguished during the capture in 1702 by Russian troops of the Swedish fortress of Noteburg. He was the commander of the Guard during the Battle of Poltava in 1709, as a result of which the Swedes suffered a crushing defeat. After the battle, together with A. Menshikov, he pursued the retreating forces of the enemy and forced them to lay down their arms.

In 1714 the Russian army under the command of Golitsyn struck a blow at the Swedish infantry near the Finnish village of Lappola (Napo). This victory was of great strategic importance during the Northern War. The Swedes were driven out of Finland, and Russia seized the bridgehead for further offensives. Distinguished Golitsyn and in the sea battle at the island of Grengame (1720), which put an end to the long and bloody Northern War. Commanding the Russian fleet, he forced the Swedes to retreat. After that, the Russian influence was established on the Baltic Sea .

Fedor Ushakov

Not only the best commanders of Russia glorified their country. Flotovodtsy did it no worse than the commanders of the land forces. Such was Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, who for numerous victories the Orthodox Church was ranked as a saint. He took part in the Russo-Turkish War (1787-1791). He headed sea battles near Fidonisi, Tendra, Kaliakria, Kerch, led the precipitation of the island of Corfu. In 1790-1792 he commanded the Black Sea Fleet. During his military career Ushakov spent 43 battles. In none of them was he defeated. In battles he managed to keep all the ships entrusted to him.

Alexander Suvorov

The whole world has become famous for some commanders of Russia. Suvorov is one of them. Being the generalissimo of naval and land forces, and also the knight of all military orders existing in the Russian Empire, he left a notable mark in the history of his country. He showed himself as a talented commander in two Russo-Turkish wars, Italian and Swiss campaigns. He commanded in 1787 Kinburn battle, in 1789 - battles under the Focsani and Rymnik. He led the assault of Ishmael (1790) and Prague (1794). During his military career he won more than 60 battles and did not lose in any battle. Together with the Russian army passed to Berlin, Warsaw and the Alps. He left behind him the book Science to Win, where he set forth the tactics of successful warfare.

Mikhail Kutuzov

If you ask about who are the famous commanders of Russia, many people immediately recall Kutuzov. And this is not surprising, because for the special merits of this man was awarded the Order of St. George - the highest military award of the Russian Empire. Wore the rank of general-field marshal. Almost the whole life of Kutuzov was in the battles. He is a hero of two Russian-Turkish wars. In 1774, in the battle of Alushta, was wounded in the temple, as a result of which he lost his right eye. After a long treatment he was appointed to the post of governor-general of the Crimean peninsula. In 1788, Mr .. received a second serious wound in the head. In 1790, Mr .. successfully led the assault of Izmail, where he showed himself as a fearless commander. In 1805 he went to Austria to command the troops opposing Napoleon. In the same year he took part in the battle of Austerlitz.

In 1812, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of Russian troops in the Patriotic War with Napoleon. He made a grand battle of Borodino, after which he was forced to make a decision on the withdrawal of the Russian army from Moscow at the military council held in Fili. As a result of the counteroffensive, troops under the command of Kutuzov were able to drive the enemy from their territory. Considered the strongest in Europe, the French army suffered huge human losses.

Kutuzov's military talent provided our country with a strategic victory over Napoleon, and he himself brought world fame. Although the commander did not support the idea of persecution of the French in Europe, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the united Russian and Prussian forces. But the disease did not allow Kutuzov to give another battle: in April 1813 he, having reached the troops before Prussia, caught a cold and died.

The generals in the war against fascist Germany

The Great Patriotic War opened the names of talented Soviet military leaders to the world. Outstanding commanders of Russia have exerted a great deal of effort to defeat Hitlerite Germany and destroy fascism on European lands. The brave commanders of the fronts on the territory of the USSR were many. Thanks to their skill and heroism, they were able to adequately oppose the well-trained and armed with the latest technology of German invaders. We offer to get acquainted with the two greatest commanders - I. Konev and G. Zhukov.

Ivan Konev

One of those to whom our state owes a victory was the legendary marshal and twice Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev. The Soviet commander began his participation in the war as commander of the 19th Army of the North Caucasus District. During the Battle of Smolensk (1941), Konev managed to avoid captivity and withdraw from the enemy's entourage the management of the army and the liaison regiment. After that, the commander commanded the Western, North-Western, Kalinin, Steppe, First and Second Ukrainian fronts. Participated in the battle for Moscow, led the Kalinin operations (defensive and offensive). In 1942, Konev headed (along with Zhukov) the first and second Rzhev-Sychev, and in the winter of 1943 - the Zhizdrin operation.

Due to the superiority of the enemy's forces, many of the battles conducted by the general until the middle of 1943 were unsuccessful for the Soviet Army. But the situation changed dramatically after defeating the enemy in the Battle of the Kursk Bulge (July-August 1943). After that, the troops under the leadership of Konev conducted a number of offensive operations (Poltava-Kremenchug, Pyatikhatsky, Znamenskaya, Kirovograd, Lviv-Sandomir), which resulted in cleansing most of the territory of Ukraine from the Nazis. In January 1945, the First Ukrainian Front under the command of Konev, together with his allies, began the Vistula-Oder operation, liberated Krakow and the concentration camp of Auschwitz from the fascists . In the spring of 1945 the troops of the marshal reached Berlin, and he personally took part in his assault.

Georgy Zhukov

The greatest commander, four times Hero of the USSR, the owner of many domestic and foreign military awards, Georgy Zhukov was truly a legendary person. In his youth he took part in the First World War and the Civil War, the Battle of Khalkhin-Gol. At the time of Hitler's invasion of the territory of the Soviet Union, Zhukov was appointed head of the country for the post of Deputy People's Commissar for Defense and Chief of the General Staff.

During the Great Patriotic War he headed the troops of the Leningrad, Reserve and First Belarusian Fronts. Took part in the battle for Moscow, the Stalingrad and the Kursk battles. In 1943 Zhukov, together with other Soviet generals, carried out the breakthrough of the Leningrad blockade. Coordinated the activities in Zhytomyr-Berdichevskaya and Proskurovo-Chernivtsi operations, as a result of which a part of the Ukrainian lands were liberated from the Germans.

In the summer of 1944 he headed the largest military operation in the history of mankind's existence, Bagration, during which the Byelorussian, part of the Baltic and Eastern Poland were cleared of the Hitlerites. In early 1945, along with Konev coordinated the actions of Soviet troops in the liberation of Warsaw. In the spring of 1945, he participated in the capture of Berlin. In Moscow on June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade was held, timed to the defeat of fascist Germany by Soviet troops. To receive it was entrusted to Marshal Georgy Zhukov.

Results

In one publication it is impossible to list all the great commanders of our country. Flotovodtsy and commanders of Russia from Ancient Rus to our days played a significant role in world history, glorifying the national military art, heroism and courage entrusted to their disposal of the army.