Why did Stalin appreciate the tyrant general Apanasenko, or Why the Japanese were afraid of him

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War, Joseph Apanasenko became the commander of the Far Eastern Front. According to the recollections of colleagues, there was nothing pleasant about the new boss. At first glance, everything in him repulsed: a rough, uncouth appearance and the glory of an uneducated tyrant. The general swore loudly and hoarsely, choosing no expression for either the rank and file or for the higher leadership. The subordinates of Apanasenko could only guess why the swearing man enjoyed the favor of Stalin himself and for which the latter forgave him his participation in the "Tukhachevsky conspiracy."

Member of the "Tukhachevsky conspiracy" and generous favor of the leader

Since the spring of 1938, the USSR has sparked in the Far East. The Japanese arranged regular border provocations, and Stalin, dissatisfied with this situation, firmly decided to establish order there. No sooner had a new operational-strategic formation, the Far Eastern Front, been formed than it had to demonstrate its strength outright. In the summer of 1938, units of the Far Eastern Front repulsed Japanese attacks near Lake Khasan, the result of which, although recorded in the textbooks with the victory of the Russians, did not satisfy Stalin.

Large losses on the part of the USSR were equated with personal failures of Marshal Blucher, which entailed a series of "debriefings". Vasily Blucher was the first to be arrested, and a little later, who replaced him at the post of General Stern. The third post of commander was taken by Iosif Rodionovich Apanasenko. For a reason unknown to the newly minted colleagues, Joseph Vissarionovich at one time showed unprecedented generosity towards Apanasenko. In 1937, he was noted as an accomplice of the military "conspiracy of Tukhachevsky", but admitted his mistake and was forgiven without the slightest career consequences.

Natural mind and a man of action

The appointment of the new chief was greeted by the commanders of the units and headquarters of the Far Eastern Front with apprehension, because the fame of him went as of a tyrant general. Later, in his memoirs, General Grigorenko, who served in 1941 as a lieutenant colonel in the Far Eastern headquarters, will recall that event. Iosif Rodionovich was mistaken for a stupid, uncouth, extremely hot-tempered person who indulges in offensive curses. But very soon those close to Apanasenko gave up their erroneous assessments, convinced of the colossal natural inclinations of this person.

Apanasenko, absolutely illiterate before the war, read a lot, delved into every process, carefully considered the proposals of his subordinates. He was an extremely brave commander who not only made firm decisions, but also personally bore full responsibility for each one. As a high-level military man, he did not take advantage of his position and did not blame his subordinates, taking the first blow on himself. If he considered it necessary, he punished himself, but did not give his soldiers to reprisal the ministers. Together with Apanasenko, representatives of the top echelon of the front-line administration arrived in Siberia, and the general personally selected everyone. As a result, they all proved to be competent, competent and reliable commanders.

Transsib Apanasenko for 150 days

The first and main drawback of the entrusted site, revealed by Apanasenko, was the transport vacuum. The remoteness of the Far Eastern Territory resulted in the absence of elementary highways. The general decided this: since there is no main line along the Trans-Siberian railway, it means that it needs to be done. And not once, but here and now. An experienced military man understood that if the Japanese blew up several bridges or tunnels, the Red Army subordinate to him in such conditions would be deprived of freedom of maneuver and simply supply. The order to start work on the construction of a thousand kilometers long dump line was issued without delay. I took 150 days for everything.

Experts took such an installation with sarcasm, but in five months the Far Eastern road, strategically important for the whole country, was ready. And by September 1, 1941, the first vehicles with army cargoes drove along a new route from Khabarovsk to Belogorsk. And this is the first, most difficult year of the Great Patriotic War. Today this section is part of the Amur federal highway.

Contribution to the big front and the final battle

Being in fact a Far Eastern military manager, Apanasenko constantly helped the front line. In just 2 summer months of 1941, several rifle brigades subordinate to him went to the western front. At the same time, it was necessary to skillfully restrain the provocations of the Japanese in their borders, boldly drawing the attention of the Red Army men. By the fall, the army was in dire need of fresh forces. On October 12, Stalin summoned the commander of the Far Eastern Front to the Kremlin. The leader explained that heavy defensive battles were going on on the Western Front, and Ukraine was almost defeated. Ukrainians surrender en masse, and some sections of the population even welcome the German troops. Then, according to the testimony of those present at the meeting, Apanasenko responded very sharply to Stalin, who demanded help from him in trained people. Stalin endured.

A couple of days later, with the aggravation of the situation near Moscow, Apanasenko prepared several dozen rifle divisions and 8 tank formations for dispatch. These were almost all of the general's combat-ready units, which already in November 1941 fought for the Russian capital, holding the defenses and not letting Hitler into the heart of the USSR.

But Apanasenko also took care of the Far Eastern borders in a cunning way. Sending his own divisions to the front, he immediately put in their place other formations under the same numbers. This was his personal initiative, not supported by the Center's team and potentially punishable. For this, he organized a conscription to the Far Eastern military units of men aged 50–55 years from different republics of the USSR. Apanasenko pulled out successful commanders from exile and prisons and accepted them into his army. Stalin knew everything, but was silent. True, no funds were allocated for out-of-registration recruits. Apanasenko also found a way out here, identifying temporarily unused soldiers in military state farms. In a short time, the general managed to strengthen the defense of the basic cities of the Russian East, turning these lines into an impregnable fortress. Now Japan took seriously the power of Russia, with which it became safer to maintain armed neutrality.

Despite such a stormy activity, Apanasenko dreamed of an active front. And his dream came true: in May 1943 he persuaded Stalin about a business trip to the Voronezh front. Joseph Rodionovich managed to fight for only 100 days, until, as deputy commander of the Voronezh Front, he was killed in shelling in the Battle of Kursk near Belgorod.

But sometimes no less bright generals remained in the shadow of their colleagues, being, moreover, extraordinary and even brilliant. It was General Gromov, who still cannot get out of Chkalov's shadow.