Generalissimo Stalin
Generalissimuses of Russia
For all history In the existence of this highest title in Russia, only five people have been awarded it.
The title of Generalissimo (from the Latin generalissimus - "the most important") was first awarded in 1569 in France to the Duke of Anjou (later King Henry III). In France, the term "Generalissimo" meant an honorary military title that was given to members of ruling dynasties and the most prominent statesmen. In the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrian Empire and England, it was the position of commander of the active army during a war or commander-in-chief of all the troops of the state. In Russia and Spain, it was an honorary highest military rank.
In Russia, the word "generalissimo" appeared during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Foreign officers serving in the Russian army addressed the Grand Voivode, who was considered the commander of the army, in this way. Tsar Peter Alexeevich first granted the title of Generalissimo to Voivode Alexei Semenovich Shein in 1696.
Alexey Shein came from an old boyar family and was noted by Peter for his successes in the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696, which ended with the capture of the Turkish fortress of Azov. During the first, unsuccessful Azov campaign, Alexey Shein commanded the guards - the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments. During the second Azov campaign, in 1696, the Russian voivode was the commander of the land forces.
After the capture of Azov, the Tsar appointed Shein as commander-in-chief of the Russian army, commander artillery, cavalry and head of the Foreign Office. Shein was responsible for the southern strategic direction, fought the Turks and Crimean Tatars. However, Shein soon fell into disfavor (due to the Streltsy affair) and died in 1700.
Officially, the military rank of Generalissimo in the Russian state was introduced by the Military Regulations of 1716. Therefore, formally, the first Generalissimo of Russia was the “fledgling of Peter’s nest,” the Tsar’s favorite Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.
He was a contradictory personality. On the one hand, he was a long-time loyal companion of Peter, successfully led the troops, played a major role in the decisive Battle of Poltava, where he commanded first the vanguard and then the left flank of the Russian army. At Perevolochna, he forced the remaining Swedish troops to capitulate.
On the other hand, he was power-hungry and greedy for money and wealth. In terms of the number of serfs, he became the second soul owner in Russia after Tsar Peter. Menshikov was repeatedly caught embezzling money. Peter let him off easy for a long time, recognizing his services to the Fatherland and under the influence of his wife Catherine (it was Menshikov who presented the future empress to the Tsar). However, at the end of Peter's reign, Menshikov fell into disgrace and was deprived of his main positions.
Under Peter, Menshikov did not receive the rank of Generalissimo. After Peter's death, he carried out the first palace coup, placing Catherine on the throne. He became the de facto ruler of Russia under Catherine I and Peter II. When Peter II Alekseevich became the third Emperor of All Russia on May 6 (17), 1727, Menshikov received the rank of full admiral. And on May 12, he was granted the rank of Generalissimo.
As a result, Menshikov received the title of Generalissimo not in recognition of his military merits, but as a favor from the Tsar. Menshikov suffered defeat in the struggle with other dignitaries and nobles. In September 1727, Menshikov was arrested and exiled. He was deprived of all awards and positions.
The next generalissimo, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick, also had no special merits for Russia that would be worth noting with such a mark of attention. Anton Ulrich was the husband of Anna Leopoldovna. When Anna Leopoldovna became regent (ruler) of the Russian Empire under the young Emperor Ivan VI, her husband received the highest military rank on November 11, 1740. This happened after the palace coup that put an end to Biron's rule.
Anton Ulrik did not possess, in contrast to the same Menshikov, any managerial and military talents, he was a gentle and limited man. Therefore, he was unable to protect his family. On the night from 5 to 6 in December 1741 of the year in Russia there was another palace coup: Brunswick's name was overthrown, Elizabeth Petrovna ascended the throne. Anton Ulrik was deprived of all ranks and titles and with the whole family sent to exile.
On October 28, 1799, the great Russian commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov became the Generalissimo of the Russian land and sea forces. He was awarded by Emperor Paul in honor of the legendary Swiss campaign of 1799, when Suvorov's Russian miracle heroes defeated not only the French, but also nature. Alexander Suvorov received this title by right. He did not lose a single battle, he crushed the Poles, Ottomans and French. Suvorov was the author of "The Science of Victory", a short instruction for soldiers, which expressed the Russian spirit, which allows one to emerge victorious in the most difficult conditions. The commanders of the Suvorov school were M. I. Kutuzov, P. I. Bagration and others.
Joseph Vissarionovich
After the generalissimos of the 18th century, no one in Russia was awarded the highest military rank, although the Russian army still fought a lot. The victor of Napoleon's Grand Army, Mikhail Kutuzov, was awarded the rank of Field Marshal for his distinction at Borodino.
Even such a great war as the First World War did not lead to the emergence of Russian generalissimos. After the October Revolution of 1917, the previous military ranks were abolished, and with them the rank of generalissimo.
Only during the most terrible and bloody war of the 20th century - the Great Patriotic War, which became sacred for Russia-USSR, since the question of the survival of Russian civilization and the Russian superethnos was at stake, did they return to the idea of reviving this title. During this period, many Russian military traditions were returned to Soviet Russia.
According to the recollections of contemporaries, the issue of assigning the military rank of Generalissimo was discussed several times, but Supreme Commander-in-Chief Stalin invariably rejected this proposal.
Only on June 26, 1945, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the highest military rank of “Generalissimo of the Soviet Union” was introduced, and on June 27 it was awarded to Joseph Stalin.
There is a very interesting legend connected with Stalin being awarded the title of Generalissimo. As is well known, the Soviet leader was indifferent to titles and symbols of power, lived modestly, even ascetically. The Supreme Commander did not like sycophants, believing that servile scoundrels were worse than obvious enemies.
According to the recollections of contemporaries, the question of awarding the title of Generalissimo to Stalin was discussed several times, but the "leader of the peoples" constantly rejected this proposal. At the same time, the highest military leaders especially insisted on the revival of this title, for them the hierarchy was of great importance. One of these discussions took place in Stalin's presence.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Konev recalled that Stalin responded as follows: “Do you want to award Comrade Stalin the rank of Generalissimo? Why does Comrade Stalin need that? Comrade Stalin doesn’t need that. Comrade Stalin already has authority. You need titles for authority. So what, they found a title for Comrade Stalin – Generalissimo. Chiang Kai-shek is Generalissimo, Franco is Generalissimo. Nothing to say, good company for Comrade Stalin. You are Marshals, and I am a Marshal, do you want to remove me from the ranks of Marshals? To become some kind of Generalissimo?” That is, Stalin gave a categorical refusal.
The marshals continued to insist and decided to exert influence through Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, one of Stalin's favorite commanders. Rokossovsky managed to convince Marshal Stalin with a simple but true argument showing the military hierarchy. He said: "Comrade Stalin, you are a marshal and I am a marshal, you cannot punish me!"
As a result, Stalin gave in. Although later, according to Molotov, he repented of this decision: "Stalin regretted that he agreed to the generalissimo. He always regretted. And rightly so. It was Kaganovich, Beria who overdid it... And the commanders insisted."
Although, to be honest, he was wrong to reproach himself. Stalin deserved this high title. His enormous, simply titanic work, which transformed an agrarian country into a global economic and military superpower, which offered the planet an alternative path of development, still affects Russia's position as a great power.
Joseph Stalin was the only generalissimo in the history of Russia who not only held the highest military rank in the country, but was also its leader. Under his leadership, Russia-USSR was prepared for war: the army, the economy and society. The Union became the most powerful industrial power, which was not only able to withstand the war with almost all of Europe led by Hitler's Germany, but also to achieve a brilliant victory. The Soviet armed forces became the most powerful force on the planet.
The Soviet Union became a superpower, which in the field of science and advanced technologies, education and culture was a world leader, leading humanity into the future. The Red Empire was then a kind of "beacon" for the entire planet, instilling hope in humanity for a bright future. In Russia, a society of knowledge, service and creation was built, based on the ethics of conscience and social justice.
Stalin revived Great Russia in the form of the Soviet Empire, won the Second World War, created the nuclear shield and sword of our Motherland.
Therefore, it is senseless and mean to deny the merits of this great man to our civilization. This great man united our civilization and people into a single and powerful force in the most difficult times, and led not only the army, but the entire country. People sincerely loved him, believed in a bright future and built it. And they saw the fruits of their labors.
After Stalin, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was not conferred, but was listed in the charters until the year 1993. In 1993, together with other individual military ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR, the rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was not included in the list of military ranks of the Russian Armed Forces.
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