Tomorrow would be a marshal ...
It is monstrously unfair - not to live one day before being awarded the rank of marshal, not to see the Victory in two months, which was brought closer by more than a thousand days by all means. To go through the whole war on the front lines without a single wound - and in the silence between battles suddenly grab a piece of a crazy projectile ... It is monstrously unfair ... But it happened. Such a fate fell twice to the Hero of the Soviet Union, an outstanding Soviet military leader, General of the Army Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich, to whose memory this essay is devoted to the eve of the 105 anniversary of his birth.
Ivan Chernyakhovsky was born 29 on June 1906 in the village of Oksanino, Umansky district, Kiev province (now the Cherkasy region) in the switchman-railroad family at Uman station. He was the fourth child of six. In 1918, because of typhus of parents, 12-year-old Ivan lost and was forced to independently obtain a piece of bread for himself and his younger brother and sister: he slaughtered, herded cattle, worked as a laborer, and apprentice. But he could, despite the difficulties, finish elementary school and railway school. From childhood he loved music, learned to play the guitar, the mandolin.
In 1920, he went to work at the Vapnyarka railway station, then moved to Novorossiysk cement plant as a worker. In 1922, he joined the Communist Youth Union, became an activist of the Komsomol cell. Working tirelessly, stubbornly striving for knowledge, dreamed of becoming an officer. And in 1924, adding a year, he entered the Odessa Infantry School first, according to the Komsomol ticket, and in 1925 he transferred to the Kiev Artillery School, which he graduated with distinction in 1928. In 1928 he joined the VKP (b), became a platoon commander, then in 1929 he became the battery commander in Vinnitsa.
In 1932 – 1936 Ivan Chernyakhovsky - already a student of the Military Academy of mechanization and motorization of the Red Army to them. Stalin in Moscow. He is a brilliant student and graduated with honors from the command and engineering department of the academy with the rank of senior lieutenant. Chernyakhovsky in general was diversely talented, intelligent, handsome, charming. Almost professionally engaged in equestrian sport. He was highly erudite, well-read, knew French. He loved the theater very much, played the guitar, picked up the melodies on the piano. He danced well, loved to sing, and at such a level that the duet performed the most complex arias with the operatic soloist of the Bolshoi Theater M. Mikhailov. He loved poetry, recited many poems of Pushkin, Heine, Mayakovsky by heart.
After graduating from the Academy in 1936, he was appointed to the Kiev Military District as Chief of Staff of the tank battalion, then, in 1937, to be the commander of the battalion in the rank of major.
From May 1938 to 1940 - commander of a tank regiment in the Belarusian Special Military District. From July 1940 - deputy commander, and from March 1941 - commander of the 28th tank Division of the Baltic Special Military District with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He lives with his family in Riga and here, in the Baltic states, enters the war.
From its first days Chernyakhovsky with his division - on the front line, not far from the Neman, near the border. And here his military talent immediately manifests itself. On June 22, his 28 division is boldly advancing towards German tanks, Chernyakhovsky gives the order: “Stand to the death!” - and in fierce battles his tanks stopped the German offensive by holding their sector for several days. And only after receiving an order from the corps headquarters, the Chernyakhovsky division retreats to Novgorod, where its commander gathers the disparate groups into a fist and withstands the siege of the city.
In the combat characteristics relating to this initial period of the war, when Chernyakhovsky had already become a colonel, it was said about him: “Colonel Comrade. Chernyakhovsky is firm in character and willpower in full measure. In carrying out decisions, it is persevering and firm. ” It was precisely for the courage and military talent shown in these first difficult months of the 16 war of January 1942 that Ivan Danilovich was awarded his first order of the Red Banner of battle. 3 May 1942, he received the second Order of the Red Banner, then he was given the rank of Major General, and in June – July 1942, Chernyakhovsky commanded the 18 tank corps, which manages to stop the advance of the enemy near Voronezh.
The talent and military talent of the commander is already noticeable at the highest level. July 24 1942 Ivan Chernyakhovsky is appointed commander of the 60 Army, with whom he fights on Voronezh, Central and 1944 Ukrainian fronts until April.
25 January 1943 of the 60 Army units liberate Voronezh, for which 4 February 1943 Commander-60 is awarded the third Order of the Red Banner. On the Kursk Bulge, his army merges into the Central Front, commanded by K. Rokossovsky, and February 8 liberates Kursk. For the brilliant performance of the operation, Chernyakhovsky on the same day is awarded the Order of Suvorov, I degree, and on February 14 receives the military rank of lieutenant general. Here is what Marshal Rokossovsky writes about him, having closely adjoined then in military operations: “I carefully looked at General Chernyakhovsky. It was a great commander. Young, cultural, cheerful. Amazing man. It was evident that the army love him. If a commander is approached to report not with a shiver in his voice, but with a smile, then you understand that he has achieved a lot. ”
For the successful planning and conduct of military operations 11 September 1943, Chernyakhovsky is awarded the second order of Suvorov I degree. And then it was extremely risky, but absolutely unexpected for the Germans, which led to success, forcing the Dnieper at dawn 24 September 1943 g. Not with the help of induced pontoon bridges, which would take a long time, but on the move: on rafts and fishing boats. Moreover, the Commander-60, having crossed by boat to the right bank, by personal example, supported the fighters on the captured bridgehead. The achieved success allowed the troops of the Central Front to advance to the West for 6 days to 300 km, and Lieutenant General Chernyakhovsky for heroism and courage shown during the crossing of the Dnieper, 17 of October 1943 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Golden Star and the Order Lenin.
But the military mastery of Chernyakhovsky in the future only increased from battle to battle, and everywhere he showed outstanding military talent, skillful use of experience, in-depth knowledge of operational art in the Kiev offensive, Zhytomyr-Berdychiv, Rivne-Lutsk and Proskurov-Chernivtsi operations. 10 January 1944, for the liberation of Right-Bank Ukraine, he is awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky I degree.
The Supreme Commander I. Stalin fully promoted the talented young commander and for the successful military operations commanded by Chernyakhovsky, 34 times were noted in his orders once during the war years. 5 March 1944. He is given the rank of colonel-general, and since 15 on April 1944, Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky, who was still only 37 full years old, is appointed commander of the 3 Belorussian Front - the youngest stories Soviet Armed Forces Comforta.
29 May 1944 - awarded the Order of Kutuzov I degree, then 28 July 1944 became general of the army - and also the youngest army general in the history of the Soviet Armed Forces, and 29 July 1944 was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time with the presentation of the "Golden Star" and the Order of Lenin. And it was for that ...
As commander of the 3 Byelorussian Front, Chernyakhovsky almost in a row takes part in the following victorious operations in Belarus and Lithuania: June 23 – 28 - Vitebsk-Orshanskaya with the capture of Vitebsk, Orsha; 29 June – 4 July - Minsk with the capture of Borisov, Minsk, Molodechno; 5 – 20 July - Vilnius with the capture of Vilnius; July 28 – 28 August of Kaunas with the capture of Kaunas.
1 August 1944, having liberated Kaunas, the troops of the 3 of the Belarusian Front reached the borders of East Prussia closely and continued to take part in operations to liberate the Baltic states, in particular, on October 14, the Memel operation took place. All in all, the 5-thousandth enemy grouping was defeated in the Baltic States, and the Baltic States, with the exception of Courland, were completely liberated by November 22. And it was already possible to ponder, after crossing the border, offensive operations on German soil proper, in East Prussia. And 700 – 24 January 13. The troops of the 16 Belarusian carried out the Insterburgburg-Koenigsberg operation, by the end of which 1945 January advanced to a depth of 3 km. Liberator-General Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky was able to, and still managed to enter the land of the enemy. But…
18 February 1945, driving around the location of his troops on the front line in a passenger car, Ivan Danilovich was killed. With him were: the adjutant, the guard, the radio operator, the escort car with five submachine gunners. On the outskirts of the East Prussian city of Melzak, the Germans suddenly heard an explosion of a single random projectile. His fragment pierced the back of the car, the back of the front seat and pierced the left upper back of the general. More in the car, no one was hurt. The general leaned toward the glass of “Willis” and repeated several times: “He was wounded hard, dying ...” The adjutant swiftly bandaged the commander, trying to stop the blood, but the wound was very heavy, bleed, the fragment broke through the vessels leading to the heart. There was a hospital three kilometers away, after only 5 minutes the general was taken there and he was still alive. But when he came to himself, he again repeated: "... I die, I die." And he turned out to be right ... It was already impossible to save Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky.
Such a fate fell. Passed through the entire war, who has repeatedly been at the forefront, when raincoats, overcoats, caps pierced with bullets ... But never even wounded! And here ... Almost in peaceful silence. The only, ridiculous, random shot of a projectile ... The youngest in the history of the Army General and Front Commander Chernyakhovsky died in 38 years.
Know, apparently, was not good luck. After all, the Decree on awarding him the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was already ready, and the next day, February 19, Stalin had to sign it. And the diligent adjutant even hurried to sew new epaulets on the parade uniform ... Hastily in vain hurried ... Although there was only a little more than two months left before the Victory.
Marshal I. Baghramyan, then the commander of the Zempland group and who became after Chernyakhovsky’s death at the same time deputy commander of the 3 of the Belorussian front: “Chernyakhovsky was distinguished by a broad military outlook, high general and professional culture, extraordinary performance and extensive experience in troop leadership ... where the setting was the most difficult. With his presence, he instilled in the hearts of the warriors cheerfulness and faith in success, skillfully directed his enthusiasm to defeat the enemy. ”
Marshal A.Vasilevsky, appointed after the death of Chernyakhovsky, commander of the 3 Belorussian Front: “He listened keenly to the opinion of his subordinates. He boldly used everything new and useful in training troops and organizing combat. Soldiers, officers, generals loved their commander, above all for humanity and care for them, for courage and fearlessness, for hardness and perseverance in implementing decisions, for integrity and simplicity in handling, for exactingness towards themselves and their subordinates. Yes, he was strict and demanding. But I never allowed myself to degrade dignity in man. ”
The Communication of the Central Committee of the VKP (b), the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of Defense on behalf of Stalin said: “In the person of Comrade. The Chernyakhovsky state lost one of the talented young commanders who advanced during the war. ”
20 February 1945 General of the Army Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky was buried in Vilnius liberated by him in the central square, which began to bear his name. Of all the 363 salutes, which Moscow since August 1943 saluted the Victories of the Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War, - 34 times were in commemoration of the successful combat operations of the troops commanded by Chernyakhovsky. The last 34, in 24, a volley from 124 guns, sounded on 20 February 1945, General Chernyakhovsky no longer heard ... This salute was in his honor ... Chernyakhovsk with the establishment of the monument to Ivan Danilovich.
After the Gorbachev-Yeltsin collapse of the country, the new authorities in Lithuania in 1992 demanded that the ashes of the Liberator be expelled, the area be renamed and the tombstone be dismantled. The monument was transported to Voronezh, the square was renamed, and the ashes of the celebrated commander now rest in the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow ...
Eternal, Eternal to him Grateful Memory of descendants ...
The commander of the 60 Army I. D. Chernyakhovsky (left) and a member of the Military Council of the Army A. I. Zaporozhets. March 1943 g
Ivan Chernyakhovsky was born 29 on June 1906 in the village of Oksanino, Umansky district, Kiev province (now the Cherkasy region) in the switchman-railroad family at Uman station. He was the fourth child of six. In 1918, because of typhus of parents, 12-year-old Ivan lost and was forced to independently obtain a piece of bread for himself and his younger brother and sister: he slaughtered, herded cattle, worked as a laborer, and apprentice. But he could, despite the difficulties, finish elementary school and railway school. From childhood he loved music, learned to play the guitar, the mandolin.
In 1920, he went to work at the Vapnyarka railway station, then moved to Novorossiysk cement plant as a worker. In 1922, he joined the Communist Youth Union, became an activist of the Komsomol cell. Working tirelessly, stubbornly striving for knowledge, dreamed of becoming an officer. And in 1924, adding a year, he entered the Odessa Infantry School first, according to the Komsomol ticket, and in 1925 he transferred to the Kiev Artillery School, which he graduated with distinction in 1928. In 1928 he joined the VKP (b), became a platoon commander, then in 1929 he became the battery commander in Vinnitsa.
In 1932 – 1936 Ivan Chernyakhovsky - already a student of the Military Academy of mechanization and motorization of the Red Army to them. Stalin in Moscow. He is a brilliant student and graduated with honors from the command and engineering department of the academy with the rank of senior lieutenant. Chernyakhovsky in general was diversely talented, intelligent, handsome, charming. Almost professionally engaged in equestrian sport. He was highly erudite, well-read, knew French. He loved the theater very much, played the guitar, picked up the melodies on the piano. He danced well, loved to sing, and at such a level that the duet performed the most complex arias with the operatic soloist of the Bolshoi Theater M. Mikhailov. He loved poetry, recited many poems of Pushkin, Heine, Mayakovsky by heart.
After graduating from the Academy in 1936, he was appointed to the Kiev Military District as Chief of Staff of the tank battalion, then, in 1937, to be the commander of the battalion in the rank of major.
From May 1938 to 1940 - commander of a tank regiment in the Belarusian Special Military District. From July 1940 - deputy commander, and from March 1941 - commander of the 28th tank Division of the Baltic Special Military District with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He lives with his family in Riga and here, in the Baltic states, enters the war.
From its first days Chernyakhovsky with his division - on the front line, not far from the Neman, near the border. And here his military talent immediately manifests itself. On June 22, his 28 division is boldly advancing towards German tanks, Chernyakhovsky gives the order: “Stand to the death!” - and in fierce battles his tanks stopped the German offensive by holding their sector for several days. And only after receiving an order from the corps headquarters, the Chernyakhovsky division retreats to Novgorod, where its commander gathers the disparate groups into a fist and withstands the siege of the city.
In the combat characteristics relating to this initial period of the war, when Chernyakhovsky had already become a colonel, it was said about him: “Colonel Comrade. Chernyakhovsky is firm in character and willpower in full measure. In carrying out decisions, it is persevering and firm. ” It was precisely for the courage and military talent shown in these first difficult months of the 16 war of January 1942 that Ivan Danilovich was awarded his first order of the Red Banner of battle. 3 May 1942, he received the second Order of the Red Banner, then he was given the rank of Major General, and in June – July 1942, Chernyakhovsky commanded the 18 tank corps, which manages to stop the advance of the enemy near Voronezh.
The talent and military talent of the commander is already noticeable at the highest level. July 24 1942 Ivan Chernyakhovsky is appointed commander of the 60 Army, with whom he fights on Voronezh, Central and 1944 Ukrainian fronts until April.
25 January 1943 of the 60 Army units liberate Voronezh, for which 4 February 1943 Commander-60 is awarded the third Order of the Red Banner. On the Kursk Bulge, his army merges into the Central Front, commanded by K. Rokossovsky, and February 8 liberates Kursk. For the brilliant performance of the operation, Chernyakhovsky on the same day is awarded the Order of Suvorov, I degree, and on February 14 receives the military rank of lieutenant general. Here is what Marshal Rokossovsky writes about him, having closely adjoined then in military operations: “I carefully looked at General Chernyakhovsky. It was a great commander. Young, cultural, cheerful. Amazing man. It was evident that the army love him. If a commander is approached to report not with a shiver in his voice, but with a smile, then you understand that he has achieved a lot. ”
The representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme Command Marshal of the Soviet Union A.M. Vasilevsky and the commander of the troops of the 3 of the Byelorussian Front I.D. Chernyakhovsky is interrogated by the captive commander of the 53 Army Corps, General of the Infantry Golvintser, and the Commander of the 206 Infantry Division, Lieutenant General Seitger. District of Vitebsk, 1944 year
For the successful planning and conduct of military operations 11 September 1943, Chernyakhovsky is awarded the second order of Suvorov I degree. And then it was extremely risky, but absolutely unexpected for the Germans, which led to success, forcing the Dnieper at dawn 24 September 1943 g. Not with the help of induced pontoon bridges, which would take a long time, but on the move: on rafts and fishing boats. Moreover, the Commander-60, having crossed by boat to the right bank, by personal example, supported the fighters on the captured bridgehead. The achieved success allowed the troops of the Central Front to advance to the West for 6 days to 300 km, and Lieutenant General Chernyakhovsky for heroism and courage shown during the crossing of the Dnieper, 17 of October 1943 was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Golden Star and the Order Lenin.
But the military mastery of Chernyakhovsky in the future only increased from battle to battle, and everywhere he showed outstanding military talent, skillful use of experience, in-depth knowledge of operational art in the Kiev offensive, Zhytomyr-Berdychiv, Rivne-Lutsk and Proskurov-Chernivtsi operations. 10 January 1944, for the liberation of Right-Bank Ukraine, he is awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky I degree.
The Supreme Commander I. Stalin fully promoted the talented young commander and for the successful military operations commanded by Chernyakhovsky, 34 times were noted in his orders once during the war years. 5 March 1944. He is given the rank of colonel-general, and since 15 on April 1944, Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky, who was still only 37 full years old, is appointed commander of the 3 Belorussian Front - the youngest stories Soviet Armed Forces Comforta.
29 May 1944 - awarded the Order of Kutuzov I degree, then 28 July 1944 became general of the army - and also the youngest army general in the history of the Soviet Armed Forces, and 29 July 1944 was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time with the presentation of the "Golden Star" and the Order of Lenin. And it was for that ...
As commander of the 3 Byelorussian Front, Chernyakhovsky almost in a row takes part in the following victorious operations in Belarus and Lithuania: June 23 – 28 - Vitebsk-Orshanskaya with the capture of Vitebsk, Orsha; 29 June – 4 July - Minsk with the capture of Borisov, Minsk, Molodechno; 5 – 20 July - Vilnius with the capture of Vilnius; July 28 – 28 August of Kaunas with the capture of Kaunas.
1 August 1944, having liberated Kaunas, the troops of the 3 of the Belarusian Front reached the borders of East Prussia closely and continued to take part in operations to liberate the Baltic states, in particular, on October 14, the Memel operation took place. All in all, the 5-thousandth enemy grouping was defeated in the Baltic States, and the Baltic States, with the exception of Courland, were completely liberated by November 22. And it was already possible to ponder, after crossing the border, offensive operations on German soil proper, in East Prussia. And 700 – 24 January 13. The troops of the 16 Belarusian carried out the Insterburgburg-Koenigsberg operation, by the end of which 1945 January advanced to a depth of 3 km. Liberator-General Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky was able to, and still managed to enter the land of the enemy. But…
18 February 1945, driving around the location of his troops on the front line in a passenger car, Ivan Danilovich was killed. With him were: the adjutant, the guard, the radio operator, the escort car with five submachine gunners. On the outskirts of the East Prussian city of Melzak, the Germans suddenly heard an explosion of a single random projectile. His fragment pierced the back of the car, the back of the front seat and pierced the left upper back of the general. More in the car, no one was hurt. The general leaned toward the glass of “Willis” and repeated several times: “He was wounded hard, dying ...” The adjutant swiftly bandaged the commander, trying to stop the blood, but the wound was very heavy, bleed, the fragment broke through the vessels leading to the heart. There was a hospital three kilometers away, after only 5 minutes the general was taken there and he was still alive. But when he came to himself, he again repeated: "... I die, I die." And he turned out to be right ... It was already impossible to save Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky.
Such a fate fell. Passed through the entire war, who has repeatedly been at the forefront, when raincoats, overcoats, caps pierced with bullets ... But never even wounded! And here ... Almost in peaceful silence. The only, ridiculous, random shot of a projectile ... The youngest in the history of the Army General and Front Commander Chernyakhovsky died in 38 years.
Know, apparently, was not good luck. After all, the Decree on awarding him the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union was already ready, and the next day, February 19, Stalin had to sign it. And the diligent adjutant even hurried to sew new epaulets on the parade uniform ... Hastily in vain hurried ... Although there was only a little more than two months left before the Victory.
Marshal I. Baghramyan, then the commander of the Zempland group and who became after Chernyakhovsky’s death at the same time deputy commander of the 3 of the Belorussian front: “Chernyakhovsky was distinguished by a broad military outlook, high general and professional culture, extraordinary performance and extensive experience in troop leadership ... where the setting was the most difficult. With his presence, he instilled in the hearts of the warriors cheerfulness and faith in success, skillfully directed his enthusiasm to defeat the enemy. ”
Marshal A.Vasilevsky, appointed after the death of Chernyakhovsky, commander of the 3 Belorussian Front: “He listened keenly to the opinion of his subordinates. He boldly used everything new and useful in training troops and organizing combat. Soldiers, officers, generals loved their commander, above all for humanity and care for them, for courage and fearlessness, for hardness and perseverance in implementing decisions, for integrity and simplicity in handling, for exactingness towards themselves and their subordinates. Yes, he was strict and demanding. But I never allowed myself to degrade dignity in man. ”
The Communication of the Central Committee of the VKP (b), the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of Defense on behalf of Stalin said: “In the person of Comrade. The Chernyakhovsky state lost one of the talented young commanders who advanced during the war. ”
Army General Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky, Commander of the Belarusian Front 3, 1944 Year
20 February 1945 General of the Army Ivan Danilovich Chernyakhovsky was buried in Vilnius liberated by him in the central square, which began to bear his name. Of all the 363 salutes, which Moscow since August 1943 saluted the Victories of the Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War, - 34 times were in commemoration of the successful combat operations of the troops commanded by Chernyakhovsky. The last 34, in 24, a volley from 124 guns, sounded on 20 February 1945, General Chernyakhovsky no longer heard ... This salute was in his honor ... Chernyakhovsk with the establishment of the monument to Ivan Danilovich.
After the Gorbachev-Yeltsin collapse of the country, the new authorities in Lithuania in 1992 demanded that the ashes of the Liberator be expelled, the area be renamed and the tombstone be dismantled. The monument was transported to Voronezh, the square was renamed, and the ashes of the celebrated commander now rest in the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow ...
Eternal, Eternal to him Grateful Memory of descendants ...
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