During the entire period of human existence, there have been many wars that have radically changed the course of history. There were many of them in our country. The success of any military operations depended entirely on the experience and skill of military commanders. Who are they, the great commanders and naval commanders of Russia, who brought victories to their Fatherland in difficult battles? We present you the brightest domestic military leaders, starting from the time of the Old Russian state and ending with the Great Patriotic War.
Svyatoslav Igorevich
Famous commanders of Russia are not only our contemporaries. They were in the period of the existence of Russia. Historians call the Prince of Kyiv Svyatoslav the brightest commander of that time. He ascended the throne in 945, immediately after the death of his father Igor. Since Svyatoslav was not yet old enough to rule the state (he was only 3 years old at the time of succession), his mother Olga became regent under him. This heroic woman had to lead the Old Russian state even after her son grew up. The reason was his endless military campaigns, because of which he practically never visited Kyiv.
To rule your ownlands Svyatoslav began only in 964, but even after that he did not stop the aggressive campaigns. In 965, he managed to defeat the Khazar Khaganate and annex a number of conquered territories to Ancient Russia. Svyatoslav conducted a series of campaigns against Bulgaria (968-969), capturing its cities in turn. He stopped only after he captured Pereyaslavets. The prince planned to move the capital of Russia to this Bulgarian city and expand his possessions to the Danube, but because of the raids on the Kyiv lands of the Pechenegs, he was forced to return home with the army. In 970-971, Russian troops led by Svyatoslav fought for Bulgarian territories with Byzantium claiming them. The prince failed to defeat the mighty enemy. The result of this struggle was the conclusion between Russia and Byzantium of profitable military trade agreements. It is not known how many aggressive campaigns Svyatoslav Igorevich managed to carry out if in 972 he had not died in a battle with the Pechenegs.
Alexander Nevsky
Outstanding commanders of Russia were in the period of feudal fragmentation of Russia. Alexander Nevsky should be attributed to such politicians. As the prince of Novgorod, Vladimir and Kyiv, he went down in history as a talented military leader who led the people in the fight against the Swedes and Germans claiming the northwestern territories of Russia. In 1240, despite the predominance of the enemy forces, he won a brilliant victory on the Neva, inflicting a crushing blow to the Swedish army. In 1242 he defeated the Germans on Lake Peipus. The merits of Alexander Nevsky are not only in military victories, but also in diplomaticabilities. Through negotiations with the rulers of the Golden Horde, he managed to achieve the liberation of the Russian army from participation in the wars conducted by the Tatar khans. After his death, Nevsky was canonized by the Orthodox Church. Considered the patron saint of Russian warriors.
Dmitry Donskoy
Continuing to talk about who the most famous commanders of Russia are, it is necessary to remember the legendary Dmitry Donskoy. The Prince of Moscow and Vladimir went down in history as the man who laid the foundation for the liberation of Russian lands from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Tired of enduring the arbitrariness of the Golden Horde ruler Mamai, Donskoy marched against him with an army. The decisive battle took place on the Kulikovo field in September 1380. The troops of Dmitry Donskoy were 2 times inferior in size to the enemy army. Despite the inequality of forces, the great commander managed to defeat the enemy, almost completely destroying his numerous regiments. The defeat of Mamai's army 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 was canonized by the Orthodox Church after his death.
Mikhail Golitsyn
Famous commanders of Russia also lived during the time of Emperor Peter I. One of the most prominent military leaders of this era was Prince Mikhail Golitsyn, who became famous in the 21-year Northern War with the Swedes. He rose to the rank of Field Marshal. Distinguished himself during the capture in 1702 by Russian troopsSwedish fortress 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 enemy troops and forced them to lay down their arms.
In 1714, the Russian army under the command of Golitsyn attacked the Swedish infantry near the Finnish village of Lappole (Napo). This victory was of great strategic importance during the Northern War. The Swedes were ousted from Finland, and Russia took over the bridgehead for further offensive. Golitsyn also distinguished himself in the naval battle of Grengam Island (1720), which put an end to the long and bloody Northern War. Commanding the Russian fleet, he forced the Swedes to retreat. After that, Russian influence was established in the B altic Sea.
Fyodor Ushakov
Not only the best commanders of Russia glorified their country. The naval commanders did it no worse than the commanders of the ground forces. Such was Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, whom the Orthodox Church canonized for numerous victories. He took part in the Russian-Turkish war (1787-1791). He led the naval battles at Fidonisi, Tendra, Kaliakria, Kerch, led the siege of the island of Corfu. In 1790-1792 he commanded the Black Sea Fleet. During his military career, Ushakov fought 43 battles. He was not defeated in any of them. In battles, he managed to save all the ships entrusted to him.
Alexander Suvorov
Some generals of Russia have become famous all over the world. Suvorov is one of them. Being the generalissimo of the naval and ground forces, as well as the holder of all military orders existing in the Russian Empire, he left a noticeable mark in the history of his country. He proved himself as a talented military leader in two Russian-Turkish wars, Italian and Swiss campaigns. In 1787 he commanded the Kinburn battle, in 1789 - the battles near Focsani and Rymnik. He led the assault on Ishmael (1790) and Prague (1794). During his military career, he won victories in more than 60 battles and did not lose in a single battle. Together with the Russian army he went to Berlin, Warsaw and the Alps. He left behind the book "The Science of Winning", where he outlined the tactics of successful warfare.
Mikhail Kutuzov
If you ask about who the famous commanders of Russia are, many people immediately think of Kutuzov. And this is not surprising, because for the special merits of this man he was awarded the Order of St. George - the highest military award of the Russian Empire. He held the rank of Field Marshal. Almost all of Kutuzov's life was spent in battles. He is the hero of two Russian-Turkish wars. In 1774, in the battle of Alushta, he 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 he received a second serious wound in the head. In 1790, he successfully led the assault on Izmail, where he proved himself to be a fearless commander. In 1805 he went to Austria to command troops,opposed to Napoleon. In the same year he took part in the Battle of Austerlitz.
In 1812, Kutuzov was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian troops in the Patriotic War against Napoleon. He held the grand battle of Borodino, after which, at the military council held in Fili, he was forced to decide on the withdrawal of the Russian army from Moscow. As a result of the counter-offensive, the troops under the command of Kutuzov were able to push the enemy back from their territory. The French army, considered the strongest in Europe, suffered huge human losses.
Kutuzov's leadership talent provided our country with a strategic victory over Napoleon, and brought him worldwide fame. Although the military leader did not support the idea of persecuting the French in Europe, it was he who was appointed commander in chief of the combined Russian and Prussian forces. But illness did not allow Kutuzov to give another battle: in April 1813, having reached Prussia with his troops, he caught a cold and died.
Generals in the war against Nazi Germany
The Great Patriotic War revealed to the world the names of talented Soviet military leaders. Outstanding commanders of Russia put a lot of effort into the defeat of Nazi Germany and the destruction of fascism in European lands. There were many brave front commanders on the territory of the USSR. Thanks to their skill and heroism, they were able to adequately oppose the well-trained and armed with the latest technology of the German invaders. We offer you to get acquainted with the two greatest commanders - I. Konev and G. Zhukov.
Ivan Konev
One of those to whom our state owes victory was the legendary marshal and twice hero of the USSR Ivan Konev. The Soviet commander began participating in the war as commander of the 19th Army of the North Caucasian District. During the Battle of Smolensk (1941), Konev managed to escape capture and withdraw the army command and communications regiment from the enemy's encirclement. After that, the commander commanded the Western, Northwestern, Kalinin, Steppe, First and Second Ukrainian fronts. Participated in the battle for Moscow, led the Kalinin operations (defensive and offensive). In 1942, Konev headed (together with Zhukov) the first and second Rzhev-Sychevskaya, and in the winter of 1943 - the Zhizdrinskaya operation.
Due to the superiority of the enemy forces, many battles carried out by the commander until the middle of 1943 were unsuccessful for the Soviet Army. But the situation changed dramatically after the victory over the enemy in the Battle of Kursk (July-August 1943). After that, the troops under the leadership of Konev carried out a number of offensive operations (Poltava-Kremenchug, Pyatikhat, Znamenskaya, Kirovograd, Lvov-Sandomierz), as a result of which most of the territory of Ukraine was cleared of the Nazis. In January 1945, the First Ukrainian Front under the command of Konev, together with the allies, launched the Vistula-Oder operation, liberated Krakow and the Auschwitz concentration camp from the Nazis. In the spring of 1945, the Marshal's troops reached Berlin, and he personally took part in its assault.
Georgy Zhukov
The Greatestcommander, four times Hero of the USSR, winner of many domestic and foreign military awards, Georgy Zhukov was a truly legendary person. In his youth, he took part in the First World War and the Civil War, the battle of Khalkhin Gol. By the time Hitler invaded the territory of the Soviet Union, Zhukov was appointed by the country's leadership to the positions of Deputy People's Commissar of Defense and Chief of the General Staff.
During the Great Patriotic War, he led the troops of the Leningrad, Reserve and First Belorussian fronts. He took part in the battle for Moscow, the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. In 1943, Zhukov, together with other Soviet commanders, carried out a breakthrough of the Leningrad blockade. Coordinated actions in the Zhytomyr-Berdychiv and Proskurovo-Chernivtsi operations, as a result of which part of the Ukrainian lands was liberated from the Germans.
In the summer of 1944, he led the largest military operation in the history of mankind "Bagration", during which Belarus, part of the B altic states and Eastern Poland were cleared of the Nazis. At the beginning of 1945, together with Konev, he coordinated the actions of the Soviet troops during the liberation of Warsaw. In the spring of 1945 he participated in the capture of Berlin. On June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade took place in Moscow, timed to coincide with the defeat of Nazi Germany by Soviet troops. Marshal Georgy Zhukov was assigned to receive him.
Results
It is impossible to list all the great military leaders of our country in one publication. Naval commanders and commanders of Russia from Ancient Russia toof our days have played a significant role in world history, glorifying the domestic military art, heroism and courage entrusted to their army.
