How Stalin and Zhukov quarreled over carpets and sofas

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

Zhukov admitted that not only the country of the Soviets was not ready for the Second World War, but he himself. At the same time, Zhukov was popularly nicknamed the Marshal of Victory, recognizing his military merits. The marshal liked to be victorious, he did not like to take responsibility for defeats, even if it was about the military operations that he led. Why are the descendants of Zhukov's personality perceived ambiguously, and who tried to tarnish his reputation.

The case of the military, which led to massive repressions, to some extent also affected Zhukov. He was suspected, if not of a desire to take part in a coup d'etat, then of a lack of zeal to preserve the existing political system - for sure. He is widely accused of inappropriate cruelty, the fact that he was too frivolous about the lives of his soldiers, and most importantly, lack of education. However, Zhukov should be given credit for what he could not get at the military academy, he took with talent - he was a born commander.

Combat experience and cool temper

Georgy was born in the Kaluga region in a small village in a peasant family. In his native village he graduated from three classes of a parish school. But even then he showed himself to be a diligent and capable boy, and so much so that he was sent to Moscow. True, it was not possible to start training immediately in the capital, he worked in a furrier's workshop, was in good standing. At the same time, in the evening school, he is educated and he is given a certificate of maturity.

He is drafted into the army at the beginning of the First World War. It is noteworthy that even then he was offered to get an education and become an officer. But, a modest 19-year-old boy could not imagine how he would command a platoon of experienced soldiers, so he refused. I would have known who he was going to become … However, Zhukov himself later praised himself very much for this decision. After all, the history of the country subsequently turned in such a way that an officer of the tsarist army, most likely, would have to emigrate from the country during the revolution. And what would be the results of the Second World War if someone from the fascist countries had such an ace up their sleeve as Zhukov?

After the First World War, Zhukov fell into the Civil War, in which he joined the Red Army and commanded a platoon, and then a squadron. By this time, he was already a recognized military commander and had serious awards. By the 30s, he was appointed deputy commander of the Belarusian Military District. However, during the period of military repression, Zhukov's immediate leader falls under a bloody flywheel. Zhukov himself is under suspicion.

What did Zhukov do? He wrote a direct and rather aggressive letter addressed to Stalin. He asked how he could, while working directly under the repressed commander, not contact him? Was he taking risks? Of course. But in this way he saved himself, he was reprimanded. Considering that a wave of repression swept across the country at that time, Zhukov was among the lucky ones.

The luck of the future Marshal did not end, on the eve of the Second World War he was the chief of the General Staff. Even then, foreshadowing an imminent war with Germany, he drew attention to bringing the army to combat readiness. However, Stalin did not heed all of Zhukov's ideas. The marshal subsequently blamed himself for not being able to convince the leader of the reality of the war. But Stalin did not reproach himself for anything.

How they made Marshal of Victory out of Zhukov

You can think whatever you want about Zhukov, but the fact remains - it was his experience, instinct and willingness to take risks that helped defeat fascism. However, at the very beginning of the war, the head of the General Staff clearly had a vague idea of what was actually happening at the country's borders. For example, in June 1941, when Soviet troops were retreating, often failing to offer any resistance, Zhukov sent inspired directives. The commander-in-chief ordered a decisive advance without crossing the border.

In the autumn of the same year, Stalin could not stand it and called Zhukov back to Moscow. Although he was busy with an equally important matter and led the defense of Leningrad. But the enemy was too close to Moscow and even Stalin panicked. Zhukov, who was considered a tough and even bloodthirsty person, instilled confidence in the leader.

Zhukov was urgently taken to Moscow, and brought to Stalin's house directly from the plane. After he delved into the situation a little, he flew into a rage. He was deeply outraged by the actions of the commanders responsible for the heart of the Union - Moscow. At that time, the approaches to the capital were actually open, while the front commanders were in no hurry to report on the actual state of affairs.

It was in this situation that Zhukov accepted the Western Front and set before him the only task - to stop the enemy offensive. The decree on the evacuation of Moscow had already been signed by Stalin, but Zhukov and his firm character instilled confidence in Stalin as well. The capital remained in place. Escaping in such a situation would have hit the army's morale hard. Therefore, Zhukov saved not only Moscow, but also made a serious contribution to the further success of the Red Army.

Zhukov VS Stalin

After this incident, Stalin began to fully trust him, distinguishing him from the rest of the marshals. Is it really only the defense of Moscow that impressed the leader so much? Or was it that Stalin recognized only one thing - the strength he felt in Zhukov. He endowed him with tremendous powers, made him his deputy.

It was at the suggestion of Stalin that Zhukov found himself on the most important operations, this made it possible to associate him with success. It was he who was credited with the achievements of the Red Army and other commanders. Zhukov eventually became so confident that he could not stand objections. Any criticism was suppressed by the short: "I reported to Stalin, he approved my position."

However, after the war ended and Zhukov became the "Marshal of Victory", Stalin's attitude towards him changed dramatically. The hot-tempered and harsh Stalin became jealous, because Zhukov now got much more popular love than he himself.

Zhukov, and the rest of the marshals in the rays of Victory seemed heroic and large-scale figures. The leader rightly decided that they pose a danger to him. He could not repress or imprison folk heroes, so he chose a different path. Especially Zhukov got it, in whom Stalin saw not only an innate military talent, but leadership qualities.

Already in 1946, Stalin found an excuse not only to overthrow Zhukov from the pedestal, but also to do it in the most humiliating way. The "trophy case" was supposed to show the other side of the person who accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany.

The accusations were based on the fact that Zhukov, after the defeat of the Nazi army, took out a huge amount of luxury goods from Europe. An excessively high self-esteem and inflating their own merits were also fastened here. Zhukov did not deny that he had brought furniture, carpets and other household items from Germany that he liked. He pleaded guilty only for not informing the management about this. Simply put, he did not boast of a new sofa or rug to Stalin.

Zhukov was demoted, sent to a distant military district, and conducted a humiliating search of the dacha. Zhukov was very upset by such changes, he had a heart attack. But the situation changed dramatically when Stalin himself suffered a heart beat. The entourage was well aware that because of what Zhukov was among the expelled. He was immediately summoned to Moscow. Not a word was said about previous claims against him.

Oddly enough, but it was this period that became the most favorable in the career of the marshal. He was appointed defense minister, studied the military affairs, did much to repress the military, helping them to restore an honest name. Thanks to Zhukov, the attitude in society towards the soldiers who fell into German captivity during the war changed. But such undertakings did not meet with much approval and Zhukov was again demoted.

Once again, he was not to the liking of the party leadership. There were complaints against him that he was rude, tough and generally a dork. In addition, he preferred not to work in tandem with the party leadership, but to oppose himself to it. Thanks to this, he fell into disgrace over and over again.

If Stalin was attracted by Zhukov's toughness, then Khrushchev was alarmed, and both were frightened together. Not so much time passed as Khrushchev also saw a rival in Zhukov and dismissed him from the post of minister. Again he got to his dacha, this time a wiretapping was installed there, even his and his wife's conversations in the bedroom were recorded and tapped.

However, after some time, Khrushchev himself insisted on talking with Zhukov. He admitted that he believed the speculation and slander. But that was 1964 and Khrushchev himself did not stand firmly on his feet. He tried to find support in Zhukov. Use his name to get the support of the army, that's all. But Khrushchev's political career ended there, and the marshal never returned to "big politics."

The rest of the generals were pleased that Zhukov was banned. So they got all the glory, albeit on the pages of history textbooks. However, Zhukov's memoirs were nevertheless published, after they made edits, corrections, and even included a whole paragraph about Brezhnev. Allegedly, Zhukov, having arrived at the 18th Army, wanted to consult with the head of the political department, Brezhnev, about the level of training of the Soviet army.

Those who knew something in military affairs, and simply not stupid readers understood what was the matter and grunted, they say, well, the famous marshal needed the advice of the head of some political department.

Tough or cruel

After the Marshal of Victory fell into disgrace, it became fashionable to look for flaws in him. And what can the military leader be accused of? Well, besides the fact that he secretly brings stolen sofas into the country. Cruelty, of course. In addition, the direct and uncompromising Zhukov gave all the reasons for this. However, his military leadership talent also got it. Many historians and those involved in military affairs undertake to predict the outcome of military operations depending on what decision the marshal made. So they are sure that his military career is full of mistakes. Such are the "couch theoreticians".

The Rzhev-Sychevsk operation is often called one of the biggest failures of the marshal. And Zhukov himself wrote about it in his memoirs, calling its results unsatisfactory. There is a version that Zhukov was not aware of the fact that the Germans had been warned of an upcoming offensive in this direction. The enemy managed to prepare and pulled reinforcements here. However, there are also pluses. The Nazis spent their strength in this direction, unable to concentrate on Stalingrad.

"Polar Star" was often recalled by Zhukov as another extremely unsuccessful operation. However, it should be understood that the fact that for a commander an "unsuccessful operation" in human lives is hundreds of thousands. The purpose of the operation was to create conditions for an attack on the Baltic states. The Red Army was supposed to clear the territory of the Germans. The operation failed completely, none of the tasks that were set were completed. Killed 280 Soviet soldiers. This is 3, 5 more than on the German side.

Cruelty was often accused of Zhukov. There was even an opinion that the Victory Marshal achieved success at the expense of huge losses, and not thanks to his military talent. But at the same time, in the orders of the marshal there are often phrases that he demands to stop shelling "in the forehead", as well as from a height and attack through ravines and forests. It is unlikely that the butcher would give such orders, equalizing the positions of the opponents. Rather, it is like fighting honestly and fairly. In addition, if we compare the statistics of losses among the marshals, then his losses are noticeably lower than those of the other Soviet commanders-in-chief. And the whole war.

So why was Zhukov now and then “banned” by several leaders of the countries. And this is despite his outstanding services. Those who knew Zhukov personally said that he was a difficult, domineering and tough person. However, Stalin was exactly the same, perhaps even more complicated and incomprehensible. And it was certainly not German carpets that caused the marshal to go into exile.

Soviet troops returned from Europe with trophies and this was considered rather the norm. And each carried as much as he could. By the way, Zhukov stressed that he bought everything he brought for his family with honestly earned money. The level of the marshal's income makes it impossible to doubt that he could afford to bring both furs and jewelry. Rather, lack of caution let him down here. And is it really a matter that a Soviet hero, a marshal, ran to buy trinkets like a boy!

The only thing that can be blamed on Zhukov is the desire to reduce the party's influence in the military sphere. However, Stalin used Zhukov in his own manner, as he used many others. The reason for sending him to command the Reserve Front at the beginning of the war was not only the widespread defeat of the Soviet troops, but also Zhukov's fervor.

The dispute between the men arose over Kiev. Stalin was sure that the city must be defended, but Zhukov was sure that Kiev must be left to the enemy and concentrated forces for subsequent attacks. The leader was angry, for him it was akin to betrayal. To which Zhukov told him, they say, if he thinks that the chief of the General Staff is talking nonsense, then he has nothing to do here. Stalin remarked that if they did without Comrade Lenin, then they would do without Zhukov. So the latter left to command the Reserve Front.

However, when Stalin was ready to give not Kiev, but already Moscow, it was Zhukov who did not let him do it. But Stalin's gratitude was enough only for the period of the war. When the marshal was still useful and needed, he showered him with glory and awards. When Pobeda was already in his pocket, it was more convenient to push the marshal into the far corner. Such a fate befell many famous personalities in Soviet history.