Marshal Meretskov - biography, achievements, awards and interesting facts

The article presents the biography and the main victory the outstanding Soviet military leader Marshal Meretskov Kirill Afanasievich.

People

The origins of the biography of our hero takes in the Russian Outback. On the seventh of June, 1897, in the family of ordinary peasants Mareckova from the village nazarevo, which was located in the former Ryazan province, was born the future great commander Meretskov Kirill Afanasievich. This snub-nosed gray-eyed man, like most of his peers, he knows the value of pennies and drudgery of peasant life. There was one outlet - local school. The boy eagerly reached out for knowledge, but four winters at her Desk quietly passed. The boy was 12 years old, and it was decided to send him to his uncle on the paternal side. Waited in front of the big wide world and the prospect of mastering the craft of a locksmith. Even in Moscow it was possible to continue studying, and this took the inquisitive lad. A seething maelstrom of a new urban life captured Cyril: he studied at the evening courses for workers, and sometimes uncle took him to the theatre.

Young age and becoming Meretskov

In 1915, a young man released from conscription to the tsarist army where he himself was not torn. And it wasn't in fear. The proletariat was more and more imbued with revolutionary ideas. Russia had fought a bitter war with the Kaiser's Germany, which the revolutionaries considered unfair. The standard of living has fallen markedly, and the society was torn by numerous contradictions.

The factory, which carried out military orders, not only released the future of Marshal Meretskov from being sent to the front, but also brought him together with a Lion Karpov, a chemical engineer by profession and a Bolshevik political views. He also seconded him in Sudogda. There, in the province of Vladimir, Cyril and met the king's abdication from power. Here he did not lose time in vain and created a cell of the RSDLP, and in late 1917, when the city arose the need to create self-defense forces, held a position in the military division.

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First steps in the military field

Civil war was gaining momentum, taking its rich and bloody harvest. A turning point in the biography of Kirill Afanasievich Meretskov is sending near Kazan. Fierce fighting with a disciplined parts white, and the Czech Legionnaires tempered future great commander. In one of the fights of the young Commissioner of the squad thanks to his example of personal courage, took the soldiers and pulled out a victory, but he was severely wounded. The guide drew attention to the perspective of the Commissioner and directed him to officer training. Three years of study was not serene: twice he got on the different parts of the front, where he received several wounds.

After graduation, until 1931, he served in Moscow. The service in Belarus received the transfer in 1932. Under the direction of Jerome Petrovich Uborevicha future Marshal Meretskov honed their skills of tactical art. Komandarm 1st rank were demanding and remarkable military, and therefore training in the units passed at the appropriate level, given the reality of the war at that time. In 1935, hero of our article is sent to the far East.

Fiery bullfighting over Spain

In 1936, in the colonies of Spain (from Morocco to Spanish Sahara) mutiny military who hold far-right views, is extremely dissatisfied with results of elections in which with the minimum separation won the popular front party. The rebels have received comprehensive assistance from Italy and Germany, while France only shyly turned away, saying that it did not intend to meddle in the internal conflict in Spain. The Soviet Union supported the government against the junta by sending advisers and weapons. Before Meretskov had several difficult tasks: to keep Madrid, to prepare a resistance, to establish and coordinate the work of the General staff.

The Task was not easy: the local population though, and fought fiercely, but in the war knew little. Lacked experience, weapons. Spanish patriots even dig didn't considering it a pastime of cowards. Meretskov correctly assessed the significance of Guadalajara directions on the outskirts of Madrid, but this does not become easier: had a serious battle with the Italian corps, formed by the military personnel and equipped with armored vehicles.

Brilliant actions of aviation and armored units, as well as correct coordination of all the armed forces helped to inflict a resounding defeat on the Italians. The government of the Soviet Union Meretskov Kirill Afanasievich appreciated by awarding the order of Lenin and the red banner.

Mannerheim Line

The causes of the Soviet attack on the Finnish Democratic Republic is still among historians cause fierce debate. Called usually two reasons: the security of Leningrad and the transformation of an independent democratic state in another Soviet Republic. However, after Miniscule of the incident, the Soviet leadership issued an ultimatum demanded that the leadership of the neighboring state to divert Finnish troops deep into its territory. Naturally, the Finns could not agree to such humiliating conditions. Started a war that revealed the weakness of the Soviet military machine. In the North-Western front rushed Meretskov K. A.command of 7 army.

The Soviet forces had three times the advantage of the infantry, four times the artillery, and the absolute in the air and in tanks. Despite this, the losses on the Soviet side was enormous. Effect of poor training, poor supplies and illiterate coordination. The Finns bravely defending their country, but the only thing they were hoping the allies, which were minimal.

The Seventh army was assigned the role of shock troops, which was to open the enemy's defenses on the right flank. For the first time with the support of the infantry were tactics used barrage. This tactic bore fruit: the Mannerheim line fell. Another brilliant win in the biography of Marshal Meretskov, which not only brought him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but also laid the Foundation for future victories in the upcoming war, which was not far off.

In the grasping claws of the NKVD

Meretskov Kirill Afanasievich history has remembered as a brilliant, meticulous and very careful strategist, able to think outside the box and to adapt quickly to rapidly changing conditions of the theater of operations. On the one hand, his career would be the envy of any military, and other – Marshal Meretskov constantly teetered over the precipice, like most military of the period. Worst of all was to fall under suspicion in the dungeons of the NKVD, which is what happened with the commander. He was accused of military conspiracy and isolated in 74 days. And can shoot, but did not happen, perhaps due to the lack of experienced personnel, and can, Stalin still believed his "cunning Yaroslavets”. There are many versions, but the very military about it never told.

Fiery warpath

After returning from the opals Meretskov heads 4 separate army. He managed to pull fairly the enemy troops. When you create the Volkhov front Kirill Afanasievich appoint the commander. The result of Sinyavsky and Luban operations was a disaster: huge losses of Soviet troops, the destruction of the second army and captured General Vlasov. But the plans of the enemy failed. According to the memoirs of A. M. Vasilevsky, who watched the commander of the Volga front during the most difficult and critical moments, Meretskov was not a tyrant swordsman, but showed himself as a cautious strategist, requiring from his subordinates combat missions with little bloodshed.

The mission “spark” became the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad. With the abolition of the Volkhov is formed Karelian front began a successful offensive, the outcome of which was the liberation of Northern Norway. 26 October 1944 Kirill Afanasievich awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union. Then he moved to the far East. With the defeat of Kvantunsky army, Marshal Meretskov used the same blitzkrieg tactics, which was used by German fascist troops in the first months of the war. Widely used in air and sea landings. A great achievement of Soviet paratroopers should be considered in preventing the use of biological weapons by Japanese troops.

Postwar years

In the postwar years continued to serve in the armed forces. Died 30 Dec 1968. Buried in the Kremlin wall. About the awards of Marshal Meretskov is worth mentioning separately. Hero of the Soviet Union was repeatedly awarded orders of the red banner and Lenin, had the highest awards of foreign States, was awarded the order of Suvorov and Kutuzov, as well as the October revolution and Victory.

Marshal Meretskov in the hearts of many people will be a winner, a skilled captain and brave defender of his native land.