Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich is one of the most famous heroes of the Great Patriotic War. His strategic and tactical decisions played an important role in the victory over Nazi Germany.
Mikhail Stepanovich devoted his entire life to military affairs, he went through five wars, in each of which he distinguished himself by personal courage and ingenuity. Until now, he is set as an example to the younger generation.
Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich: short biography
Shumilov's personality has been of interest to military historians from different countries for many years. Information about it can be found in any language. Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich was born on November 5, 1895. He grew up in a family of ordinary peasants. From an early age, he worked and helped adults in everyday affairs. He also spent a lot of time studying. In the village school, he was an excellent student. Thanks to this, after graduation, he received a state scholarship, which allowed him to continue his studies for free.
At the age of 21, Shumilov was mobilized to participate in the First World War. He is studying in Chuguev. After graduation, he receives the rank of ensign. And in the springnext year, the baptism of fire on the Western Front takes place. The battles unfold in the most difficult conditions. The command often makes decisions that are inconsistent with neighboring units.
Due to poor industrialization, soldiers lack ammunition and even uniforms. And from the rear come letters in which relatives describe poverty and misery.
Revolutionary activity
The news from home and the state of affairs at the front nurture in the young officer a hatred for the existing regime of inequality and social oppression. Upon returning to his homeland, Mikhail Shumilov enrolls as a volunteer in the Red Guard. The Civil War begins. Mikhail joins the Bolsheviks and joins the Russian Communist Party. After that, he goes east to fight with the White Guard units. Also takes part in battles against foreign invaders. During the year of the war, he rose to the rank of brigade commander. Its fighters take part in the famous assault on Perekop, when Wrangel's troops held it.
Activities after the war
After winning the war, Mikhail Shumilov decides to continue his career and attends courses for senior command and political staff. He reads a lot and studies the tactics of warfare. Works at headquarters. He contributed to the development and improvement of the Red Army in accordance with the standards of that time. Chief of Staff since 1929. Then he was transferred to the headquarters of the group of troops of the Central-South zone. At this time, a civil war flared up in Spain. Communist rebels fight for power against the fascist henchmen of General Franco. Mikhail Shumilov goes there to help the Spanish volunteers.
New wars
Upon his return from Spain, Shumilov was appointed corps commander in Belarus. In the spring of thirty-ninth, he participates in the Polish campaign of the Red Army, when Soviet units occupied the territory of modern Western Belarus and Ukraine. There was practically no fighting during this operation, but it was quite difficult for the commanders to maneuver, being a few hours away from the Wehrmacht troops.
In the same year, another conflict begins. In an effort to push back their borders and secure the north of the country, Soviet troops enter the war with Finland.
Fights take place in the most difficult conditions of the northern winter and the lack of ammunition and food. Mikhail Shumilov went through almost the entire "Winter War".
Beginning of the Great Patriotic War
The beginning of a new war on the territory of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Shumilov met in the B altics. The iron fist of the Wehrmacht hit the north of the USSR with all its might. Shumilov's corps fought heavy defensive battles near Riga. Despite the plight of the Red Army on all fronts, he even managed to carry out a counterattack on the German tank group in the Siauliai area. But because of the superiority of the enemy had to retreat. In the middle of the summer of forty-first, the Germans managed to close the encirclement around the grouping of Soviet troops, among which was Shumilov's corps. Under tightwith fire, his fighters broke through the ring and took up defensive positions near the Narva highway.
Retreat of Soviet troops
After the B altic States, Mikhail Stepanovich is appointed to the post of deputy army commander in the Leningrad region. But then he is recalled to the capital. From there they are sent to a problematic section of the Southwestern Front, where the Red Army is waging bloody battles near the Don River. At the end of summer, Shumilov's forty-second army had to hold back one of the most powerful German onslaughts under the command of General Goth in the Stalingrad region.
Fighters of the 64th Army made a huge contribution to the Battle of Stalingrad. Their commander was entrusted with interrogating the captured General Paulus. It was Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich. The awards received for the battle of Stalingrad, he valued the most. And his army received the honorary title of "Guards".
In the forty-third year, the Red Army goes on the offensive. Shumilov's fighters take part in the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in the history of mankind.
After the victory in it, the Nazis are crowded, freeing the territory of the USSR. The new line of defense of the Nazis runs along the Dnieper River. In some areas, the distance between the two banks reaches several kilometers. Under continuous fire, the Soviet units cross the river and liberate the capital of the Ukrainian SSR - Kyiv. For skillful actions during this operation, Shumilov is awarded the higheststate award - the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
Offensive
After that, the 7th Guards Army is sent to Kirovograd. In early January, the Second Ukrainian Front goes on the offensive towards the Southern Bug River. More than half a million people gathered under the command of Marshal Konev. As a result of the successful actions of the Red Army, five German divisions were defeated, which lost more than half of their personnel. The liberation of Kirovograd made it possible to develop the Dnieper-Carpathian strategic offensive operation.
Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich - commander of the 64th Army, Hero of the Soviet Union - acted together with another well-known general - Zhdanov. Georgy Zhukov himself noted their skill.
After the war, Shumilov continued his military career and served in various positions in the USSR Ministry of Security. Lived in the capital. His son Igor worked as a designer and was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
On June 28, 1975 Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich died in Moscow. The photo of the veteran of five wars was published in almost all Soviet newspapers.
