Generalissimo's shoulder straps. The first and last generalissimo of the Soviet Union

Generalissimo Stalin and the Art of Ruling We live in an era when the social sciences are increasingly claiming to be able to predict the behavior of individuals and social groups, rulers and subjects. In this light, it seems strange that for these sciences

13. Generalissimo Franco Above the Seville Cathedral, where - according to the Spanish version - the bones of Columbus rested, a huge balloon tied to a spire fluttered, on which was written: "Viva Generalissimo Franco - Columbus of Democracy!"

On the basis of consideration of the collective petition of workers, engineering and technical workers and employees of the Moscow plant "Resora" dated February 6, 1943 and a note by the commanders of the fronts, the General Staff of the Red Army, the Navy dated June 24, 1945 No.

History

According to the recollections of contemporaries, the issue of conferring the title of Generalissimo was discussed several times, but JV Stalin invariably rejected this proposal. And only after the intervention of Marshal of the Soviet Union K. K. Rokossovsky (when he said: "Comrade Stalin, you are a Marshal, and I am a Marshal. You cannot punish me!") Gave his consent.

Form and shoulder straps

Below are the projects of the shoulder strap of the Generalissimo of the USSR

Once, having arrived at the Kremlin for a report, Antonov and I met the chief intendant of the Red Army, PI Drachev, in Stalin's waiting room. He was wearing a curvy military uniform cut unknown to us. The uniform was made according to the model of the times of Kutuzov with a high stand-up collar. The trousers looked modern, but shone with gilded stripes. When, surprised by such an operetta outfit, we stopped and looked at the strange costume, Drachev quietly told us: "A new uniform for the Generalissimo."
Members of the Politburo were in Stalin's office. The head of the rear, General of the Army Khrulev, reported. After finishing his report, he asked permission to show those present the new military uniform. Stalin was in a good mood and said: "Come on, here the General Staff will take a look."
They gave a sign to the reception. Drachev entered. Stalin gave him a cursory glance and darkened. Apparently, he guessed what the form was.
- Who are you going to dress like that? he asked, nodding slightly in the direction of the chief intendant.
“This is the proposed uniform for the Generalissimo,” Khrulev replied.
- For whom? Stalin asked.
- For you, Comrade Stalin.
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered Drachev to leave. The Generalissimo's uniform was never created. Stalin wore a marshal's uniform until the end of his days.

In fact, Generalissimo Stalin wore a standard-cut general's uniform (before the introduction of shoulder straps) tunic with a turn-down collar and four pockets, but in a unique light gray color. Shoulder straps on the jacket - Marshal of the Soviet Union. General's overcoat buttonholes - red with gold edging and buttons. This uniform was official and was depicted in portraits and posters.

The further fate of the title

After J.V. Stalin, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was not awarded, but it was listed in the statutes until 1993.

So, according to clause 9 of the Charter of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces of the USSR dated 07/30/1975:

This Charter continued to formally operate in Russian Federation until January 1, 1993, when the Temporary Charter of the Internal Service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was put into effect, in which the rank of Generalissimo is no longer mentioned.

At the same time, the archives preserved letters containing proposals for the assignment this title to Lieutenant General N. S. Khrushchev and Marshal of the Soviet Union L. I. Brezhnev:

These proposals were not given an official move, although, according to the memoirs of the Deputy Director of TASS E.I. Ivanov, on May 12, 1976, at a meeting with veterans of the 18th Army, Brezhnev (five days before that he had been awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union) stated the following:

Whether it was a joke, a slip of the tongue, or a sincere desire of Leonid Ilyich, it is now difficult to establish.

65 years ago, in these June days, Comrade Stali took and became a Generalissimo. How it happened is a plot of 30 years ago in the story of Anatoly Kruzhin. Broadcast on June 25, 1980.

Anatoly Kruzhin: On June 26, 1945, a higher education was first established in the Soviet Union. military rank- Generalissimo of the Soviet Union. In the corresponding decree, it was stipulated that this title is awarded "personally, for especially outstanding services to the Motherland in the leadership of all the armed forces of the state during the war."

The next day, June 27, it was assigned to Stalin. The background to these two events is well described by the late Vice Admiral Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. It turns out that it all started on the day of the Victory Parade on June 24th. The weather then turned out to be rainy, and therefore, after the end of the parade, the high authorities lingered in a small hall, near the Kremlin wall itself. It was usually customary to go there to warm up in inclement weather during parades and demonstrations on May 1 and November 7. That is, it turns out that there is such a hall, who would have known if it had not been for Kuznetsov! But this time the traditional order was broken. All, without exception, stood on the platform of the Mausoleum until the very end, and then, just as amicably, went downstairs and entered this room. It turned out to be an impromptu banquet. The room, which was not designed for a large number of people, was cramped. Everyone, who could as best they could, perched around the table. A relaxed atmosphere, unusual for that time, was established. The focus, of course, was Stalin - all the success of the victory was attributed only to him. Noting, as it should be on such a day, his merits, the speakers, however, clearly exaggerated them. It was here that proposals were received to confer on him the title of Generalissimo, to award him with the Second Order of Victory and to confer the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

For the first time this title, as an honorary one, appeared in the middle of the 16th century in France. It was usually assigned only for the period of the war, only to persons of royal blood or to the commander-in-chief of several allied armies. In its entire history, it had about 30 people. Among them are the Duke of Richelieu, Prince of Condé, Prince Eugene of Savoy, Count Wallenstein and others. In Russia, the title of Generalissimo was first granted by Peter the Great at the end of the 17th century to voivode Alexei Semenovich Shein for successful military operations near Azov. As the highest military rank, this title was introduced in Russia by the same Peter the Great in his Military Regulations of 1716. There, by the way, it was said: "This rank is only due to the crowned heads and the great sovereign princes, and especially to the one whose army is." After this rank of Generalissimo in Russia, only three people were awarded: on May 12, 1727 - the actual ruler of Russia, the Most Serene Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, the favorite of Empress Catherine the First, the widow of Peter the Great, on November 11, 1740 - Prince Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig, husband of the ruler Anna Leopoldovna, and October 28, 1799 - Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, Prince of Italy.

When praises in honor of Stalin were spreading in the buffet near the Kremlin wall, two generalissimos remained in the world - the de facto dictator of China Chiang Kai-shek and the dictator of Spain Franco. Both the one and the other could hardly tickle Stalin's ambition. A different matter - Richelieu or Yevgeny Sadovsky, a different matter, a special reservation of Peter the Great in his Military Regulations on the rank of Generalissimo, this could cause far-reaching associations. But let's not guess, be that as it may, Stalin liked the new title and, as mentioned at the beginning, a day after the Victory Parade it was officially established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, and after that Stalin became the only holder of this title in the Soviet Union.
By the time Stalin became generalissimo, there were 11 marshals of the Soviet Union living and not demoted in the country, 2 admirals of the fleet, 3 chief marshals and 15 marshals of various types of troops, from artillery to signal troops. In total, there are 31 commanders in gold and diamonds of the corresponding stars. The generalissimo must have somehow differed from them in his appearance.
As the now-deceased General of the Army Sergei Matveyevich Shtemenko said in his time, a special uniform was soon sewn for Stalin. But the sycophants apparently overdid it. It was a uniform that resembled the uniforms of the era of Alexander the First, with a high, up to the back of the head standing collar, and to it - modern trousers with gold stripes. For some reason, Shtemenko kept silent about the shape of the shoulder straps, apparently, it was also borrowed from the shoulder straps of the times of Ochakov and the conquest of the Crimea. Stalin, however, either had enough sense of proportion, or in a new form he suspected an allusion to the archaism of the title of generalissimo. When the quartermasters came to him with this uniform, he, angry, ordered to immediately remove it out of sight and until the end of his life appeared in public only in a marshal's uniform.

Celebrating now the 35th anniversary of the establishment in the Soviet Union of the military rank of Generalissimo and its assignment to Stalin, we can say the following: tsarist Russia It was already considered obsolete, and therefore after Suvorov it was not assigned to anyone. Yes, and it is difficult to recognize him for a military rank. Generalissimo is a Latin word, translated into Russian it means "the most important", that is, it determines not so much the rank as the position of a person in the armed forces. It was in this capacity that it arose at one time in Europe, in the same capacity, in fact, Peter the Great introduced it to Russia. Later, an equivalent was found for him - the supreme commander. But sycophancy, as you know, does not recognize either tradition, or logic, or measure. Stalin's sycophants gave the word generalissimo a completely different meaning. Did Stalin deserve this title? In its original meaning, it is indisputable: Stalin was the main party, the head of the Soviet government, and since July 10, 1941, he also headed the country's armed forces, that is, he was indeed the most important. However, in the Soviet statute, the rank of generalissimo was said that it was awarded not because a person was the most important leader of the armed forces, but for especially outstanding services in leading all the deployed forces of the state during the war.

Did Stalin have such "especially outstanding" services? Probably not. However, on this score we will give the floor to Stalin himself. On May 24, 1945, that is, a month before someone proposed to confer the rank of generalissimo on Stalin, Stalin said at a reception in the Kremlin in honor of the commanders of the Red Army: “Our government made many mistakes, we had moments of desperate situation in 1941-42 Then our army retreated, leaving our native villages and cities of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Leningrad region, Baltics, Karelo-Finnish Republic. I left because there was no other way out. Other people might say to the government: "You did not live up to our expectations! Go away! We will install another government." But the Russian people did not agree to this. To the health of the Russian people! "

Let us add to this that the mistakes that Stalin spoke of also took place after 1942, and all these mistakes did not come from some anonymous government, but, first of all, from Stalin himself. After all this, Stalin's consent to be called generalissimo, to put it mildly, evokes a certain awkward feeling.

In the 20th century in our history, only Stalin had the generalissimo's shoulder straps. After the victory over Germany in 1945, the workers of one of the Soviet factories "asked" to award this title. Of course, all the inhabitants of the Union learned about this "petition" of the proletariat.

Few remember, but Stalin was assigned the highest of the tsarist empire. This was the final turning point in the consciousness of the Bolsheviks, since before that ideology rejected all attempts, Stalin realized that in a difficult hour for the country, the continuity and traditions of the victorious spirit so hated by the communists Russian Empire must save the country. Shoulder straps are being introduced - a distinctive symbol of the "imperial punishers", the status of an officer who had only an abusive meaning before, some new titles.

These reforms in a difficult hour for the country were supposed to rally all the disparate civil war strength. The Germans understood that the weakness of the USSR was the generation gap. They skillfully used this, recruiting numerous battalions from the Red Army. Stalin and his military entourage also understood this.

It is during the crucial years for the country that the continuity of generations is being established. Talking about these events, we will remember how many generalissimos there were in our history. And also we will tell you some Interesting Facts about Stalin associated with this title.

Generalissimo in world history

The term "generalissimo" comes to us from Latin. Translated, it means "the most important". This is the highest rank that has ever been introduced in the army of any state. The generalissimo's uniform gave not only military status, but also civil and political status. This title was awarded only to truly special people.

This title was previously held by Chiang Kai-shek (pictured above), an opponent of the Chinese communists. But today there are no active generalissimos in the world. This rank is also absent in the system of our army. The last in the world to have such a high rank was Kim Jong Il, the leader of the DPRK, who was only posthumously assigned it in 2011. For North Koreans, this is not just a person, it is God, a symbol of the nation. This country maintains a calendar that is directly related to this politician. It is unlikely that anyone else with such a high rank could appear in the DPRK.

History knows little of generalissimos. In France, over 400 years, only two dozen figures have been awarded this title. In Russia, to count them over the past three hundred years, the fingers of one hand are enough.

Who was the first generalissimo? Version one: "funny commanders"

The first to receive this title in national history, were associates of Peter the Great - Ivan Buturlin and Fyodor Romodanovsky. However, in a similar way, it can be appropriated by every boy playing in the yard with friends. In 1864, twelve-year-old Peter awarded them the title of "Generalissimo of the Amusing Troops" during the game. They were at the head of two newly formed "funny" regiments. There was no correspondence with the real titles of that time.

Version two: Alexey Shein

Officially, the high ranks of the "amusing commanders" were not backed up by written acts and orders. Therefore, historians name Shein as the main contender for the role of the first generalissimo. During the Azov campaign, he commanded the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments. Peter the Great appreciated Shein's competent leadership, tactics and military dexterity, for which he awarded him this high rank on June 28, 1696.

Version three: Mikhail Cherkassky

Peter I liked to give high government titles and awards "from the lord's shoulder". Often these were chaotic and sometimes rash decisions that disrupted the usual and logical course of things. Therefore, it was during the time of Peter the Great that the first generalissimos of the Russian state appeared.

One of these, according to historians, was the boyar Mikhail Cherkassky. He was in charge of administrative affairs, was popular in society. With his own money, he built a battleship for

Peter I highly appreciated his contribution to the country. Other, less significant, but useful deeds for society were not ignored either. For all this, Peter awarded the boyar Cherkassky with the highest military rank. According to historians, this happened on December 14, 1695, that is, six months before Shein.

Fatal title

In the future, those who wore the Generalissimo's shoulder straps were unlucky. There were three of them in total: Prince Menshikov, Duke Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig and Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, who will have more than one article of titles and regalia.

Prince Menshikov, true friend and a companion of Peter the Great, was endowed with this title by the juvenile Peter II. The young emperor was supposed to marry the prince's daughter, but palace intrigues tipped the scales in the other direction. In fairness, let's say that young Peter did not manage to get married. At the last moment, he died of smallpox, after which Prince Menshikov was stripped of all titles and awards and was exiled to his possessions in Berezniki, far from the capital.

The second holder of the highest military rank is the husband of Duke Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig. However, he was not for long. A year later, he was also stripped of this title after the overthrow of his wife from the throne.

The third person who was awarded a high rank in the empire was A.V.Suvorov. His victories were legendary all over the world. This title was never questioned by him. But the tragedy is that he stayed as generalissimo for less than six months, after which he died.

After Suvorov, no one in the Russian Empire received this high rank. Thus, you can count how many generalissimos there were in Russian history before the USSR. We will talk about the title of Stalin a little later.

Instead of titles - positions

After the revolution, the Bolsheviks reacted negatively to any reminders of the tsarist regime. The term "officer" was a dirty word. As a rule, the holder of this status, who did not manage to immigrate in time, fell under the persecution of the authorities. This often ended in execution.

Instead of titles, there was a certain system of positions in the country. For example, the famous Chapaev was a division commander, that is, a division commander. The official address to such a position is “Comrade Divisional Commander”. The highest rank was considered a marshal. And the charter address to him is “Comrade Marshal,” or by the last name: “Comrade Zhukov,” “Comrade Stalin,” etc. That is, the title of Stalin throughout the war was precisely Marshal, not Generalissimo.

It is noteworthy that the rank of general and admiral appeared later, only in 1940.

Ordering the system

During the difficult days of the war, the Soviet leadership embarked on serious military reforms in the army system. The old positions were abolished. In their place, "tsarist" military distinctions and ranks were introduced, and the army itself became not "red worker-peasant", but "Soviet", the prestige of the status of officers was introduced.

Many people, especially those of mature and old age, negatively perceived this reform. They can be understood: for them an officer was synonymous with "oppressor", "imperialist", "bandit", etc. However, on the whole, this reform strengthened the morale in the army, made the management system logical and complete.

The entire military leadership of the country and Stalin personally understood that these measures would help achieve victory, streamline the structure and hierarchy. Many people think that it was at this time that the highest rank of generalissimo was introduced. However, this is also a delusion. Stalin was a marshal throughout the war, right up to victory.

Victory reward

So, until 1945, the highest rank in the USSR was Marshal. And only after the Victory, on June 26, 1945, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced. And the next day, on the basis of the workers' "request", it was assigned to JV Stalin.

The introduction of a separate title for Joseph Vissarionovich has been discussed for a long time, but the leader himself constantly rejected all these proposals. And only after the war, yielding to the persuasion of Rokossovsky, he agreed. It is worth noting that until the end of his days, Stalin wore the marshal's uniform, albeit slightly deviated from the charter. The address "Comrade Stalin" was considered a violation of the charter, since this was an appeal to the marshal, but the leader himself did not mind. After June 1945, he should have been addressed as "Comrade Generalissimo."

After Stalin, there were proposals to give the highest rank to two other leaders of the USSR - Khrushchev and Brezhnev, but this never happened. After 1993, this rank was not included in the new army hierarchy of the Russian Federation.

Generalissimo's shoulder straps

The development of a uniform for the new rank began immediately after it was conferred on Stalin. This work was carried out by the rear service of the Red Army. Long time all materials were classified as "secret", and only in 1996 the data were made public.

When creating the form, they tried to take into account the current uniforms of the chief marshal of the military branch, but at the same time create something special, unlike all the others. After all the work, the shoulder straps of the Generalissimo resembled the uniform of Count Suvorov. Perhaps the developers were trying to please Stalin, who had a weakness for the style of the uniforms of the Russian Empire with epaulets, aiguillettes and other paraphernalia.

Stalin later said more than once that he regretted agreeing to confer on him this highest military rank. He will never wear new form Generalissimo, and all developments will be classified as "secret." Stalin will continue to wear the marshal's uniform - a white tunic with a stand-up collar or a gray pre-war cut - with a detached collar and four pockets.

Possible reason for rejection of the new form

However, what is the reason why Stalin refused to wear special form? It is believed that the leader had a number of complexes regarding his appearance and believed that on a short, unsightly elderly man, such a magnificent form would look ridiculous and ridiculous.

It was according to this version, according to some, that Stalin refused to lead the magnificent and sign the act of surrender of Germany. However, this is only a theory. So it was or not, we, the descendants, can only guess.

June 26, 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was introduced the highest military rank - "Generalissimo of the Soviet Union." There was this rank in the military system of tsarist Russia. True, only a few have been awarded this honorary title in three centuries. Someone for military exploits, someone for belonging to the imperial family. Today we will remember who these chosen ones were.

Peter I, as a teenager, produced his associates Fyodor Yurievich Romodanovsky and Ivan Ivanovich Buturlin into the "generalissimo of amusing troops." These titles were used during the amusement of the king and were not taken seriously.

Despite the fact that the rank of Generalissimo is found only in the Military Regulations of 1716, for the first time the rank of "the most important in the army" was awarded in 1696. He was Peter I's ally, boyar Alexey Semenovich Shein... In the Azov campaigns, he first commanded the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, and then all the ground forces. After the capture of Azov for military merits, Peter I elevated Shein to the rank of generalissimo.

The second generalissimo was another closest associate of Peter I, prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov... His name is associated with major victories of the Russian troops in Northern war... However, despite the favor of the ruler, Field Marshal Menshikov was made generalissimo not by Peter I, but by his grandson Peter I. I. c. 1727 year. “Today I want to destroy the field marshal!” - said the emperor, shocking the audience. And then he presented the prince with a patent for the highest military rank.

Along with the largest generals, a member of the imperial dynasty, who had no military merit, was awarded the highest military rank. Princess Anna Leopoldovna (mother of John VI), during her short reign, conferred the title of Generalissimo on her husband, Duke Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig... The highest military rank was not for long the privilege of Anna Leopoldovna's husband: after Elizabeth Petrovna came to power, the Duke of Brunswick was stripped of all ranks and sent into exile.

The only generalissimo who really deserved the highest military rank was Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov... Famous during the Italian and Swiss campaigns, he is rightfully considered a great commander. “To fight not by numbers, but by skill,” said Suvorov and always followed this rule. No wonder that most of his victories were won with the numerical superiority of the enemy.