Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption Semyon Timoshenko and Georgy Zhukov knew everything, but took the secrets to the grave

Until the very beginning of the war and in the first hours after it, Joseph Stalin did not believe in the possibility of a German attack.

He learned that the Germans were crossing the border and bombing Soviet cities at about 4 a.m. on June 22 from Chief of the General Staff Georgy Zhukov.

According to Zhukov’s “Memories and Reflections,” the leader did not react to what he heard, but only breathed heavily into the phone, and after a long pause, he limited himself to ordering Zhukov and the People’s Commissar of Defense Semyon Timoshenko to go to a meeting in the Kremlin.

In a prepared but undelivered speech at the plenum of the CPSU Central Committee in May 1956, Zhukov argued that Stalin forbade opening fire on the enemy.

At the same time, in May-June, Stalin secretly transferred 939 trains with troops and equipment to the western border, called up 801 thousand reservists from the reserves under the guise of training, and on June 19, by secret order, he reorganized the border military districts into fronts, which was always done and exclusively a few days before start of hostilities.

“The transfer of troops was planned with the expectation of completing the concentration from June 1 to July 10, 1941. The disposition of troops was influenced by the offensive nature of the planned actions,” says the collective monograph “1941 - Lessons and Conclusions” published by the Russian Ministry of Defense in 1992.

A legitimate question arises: what was the cause of the tragedy of June 22? Usually referred to as "mistakes" and "miscalculations" of the Soviet leadership. But upon careful examination, some of them turn out to be not naive delusions, but the consequence of thoughtful measures with the aim of preparing a pre-emptive strike and subsequent offensive actions Vladimir Danilov, historian

“There was surprise, but only tactical. Hitler was ahead of us!” - Vyacheslav Molotov said to the writer Ivan Stadnyuk in the 1970s.

“The trouble was not that we had no plans - we had plans! - but that the suddenly changed situation did not allow us to carry them out,” reported Marshal Alexander Vasilevsky in an article written for the 20th anniversary of the Victory, but which was published only in the early 90s -X.

Not “the traitor Rezun,” but the President of the Academy of Military Sciences, General of the Army Makhmud Gareev, pointed out: “If there were plans for defensive operations, then the groupings of forces and means would be located completely differently, the management and echeloning of material reserves would be structured differently. But this was not done in the border military districts."

“Stalin’s main miscalculation and his guilt lay not in the fact that the country was not prepared for defense (it did not prepare for it), but in the fact that it was not possible to accurately determine the moment. A preemptive strike would have saved our Fatherland millions of lives and, perhaps, would have led much earlier to the same political results that the country, ruined, hungry, and having lost the color of the nation, achieved in 1945,” believed the director of the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Andrei Sakharov.

Clearly aware of the inevitability of a clash with Germany, the leadership of the USSR until June 22, 1941 did not see itself in the role of a victim, did not wonder with a sinking heart “whether they will attack or not,” but worked hard to start the war at a favorable moment and carry it out “smallly.” blood on foreign territory." Most researchers agree with this. The difference is in details, dates and, mainly, in moral assessments.

Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption The war broke out unexpectedly, although a premonition was in the air

On this tragic day, on the eve and immediately after it, amazing things happened that did not fit into either the logic of preparation for defense or the logic of preparation for an offensive.

There is no explanation for them based on documents and testimonies of participants in the events, and it is unlikely that one will appear. There are only more or less plausible guesses and versions.

Stalin's dream

Around midnight on June 22, having agreed and authorized Tymoshenko and Zhukov to send a controversial document known as “Directive No. 1” to the border districts for their signatures, the leader left the Kremlin for the Near Dacha.

When Zhukov called with a message about the attack, the guard said that Stalin was sleeping and did not order to wake him up, so the chief of the general staff had to shout at him.

The widespread opinion that the USSR was waiting for an attack by the enemy, and only then planning an offensive, does not take into account that in this case the strategic initiative would be given into the hands of the enemy, and the Soviet troops would be placed in obviously unfavorable conditions Mikhail Meltyukhov, historian

Saturday June 21st passed in incredible tension. There were a stream of reports from the border that the approaching roar of engines could be heard from the German side.

After the Führer's order was read out to the German soldiers before the formation at 13:00, two or three communist defectors swam across the Bug to warn the "camaraden": it will begin tonight. By the way, another mystery is that we know nothing about these people who should have become heroes in the USSR and the GDR.

Stalin spent the day in the Kremlin in the company of Timoshenko, Zhukov, Molotov, Beria, Malenkov and Mehlis, analyzing incoming information and discussing what to do.

Let's say he doubted the data he was receiving and never took concrete steps. But how could you go to bed without waiting for the ending, when the clock was ticking? Moreover, a person who had the habit of working until dawn and sleeping until lunch, even in a calm everyday environment?

Plan and directive

At the headquarters of the Soviet troops in the western direction, up to and including the divisions, there were detailed and clear cover plans, which were stored in “red packets” and were subject to execution upon receipt of the appropriate order from the People's Commissar of Defense.

Cover plans are different from strategic war plans. This is a set of measures to ensure the mobilization, concentration and deployment of the main forces in the event of a threat of a preemptive strike by the enemy (occupying fortifications with personnel, moving artillery to tank-threat areas, raising aviation and air defense units, intensifying reconnaissance).

The introduction of a cover plan is not yet a war, but a combat alert.

During the hour and a half meeting that began at 20:50 on June 21, Stalin did not allow Timoshenko and Zhukov to take this necessary and obvious step.

The directive completely confused the troops on the border Konstantin Pleshakov, historian

In return, the famous “Directive No. 1” was sent to the border districts, which, in particular, said: “During June 22-23, a surprise attack by the Germans is possible. The task of our troops is not to succumb to any provocative actions […] at the same time be in full combat readiness to meet a possible attack […] other measures should not be carried out without special orders.”

How can one “meet the blow” without carrying out the measures provided for in the cover plan? How to distinguish provocation from attack?

Late mobilization

Incredible but true: general mobilization in the USSR it was declared not on the day the war began, but only on June 23, despite the fact that every hour of delay gave the enemy additional advantages.

The corresponding telegram from the People's Commissar of Defense arrived at the Central Telegraph at 16:40 on June 22, although since the early morning the state leadership, perhaps, had not had a more pressing task.

At the same time, the short text, just three sentences long, written in dry clerical language, did not contain a word about the treacherous attack, defense of the homeland and sacred duty, as if it were a routine conscription.

Theater and concert evening

The command of the Western Special Military District (by that time actually the Western Front), led by Army General Dmitry Pavlov, spent Saturday evening at the Minsk Officers' House at a performance of the operetta “Wedding in Malinovka.”

Memoir literature confirms that the phenomenon was widespread and widespread. It’s hard to imagine that big commanders in that atmosphere would go out and have fun without orders from above.

There is numerous evidence of the cancellation on June 20-21 of previously issued orders to increase combat readiness, the unexpected announcement of days off, and the dispatch of anti-aircraft artillery to training camps.

Anti-aircraft divisions of the 4th Army and the 6th Mechanized Corps of the Western OVO met the war at a training ground 120 km east of Minsk.

The orders to the troops to send artillery to the firing ranges and other ridiculous instructions in that situation caused complete bewilderment of Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky

“The regiment was declared a day off on Sunday. Everyone was happy: they had not rested for three months. On Saturday evening, the command, pilots and technicians went to their families,” recalled former pilot of the 13th Bomber Aviation Regiment Pavel Tsupko.

On June 20, the commander of one of the three ZapOVO air divisions, Nikolai Belov, received an order from the district air force commander to put the division on combat readiness, cancel vacations and dismissals, disperse equipment, and at 16:00 on June 21, it was canceled.

“Stalin tried to make it clear by the very condition and behavior of the troops in the border districts that calm, if not carelessness, reigns in our country. As a result, instead of misleading the aggressor with skillful disinformation actions regarding the combat readiness of our troops, we actually reduced it to an extremely low degree,” the former chief of the operations department of the 13th Army headquarters, Sergei Ivanov, was perplexed.

The ill-fated regiment

But the most incredible story happened in the 122nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, which covered Grodno.

On Friday, June 20, high-ranking officials from Moscow and Minsk arrived at the unit, and at 6 pm on Saturday, an order was announced to the personnel: to remove the I-16 fighters from the I-16 fighters and send weapons and ammunition to the warehouse.

Illustration copyright RIA Novosti Image caption It took several hours to reinstall the removed machine guns on the I-16.

The order was so wild and inexplicable that the pilots started talking about treason, but they were silenced.

Needless to say, the next morning the 122nd Air Regiment was completely destroyed.

The Soviet Air Force grouping in the western direction consisted of 111 air regiments, including 52 fighter regiments. Why did this one attract so much attention?

What's happened?

“Stalin, contrary to obvious facts, believed that this was not a war, but a provocation of individual undisciplined units German army", Nikita Khrushchev said in a report at the 20th Congress of the CPSU.

The obsessive thought of some kind of provocation, apparently, was indeed present in Stalin’s mind. He developed it both in “Directive No. 1” and at the first meeting in the Kremlin after the start of the invasion, which opened at 05:45 on June 22. He did not give permission to return fire until 06:30, until Molotov announced that Germany had officially declared war on the USSR.

The now deceased St. Petersburg historian Igor Bunich claimed that a few days before the start of the war, Hitler sent a secret personal message to Stalin warning that some Anglophile generals might try to provoke a conflict between the USSR and Germany.

Stalin allegedly remarked with satisfaction to Beria that this was impossible in our country; we had brought order to our army.

True, it was not possible to find the document in German or Soviet archives.

Israeli researcher Gabriel Gorodetsky explains Stalin's actions by panic fear and the desire to not give Hitler a reason for aggression at any cost.

Stalin really drove away every thought from himself, but not about war (he was no longer thinking about anything else), but about the fact that Hitler at the very last moment would be able to get ahead of him Mark Solonin, historian

“Stalin drove away any thought about war, he lost the initiative and was practically paralyzed,” writes Gorodetsky.

Opponents object that Stalin was not afraid in November 1940, through the mouth of Molotov, to harshly demand from Berlin Finland, Southern Bukovina and the base in the Dardanelles, and in early April 1941 to conclude an agreement with Yugoslavia that infuriated Hitler and at the same time had no practical meaning.

Demonstration of defensive preparations cannot provoke a potential enemy, but it can make you think again.

“When dealing with a dangerous enemy, we should probably show him, first of all, our readiness to fight back. If we had demonstrated to Hitler our true power, he might have refrained from war with the USSR at that moment,” the experienced staff officer believed Sergei Ivanov, who later rose to the rank of army general.

According to Alexander Osokin, Stalin, on the contrary, deliberately pushed Germany to attack in order to appear in the eyes of the world as a victim of aggression and receive American help.

Critics point out that the game in this case turned out to be very dangerous, Lend-Lease did not have a self-sufficient meaning in the eyes of Stalin, and Roosevelt was guided not by the kindergarten principle of “who started?”, but by the interests of US national security.

Shoot first

Another hypothesis was put forward by historians Keistut Zakoretsky and Mark Solonin.

In the first three weeks of June, Timoshenko and Zhukov met with Stalin seven times.

According to Zhukov, they called for immediately bringing the troops into some incomprehensible “state of full readiness for war” (preparations were already carried out continuously and at the limit of strength), and, according to a number of modern researchers, for a pre-emptive strike without waiting for the completion of the strategic deployment .

Truth is stranger than fiction, because fiction must stay within the bounds of probability, but truth does not. Mark Twain

Zakoretsky and Solonin believe that in the face of Berlin’s obvious aggressive intentions, Stalin did listen to the military.

Presumably at a meeting on June 18 with the participation of Tymoshenko, Zhukov, Molotov and Malenkov, it was decided to start a preventive war not sometime, but on June 22, the longest daylight hours of the year. Not at dawn, but later.

The war with Finland was preceded by. According to researchers, the war with Germany should also have begun with a provocation - a raid on Grodno by several Junkers and Dorniers purchased from the Germans. At the hour when residents have breakfast and go out into the streets and parks to relax after a week of work.

The propaganda effect would have been deafening, and Stalin could well have sacrificed several dozen civilians in the higher interests.

The version explains almost everything quite logically.

And Stalin’s refusal to believe that the Germans would strike almost simultaneously (such coincidences simply do not happen, and what Hitler intends to do in the following days is no longer important).

And mobilization began on Monday (the decree was prepared in advance, but they did not bother to redo it in the confusion of the first morning of the war).

There are two wills in the field Russian proverb

And the disarmament of the fighters based near Grodno (so that one of the “vultures” would not be accidentally shot down over Soviet territory).

The deliberate complacency made the fascist perfidy even more blatant. The bombs were supposed to fall on a peaceful Soviet city in complete prosperity. Contrary to popular belief, the demonstration was not addressed to the Germans, but to its own citizens.

It also becomes clear that Stalin did not want to blur the effect by introducing a cover-up plan ahead of time.

Unfortunately for the USSR, the aggression turned out to be real.

However, this is only a hypothesis, as the authors themselves emphasize.

22 JUNE 1941 YEAR - THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

On June 22, 1941, at 4 a.m., without declaring war, Nazi Germany and its allies attacked the Soviet Union. The beginning of the Great Patriotic War did not just happen on a Sunday. It was the church holiday of All Saints who shone in the Russian land.

Units of the Red Army were attacked by German troops along the entire border. Riga, Vindava, Libau, Siauliai, Kaunas, Vilnius, Grodno, Lida, Volkovysk, Brest, Kobrin, Slonim, Baranovichi, Bobruisk, Zhitomir, Kyiv, Sevastopol and many other cities, railway junctions, airfields, naval bases of the USSR were bombed , artillery shelling was carried out on border fortifications and areas of deployment of Soviet troops near the border from Baltic Sea to the Carpathians. The Great Patriotic War began.

At that time, no one knew that it would go down in human history as the bloodiest. No one guessed that the Soviet people would have to go through inhuman tests, pass through and win. To rid the world of fascism, showing everyone that the spirit of a Red Army soldier cannot be broken by the invaders. No one could have imagined that the names of the hero cities would become known to the whole world, that Stalingrad would become a symbol of the fortitude of our people, Leningrad - a symbol of courage, Brest - a symbol of courage. That, along with male warriors, old men, women and children will heroically defend the earth from the fascist plague.

1418 days and nights of war.

Over 26 million human lives...

These photographs have one thing in common: they were taken in the first hours and days of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

On the eve of the war

Soviet border guards on patrol. The photograph is interesting because it was taken for a newspaper at one of the outposts on the western border of the USSR on June 20, 1941, that is, two days before the war.

German air raid

The first to bear the blow were the border guards and the soldiers of the covering units. They not only defended themselves, but also launched counterattacks. For a whole month, a garrison fought in the German rear Brest Fortress. Even after the enemy managed to capture the fortress, some of its defenders continued to resist. The last of them was captured by the Germans in the summer of 1942.

The photo was taken on June 24, 1941.

During the first 8 hours of the war, Soviet aviation lost 1,200 aircraft, of which about 900 were lost on the ground (66 airfields were bombed). The Western Special Military District suffered the greatest losses - 738 aircraft (528 on the ground). Having learned about such losses, the head of the district air force, Major General Kopets I.I. shot himself.

On the morning of June 22, Moscow radio broadcast the usual Sunday programs and peaceful music. Soviet citizens learned about the beginning of the war only at noon, when Vyacheslav Molotov spoke on the radio. He reported: “Today, at 4 o’clock in the morning, without presenting any claims to the Soviet Union, without declaring war, German troops attacked our country.”

Poster from 1941

On the same day, a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was published on the mobilization of those liable for military service born in 1905-1918 in the territory of all military districts. Hundreds of thousands of men and women received summonses, appeared at military registration and enlistment offices, and then were sent in trains to the front.

The mobilization capabilities of the Soviet system, multiplied during the Great Patriotic War by the patriotism and sacrifice of the people, played an important role in organizing resistance to the enemy, especially at the initial stage of the war. The call “Everything for the front, everything for victory!” was accepted by all the people. Hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens voluntarily joined the active army. In just a week since the start of the war, over 5 million people were mobilized.

The line between peace and war was invisible, and people did not immediately accept the change in reality. It seemed to many that this was just some kind of masquerade, a misunderstanding and that everything would soon be resolved.

The fascist troops met stubborn resistance in battles near Minsk, Smolensk, Vladimir-Volynsky, Przemysl, Lutsk, Dubno, Rivne, Mogilev, etc.And yet, in the first three weeks of the war, the Red Army troops abandoned Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, a significant part of Ukraine and Moldova. Six days after the start of the war, Minsk fell. The German army advanced to various directions from 350 to 600 km. The Red Army lost almost 800 thousand people.

A turning point in the perception of residents Soviet Union war has certainly become August 14. It was then that the whole country suddenly learned that The Germans occupied Smolensk . It really was a bolt from the blue. While the battles were going on “somewhere there, in the west,” and the reports flashed cities, the location of which many could hardly imagine, it seemed that the war was still far away. Smolensk is not just the name of a city, this word meant a lot. Firstly, it is already more than 400 km from the border, and secondly, it is only 360 km to Moscow. And thirdly, unlike all those Vilno, Grodno and Molodechno, Smolensk is an ancient purely Russian city.

The stubborn resistance of the Red Army in the summer of 1941 thwarted Hitler's plans. The Nazis failed to quickly take either Moscow or Leningrad, and in September the long defense of Leningrad began. In the Arctic, Soviet troops, in cooperation with the Northern Fleet, defended Murmansk and the main fleet base - Polyarny. Although in Ukraine in October - November the enemy captured the Donbass, captured Rostov, and broke into the Crimea, yet here, too, his troops were fettered by the defense of Sevastopol. Formations of Army Group South were unable to reach the rear of the Soviet troops remaining in the lower reaches of the Don through the Kerch Strait.

Minsk 1941. Execution of Soviet prisoners of war

September 30 within Operation Typhoon the Germans started general attack on Moscow . Its beginning was unfavorable for the Soviet troops. Bryansk and Vyazma fell. On October 10, G.K. was appointed commander of the Western Front. Zhukov. On October 19, Moscow was declared under siege. In bloody battles, the Red Army still managed to stop the enemy. Having strengthened Army Group Center, the German command resumed its attack on Moscow in mid-November. Overcoming the resistance of the Western, Kalinin and right wing of the Southwestern fronts, enemy strike groups bypassed the city from the north and south and by the end of the month reached the Moscow-Volga canal (25-30 km from the capital) and approached Kashira. At this point the German offensive fizzled out. The bloodless Army Group Center was forced to go on the defensive, which was also facilitated by the successful offensive operations of Soviet troops near Tikhvin (November 10 - December 30) and Rostov (November 17 - December 2). On December 6, the Red Army counteroffensive began. , as a result of which the enemy was thrown back 100 - 250 km from Moscow. Kaluga, Kalinin (Tver), Maloyaroslavets and others were liberated.

On guard of the Moscow sky. Autumn 1941

The victory near Moscow had enormous strategic, moral and political significance, since it was the first since the beginning of the war. The immediate threat to Moscow was eliminated.

Although, as a result of the summer-autumn campaign, our army retreated 850 - 1200 km inland, and the most important economic regions fell into the hands of the aggressor, the “blitzkrieg” plans were still thwarted. The Nazi leadership faced the inevitable prospect of a protracted war. The victory near Moscow also changed the balance of power in the international arena. The Soviet Union began to be viewed as decisive factor the second world war. Japan was forced to refrain from attacking the USSR.

In winter, units of the Red Army carried out offensives on other fronts. However, it was not possible to consolidate the success, primarily due to the dispersal of forces and resources along a front of enormous length.

During the offensive of German troops in May 1942, the Crimean Front was destroyed in 10 days on the Kerch Peninsula. On May 15 we had to leave Kerch, and July 4, 1942 after stubborn defense Sevastopol fell. The enemy completely captured Crimea. In July - August, Rostov, Stavropol and Novorossiysk were captured. Stubborn fighting took place in the central part of the Caucasus ridge.

Hundreds of thousands of our compatriots ended up in more than 14 thousand concentration camps, prisons, and ghettos scattered throughout Europe. The scale of the tragedy is evidenced by dispassionate figures: only on Russian territory did the fascist occupiers shoot, strangle gas chambers, burned, hanged 1.7 million. people (including 600 thousand children). In total, about 5 million Soviet citizens died in concentration camps.

But, despite stubborn battles, the Nazis failed to solve their main task - to break into the Transcaucasus to seize the oil reserves of Baku. At the end of September, the offensive of fascist troops in the Caucasus was stopped.

To contain the enemy onslaught in the eastern direction, the Stalingrad Front was created under the command of Marshal S.K. Tymoshenko. On July 17, 1942, the enemy under the command of General von Paulus launched a powerful attack on Stalingrad front. In August, the Nazis broke through to the Volga in stubborn battles. From the beginning of September 1942, the heroic defense of Stalingrad began. The battles were fought literally for every inch of land, for every house. Both sides suffered colossal losses. By mid-November, the Nazis were forced to stop the offensive. The heroic resistance of the Soviet troops made it possible to create favorable conditions for their launching a counteroffensive at Stalingrad and thereby mark the beginning of a radical change in the course of the war.

By November 1942, almost 40% of the population was under German occupation. The regions captured by the Germans were subject to military and civil administration. In Germany, a special ministry for the affairs of the occupied regions was even created, headed by A. Rosenberg. Political supervision was carried out by the SS and police services. Locally, the occupiers formed the so-called self-government - city and district councils, and the positions of elders were introduced in villages. People who were dissatisfied were invited to cooperate Soviet power. All residents of the occupied territories, regardless of age, were required to work. In addition to participating in the construction of roads and defensive structures, they were forced to clear minefields. The civilian population, mainly young people, were also sent to forced labor in Germany, where they were called “ostarbeiter” and were used as cheap labor. In total, 6 million people were kidnapped during the war years. More than 6.5 million people were killed from famine and epidemics in the occupied territory; more than 11 million Soviet citizens were shot in camps and at their places of residence.

November 19, 1942 Soviet troops moved to counter-offensive at Stalingrad (Operation Uranus). The forces of the Red Army were surrounded by 22 divisions and 160 individual parts Wehrmacht (about 330 thousand people). Hitler's command formed Army Group Don, consisting of 30 divisions, and tried to break through the encirclement. However, this attempt was unsuccessful. In December, our troops, having defeated this group, launched an attack on Rostov (Operation Saturn). By the beginning of February 1943, our troops eliminated a group of fascist troops that found themselves in a ring. 91 thousand people were taken prisoner, led by the commander of the 6th German Army, General Field Marshal von Paulus. For 6.5 months Battle of Stalingrad(July 17, 1942 – February 2, 1943) Germany and its allies lost up to 1.5 million people, as well as a huge amount of equipment. Military power Nazi Germany was significantly undermined.

The defeat at Stalingrad caused deep political crisis in Germany. It declared three days of mourning. The morale of German soldiers fell, defeatist sentiments gripped wide sections of the population, who trusted the Fuhrer less and less.

The victory of the Soviet troops at Stalingrad marked the beginning of a radical change in the course of the Second World War. The strategic initiative finally passed into the hands of the Soviet Armed Forces.

In January - February 1943, the Red Army launched an offensive on all fronts. In the Caucasian direction, Soviet troops advanced 500 - 600 km by the summer of 1943. In January 1943, the blockade of Leningrad was broken.

The Wehrmacht command planned summer 1943 carry out a major strategic offensive operation in the area of ​​the Kursk salient (Operation Citadel) , defeat the Soviet troops here, and then strike in the rear of the Southwestern Front (Operation Panther) and subsequently, building on the success, again create a threat to Moscow. For this purpose, up to 50 divisions were concentrated in the Kursk Bulge area, including 19 tank and motorized divisions, and other units - a total of over 900 thousand people. This group was opposed by the troops of the Central and Voronezh fronts, which had 1.3 million people. During the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle World War II.

On July 5, 1943, a massive offensive of Soviet troops began. Within 5 - 7 days, our troops, stubbornly defending, stopped the enemy, who had penetrated 10 - 35 km behind the front line, and launched a counter-offensive. It has begun July 12 in the Prokhorovka area , Where The largest oncoming tank battle in the history of war took place (with the participation of up to 1,200 tanks on both sides). In August 1943, our troops captured Orel and Belgorod. In honor of this victory, a salute of 12 artillery salvoes was fired for the first time in Moscow. Continuing the offensive, our troops inflicted a crushing defeat on the Nazis.

In September, Left Bank Ukraine and Donbass were liberated. November 6 connections 1st Ukrainian Front entered Kyiv.

Having thrown the enemy back 200 - 300 km from Moscow, Soviet troops began to liberate Belarus. From that moment on, our command maintained the strategic initiative until the end of the war. From November 1942 to December 1943 Soviet Army advanced westward by 500 - 1300 km, liberating about 50% of the enemy-occupied territory. 218 enemy divisions were defeated. During this period, partisan formations, in whose ranks up to 250 thousand people fought, caused great damage to the enemy.

The significant successes of the Soviet troops in 1943 intensified diplomatic and military-political cooperation between the USSR, the USA and Great Britain. On November 28 - December 1, 1943, the Tehran Conference of the “Big Three” took place with the participation of I. Stalin (USSR), W. Churchill (Great Britain) and F. Roosevelt (USA). The leaders of the leading powers of the anti-Hitler coalition determined the timing of the opening of a second front in Europe (the landing operation Overlord was scheduled for May 1944).

Tehran Conference of the “Big Three” with the participation of I. Stalin (USSR), W. Churchill (Great Britain) and F. Roosevelt (USA).

In the spring of 1944, Crimea was cleared of the enemy.

In these favorable conditions, the Western Allies, after two years of preparation, opened a second front in Europe in northern France. June 6, 1944 the combined Anglo-American forces (General D. Eisenhower), numbering over 2.8 million people, up to 11 thousand combat aircraft, over 12 thousand combat and 41 thousand transport ships, crossed the English Channel and Pas de Calais, began the largest war in years airborne Normandy Operation (Overlord) and entered Paris in August.

Continuing to develop the strategic initiative, in the summer of 1944, Soviet troops launched a powerful offensive in Karelia (June 10 - August 9), Belarus (June 23 - August 29), Western Ukraine (July 13 - August 29) and Moldova (June 20 - 29). August).

During Belarusian operation (code name "Bagration") Army Group Center was defeated, Soviet troops liberated Belarus, Latvia, and part of Lithuania, eastern part Poland and reached the border with East Prussia.

The victories of Soviet troops in the southern direction in the fall of 1944 helped the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Yugoslav and Czechoslovak peoples in their liberation from fascism.

As a result of military operations in 1944, the state border of the USSR, treacherously violated by Germany in June 1941, was restored along the entire length from the Barents to the Black Sea. The Nazis were expelled from Romania, Bulgaria, and most areas of Poland and Hungary. In these countries, pro-German regimes were overthrown and patriotic forces came to power. The Soviet Army entered the territory of Czechoslovakia.

While the bloc of fascist states was falling apart, anti-Hitler coalition, as evidenced by the success of the Crimean (Yalta) conference of the leaders of the USSR, the United States and Great Britain (from February 4 to 11, 1945).

And yet The Soviet Union played a decisive role in defeating the enemy at the final stage. Thanks to the titanic efforts of the entire people, the technical equipment and armament of the army and navy of the USSR by the beginning of 1945 had reached highest level. In January - early April 1945, as a result of a powerful strategic offensive on the entire Soviet-German front with forces on ten fronts, the Soviet Army decisively defeated the main enemy forces. During the East Prussian, Vistula-Oder, West Carpathian and completion of the Budapest operations, Soviet troops created the conditions for further attacks in Pomerania and Silesia, and then for an attack on Berlin. Almost all of Poland and Czechoslovakia, as well as the entire territory of Hungary, were liberated.

The capture of the capital of the Third Reich and the final defeat of fascism was carried out during Berlin operation(April 16 – May 8, 1945).

April 30 in the bunker of the Reich Chancellery Hitler committed suicide .

On the morning of May 1, over the Reichstag by sergeants M.A. Egorov and M.V. Kantaria was hoisted the Red Banner as a symbol of the Victory of the Soviet people. On May 2, Soviet troops completely captured the city. Attempts by the new German government, which was headed by Grand Admiral K. Dönitz on May 1, 1945 after the suicide of A. Hitler, to achieve a separate peace with the USA and Great Britain failed.

May 9, 1945 at 0:43 a.m. In the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of the Armed Forces of Nazi Germany was signed. From Soviet side this historical document signed by the war hero, Marshal G.K. Zhukov, from Germany - Field Marshal Keitel. On the same day, the remnants of the last large enemy group on the territory of Czechoslovakia in the Prague region were defeated. City Liberation Day - May 9 became Victory Day of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The news of the Victory spread throughout the world with lightning speed. The Soviet people, who suffered the greatest losses, greeted it with popular rejoicing. Truly, it was a great holiday “with tears in our eyes.”

In Moscow, on Victory Day, a festive fireworks display of a thousand guns was fired.

Great Patriotic War 1941-1945

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

"They suspect nothing of our intentions"

June 21, 1941, 13:00. German troops receive the code signal "Dortmund", confirming that the invasion will begin the next day.

The commander of the 2nd Panzer Group of Army Group Center, Heinz Guderian, writes in his diary: “Careful observation of the Russians convinced me that they were unaware of our intentions. In the courtyard of the Brest fortress, which was visible from our observation points, they were changing the guards to the sounds of an orchestra. The coastal fortifications along the Western Bug were not occupied by Russian troops."

21:00. Soldiers of the 90th border detachment of the Sokal commandant's office detained a German serviceman who crossed the border Bug River by swimming. The defector was sent to the detachment headquarters in the city of Vladimir-Volynsky.

23:00. German minelayers stationed in Finnish ports began to mine the exit from Gulf of Finland. At the same time, Finnish submarines began laying mines off the coast of Estonia.

June 22, 1941, 0:30. The defector was taken to Vladimir-Volynsky. During interrogation, the soldier identified himself as Alfred Liskov, a soldier of the 221st Regiment of the 15th Wehrmacht Infantry Division. He said that at dawn on June 22, the German army would go on the offensive along the entire length of the Soviet-German border. The information was transferred to higher command.

At the same time, the transmission of Directive No. 1 of the People's Commissariat of Defense for parts of the western military districts began from Moscow. “During June 22 - 23, 1941, a surprise attack by the Germans is possible on the fronts of LVO, PribOVO, ZAPOVO, KOVO, OdVO. An attack may begin with provocative actions,” the directive said. “The task of our troops is not to succumb to any provocative actions that could cause major complications.”

The units were ordered to be put on combat readiness, to secretly occupy firing points of fortified areas on the state border, and to disperse aircraft to field airfields.

Bring the directive to military units before the start of hostilities fails, as a result of which the measures specified in it are not carried out.

“I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory”

1:00. The commandants of the sections of the 90th border detachment report to the head of the detachment, Major Bychkovsky: “nothing suspicious was noticed on the adjacent side, everything is calm.”

3:05. A group of 14 German Ju-88 bombers drops 28 magnetic mines near the Kronstadt roadstead.

3:07. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to the Chief of the General Staff, General Zhukov: “The fleet’s VNOS [air surveillance, warning and communications] system reports on the approach from the sea large quantity unknown aircraft; The fleet is in full combat readiness."

3:10. The NKGB for the Lviv region transmits by telephone message to the NKGB of the Ukrainian SSR the information obtained during the interrogation of the defector Alfred Liskov.

From the memoirs of the head of the 90th border detachment, Major Bychkovsky: “Without finishing the interrogation of the soldier, I heard strong artillery fire in the direction of Ustilug (the first commandant’s office). I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory, which was immediately confirmed by the interrogated soldier. I immediately began to call the commandant by phone, but the connection was broken..."

3:30. The chief of staff of the Western District, General Klimovskikh, reports on an enemy air raid on the cities of Belarus: Brest, Grodno, Lida, Kobrin, Slonim, Baranovichi and others.

3:33. The chief of staff of the Kyiv district, General Purkaev, reports on an air raid on the cities of Ukraine, including Kyiv.

3:40. The commander of the Baltic Military District, General Kuznetsov, reports on enemy air raids on Riga, Siauliai, Vilnius, Kaunas and other cities.

German soldiers cross the state border of the USSR.

“The enemy raid has been repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships was foiled."

3:42. Chief of the General Staff Zhukov calls Stalin and reports the start of hostilities by Germany. Stalin orders Timoshenko and Zhukov to the Kremlin, where an emergency meeting of the Politburo is convened.

3:45. The 1st border outpost of the 86th August border detachment was attacked by an enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group. The outpost personnel under the command of Alexander Sivachev, entering the battle, destroy the attackers.

4:00. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to Zhukov: “The enemy raid has been repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships was foiled. But there is destruction in Sevastopol.”

4:05. The outposts of the 86th August Border Detachment, including the 1st Border Outpost of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev, come under heavy artillery fire, after which the German offensive begins. Border guards, deprived of communication with the command, engage in battle with superior enemy forces.

4:10. The Western and Baltic special military districts report the beginning of hostilities by German troops on the ground.

4:15. The Nazis open massive artillery fire on the Brest Fortress. As a result, warehouses were destroyed, communications were disrupted, there is large number killed and wounded.

4:25. The 45th Wehrmacht Infantry Division begins an attack on the Brest Fortress.

“Protecting not individual countries, but ensuring the security of Europe”

4:30. A meeting of Politburo members begins in the Kremlin. Stalin expresses doubt that what happened is the beginning of a war and does not exclude the possibility of a German provocation. People's Commissar of Defense Timoshenko and Zhukov insist: this is war.

4:55. In the Brest Fortress, the Nazis manage to capture almost half of the territory. Further progress was stopped by a sudden counterattack by the Red Army.

5:00. The German Ambassador to the USSR, Count von Schulenburg, presents the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, Molotov, with a “Note from the German Foreign Ministry to the Soviet Government,” which states: “The German Government cannot remain indifferent to a serious threat on the eastern border, so the Fuhrer has given the order to the German Armed Forces by all means.” avert this threat." An hour after the actual start of hostilities, Germany de jure declares war on the Soviet Union.

5:30. On German radio, Reich Minister of Propaganda Goebbels reads Adolf Hitler’s appeal to the German people in connection with the outbreak of war against the Soviet Union: “Now the hour has come when it is necessary to speak out against this conspiracy of Jewish-Anglo-Saxon warmongers and also the Jewish rulers of the Bolshevik center in Moscow... In at the moment“The greatest military action in terms of its length and volume that the world has ever seen is taking place... The task of this front is no longer to protect individual countries, but to ensure the security of Europe and thereby save everyone.”

7:00. Reich Foreign Minister Ribbentrop begins a press conference at which he announces the start of hostilities against the USSR: “The German army has invaded the territory of Bolshevik Russia!”

“The city is burning, why aren’t you broadcasting anything on the radio?”

7:15. Stalin approves a directive to repel the attack of Nazi Germany: “The troops with all their might and means attack enemy forces and destroy them in areas where they violated the Soviet border.” Transfer of “directive No. 2” due to saboteurs’ disruption of communication lines in the western districts. Moscow does not have a clear picture of what is happening in the combat zone.

9:30. It was decided that at noon, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Molotov would address the Soviet people in connection with the outbreak of war.

10:00. From the memoirs of announcer Yuri Levitan: “They are calling from Minsk: “Enemy planes are over the city,” they are calling from Kaunas: “The city is burning, why don’t you broadcast anything on the radio?”, “Enemy planes are over Kiev.” A woman’s crying, excitement: “Is it really war?..” However, no official messages are transmitted until 12:00 Moscow time on June 22.

10:30. From a report from the headquarters of the 45th German division about the battles on the territory of the Brest Fortress: “The Russians are resisting fiercely, especially behind our attacking companies. In the citadel, the enemy organized a defense with infantry units supported by 35–40 tanks and armored vehicles. Enemy sniper fire resulted in heavy casualties among officers and non-commissioned officers."

11:00. The Baltic, Western and Kiev special military districts were transformed into the North-Western, Western and South-Western fronts.

“The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours"

12:00. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov reads out an appeal to the citizens of the Soviet Union: “Today at 4 o’clock in the morning, without making any claims against the Soviet Union, without declaring war, German troops attacked our country, attacked our borders in many places and bombed us with their planes attacked our cities - Zhitomir, Kyiv, Sevastopol, Kaunas and some others, and more than two hundred people were killed and wounded. Raids by enemy planes and artillery shelling were also carried out from Romanian and Finnish territory... Now that the attack on the Soviet Union has already taken place, the Soviet government has given an order to our troops to repel the bandit attack and expel German troops from the territory of our homeland... The government calls on you, citizens and citizens of the Soviet Union, to rally our ranks even more closely around our glorious Bolshevik Party, around our Soviet government, around our great leader, Comrade Stalin.

Our cause is just. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours."

12:30. Advanced German units break into the Belarusian city of Grodno.

13:00. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issues a decree “On the mobilization of those liable for military service...”

“Based on Article 49, paragraph “o” of the USSR Constitution, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announces mobilization on the territory of the military districts - Leningrad, Baltic special, Western special, Kyiv special, Odessa, Kharkov, Oryol, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Ural, Siberian, Volga, North -Caucasian and Transcaucasian.

Those liable for military service who were born from 1905 to 1918 inclusive are subject to mobilization. The first day of mobilization is June 23, 1941.” Despite the fact that the first day of mobilization is June 23, recruiting stations at military registration and enlistment offices begin to operate by the middle of the day on June 22.

13:30. Chief of the General Staff General Zhukov flies to Kyiv as a representative of the newly created Headquarters of the Main Command on the Southwestern Front.

"Italy also declares war on the Soviet Union"

14:00. The Brest Fortress is completely surrounded by German troops. Soviet units blocked in the citadel continue to offer fierce resistance.

14:05. Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano states: “In view of the current situation, due to the fact that Germany declared war on the USSR, Italy, as an ally of Germany and as a member of the Tripartite Pact, also declares war on the Soviet Union from the moment German troops entered Soviet territory.”

14:10. The 1st border outpost of Alexander Sivachev has been fighting for more than 10 hours. The border guards, who had only small arms and grenades, destroyed up to 60 Nazis and burned three tanks. The wounded commander of the outpost continued to command the battle.

15:00. From the notes of the commander of Army Group Center, Field Marshal von Bock: “The question of whether the Russians are carrying out a systematic retreat remains open. There is now plenty of evidence both for and against this.

What is surprising is that no significant work by their artillery is visible anywhere. Heavy artillery fire is conducted only in the northwest of Grodno, where the VIII Army Corps is advancing. Apparently, our air force has an overwhelming superiority over Russian aviation."

Of the 485 border posts attacked, not a single one withdrew without orders.

16:00. After a 12-hour battle, the Nazis took the positions of the 1st border outpost. This became possible only after all the border guards who defended it died. The head of the outpost, Alexander Sivachev, was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

The feat of the outpost of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev was one of hundreds committed by border guards in the first hours and days of the war. On June 22, 1941, the state border of the USSR from the Barents to the Black Sea was guarded by 666 border outposts, 485 of which were attacked on the very first day of the war. Not one of the 485 outposts attacked on June 22 withdrew without orders.

Hitler's command allotted 20 minutes to break the resistance of the border guards. 257 Soviet border posts held their defense from several hours to one day. More than one day - 20, more than two days - 16, more than three days - 20, more than four and five days - 43, from seven to nine days - 4, more than eleven days - 51, more than twelve days - 55, more than 15 days - 51 outpost. Forty-five outposts fought for up to two months.

Of the 19,600 border guards who met the Nazis on June 22 in the direction of the main attack of Army Group Center, more than 16,000 died in the first days of the war.

17:00. Hitler's units manage to occupy the southwestern part of the Brest Fortress; the northeast remained under the control of Soviet troops. Stubborn battles for the fortress will continue for weeks.

“The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox Christians for the defense of the sacred borders of our Motherland”

18:00. The Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow and Kolomna, addresses the believers with a message: “Fascist robbers attacked our homeland. Trampling all kinds of agreements and promises, they suddenly fell upon us, and now the blood of peaceful citizens is already irrigating our native land... Our Orthodox Church has always shared the fate of the people. She endured trials with him and was consoled by his successes. She will not abandon her people even now... The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox Christians for the defense of the sacred borders of our Motherland.”

19:00. From the notes of the Chief of the General Staff ground forces Wehrmacht Colonel General Franz Halder: “All armies, except the 11th Army of Army Group South in Romania, went on the offensive according to plan. The offensive of our troops, apparently, came as a complete tactical surprise to the enemy along the entire front. Border bridges across the Bug and other rivers were everywhere captured by our troops without a fight and in complete safety. The complete surprise of our offensive for the enemy is evidenced by the fact that the units were taken by surprise in a barracks arrangement, the planes were parked at airfields, covered with tarpaulins, and the advanced units, suddenly attacked by our troops, asked the command about what to do... The Air Force command reported, that today 850 enemy aircraft have been destroyed, including entire squadrons of bombers, which, having taken off without fighter cover, were attacked by our fighters and destroyed.”

20:00. Directive No. 3 of the People's Commissariat of Defense was approved, ordering Soviet troops to launch a counteroffensive with the task of defeating Hitler's troops on the territory of the USSR with further advance into enemy territory. The directive ordered the capture of the Polish city of Lublin by the end of June 24.

“We must provide Russia and the Russian people with all the help we can.”

21:00. Summary of the Red Army High Command for June 22: “At dawn on June 22, 1941, regular troops of the German army attacked our border units on the front from the Baltic to the Black Sea and were held back by them during the first half of the day. In the afternoon, German troops met with the advanced units of the field troops of the Red Army. After fierce fighting, the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. Only in the Grodno and Kristinopol directions did the enemy manage to achieve minor tactical successes and occupy the towns of Kalwaria, Stoyanuv and Tsekhanovets (the first two are 15 km and the last 10 km from the border).

Enemy aircraft attacked a number of our airfields and populated areas, but everywhere they met decisive resistance from our fighters and anti-aircraft artillery, which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. We shot down 65 enemy aircraft.”

23:00. Appeal from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the British people in connection with the German attack on the USSR: “At 4 o'clock this morning Hitler attacked Russia. All his usual formalities of treachery were observed with scrupulous precision... suddenly, without a declaration of war, even without an ultimatum, German bombs fell from the sky on Russian cities, German troops violated Russian borders, and an hour later the German ambassador, who just the day before had generously lavished his assurances on the Russians in friendship and almost an alliance, paid a visit to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and declared that Russia and Germany were at war...

No one has been more staunchly opposed to communism over the past 25 years than I have been. I will not take back a single word that was said about him. But all this pales in comparison to the spectacle unfolding now.

The past, with its crimes, follies and tragedies, recedes. I see Russian soldiers as they stand on the border native land and guard the fields which their fathers have plowed since time immemorial. I see them guarding their homes; their mothers and wives pray - oh, yes, because at such a time everyone prays for the preservation of their loved ones, for the return of their breadwinner, patron, their protectors...

We must provide Russia and the Russian people with all the help we can. We must call on all our friends and allies in all parts of the world to pursue a similar course and pursue it as steadfastly and steadily as we will, to the very end.”

June 22 came to an end. There were still 1,417 days ahead of the worst war in human history.

Vyacheslav Molotov, People's Commissar Foreign Affairs of the USSR:

“The advisor to the German ambassador, Hilger, shed tears when he handed over the note.”

Anastas Mikoyan, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee:

“Immediately members of the Politburo gathered at Stalin’s. We decided that we should make a radio appearance in connection with the outbreak of the war. Of course, they suggested that Stalin do this. But Stalin refused - let Molotov speak. Of course, this was a mistake. But Stalin was in such a depressed state that he did not know what to say to the people.”

Lazar Kaganovich, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee:

“At night we gathered at Stalin’s when Molotov received Schulenburg. Stalin gave each of us a task—me for transport, Mikoyan for supplies.”

Vasily Pronin, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council:

“On June 21, 1941, at ten o’clock in the evening, the secretary of the Moscow Party Committee, Shcherbakov, and I were summoned to the Kremlin. We had barely sat down when, turning to us, Stalin said: “According to intelligence and defectors, German troops intend to attack our borders tonight. Apparently, a war is starting. Do you have everything ready in urban air defense? Report!" At about 3 o'clock in the morning we were released. About twenty minutes later we arrived at the house. They were waiting for us at the gate. “They called from the Central Committee of the Party,” said the person who greeted us, “and instructed us to convey: the war has begun and we need to be on the spot.”

• Georgy Zhukov, Pavel Batov and Konstantin Rokossovsky
• RIA Novosti

Georgy Zhukov, Army General:

“At 4:30 a.m. S.K. Timoshenko and I arrived at the Kremlin. All the summoned members of the Politburo were already assembled. The People's Commissar and I were invited into the office.

I.V. Stalin was pale and sat at the table, holding an unfilled tobacco pipe in his hands.

We reported the situation. J.V. Stalin said in bewilderment:

“Isn’t this a provocation of the German generals?”

“The Germans are bombing our cities in Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states. What a provocation this is...” replied S.K. Timoshenko.

...After some time, V.M. Molotov quickly entered the office:

"The German government has declared war on us."

JV Stalin silently sat down on a chair and thought deeply.

There was a long, painful pause.”

Alexander Vasilevsky,Major General:

“At 4 hours and minutes we learned from the operational authorities of the district headquarters about the bombing of our airfields and cities by German aviation.”

Konstantin Rokossovsky,Lieutenant General:

“At about four o’clock in the morning on June 22, upon receiving a telephone message from headquarters, I was forced to open a special secret operational package. The directive indicated: immediately put the corps on combat readiness and move in the direction of Rivne, Lutsk, Kovel.”

Ivan Bagramyan, Colonel:

“...The first strike of German aviation, although it was unexpected for the troops, did not at all cause panic. In a difficult situation, when everything that could burn was engulfed in flames, when barracks, residential buildings, warehouses were collapsing before our eyes, communications were interrupted, the commanders made every effort to maintain leadership of the troops. They firmly followed the combat instructions that became known to them after opening the packages they kept.”

Semyon Budyonny, Marshal:

“At 4:01 on June 22, 1941, Comrade Timoshenko called me and said that the Germans were bombing Sevastopol and should I report this to Comrade Stalin? I told him that I needed to report immediately, but he said: “You’re calling!” I immediately called and reported not only about Sevastopol, but also about Riga, which the Germans were also bombing. Comrade Stalin asked: “Where is the People’s Commissar?” I answered: “Here next to me” (I was already in the People’s Commissar’s office). Comrade Stalin ordered the phone to be handed over to him...

Thus began the war!”

• RIA Novosti

Joseph Geibo, deputy regiment commander of the 46th IAP, Western Military District:

“...I felt a chill in my chest. In front of me are four twin-engine bombers with black crosses on the wings. I even bit my lip. But these are “Junkers”! German Ju-88 bombers! What to do?.. Another thought arose: “Today is Sunday, and the Germans don’t have training flights on Sundays.” So it's war? Yes, war!

Nikolai Osintsev, chief of staff of the division of the 188th anti-aircraft artillery regiment of the Red Army:

“On the 22nd at 4 o’clock in the morning we heard sounds: boom-boom-boom-boom. It turned out that it was German aircraft that unexpectedly attacked our airfields. Our planes did not even have time to change their airfields and all remained in their places. Almost all of them were destroyed."

Vasily Chelombitko, head of the 7th department of the Academy of Armored and Mechanized Forces:

“On June 22, our regiment stopped to rest in the forest. Suddenly we saw planes flying, the commander announced a drill, but suddenly the planes began to bomb us. We realized that a war had begun. Here in the forest at 12 o’clock in the afternoon we listened to Comrade Molotov’s speech on the radio and on the same day at noon we received Chernyakhovsky’s first combat order for the division to move forward, towards Siauliai.”

Yakov Boyko, lieutenant:

“Today, that is. 06/22/41, day off. While I was writing a letter to you, I suddenly heard on the radio that the brutal Nazi fascism was bombing our cities... But this will cost them dearly, and Hitler will no longer live in Berlin... I have only one thing in my soul right now hatred and desire to destroy the enemy where he came from..."

Pyotr Kotelnikov, defender of the Brest Fortress:

“In the morning we were awakened by a strong blow. It broke through the roof. I was stunned. I saw the wounded and killed and realized: this is no longer a training exercise, but a war. Most of the soldiers in our barracks died in the first seconds. I followed the adults and rushed to arms, but they didn’t give me a rifle. Then I, along with one of the Red Army soldiers, rushed to put out the fire at the clothing warehouse.”

Timofey Dombrovsky, Red Army machine gunner:

“Planes poured fire on us from above, artillery - mortars, heavy and light guns - below, on the ground, all at once! We lay down on the bank of the Bug, from where we saw everything that was happening on the opposite bank. Everyone immediately understood what was happening. The Germans attacked - war!

Cultural figures of the USSR

• All-Union Radio announcer Yuri Levitan

Yuri Levitan, announcer:

“When we, the announcers, were called to the radio early in the morning, the calls had already begun to ring out. They call from Minsk: “Enemy planes are over the city”, they call from Kaunas: “The city is burning, why aren’t you broadcasting anything on the radio?”, “Over Kiev” enemy planes" A woman’s crying, excitement: “Is it really war?”.. And then I remember - I turned on the microphone. In all cases, I remember that I was worried only internally, only internally worried. But here, when I uttered the words “Moscow speaks,” I feel that I can’t speak further - there’s a lump stuck in my throat. They’re already knocking from the control room: “Why are you silent? Continue!” He clenched his fists and continued: “Citizens and women of the Soviet Union...”

Georgy Knyazev, director of the Archive of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad:

V.M. Molotov’s speech about the attack on the Soviet Union by Germany was broadcast on the radio. The war began at 4 1/2 o'clock in the morning with an attack by German aircraft on Vitebsk, Kovno, Zhitomir, Kyiv, and Sevastopol. There are dead. Soviet troops were given the order to repel the enemy and drive him out of our country. And my heart trembled. Here it is, the moment we were afraid to even think about. Ahead... Who knows what's ahead!

Nikolai Mordvinov, actor:

“Makarenko’s rehearsal was going on... Anorov bursts in without permission... and in an alarming, dull voice announces: “War against fascism, comrades!”

So, the most terrible front has opened!

Woe! Woe!”

Marina Tsvetaeva, poet:

Nikolai Punin, art historian:

“I remembered my first impressions of the war... Molotov’s speech, which was said by A.A., who ran in with disheveled hair (grey) in a black silk Chinese robe . (Anna Andreevna Akhmatova)».

Konstantin Simonov, poet:

“I learned that the war had already begun only at two o’clock in the afternoon. The entire morning of June 22, he wrote poetry and did not answer the phone. And when I approached, the first thing I heard was war.”

Alexander Tvardovsky, poet:

“War with Germany. I’m going to Moscow.”

Olga Bergolts, poet:

Russian emigrants

• Ivan Bunin
• RIA Novosti

Ivan Bunin, writer:

“June 22. WITH new page I am writing the continuation of this day - a great event - Germany this morning declared war on Russia - and the Finns and Romanians have already “invaded” its “limits.”

Pyotr Makhrov, Lieutenant General:

“The day the Germans declared war on Russia, June 22, 1941, had such a strong effect on my entire being that the next day, the 23rd (the 22nd was Sunday), I sent a registered letter to Bogomolov [the Soviet ambassador to France], asking him send me to Russia to enlist in the army, at least as a private.”

Citizens of the USSR

• Residents of Leningrad listen to a message about the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union
• RIA Novosti

Lidia Shablova:

“We were tearing up shingles in the yard to cover the roof. The kitchen window was open and we heard the radio announce that war had begun. The father froze. His hands gave up: “Apparently we won’t finish the roof anymore...”.

Anastasia Nikitina-Arshinova:

“Early in the morning, the children and I were awakened by a terrible roar. Shells and bombs exploded, shrapnel screamed. I grabbed the children and ran out into the street barefoot. We barely had time to grab some clothes with us. There was horror on the street. Above the fortress (Brest) Planes were circling and dropping bombs on us. Women and children rushed around in panic, trying to escape. In front of me lay the wife of one lieutenant and her son - both were killed by a bomb.”

Anatoly Krivenko:

“We lived not far from Arbat, in Bolshoy Afanasyevsky Lane. There was no sun that day, the sky was overcast. I was walking in the yard with the boys, we were kicking a rag ball. And then my mother jumped out of the entrance in one slip, barefoot, running and shouting: “Home! Tolya, go home immediately! War!"

Nina Shinkareva:

“We lived in a village in the Smolensk region. That day, mom went to a neighboring village to get eggs and butter, and when she returned, dad and other men had already gone to war. On the same day, residents began to be evacuated. A big car arrived, and my mother put all the clothes on my sister and me, so that in winter we would also have something to wear.”

Anatoly Vokrosh:

“We lived in the village of Pokrov, Moscow region. That day, the guys and I were going to the river to catch crucian carp. My mother caught me on the street and told me to eat first. I went into the house and ate. When he began to spread honey on bread, Molotov’s message about the beginning of the war was heard. After eating, I ran with the boys to the river. We ran around in the bushes, shouting: “The war has begun! Hooray! We will defeat everyone! We absolutely did not understand what this all meant. The adults discussed the news, but I don’t remember there was panic or fear in the village. The villagers were doing their usual things, and on this day and in the following cities, summer residents came.”

Boris Vlasov:

“In June 1941, I arrived in Orel, where I was assigned immediately after graduating from the Hydrometeorological Institute. On the night of June 22, I spent the night in a hotel, since I had not yet managed to transport my things to the allocated apartment. In the morning I heard some fuss and commotion, but I slept through the alarm. The radio announced that an important government message would be broadcast at 12 o'clock. Then I realized that I had slept through not a training alarm, but a combat alarm—the war had begun.”

Alexandra Komarnitskaya:

“I was vacationing in a children’s camp near Moscow. There the camp leadership announced to us that war with Germany had begun. Everyone—the counselors and the children—started crying.”

Ninel Karpova:

“We listened to the message about the beginning of the war from the loudspeaker at the House of Defense. There were a lot of people crowding there. I wasn’t upset, on the contrary, I was proud: my father will defend the Motherland... In general, people were not afraid. Yes, the women, of course, were upset and cried. But there was no panic. Everyone was confident that we would quickly defeat the Germans. The men said: “Yes, the Germans will flee from us!”

Nikolay Chebykin:

“June 22 was Sunday. Such a sunny day! And my father and I were digging a potato cellar with shovels. About twelve o'clock. About five minutes before, my sister Shura opens the window and says: “They are broadcasting on the radio: “A very important government message will now be transmitted!” Well, we put down our shovels and went to listen. It was Molotov who spoke. And he said that German troops treacherously attacked our country without declaring war. We crossed the state border. The Red Army is fighting hard. And he ended with the words: “Our cause is just! The enemy will be defeated! Victory will be ours!

German generals

• RIA Novosti

Guderian:

“On the fateful day of June 22, 1941, at 2:10 a.m., I went to the group’s command post and climbed to the observation tower south of Bogukala. At 3:15 a.m. our artillery preparation began. At 3:40 a.m. - the first raid of our dive bombers. At 4:15 a.m., the forward units of the 17th and 18th tank divisions began crossing the Bug. At 6:50 a.m. near Kolodno I crossed the Bug in an assault boat.”

“On June 22, at three hours and minutes, four corps of a tank group, with the support of artillery and aviation, which was part of the 8th Aviation Corps, crossed the state border. Bomber aircraft attacked enemy airfields, with the task of paralyzing the actions of his aircraft.

On the first day, the offensive went completely according to plan.”

Manstein:

“Already on this first day we had to get acquainted with the methods by which the war was waged on the Soviet side. One of our reconnaissance patrols, cut off by the enemy, was later found by our troops, he was cut out and brutally mutilated. My adjutant and I traveled a lot to areas where enemy units could still be located, and we decided not to surrender alive into the hands of this enemy.”

Blumentritt:

“The behavior of the Russians, even in the first battle, was strikingly different from the behavior of the Poles and allies who were defeated on the Western Front. Even when surrounded, the Russians steadfastly defended themselves.”

German soldiers and officers

• www.nationaalarchief.nl.

Erich Mende, Chief Lieutenant:

“My commander was twice my age, and he had already fought with the Russians near Narva in 1917, when he was a lieutenant. “Here, in these vast expanses, we will find our death, like Napoleon...” he did not hide his pessimism. “Mende, remember this hour, it marks the end of the old Germany.”

Johann Danzer, artilleryman:

“On the very first day, as soon as we went on the attack, one of our people shot himself with his own weapon. Clutching the rifle between his knees, he inserted the barrel into his mouth and pulled the trigger. This is how the war and all the horrors associated with it ended for him.”

Alfred Durwanger, Lieutenant:

“When we entered the first battle with the Russians, they clearly did not expect us, but they could not be called unprepared either. Enthusiasm (with us) there was no sign of it! Rather, everyone was overcome by a sense of the enormity of the upcoming campaign. And then the question arose: where, from which settlement will this campaign end?!”

Hubert Becker, lieutenant:

“It was a hot summer day. We walked across the field, suspecting nothing. Suddenly artillery fire fell on us. That’s how my baptism of fire happened - a strange feeling.”

Helmut Pabst, non-commissioned officer

“The offensive continues. We are constantly moving forward through enemy territory, and we have to constantly change positions. I'm terribly thirsty. There is no time to swallow a piece. By 10 in the morning we were already experienced, shelled fighters who had seen a lot: positions abandoned by the enemy, damaged and burned tanks and vehicles, the first prisoners, the first killed Russians.”

Rudolf Gschöpf, chaplain:

“This artillery barrage, gigantic in power and coverage of the territory, was like an earthquake. Huge mushrooms of smoke were visible everywhere, instantly growing out of the ground. Since there was no talk of any return fire, it seemed to us that we had completely wiped this citadel off the face of the earth.”

Hans Becker, tanker:

"On Eastern Front I have met people who can be called a special race. Already the first attack turned into a battle for life and death.”

Article 1. BORDER OF THE SOVIET UNION.

Article 4. Russian spirit

Article 7. Opinion of the American Citizen. Russians are best at making friends and fighting.

Article 8. Moscow. Perfidious West

On this early morning in 1941, the enemy dealt a terrible, unexpected blow to the USSR. From the first minutes, the border guard warriors were the first to engage in mortal combat with fascist invaders and courageously defended our Motherland, defending every inch of Soviet land.

At 4.00 on June 22, 1941, after powerful artillery preparation, advanced detachments of fascist troops attacked border outposts from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Despite the enemy’s enormous superiority in manpower and equipment, the border guards fought steadfastly, died heroically, but did not leave the defended lines without orders.

For many hours (and in some areas for several days), the outposts in stubborn battles held back the fascist units on the border line, preventing them from capturing bridges and crossings across border rivers. With unprecedented stamina and courage, at the cost of their lives, the border guards sought to delay the advance of the advanced units of the Nazi troops. Each outpost was a small fortress; the enemy could not capture it as long as at least one border guard was alive.

Thirty minutes were allocated by Hitler's general staff to destroy Soviet border outposts. But this calculation turned out to be untenable.

Not a single one of the nearly 2,000 outposts that took on the unexpected blow of superior enemy forces flinched or surrendered, not a single one!

The border fighters were the first to repel the pressure of the fascist conquerors. They were the first to come under fire from enemy tank and motorized hordes. Before anyone else, they stood up for the honor, freedom and independence of their Motherland. The first victims of the war and its first heroes were the Soviet border guards.

The border outposts located in the direction of the main attacks of the Nazi troops were subjected to the most powerful attacks. In the offensive zone of Army Group Center in the sector of the Augustovsky border detachment, two fascist divisions crossed the border. The enemy expected to destroy the border outposts in 20 minutes.

The 1st border outpost, senior lieutenant A.N. Sivachev, defended for 12 hours and was completely destroyed.

The 3rd outpost of Lieutenant V.M. Usov fought for 10 hours, 36 border guards repelled seven attacks by the Nazis, and when the cartridges ran out they launched a bayonet attack.

The border guards of the Lomzhinsky border detachment showed courage and heroism.

The 4th outpost of Lieutenant V. G. Maliev fought until 12 o'clock on June 23, 13 people remained alive.

The 17th border outpost fought with the enemy infantry battalion until 7 o'clock on June 23, and the 2nd and 13th outposts held the defense until 12 o'clock on June 22 and only by order did the surviving border guards withdraw from their lines.

The border guards of the 2nd and 8th outposts of the Chizhevsky border detachment fought bravely with the enemy.

The border guards of the Brest border detachment covered themselves with unfading glory. The 2nd and 3rd outposts held out until 18:00 on June 22. The 4th outpost of senior lieutenant I.G. Tikhonov, located near the river, did not allow the enemy to cross to the eastern bank for several hours. At the same time, over 100 invaders, 5 tanks, 4 guns were destroyed and three enemy attacks were repulsed.

In their memoirs, German officers and generals noted that only wounded border guards were captured, Not one of them raised their hands or laid down their weapons.

Having passed solemn march throughout Europe, the fascists from the first minutes encountered unprecedented tenacity and heroism of soldiers in green caps, although the German superiority in manpower was 10-30 times greater, artillery, tanks, and planes were brought in, but the border guards fought to the death.

The former commander of the German 3rd Panzer Group, Colonel General G. Goth, was subsequently forced to admit: “both divisions of the 5th Army Corps immediately after crossing the border encountered entrenched enemy guards, which, despite the lack of artillery support, held their positions until the last one."

This is largely due to the selection and staffing of border outposts.

Recruitment was carried out from all republics of the USSR. Junior commanding officers and Red Army soldiers were drafted at the age of 20 for 3 years (they served in naval units for 4 years). Commanding personnel for the Border Troops were trained by ten border schools (schools), the Leningrad Naval School, graduate School NKVD, as well as Military Academy named after Frunze and the Military-Political Academy named after

V. I. Lenin.

Junior commanding officers were trained in district and detachment schools of the Ministry of Taxation, Red Army soldiers - at temporary training points at each border detachment or separate border unit, and naval specialists were trained in two training border naval detachments.

In 1939 - 1941, when staffing border units and units on the western section of the border, the leadership of the Border Troops sought to appoint command positions in border detachments and commandant's offices of middle and senior commanding officers with experience of service, especially participants in the hostilities at Khalkhin-Gol and on the border with Finland. It was more difficult to staff border and reserve outposts with commanding personnel.

By the beginning of 1941, the number of border outposts doubled, and the border schools could not immediately meet the sharply increased need for middle command personnel, so in the fall of 1939, accelerated training courses for outpost commands were organized from junior command personnel and Red Army soldiers in their third year of service, and preference was given to those with combat experience. All this made it possible to fully staff all border and reserve outposts by January 1, 1941.

In order to prepare to repel the aggression of Nazi Germany, the USSR Government increased the density of security of the western section of the country's state border: from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. This area was guarded by 8 border districts, including 49 border detachments, 7 detachments of border courts, 10 separate border commandant's offices and three separate air squadrons.

The total number of people was 87,459, of which 80% of the personnel were located directly on the state border, including 40,963 Soviet border guards on the Soviet-German border. Of the 1,747 border outposts guarding the state border of the USSR, 715 were located on the western border of the country.

Organizationally, the border detachments consisted of 4 border commandant's offices (each with 4 linear outposts and one reserve outpost), a maneuver group (detachment reserve of four outposts, totaling 200 - 250 people), a junior command school - 100 people, a headquarters, an intelligence department, a political agency and rear. In total, the detachment consisted of up to 2,000 border guards. The border detachment guarded the land section of the border with a length of up to 180 kilometers, and on the sea coast - up to 450 kilometers.

Border outposts in June 1941 had a staff strength of 42 and 64 people, depending on the specific terrain and other conditions of the situation. At the outpost of 42 people there were the head of the outpost and his deputy, the foreman of the outpost and 4 squad commanders.

Its armament consisted of one Maxim heavy machine gun, three Degtyarev light machine guns and 37 five-round rifles of the 1891/30 model. The outpost's ammunition was: 7.62 mm cartridges - 200 pieces for each rifle and 1600 pieces for each light machine gun, 2400 pieces for a heavy machine gun, RGD hand grenades - 4 pieces for each border guard and 10 anti-tank grenades for the entire outpost.

The effective firing range of rifles is up to 400 meters, machine guns - up to 600 meters.

At the border post numbering 64 people There were the head of the outpost and his two deputies, a foreman and 7 squad commanders. Its weapons: two Maxim heavy machine guns, four light machine guns and 56 rifles. Accordingly, the amount of ammunition was greater. By decision of the head of the border detachment at the outposts where the most threatened situation developed, the number of cartridges was increased by one and a half times, but subsequent developments showed that this supply was only enough for 1 - 2 days of defensive actions. The outpost's only technical means of communication was a field telephone. By vehicle there were two steam-horse carts.

Since the Border Troops during their service constantly encountered various violators at the border, including armed ones and as part of groups with whom they often had to fight, the degree of preparedness of all categories of border guards was good, and the combat readiness of such units as the border outpost and the border post , the ship was actually constantly full.

At 4 o'clock Moscow time on June 22, 1941, German aviation and artillery simultaneously carried out massive fire strikes along the entire length of the state border of the USSR from the Baltic to the Black Seas on military and industrial facilities, railway junctions, airfields and seaports on the territory of the USSR to a depth of 250 - 300 kilometers from the state border. Armadas of fascist planes dropped bombs on peaceful cities of the Baltic republics, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Crimea. Border ships and boats, together with other vessels of the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, entered into the fight against enemy aircraft with their anti-aircraft weapons.

Among the objects at which the enemy launched fire strikes were positions of covering troops and locations of the Red Army, as well as military camps of border detachments and commandant’s offices. As a result of the enemy's artillery preparation, which lasted from one to one and a half hours in various sectors, units and units of the covering troops and border detachment units suffered losses in manpower and equipment.

The enemy struck a short but powerful artillery strike on the border outpost towns, as a result of which all wooden buildings were destroyed or engulfed in fire, a significant part of the defensive structures built near the border outpost towns were destroyed, and the first wounded and killed border guards appeared.

On the night of June 22, German saboteurs damaged almost all wire communication lines, which disrupted the control of border units and Red Army troops.

Following air and artillery strikes, the German High Command moved its invasion forces along a front of 1,500 kilometers from the Baltic Sea to the Carpathian Mountains, having in the first echelon 14 tank, 10 mechanized and 75 infantry divisions with a total of 1 million 900 thousand troops equipped with 2500 tanks , 33 thousand guns and mortars, supported by 1200 bombers and 700 fighters.

At the time of the enemy attack, there were only border outposts on the state border and behind them, 3–5 kilometers away, there were separate rifle companies and rifle battalions of troops performing the task of operational cover, as well as defensive structures of fortified areas.

The divisions of the first echelons of the covering armies were located in areas 8-20 kilometers away from their assigned deployment lines, which did not allow them to deploy in a timely manner into battle formation and forced them to engage in battle with the aggressor separately, in parts, unorganized and with large losses in personnel and military equipment.

The course of military operations at the border outposts and their results were different. When analyzing the actions of border guards, it is imperative to take into account the specific conditions in which each outpost found itself on June 22, 1941. They depended to a large extent on the composition of the advanced enemy units attacking the outpost, as well as on the nature of the terrain along which the border passed and the directions of action of the strike groups of the German army.

For example, a section of the state border with East Prussia ran along a plain with a large number of roads, without river barriers. It was in this sector that the powerful German Army Group North turned around and struck. And on the southern section of the Soviet-German front, where the Carpathian Mountains rose and the San, Dniester, Prut, and Danube rivers flowed, the actions of large groups of enemy troops were difficult, and the conditions for the defense of border outposts were favorable.

In addition, if the outpost was located in a brick building rather than a wooden one, then its defensive capabilities were significantly increased. It must be taken into account that in densely populated areas, with land plots well developed for agriculture, building a platoon strong point for the outpost presented great organizational difficulties, and therefore it was necessary to adapt premises for defense and build covered firing points near the outpost.

On the last night before the war, the border units of the western border districts carried out enhanced security of the state border. Some of the personnel of the border outposts were on the border section in border guards, the main personnel were in platoon strongholds, and several border guards remained in the outpost premises to protect them. The personnel of the reserve units of the border commandant's offices and detachments were located in the premises at the place of their permanent deployment.

For the commanders and Red Army soldiers who saw the concentration of enemy troops, what was unexpected was not the attack itself, but the power and cruelty of the air raid and artillery strikes, as well as the massive number of moving and firing armored vehicles. There was no panic, fuss or aimless shooting among the border guards. Something that we had been waiting for a whole month happened. Of course, there were losses, but not from panic and cowardice.

Ahead of the main forces of each German regiment, shock forces moved up to a platoon with sappers and reconnaissance groups on armored personnel carriers and motorcycles with the tasks of eliminating border patrols, capturing bridges, establishing the positions of the Red Army covering troops, and completing the destruction of border outposts.

In order to ensure surprise, these enemy units in some sections of the border began to advance during the period of artillery and aviation preparation. To complete the destruction of the personnel of the border outposts, tanks were used, which, being at a distance of 500 - 600 meters, fired at the strongholds of the outposts, remaining out of the reach of the outpost's weapons.

The first to discover the crossing of the state border by the reconnaissance units of the Nazi troops were the border guards who were on duty. Using pre-prepared trenches, as well as folds of terrain and vegetation as cover, they engaged the enemy and thereby gave a signal of danger. Many border guards died in battle, and the survivors retreated to strongholds of the outposts and became involved in defensive actions.

On the river border areas, the enemy's advanced units sought to capture bridges. Border patrols to guard bridges were sent out in groups of 5-10 people with a light and sometimes a heavy machine gun. In most cases, border guards prevented the enemy's advanced groups from seizing bridges.

The enemy used armored vehicles to seize bridges, crossed their advanced units on boats and pontoons, surrounded and destroyed border guards. Unfortunately, the border guards did not have the opportunity to blow up the bridges across the border river and they fell to the enemy intact. In the battles to hold bridges on border rivers the rest also took part personnel outpost, which inflicted serious losses on enemy infantry, but was powerless against enemy tanks and armored vehicles.

Thus, while defending the bridges across the Western Bug River, the entire personnel of the 4th, 6th, 12th and 14th border outposts of the Vladimir-Volynsky border detachment died. The 7th and 9th border outposts of the Przemysl border detachment also died in unequal battles with the enemy, protecting bridges over the San River.

In the zone where the attack groups of the Nazi troops were advancing, the advanced enemy units were stronger in numbers and weapons than the border outpost, and, moreover, included tanks and armored personnel carriers. In these directions, border outposts could hold back the enemy for only one to two hours. The border guards repelled the enemy infantry attack with machine gun and rifle fire, but enemy tanks, after destroying the defensive structures with cannon fire, broke into the outpost stronghold and completed their destruction.

In some cases, the border guards managed to knock out one tank, but in most cases they were powerless against armored vehicles. In the unequal fight with the enemy, almost all of the outpost's personnel died. The border guards who were in the basements of the brick buildings of the outposts held out the longest, and while continuing to fight, they died, blown up by German landmines.

But the personnel of many outposts continued to fight with the enemy from the outpost strong points to the last man. These battles continued throughout June 22, and individual outposts fought surrounded by battle for several days.

For example, the 13th outpost of the Vladimir-Volyn border detachment, relying on strong defensive structures and favorable terrain conditions, fought surrounded by battle for eleven days. The defense of this outpost was facilitated by the heroic actions of the garrisons of the pillboxes of the fortified area of ​​the Red Army, who, during the period of artillery and aviation preparation of the enemy, prepared for defense and met him with powerful fire from guns and machine guns. In these pillboxes, commanders and Red Army soldiers defended themselves for many days, and in some places for more than a month. German troops were forced to bypass this area, and then, using toxic fumes, flamethrowers and explosives, destroy the heroic garrisons.

Having joined the ranks of the Red Army, together with it the border guards bore the brunt of the fight against the German invaders, fought against his intelligence agents, reliably protected the rear of the Fronts and Armies from attacks by saboteurs, destroyed groups that had broken through and the remnants of encircled enemy groups, everywhere showing heroism and KGB ingenuity , perseverance, courage and selfless devotion to the Soviet Motherland.

To summarize, it must be said that on June 22, 1941, the fascist German command launched a monstrous military machine against the USSR, which attacked the Soviet people with particular cruelty, which had neither measure nor name. But in this difficult situation, the Soviet border guards did not flinch. In the very first battles, they showed boundless devotion to the Fatherland, unshakable will, and the ability to maintain steadfastness and courage, even in moments of mortal danger.

Many details of the battles of several dozen border outposts remain unknown, as do the fates of many border defenders. Among the irretrievable losses of border guards in the battles in June 1941, more than 90% were “missing in action.”

Not intended to repel armed invasion regular troops enemy, the border outposts held firm under the pressure of the superior forces of the German army and its satellites. The death of the border guards was justified by the fact that, by dying as entire units, they provided access to the defensive lines of the Red Army cover units, which in turn ensured the deployment of the main forces of the Armies and Fronts and ultimately created the conditions for the defeat of the German armed forces and the liberation of the peoples of the USSR and Europe from fascism.

For the courage and heroism shown in the first battles with the Nazi invaders on the state border, 826 border guards were awarded orders and medals of the USSR. 11 border guards were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, five of them posthumously. The names of sixteen border guards were assigned to the outposts where they served on the day the war began.

Here are just a few episodes of fighting on that first day of the war and the names of the heroes:

Platon Mikhailovich Kubov

The name of the small Lithuanian village of Kybartai became widely known to many Soviet people on the very first day of the Great Patriotic War - a border outpost was located nearby, which selflessly entered into an unequal battle with a superior enemy.

On that memorable night, no one slept at the outpost. Border patrols continually reported the appearance of Nazi troops near the border. With the first explosions of enemy shells, the fighters took up a perimeter defense, and the head of the outpost, Lieutenant Kubov, with a small group of border guards went to the site of the firefight. Three columns of Nazis were heading towards the outpost. If he and his group take the fight here, try to delay the enemy as much as possible, the outpost will have time to prepare well for the meeting with the invaders...

A handful of fighters under the command of 27-year-old Lieutenant Platon Kubov, carefully disguised, repelled enemy attacks for several hours. All the fighters died one after another, but Kubov continued to fire from the machine gun. We've run out of ammunition. Then the lieutenant jumped on his horse and rushed to the outpost.

The small garrison became one of the many outpost-fortresses that blocked, even if only for hours, the enemy’s path. The border guards of the outpost fought until the last bullet, until the last grenade...

In the evening to the smoking ruins border outpost local residents came. Among the piles of dead enemy soldiers, they found the mutilated bodies of the border guards and buried them in a mass grave.

Several years ago, the ashes of the Kubov heroes were transferred to the territory of the newly rebuilt outpost, which on August 17, 1963 was named after P. M. Kubov, a communist, a native of the village of Revolutionary, Kursk region.

Alexey Vasilievich Lopatin

In the early morning of June 22, 1941, shell explosions thundered in the courtyard of the 13th outpost of the Vladimir-Volyn border detachment. And then planes with a fascist swastika flew over the outpost. War! For 25-year-old Alexei Lopatin, a native of the village of Dyukova, Ivanovo region, it began literally from the first minute. Lieutenant, graduated two years earlier military school, commanded the outpost.

The Nazis hoped to crush the small unit right away. But they miscalculated. Lopatin organized a strong defense. The group sent to the bridge over the Bug prevented the enemy from crossing the river for more than an hour. Every single one of the heroes died. The Nazis attacked the defense at the outpost for more than a day, failing to break the resistance of the Soviet soldiers. Then the enemies surrounded the outpost, deciding that the border guards would surrender on their own. But machine guns still hindered the advance of Nazi columns. On the second day, a company of SS men was scattered, abandoned to small garrison. On the third day, the Nazis sent a fresh unit with artillery to the outpost. By this time, Lopatin had hidden his soldiers and the families of the command staff in a secure basement of the barracks and continued the battle.

On June 26, Nazi guns rained down fire on the ground part of the barracks. However, new fascist attacks were again repulsed. On June 27, thermite shells rained down on the outpost. The SS men hoped to force the Soviet soldiers out of the basement with fire and smoke. But again the wave of Nazis rolled back, met by well-aimed shots from the Lopatinites. On June 29, women and children were sent out from under the ruins, and the border guards, including the wounded, remained to fight to the end.

And the battle continued for another three days, until the ruins of the barracks collapsed under heavy artillery fire...

The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded by the Motherland to the brave warrior, candidate party member Alexei Vasilyevich Lopatin. His name was given to one of the outposts on the western border of the country on February 20, 1954.

Fedor Vasilievich Morin

The birch tree at the third blockhouse stood like a wounded soldier with a crutch, leaning on a hanging branch broken by a shell fragment. The earth trembled around, black smoke hung over the ruins of the outpost. The howl had lasted for more than seven hours.

Since the morning, the outpost had no telephone connection with headquarters. There was an order from the head of the detachment to retreat to the rear lines, but the messenger sent from the commandant’s office did not reach the outpost, struck by a stray bullet. And Lieutenant Fyodor Marin did not even think about retreating without an order.

Rus, give up! - the fascists shouted.

Marin gathered the seven remaining fighters in the blockhouse, hugged and kissed each one.

“Better death than captivity,” the commander told the border guards.

“We will die, but we will not give up,” he heard in response.

Put on your caps! Let's go in full uniform.

They loaded their rifles with the last rounds of ammunition, embraced once again and went towards the enemy. Marin sang “Internationale”, the soldiers took it up, and the fire rang out: “This is our last and decisive battle...”

Two days later, a fascist sergeant major, captured by soldiers of a Red Army battalion, told how the Nazis were dumbfounded when they heard the revolutionary anthem through the roar.

Lieutenant Fedor Vasilyevich Morin, posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, is still serving as border guard today. His name was given to the outpost he commanded on September 3, 1965.

Ivan Ivanovich Parkhomenko

Awakened at dawn on June 22, 1941 by the roar of artillery cannonade, the head of the outpost, Senior Lieutenant Maksimov, jumped on his horse and rushed to the outpost, but before reaching it, he was seriously wounded. The defense was led by political instructor Kiyan, but he soon died in a battle with the Nazis. Sergeant Major Ivan Parkhomenko took command of the outpost. Following his instructions, the machine gunners and riflemen fired accurately at the Nazis crossing the Bug and tried to prevent them from reaching our shore. But the enemy's superiority was too great...

The fearlessness of the foreman gave the border guards strength. Parkhomenko invariably appeared where the battle was particularly fierce, where his courage and commanding will were needed. A fragment of an enemy shell did not miss Ivan. But even with a broken collarbone, Parkhomenko continued to lead the battle.

The sun was already at its zenith when the trench in which the last defenders of the outpost were concentrated was surrounded. Only three people could shoot, including the sergeant major. Parkhomenko had his last grenade left. The Nazis were approaching the trench. The sergeant major, gathering his strength, threw a grenade towards the approaching car, killing three officers. Bleeding, Parkhomenko slid to the bottom of the trench...

Up to a company of Nazis was destroyed by the soldiers of the border outpost under the command of Ivan Parkhomenko, at the cost of their lives they delayed the enemy’s advance for eight hours.

Eternal glory and memory to the Heroes!!! We remember you!!!

Article 2. How the Minister of the Third Reich declared war on the USSR

The tragedy of June 1941 has been studied inside and out. And the more it is studied, the more questions remain.

Today I would like to give the floor to an eyewitness of those events.

His name is Valentin Berezhkov. He worked as a translator. Translated for Stalin. He left a book of magnificent memoirs.

His memories are truly priceless.

As they tell us, Stalin was afraid of Hitler. He was afraid of everything and therefore did nothing to prepare for war. And they also lie that everyone, including Stalin, was confused and scared when the war began.

And here's how it really happened.

As Foreign Minister of the Third Reich, Joachim von Ribbentrop declared war on the USSR.

"Suddenly at 3 o'clock in the morning, or at 5 a.m. Moscow time (it was already Sunday, June 22), the phone rang. An unfamiliar voice announced that Reich Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop was waiting for Soviet representatives in his office at the Foreign Office on Wilhelmstrasse. Already from this barking unfamiliar voice, from the extremely official phraseology, there was a whiff of something ominous.

Having driven out onto Wilhelmstrasse, from a distance we saw a crowd near the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although it was already dawn, the entrance with a cast-iron canopy was brightly illuminated by floodlights. Photographers, cameramen, and journalists were bustling around. The official jumped out of the car first and opened the door wide. We went out, blinded by the light of Jupiters and the flashes of magnesium lamps. An alarming thought flashed through my head - is this really war? There was no other way to explain such a pandemonium on Wilhelmstrasse, especially at night. Photo reporters and cameramen constantly accompanied us. Every now and then they ran forward and clicked shutters. A long corridor led to the minister's apartment. Along it, standing at attention, were some people in uniform. When we appeared, they loudly clicked their heels, raising their hands in a fascist salute. Finally we found ourselves in the minister's office.

At the back of the room there was a desk, behind which sat Ribbentrop in a casual gray-green ministerial uniform.

When we came close to desk, Ribbentrop stood up, silently nodded his head, extended his hand and invited him to follow him to the opposite corner of the room at the round table. Ribbentrop had a swollen crimson face and dull, as if frozen, inflamed eyes. He walked ahead of us, head down and staggering a little. “Is he drunk?” - flashed through my head. After we sat down and Ribbentrop began to speak, my assumption was confirmed. He apparently really drank heavily.

The Soviet ambassador was never able to present our statement, the text of which we took with us. Ribbentrop, raising his voice, said that now we would talk about something completely different. Stumbling over almost every word, he began to explain rather confusingly that the German government had information regarding the increased concentration of Soviet troops on the German border. Ignoring the fact that over the past weeks the Soviet embassy, ​​on behalf of Moscow, has repeatedly drawn the attention of the German side to flagrant cases of violation of the border of the Soviet Union German soldiers and airplanes, Ribbentrop stated that Soviet soldiers were violating the German border and invading German territory, although in reality there were no such facts.

Ribbentrop further explained that he was briefly summarizing the contents of Hitler’s memorandum, the text of which he immediately handed to us. Ribbentrop then said that the German government viewed the current situation as a threat to Germany at a time when it was waging a life-or-death war with the Anglo-Saxons. All this, Ribbentrop said, is regarded by the German government and the Fuhrer personally as the intention of the Soviet Union to stab the German people in the back. The Fuhrer could not tolerate such a threat and decided to take measures to protect the life and safety of the German nation. The Fuhrer's decision is final. An hour ago, German troops crossed the border of the Soviet Union.

Then Ribbentrop began to assure that these German actions were not aggression, but only defensive measures. After this, Ribbentrop stood up and stretched out to his full height, trying to give himself a solemn appearance. But his voice clearly lacked firmness and confidence when he said the last phrase:

The Fuehrer instructed me to officially announce these defensive measures...

We also got up. The conversation was over. Now we knew that shells were already exploding on our land. After the robbery attack took place, war was officially declared... Nothing could be changed here. Before leaving, the Soviet ambassador said:

This is brazen, unprovoked aggression. You will still regret that you committed a predatory attack on the Soviet Union. You will pay dearly for this..."

And now the end of the scene. Scenes of the declaration of war on the Soviet Union. Berlin. June 22, 1941. Office of Reich Foreign Minister Ribbentrop.

« We turned and headed towards the exit. And then the unexpected happened. Ribbentrop, mincing, hurried after us. He began to patter and whisper that he was personally against this decision of the Fuhrer. He even allegedly dissuaded Hitler from attacking the Soviet Union. Personally, he, Ribbentrop, considers this madness. But he couldn't help it. Hitler made this decision, he didn’t want to listen to anyone...

- Tell Moscow that I was against the attack,” we heard the last words of the Reich Minister when we were already going out into the corridor...”.

My comment: Drunk Ribbentrop and USSR Ambassador Dekanozov, who not only “is not afraid”, but also speaks directly with a completely undiplomatic directness. It is also worth noting that the German “official version” of the start of the war completely coincides with the version of Rezun-Suvorov. More precisely, the London prisoner-writer, traitor-defector Rezun rewrote a version of Nazi propaganda into his books.

Like, poor defenseless Hitler defended himself in June 1941. And they believe this in the West? They believe. And they want to instill this belief in the Russian population. At the same time, Western historians and politicians believe in Hitler only once: June 22, 1941. Neither before nor after they believe him. After all, Hitler said that he attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, solely defending himself from Polish aggression. Western historians believe the Fuhrer only when it is necessary to discredit the USSR-Russia. The conclusion is simple: whoever believes Rezun believes Hitler.

I hope you are beginning to understand a little better why Stalin considered an attack by Germany to be an impossible stupidity.

Afterword. The fate of the heroes in this scene turned out differently.

Joachim von Ribbentrop was hanged by the verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal. Because he knew too much about behind-the-scenes politics on the eve and during the world war.

Vladimir Georgievich Dekanozov– the then USSR Ambassador to Germany was shot by the Khrushchevites in December 1953. After the murder of Stalin, and then the murder of Beria, the traitors did the same thing that happened in 1991: they smashed the security agencies. They purged everyone who knew and who knew how to make politics at the “world level.” And Dekanozov knew a lot (read his biography).

Valentin Mikhailovich Berezhkov lived a difficult and interesting life. I recommend everyone to read his book of memoirs.

Article 3. Why was Germany’s attack on the USSR called “treacherous”?

Today, on the 71st anniversary of the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, I would like to write about an issue that, in my memory, has not become the subject of discussion, although it lies right on the surface.

On July 3, 1941, addressing the Soviet people, Stalin called the Nazi attack “treacherous.”

Below is full text that speech, including an audio recording. But it’s worth starting by looking for an answer to the question: why did Stalin call the attack “treacherous”? Why is it that already on June 22, in Molotov’s speech, when the country learned about the start of the war, Vyacheslav Molotov said: “This unheard-of attack on our country is a treachery unparalleled in the history of civilized peoples.”

What is “treachery”? It means "broken faith." In other words, both Stalin and Molotov characterized Hitler's aggression as an act of “broken faith.” But faith in what? So, Stalin believed in Hitler, and Hitler broke this faith?

How else to perceive this word? The USSR was headed by a world-class politician, and he knew how to call a spade a spade.

I offer one answer to this question. I found it in an article by our famous historian Yuri Rubtsov. He is a doctor historical sciences, Professor at the Military University of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Yuri Rubtsov writes:

“During the entire 70 years that have passed since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, public consciousness is looking for an answer to an apparently very simple question: how did it happen that the Soviet leadership, having seemingly irrefutable evidence of Germany’s preparation of aggression against the USSR, did not fully believe in its possibility and was taken by surprise?

This seemingly simple question is one of those questions to which people endlessly search for an answer. One answer is that the leader became the victim of a large-scale disinformation operation carried out by German intelligence services.

Hitler's command understood that surprise and the maximum force of a blow against the Red Army troops could be ensured only when attacking from a position of direct contact with them.

Tactical surprise during the first strike was achieved only on the condition that the date of the attack was kept secret until the last moment.

On May 22, 1941, as part of the final stage of the operational deployment of the Wehrmacht, the transfer of 47 divisions, including 28 tank and motorized divisions, began to the border with the USSR.

In general, all versions of the purposes for which such a mass of troops are concentrated near the Soviet border boiled down to two main ones:

- to prepare for the invasion of the British Isles, so that here, in the distance, to protect them from attacks by British aircraft;

- to forcefully ensure a favorable course of negotiations with the Soviet Union, which, according to hints from Berlin, were about to begin.

As expected, a special disinformation operation against the USSR began long before the first German military echelons moved east on May 22, 1941.

A. Hitler took a personal and far from formal part in it.

Let's talk about the personal letter that the Fuhrer sent to the leader of the Soviet people on May 14. In it, the presence by that time at the borders of the Soviet Union of about 80 German divisions Hitler explained it by the need to “organize troops away from English eyes and in connection with recent operations in the Balkans.” “Perhaps this gives rise to rumors about the possibility of a military conflict between us,” he wrote, switching to a confidential tone. “I want to assure you—and I give you my word of honor—that this is not true...”

The Fuhrer promised, starting from June 15-20, to begin a massive withdrawal of troops from the Soviet borders to the west, and before that he implored Stalin not to succumb to the provocations that those German generals, who, out of sympathy for England, “forgot about their duty.” “I look forward to meeting in July. Sincerely yours, Adolf Hitler" - on such a “high” note

he concluded his letter.

This was one of the peaks of the disinformation operation.

Alas, the Soviet leadership accepted the Germans' explanations at face value. Trying to avoid war at all costs and not give the slightest pretext for an attack, Stalin last day prohibited bringing troops of border districts into combat readiness. As if the reason for the attack still somehow worried the Nazi leadership...

On the last pre-war day, Goebbels wrote in his diary: “The question regarding Russia is becoming more acute every hour. Molotov asked to visit Berlin, but received a decisive refusal. Naive assumption. This should have been done six months ago..."

Yes, if only Moscow had really become alarmed, at least not six months, but half a month before the hour “X”! However, the magic of confidence that a collision with Germany could be avoided was so possessed by Stalin that, even having received confirmation from Molotov that Germany had declared war, in a directive issued on June 22 at 7 o’clock. 15 min. To repel the invading enemy, he forbade our troops, with the exception of aviation, to cross the German border line.”

This is the document cited by Yuri Rubtsov.

Of course, if Stalin believed Hitler’s letter, in which he wrote “I expect a meeting in July. Sincerely yours, Adolf Hitler,” then it becomes possible to correctly understand why both Stalin and Molotov called the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union with the word “treacherous.”

Hitler “broke the faith” of Stalin...

Here we should, perhaps, dwell on two episodes from the first days of the war.

In recent years, a lot of dirt has been poured on Stalin. Khrushchev lied that Stalin hid in the country and was in shock. The documents don't lie.

Here is the “JOURNAL OF J.V. STALIN’S VISITS IN HIS KREMLIN OFFICE” in June 1941.

Since this historical material prepared for publication by employees working under the leadership of Alexander Yakovlev, who had a certain hatred for Stalin, one cannot doubt the authenticity of the documents cited. They were published in publications:

– 1941: In 2 books. Book 1/ Comp. L. E. Reshin et al. M.: Intern. Democracy Foundation, 1998. - 832 p. - (“Russia. XX century. Documents” / Edited by Academician A. N. Yakovlev) ISBN 5-89511-0009-6;

– The State Defense Committee decides (1941-1945). Figures, Documents. - M.: OLMA-PRESS, 2002. - 575 p. ISBN 5-224-03313-6.

Below you will read the entries “Journal of visits to I.V. Stalin in his Kremlin office” from June 22 to June 28, 1941. The publishers note:

“The dates of receptions of visitors that took place outside Stalin’s office are marked with an asterisk. Sometimes the following errors are found in journal entries: the day of the visit is indicated twice; there are no entry and exit dates for visitors; the sequential numbering of visitors is violated; There are incorrect spellings of surnames.”

So, before you are the real concerns of Stalin in the first days of the war. Note, no dacha, no shock. From the first minutes of meetings and conferences to make decisions and give instructions. In the very first hours, the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was created.

1. Molotov NPO, deputy. Prev. SNK 5.45-12.05

2. Beria NKVD 5.45-9.20

3. Timoshenko NPO 5.45-8.30

4. Mehlis Head. GlavPUR KA 5.45-8.30

5. Zhukov NGSh KA 5.45-8.30

6. Malenkov Secret. Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks 7.30-9.20

7. Mikoyan deputy Prev. SNK 7.55-9.30

8. Kaganovich NKPS 8.00-9.35

9. Voroshilov deputy Prev. SNK 8.00-10.15

10. Vyshinsky et al. MFA 7.30-10.40

11. Kuznetsov 8.15-8.30

12. Dimitrov member. Comintern 8.40-10.40

13. Manuilsky 8.40-10.40

14. Kuznetsov 9.40-10.20

15. Mikoyan 9.50-10.30

16. Molotov 12.25-16.45

17. Voroshilov 10.40-12.05

18. Beria 11.30-12.00

19. Malenkov 11.30-12.00

20. Voroshilov 12.30-16.45

21. Mikoyan 12.30-14.30

22. Vyshinsky 13.05-15.25

23. Shaposhnikov deputy NPO for SD 13.15-16.00

24. Tymoshenko 14.00-16.00

25. Zhukov 14.00-16.00

26. Vatutin 14.00-16.00

27. Kuznetsov 15.20-15.45

28. Kulik deputy NPO 15.30-16.00

29. Beria 16.25-16.45

The last ones left at 16.45

1. Molotov member. GK rates 3.20-6.25

2. Voroshilov member. GK rates 3.20-6.25

3. Beria member. Rates TK 3.25-6.25

4. Tymoshenko member. Main book rates 3.30-6.10

5. Vatutin 1st deputy. NGSh 3.30-6.10

6. Kuznetsov 3.45-5.25

7. Kaganovich NKPS 4.30-5.20

8. Zhigarev teams. VVS KA 4.35-6.10

Last ones out 6.25

1. Molotov 18.45-01.25

2. Zhigarev 18.25-20.45

3. Timoshenko NPO USSR 18.59-20.45

4. Merkulov NKVD 19.10-19.25

5. Voroshilov 20.00-01.25

6. Voznesensky Prev. Gospl., deputy Prev. SNK 20.50-01.25

7. Mehlis 20.55-22.40

8. Kaganovich NKPS 23.15-01.10

9. Vatutin 23.55-00.55

10. Tymoshenko 23.55-00.55

11. Kuznetsov 23.55-00.50

12. Beria 24.00-01.25

13. Vlasik beginning. personal security

Last left 01.25 24/VI 41

1. Malyshev 16.20-17.00

2. Voznesensky 16.20-17.05

3. Kuznetsov 16.20-17.05

4. Kizakov (Len.) 16.20-17.05

5. Zaltsman 16.20-17.05

6. Popov 16.20-17.05

7. Kuznetsov (Kr. m. fl.) 16.45-17.00

8. Beria 16.50-20.25

9. Molotov 17.05-21.30

10. Voroshilov 17.30-21.10

11. Tymoshenko 17.30-20.55

12. Vatutin 17.30-20.55

13. Shakhurin 20.00-21.15

14. Petrov 20.00-21.15

15. Zhigarev 20.00-21.15

16. Golikov 20.00-21.20

17. Shcherbakov section of the 1st MGK 18.45-20.55

18. Kaganovich 19.00-20.35

19. Suprun pilot test. 20.15-20.35

20. Zhdanov member. p/bureau, secret 20.55-21.30

The last ones left at 21.30

1. Molotov 01.00-05.50

2. Shcherbakov 01.05-04.30

3. Peresypkin NKS, deputy. NPO 01.07-01.40

4. Kaganovich 01.10-02.30

5. Beria 01.15-05.25

6. Merkulov 01.35-01.40

7. Tymoshenko 01.40-05.50

8. Kuznetsov NK Navy 01.40-05.50

9. Vatutin 01.40-05.50

10. Mikoyan 02.20-05.30

11. Mehlis 01.20-05.20

Last ones left 05.50

1. Molotov 19.40-01.15

2. Voroshilov 19.40-01.15

3. Malyshev NK Tankoprom 20.05-21.10

4. Beria 20.05-21.10

5. Sokolov 20.10-20.55

6. Tymoshenko Prev. Main book rates 20.20-24.00

7. Vatutin 20.20-21.10

8. Voznesensky 20.25-21.10

9. Kuznetsov 20.30-21.40

10. Fedorenko teams. ABTV 21.15-24.00

11. Kaganovich 21.45-24.00

12. Kuznetsov 21.05.-24.00

13. Vatutin 22.10-24.00

14. Shcherbakov 23.00-23.50

15. Mehlis 20.10-24.00

16. Beria 00.25-01.15

17. Voznesensky 00.25-01.00

18. Vyshinsky et al. MFA 00.35-01.00

Last ones left 01.00

1. Kaganovich 12.10-16.45

2. Malenkov 12.40-16.10

3. Budyonny 12.40-16.10

4. Zhigarev 12.40-16.10

5. Voroshilov 12.40-16.30

6. Molotov 12.50-16.50

7. Vatutin 13.00-16.10

8. Petrov 13.15-16.10

9. Kovalev 14.00-14.10

10. Fedorenko 14.10-15.30

11. Kuznetsov 14.50-16.10

12. Zhukov NGSh 15.00-16.10

13. Beria 15.10-16.20

14. Yakovlev beginning. GAU 15.15-16.00

15. Tymoshenko 13.00-16.10

16. Voroshilov 17.45-18.25

17. Beria 17.45-19.20

18. Mikoyan deputy Prev. SNK 17.50-18.20

19. Vyshinsky 18.00-18.10

20. Molotov 19.00-23.20

21. Zhukov 21.00-22.00

22. Vatutin 1st deputy. NGSh 21.00-22.00

23. Tymoshenko 21.00-22.00

24. Voroshilov 21.00-22.10

25. Beria 21.00-22.30

26. Kaganovich 21.05-22.45

27. Shcherbakov 1st secret. MGK 22.00-22.10

28. Kuznetsov 22.00-22.20

The last ones left at 23.20

1. Voznesensky 16.30-16.40

2. Molotov 17.30-18.00

3. Mikoyan 17.45-18.00

4. Molotov 19.35-19.45

5. Mikoyan 19.35-19.45

6. Molotov 21.25-24.00

7. Mikoyan 21.25-02.35

8. Beria 21.25-23.10

9. Malenkov 21.30-00.47

10. Tymoshenko 21.30-23.00

11. Zhukov 21.30-23.00

12. Vatutin 21.30-22.50

13. Kuznetsov 21.30-23.30

14. Zhigarev 22.05-00.45

15. Petrov 22.05-00.45

16. Sokokoverov 22.05-00.45

17. Zharov 22.05-00.45

18. Nikitin Air Force KA 22.05-00.45

19. Titov 22.05-00.45

20. Voznesensky 22.15-23.40

21. Shakhurin NKAP 22.30-23.10

22. Dementyev deputy NKAP 22.30-23.10

23. Shcherbakov 23.25-24.00

24. Shakhurin 00.40-00.50

25. Merkulov deputy NKVD 01.00-01.30

26. Kaganovich 01.10-01.35

27. Tymoshenko 01.30-02.35

28. Golikov 01.30-02.35

29. Beria 01.30-02.35

30. Kuznetsov 01.30-02.35

The last ones left 02.40

1. Molotov 19.35-00.50

2. Malenkov 19.35-23.10

3. Budyonny deputy. NPO 19.35-19.50

4. Merkulov 19.45-20.05

5. Bulganin deputy Prev. SNK 20.15-20.20

6. Zhigarev 20.20-22.10

7. Petrov Gl. design art. 20.20-22.10

8. Bulganin 20.40-20.45

9. Tymoshenko 21.30-23.10

10. Zhukov 21.30-23.10

11. Golikov 21.30-22.55

12. Kuznetsov 21.50-23.10

13. Kabanov 22.00-22.10

14. Stefanovsky flight tests. 22.00-22.10

15. Suprun pilot test. 22.00-22.10

16. Beria 22.40-00.50

17. Ustinov NK military. 22.55-23.10

18. Yakovlev GAUNKO 22.55-23.10

19. Shcherbakov 22.10-23.30

20. Mikoyan 23.30-00.50

21. Merkulov 24.00-00.15

Last ones left 00.50

And one more thing. Much has been written about the fact that on June 22, Molotov spoke on the radio, announcing the attack of the Nazis and the beginning of the war. Where was Stalin? Why didn't he come forward himself?

The answer to the first question is in the lines of the “Visit Log”.

The answer to the second question, apparently, lies in the fact that Stalin, as the political leader of the country, should have understood that in his speech all the people were waiting to hear the answer to the question “What to do?”

Therefore, Stalin took a break for ten days, received information about what was happening, thought about how to organize resistance to the aggressor, and only after that came out on July 3 not just with an appeal to the people, but with a detailed program for waging war!

Here is the text of that speech. Read and listen to the audio recording of this speech by Stalin. You will find in the text a detailed program, right down to the organization guerrilla actions in occupied territories, hijacking steam locomotives and much more. And this is just 10 days after the invasion.

This is strategic thinking!

The strength of history falsifiers is that they juggle with their own invented cliches that have a given ideological orientation.

Read the documents better. They contain true Truth and Power...

July 3 marks the 71st anniversary of J.V. Stalin’s legendary speech on the radio. Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov in his last interview called this speech one of the three “symbols” of the Great Patriotic War.

Here is the text of this speech:

“Comrades! Citizens! Brothers and sisters!

Soldiers of our army and navy!

I am addressing you, my friends!

The treacherous military attack of Hitler Germany on our Motherland, launched on June 22, continues, despite the heroic resistance of the Red Army, despite the fact that the best divisions of the enemy and the best units of his aviation have already been defeated and have found their grave on the battlefield, the enemy continues to push forward, throwing new forces to the front. Hitler's troops managed to capture Lithuania, a significant part of Latvia, the western part of Belarus, and part of Western Ukraine. Fascist aviation is expanding the areas of operation of its bombers, bombing Murmansk, Orsha, Mogilev, Smolensk, Kyiv, Odessa, and Sevastopol. A serious danger looms over our Motherland.

How could it happen that our glorious Red Army surrendered a number of our cities and regions to fascist troops? Are the fascist German troops really invincible troops, as the fascist boastful propagandists tirelessly trumpet?

Of course not! History shows that there are no invincible armies and never have been. Napoleon's army was considered invincible, but it was defeated alternately by Russian, English, and German troops. Wilhelm's German army during the first imperialist war was also considered an invincible army, but it was defeated several times by Russian and Anglo-French troops and was finally defeated by Anglo-French troops. The same must be said about the current Nazi German army of Hitler. This army has not yet encountered serious resistance on the continent of Europe. Only on our territory did it meet serious resistance. And if, as a result of this resistance, the best divisions of the Nazi army were defeated by our Red Army, then this means that Hitler’s fascist army can and will be defeated just as the armies of Napoleon and Wilhelm were defeated.

As for the fact that part of our territory was nevertheless captured by fascist German troops, this is mainly explained by the fact that the war of fascist Germany against the USSR began under favorable conditions for the German troops and unfavorable ones for the Soviet troops. The fact is that the troops of Germany, as a country waging war, were already completely mobilized and the 170 divisions abandoned by Germany against the USSR and moved to the borders of the USSR were in a state of full readiness, waiting only for a signal to move, while the Soviet troops needed more mobilize and move closer to the borders. Of no small importance here was the fact that fascist Germany unexpectedly and treacherously violated the non-aggression pact concluded in 1939 between it and the USSR, regardless of the fact that it would be recognized by the whole world as the attacking party. It is clear that our peace-loving country, not wanting to take the initiative to violate the pact, could not take the path of treachery.

It may be asked: how could it happen that the Soviet government agreed to conclude a non-aggression pact with such treacherous people and monsters as Hitler and Ribbentrop? Was there a mistake made here by the Soviet government? Of course not! A non-aggression pact is a peace pact between two states. This is exactly the kind of pact Germany offered us in 1939. Could the Soviet government refuse such a proposal? I think that not a single peace-loving state can refuse a peace agreement with a neighboring power, if at the head of this power are even such monsters and cannibals as Hitler and Ribbentrop. And this, of course, is subject to one indispensable condition - if the peace agreement does not affect either directly or indirectly the territorial integrity, independence and honor of the peace-loving state. As you know, the non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR is just such a pact. What did we win by concluding a non-aggression pact with Germany? We provided our country with peace for a year and a half and the opportunity to prepare our forces to fight back if Nazi Germany risked attacking our country contrary to the pact. This is a definite win for us and a loss for Nazi Germany.

What did Nazi Germany win and lose by treacherously breaking the pact and attacking the USSR? She achieved by this some advantageous position for her troops during short term, but she lost politically, exposing herself in the eyes of the whole world as a bloody aggressor. There can be no doubt that this short-term military gain for Germany is only an episode, and the enormous political gain for the USSR is a serious and long-term factor on the basis of which the decisive military successes of the Red Army in the war with Nazi Germany should unfold.

That is why our entire valiant army, our entire valiant navy, all our falcon pilots, all the peoples of our country, all best people Europe, America and Asia, finally, all the best people in Germany condemn the treacherous actions of the German fascists and sympathize with the Soviet government, approve of the behavior of the Soviet government and see that our cause is just, that the enemy will be defeated, that we must win.

Due to the war imposed on us, our country entered into a mortal battle with its worst and insidious enemy - German fascism. Our troops are heroically fighting an enemy armed to the teeth with tanks and aircraft. The Red Army and Red Navy, overcoming numerous difficulties, selflessly fight for every inch of Soviet land. The main forces of the Red Army, armed with thousands of tanks and aircraft, enter the battle. The bravery of the Red Army soldiers is unparalleled. Our resistance to the enemy is growing stronger and stronger. Together with the Red Army, the entire Soviet people are rising to defend the Motherland. What is required in order to eliminate the danger looming over our Motherland, and what measures must be taken to defeat the enemy?

First of all, it is necessary for our people, the Soviet people, to understand the full depth of the danger that threatens our country, and to renounce complacency, from carelessness, from the mood of peaceful construction, which is quite understandable in the past. wartime, but disastrous at the present time, when the war has radically changed the situation. The enemy is cruel and unforgiving. His goal is to seize our lands, watered by our sweat, to seize our bread and our oil, obtained by our labor. It aims to restore the power of the landowners, restore tsarism, destroy the national culture and national statehood of Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Uzbeks, Tatars, Moldovans, Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis and other free peoples of the Soviet Union, their Germanization, their transformation into slaves of German princes and barons. Thus, the matter is about the life and death of the Soviet state, about the life and death of the peoples of the USSR, about whether the peoples of the Soviet Union should be free or fall into enslavement. It is necessary that the Soviet people understand this and stop being carefree, that they mobilize themselves and reorganize all their work on a new, military basis, not knowing mercy to the enemy.

It is further necessary that in our ranks there is no place for whiners and cowards, alarmists and deserters, so that our people do not know fear in the struggle and selflessly go to our Fatherland War of Liberation against the fascist enslavers. The great Lenin, who created our state, said that the main quality of Soviet people should be courage, bravery, ignorance of fear in struggle, readiness to fight together with the people against the enemies of our Motherland. It is necessary that this magnificent quality of the Bolshevik become the property of millions and millions of the Red Army, our Red Navy and all the peoples of the Soviet Union. We must immediately restructure all our work on a military basis, subordinating everything to the interests of the front and the tasks of organizing the defeat of the enemy. The peoples of the Soviet Union now see that German fascism is indomitable in its furious anger and hatred of our Motherland, which has ensured free labor and prosperity for all working people. The peoples of the Soviet Union must rise to defend their rights, their land against the enemy.

The Red Army, the Red Navy and all citizens of the Soviet Union must defend every inch of Soviet land, fight to the last drop of blood for our cities and villages, and show the courage, initiative and intelligence characteristic of our people.

We must organize comprehensive assistance to the Red Army, ensure intensive replenishment of its ranks, ensure that it is supplied with everything necessary, organize the rapid advance of transports with troops and military supplies, and extensive assistance to the wounded.

We must strengthen the rear of the Red Army, subordinating all our work to the interests of this cause, ensure the enhanced work of all enterprises, produce more rifles, machine guns, guns, cartridges, shells, aircraft, organize the protection of factories, power plants, telephone and telegraph communications, and establish local air defense .

We must organize a merciless fight against all sorts of disorganizers of the rear, deserters, alarmists, rumor mongers, destroy spies, saboteurs, enemy paratroopers, providing prompt assistance to our destroyer battalions in all this. It must be borne in mind that the enemy is insidious, cunning, and experienced in deception and spreading false rumors. You need to take all this into account and not give in to provocations. It is necessary to immediately bring before a military tribunal all those who, with their alarmism and cowardice, interfere with the cause of defense, regardless of their faces.

In the event of a forced withdrawal of units of the Red Army, it is necessary to hijack the entire rolling stock, not leave a single locomotive or a single carriage to the enemy, not leave a single kilogram of bread or a liter of fuel to the enemy. Collective farmers must drive away all livestock and hand over the grain for safekeeping. government agencies to transport it to the rear areas. All valuable property, including non-ferrous metals, bread and fuel, which cannot be exported, must be absolutely destroyed.

In areas occupied by the enemy it is necessary to create partisan detachments, horse and foot, create sabotage groups to fight units of the enemy army, to incite guerrilla warfare everywhere and everywhere, to blow up bridges, roads, damage telephone and telegraph communications, set fire to forests, warehouses, and carts. In occupied areas, create unbearable conditions for the enemy and all his accomplices, pursue and destroy them at every step, and disrupt all their activities.

The war with Nazi Germany cannot be considered an ordinary war. It is not only a war between two armies. At the same time, it is a great war of the entire Soviet people against the Nazi troops. The goal of this nationwide Patriotic War against the fascist oppressors is not only to eliminate the danger looming over our country, but also to help all the peoples of Europe groaning under the yoke of German fascism. We will not be alone in this war of liberation. In this great war, we will have faithful allies in the people of Europe and America, including the German people, enslaved by Hitler’s bosses. Our war for the freedom of our Fatherland will merge with the struggle of the peoples of Europe and America for their independence, for democratic freedoms. It will be a united front of peoples standing for freedom, against enslavement and the threat of enslavement by Hitler's fascist armies. In this regard, the historic speech of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, on assistance to the Soviet Union and the declaration of the US government on its readiness to provide assistance to our country, which can only evoke a feeling of gratitude in the hearts of the peoples of the Soviet Union, are quite understandable and indicative.

Comrades! Our strength is incalculable. The arrogant enemy will soon be convinced of this. Together with the Red Army, many thousands of workers, collective farmers, and intellectuals are rising to war against the attacking enemy. The millions of our people will rise up. The working people of Moscow and Leningrad have already begun to create a militia of many thousands to support the Red Army. In every city that is threatened by an enemy invasion, we must create such a people's militia, rouse all working people to fight in order to defend their freedom, their honor, their Motherland with their breasts in our Patriotic War against German fascism.

In order to quickly mobilize all the forces of the peoples of the USSR, to repel the enemy who treacherously attacked our Motherland, the State Defense Committee was created, in whose hands all power in the state is now concentrated. The State Defense Committee has begun its work and calls on all the people to rally around the party of Lenin-Stalin, around the Soviet government for selfless support of the Red Army and Red Navy, to defeat the enemy, for victory.

All our strength is in support of our heroic Red Army, our glorious Red Navy!

All the forces of the people are to defeat the enemy!

Forward, for our victory!”

Another speech by Stalin at the beginning of the War

Stalin's speech at the end of the war

June 8, 1942.

Article 4. Russian spirit

The fury of Russian resistance reflects the new Russian spirit, backed by newfound industrial and agricultural power

Last June, most Democrats agreed with Adolf Hitler - in three months the Nazi armies would enter Moscow and the Russian case would be similar to the Norwegian, French and Greek. Even the American communists trembled in their Russian boots, believing in Marshal Timoshenko, Voroshilov and Budyonny less than in generals Moroz, Dirt and Slush. When the Germans got stuck, their fellow travelers who had lost faith returned to their previous beliefs, a monument to Lenin was unveiled in London, and almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief: the impossible had happened.

The purpose of Maurice Hindus' book is to show that the impossible was inevitable. The fury of Russian resistance, he said, reflected the new Russian spirit, backed by newfound industrial and agricultural power.

Few observers of post-revolutionary Russia can speak about this more competently. Among American journalists, Maurice Gershon Hindus is the only professional Russian peasant (he arrived in the United States as a child).

After four years at Colgate University and graduate school at Harvard, he managed to maintain a slight Russian accent and a close connection with the good Russian soil. “I am,” he sometimes says, spreading his arms in Slavic style, “a peasant.”

Fu-fu, smells like Russian spirit

When the Bolsheviks began to "liquidate the kulaks [successful farmers] as a class," journalist Hindus traveled to Russia to see what was happening to his fellow peasants. The fruit of his observations was the book “Humanity Uprooted,” a bestseller whose main thesis is that forced collectivization is hard, deportation to the Far North for forced labor is even harder, but collectivization is the greatest economic restructuring in human history ; it changes the face of the Russian land. She is the future. Soviet planners were of the same opinion, giving the journalist Hindus unusual opportunities to observe the emergence of a new Russian spirit.

In Russia and Japan, he, relying on his direct knowledge, answers a question that may well decide the fate of the Second World War. What is this new Russian spirit? It's not that new. “Fu-fu, it smells like the Russian spirit! Previously, the Russian spirit had never been heard of, never seen before. Nowadays the Russian is rolling around the world, catching your eye, hitting you in the face.” These words are not taken from Stalin's speech. The old witch named Baba Yaga says them all the time in ancient Russian fairy tales.

Grandmothers whispered them to their grandchildren when the Mongols burned the surrounding villages in 1410.

They repeated them when the Russian spirit expelled the last Mongol from Muscovy twenty years before Columbus discovered New World. They probably repeat them today.

Three forces

By “the power of an idea,” Hindus means that in Russia owning private property has become a social crime. “The concept of the deep depravity of private enterprise has penetrated deeply into the consciousness of people - especially, of course, young people, that is, those who are twenty-nine or younger, and there are one hundred and seven million of them in Russia.”

By "force of organization" the author Hindu means the total control of the state over industry and agriculture, so that every peacetime function actually becomes military function. “Of course, the Russians never hinted at the military aspects of collectivization, and so foreign observers remained completely unaware of this element of the vast and brutal agricultural revolution. They emphasized only those consequences that related to the conduct agriculture and society... However, without collectivization they would not have been able to wage the war as effectively as they are waging it.”

“The power of the machine” is an idea in the name of which an entire generation of Russians denied themselves food, clothing, cleanliness and even the most basic amenities. “Like the power of a new idea and a new organization, it saves the Soviet Union from dismemberment and destruction by Germany.” “In the same way,” the author Hindus believes, “she will save him from the encroachments of Japan.”

Asian glacier

His arguments are less interesting than his analysis of Russian power in the Far East.

Russia's Wild East, stretching three thousand miles from Vladivostok, is quickly becoming one of the world's largest industrial belts. Among the most fascinating sections on Russia and Japan are those in which the legend that Siberia is an Asian glacier or exclusively a place of hard labor is destroyed. In fact, Siberia produces both polar bears and cotton, and has large modern cities, such as Novosibirsk ("Siberian Chicago") and Magnitogorsk (steel), and is also the center of Russia's gigantic arms industry. Hindu believes that even if the Nazis reach Ural mountains, and the Japanese - to Lake Baikal, Russia will still remain a powerful industrial state.

No to a separate world

In addition, he believes that the Russians will not agree to a separate peace under any circumstances. After all, they are not just waging a war for liberation. In the form of a war of liberation they continue the revolution. “Too vivid to forget are the memories of the sacrifices that people made for every machine, every locomotive, every brick for the construction of new factories... Butter, cheese, eggs, white bread, caviar, fish, which were supposed to there are them and their children; the textiles and leather from which clothes and shoes were to be made for them and their children were sent abroad... to obtain the currency that was used to pay for foreign cars and foreign services... Indeed, Russia is waging a nationalist war; the peasant, as always, fights for his home and his land. But today's Russian nationalism is based on the idea and practice of Soviet or collectivized control over the "means of production and distribution" while Japanese nationalism is based on the idea of ​​veneration of the Emperor.

Directory

The somewhat emotional judgments of the author Hindus are surprisingly confirmed by the book of the author Yugov, “The Russian Economic Front in Peace and Wartime.” Not such a friend of the Russian revolution as the author Hindus, the economist Yugov - former employee State Planning Committee of the USSR, who now prefers to live in the USA. His book on Russia is much more difficult to read than the book by the author Hindus, and contains more facts. It does not justify the suffering, death and oppression that Russia had to pay for its new economic and military power.

He hopes that one of the results of the war for Russia will be a turn towards democracy - the only system under which, in his opinion, economic planning can truly work. But the author Yugov agrees with the author Hindus in his assessment of why the Russians fight so fiercely, and it is not a matter of “geographical, everyday variety” of patriotism.

“The workers of Russia,” he says, “are fighting against a return to the private economy, against a return to the very bottom of the social pyramid... The peasants are persistently and actively fighting Hitler, because Hitler would return the old landowners or create new ones according to the Prussian model. Numerous nationalities of the Soviet Union are fighting because they know that Hitler is destroying all opportunities for their development...”

“And finally, all citizens of the Soviet Union go to the front to fight resolutely until victory, because they want to defend those undoubtedly magnificent - although inadequately and insufficiently implemented - revolutionary achievements in the field of labor, culture, science and art.. There are many claims and demands from workers, peasants, various nationalities and all citizens of the Soviet Union against the dictatorial regime of Stalin, and the struggle for these demands will not stop for a day. But at present, for the people, the most important task is to protect their country from an enemy who personifies social, political and national reaction.”

Article 5. The Russians come for theirs. Sevastopol - a prototype of Victory

Miraculously, the day of the liberation of Sevastopol coincides with the day of the Great Victory. In the May waters of the Sevastopol bays, to this day we can see the reflection of the fiery Berlin sky and the Victory Banner in it.

Undoubtedly, in the solar ripples of those waters one can discern the reflection of other victories to come.

“No name in Russia is pronounced with more reverence than Sevastopol” - these words belong not to a Russian patriot, but to a fierce enemy, and they are not pronounced with the intonation that suits our hearts.

Colonel General Karl Allmendinger, appointed on May 1, 1944, commander of the 17th German Army, which repelled the offensive operation of the Soviet troops, addressing the army, said: “I received an order to defend every inch of the Sevastopol bridgehead. You understand its meaning. Not a single name in Russia is pronounced with more reverence than Sevastopol... I demand that everyone defend in the full sense of the word, that no one retreat, that they hold every trench, every crater, every trench... The bridgehead is heavily equipped in engineering throughout its entire depth respect, and the enemy, wherever he appears, will become entangled in the network of our defensive structures. But none of us should even think about retreating to these positions located in the depths. The 17th Army in Sevastopol is supported by powerful air and sea forces. The Fuhrer gives us enough ammunition, aircraft, weapons and reinforcements. The honor of the army depends on every meter of the assigned territory. Germany expects us to do our duty."

Hitler ordered to hold Sevastopol at any cost. In fact, this is an order - not a step back.

In a sense, history repeated itself in a mirror image.

Two and a half years earlier, on November 10, 1941, an order was issued by the commander of the Black Sea Fleet F.S. Oktyabrsky, addressed to the troops of the Sevastopol defensive region: “The glorious Black Sea Fleet and the fighting Primorsky Army are entrusted with the protection of the famous historical Sevastopol... We are obliged to transform Sevastopol into an impregnable fortress and on the outskirts of the city to exterminate more than one division of presumptuous fascist scoundrels... We have thousands of wonderful fighters, a powerful Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol coastal defense, glorious aviation. Together with us, the battle-hardened Primorsky Army... All this gives us complete confidence that the enemy will not pass, will break his skull against our strength, our might..."

Our army has returned.

Then, in May 1944, Bismarck's long-standing observation was once again confirmed: do not expect that once you take advantage of Russia's weakness, you will receive dividends forever.

Russians always return their...

II

In November 1943, Soviet troops successfully carried out the Lower Dnieper operation and blocked Crimea. The 17th Army was then commanded by Colonel General Erwin Gustav Jäneke. The liberation of Crimea became possible in the spring of 1944. The start of the operation was scheduled for April 8.

It was the eve of Holy Week...

For most contemporaries, the names of fronts, armies, unit numbers, names of generals, and even marshals, no longer say anything or almost nothing.

It happened like in a song. Victory is one for all. But let's remember.

The liberation of Crimea was entrusted to the 4th Ukrainian Front under the command of Army General F. I. Tolbukhin, the separate Primorsky Army under the command of Army General A. I. Eremenko, the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Admiral F. S. Oktyabrsky and the Azov Military Flotilla under the command of Rear Admiral S.G. Gorshkov.

Let us remember that the 4th Ukrainian Front included: the 51st Army (commanded by Lieutenant General Ya. G. Kreizer), the 2nd guards army(commanded by Lieutenant General G.F. Zakharov), 19th Tank Corps (commanded by Lieutenant General I.D. Vasiliev; he will be seriously wounded and on April 11 he will be replaced by Colonel I.A. Potseluev), 8th Air Army (Commander Colonel General of Aviation, renowned ace T. T. Khryukin).

Every name is a significant name. Everyone has years of war behind them. Others began their battle with the Germans back in 1914-1918. Others fought in Spain, in China, Khryukin had a sunken Japanese battleship to his credit...

On the Soviet side, 470 thousand people, about 6 thousand guns and mortars, 559 tanks and self-propelled guns, and 1,250 aircraft were involved in the Crimean operation.

The 17th Army included 5 German and 7 Romanian divisions - a total of about 200 thousand people, 3,600 guns and mortars, 215 tanks and assault guns, 148 aircraft.

On the German side there was a powerful network of defensive structures, which had to be torn to shreds.

A big victory is made up of tiny victories.

The chronicles of the war contain the names of privates, officers and generals. Chronicles of the war allow us to see the Crimea of ​​that spring with cinematic clarity. It was a blissful spring, everything that could bloom, everything else sparkled with greenery, everything dreamed of living forever. Russian tanks of the 19th Tank Corps had to bring the infantry into the operational space and break into the defense. Someone had to go first, lead the first tank, the first tank battalion into the attack and almost certainly die.

The chronicles tell about the day of April 11, 1944: “The introduction of the main forces of the 19th Corps into the breakthrough was ensured by the lead tank battalion of Major I.N. Mashkarin from the 101st tank brigade. Leading the attackers, I. N. Mashkarin not only controlled the battle of his units. He personally destroyed six cannons, four machine gun emplacements, two mortars, dozens of Nazi soldiers and officers...”

The brave battalion commander died that day.

He was 22 years old, he had already participated in 140 battles, defended Ukraine, fought at Rzhev and Orel... After the Victory, he would be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously). The battalion commander, who broke the defense of Crimea in the Dzhankoy direction, was buried in Simferopol in Victory Square, in a mass grave...

Armada Soviet tanks burst into operational space. On the same day, Dzhankoy was also released.

Simultaneously with the actions of the 4th Ukrainian Front, the Separate Primorsky Army also went on the offensive in the Kerch direction. Its actions were supported by aviation of the 4th Air Army and the Black Sea Fleet.

On the same day, partisans captured the city of Stary Krym. In response, the Germans retreating from Kerch carried out an army punitive operation, killing 584 people, shooting everyone who caught their eye.

Simferopol was cleared of the enemy on Thursday, April 13. Moscow saluted the troops who liberated the capital of Crimea.

On the same day, our fathers and grandfathers liberated the famous resort cities - Feodosia in the east, Yevpatoria in the west. On April 14, Good Friday, Bakhchisarai was liberated, and therefore the Assumption Monastery, where many defenders of Sevastopol who died in the Crimean War of 1854–1856 were buried. On the same day, Sudak and Alushta were liberated.

Our troops swept through Yalta and Alupka like hurricanes. On April 15, Soviet tank crews reached the outer defensive line of Sevastopol. On the same day, the Primorsky Army approached Sevastopol from Yalta...

And this situation was like a mirror reflection of the autumn of 1941. Our troops, preparing for the assault on Sevastopol, stood in the same positions where the Germans and Romanians were at the end of October 1941. The Germans could not take Sevastopol for 8 months and, as Admiral Oktyabrsky predicted, they smashed their skull on Sevastopol.

Russian troops liberated their holy city in less than a month. The entire Crimean operation took 35 days. The actual assault on the Sevastopol fortified area took 8 days, and the city itself was taken in 58 hours.

III

To capture Sevastopol, which could not be liberated immediately, all our armies were united under one command. On April 16, the Primorsky Army became part of the 4th Ukrainian Front. General K. S. Melnik was appointed the new commander of the Primorsky Army. (Eremenko was transferred to the command of the 2nd Baltic Front.)

Changes also occurred in the enemy camp.

General Jenecke was removed on the eve of the decisive assault. It seemed advisable to him to leave Sevastopol without a fight. Jenecke had already survived the Stalingrad cauldron. Let us remember that in the army of F. Paulus he commanded an army corps. In the Stalingrad cauldron, Jeneke survived only thanks to his dexterity: he simulated a serious injury from shrapnel and was evacuated. Yeneke also managed to evade the Sevastopol cauldron. He did not see any point in defending Crimea under the blockade. Hitler thought differently. The next unifier of Europe believed that after the loss of Crimea, Romania and Bulgaria would want to leave the Nazi bloc. On May 1, Hitler deposed Jenecke. General K. Allmendinger was appointed commander-in-chief of the 17th Army.

IV

From Sunday 16 April to 30 April, Soviet forces made repeated attempts to breach the defences; achieved only partial success.

The general assault on Sevastopol began on May 5 at noon. After a powerful two-hour artillery and aviation preparation, the 2nd Guards Army under the command of Lieutenant General G.F. Zakharov fell from the Mekenzi Mountains to the North Side area. Zakharov’s army had to enter Sevastopol, crossing the Northern Bay.

The troops of the Primorsky and 51st armies, after an hour and a half of artillery and aviation preparation, went on the offensive on May 7 at 10:30 am. The Primorsky Army operated in the main direction Sapun Gora - Karan (village Flotskoye). East of Inkerman and the Fedyukhin Heights, the attack on Sapun Mountain (this is the key to the city) was led by the 51st Army... Soviet soldiers it was necessary to break through the multi-tiered fortification system...

Hundreds of bombers of the Hero of the Soviet Union, General Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin, were irreplaceable.

By the end of May 7, Sapun Mountain became ours. The assault red flags were raised to the top by privates G.I. Evglevsky, I.K. Yatsunenko, Corporal V.I. Drobyazko, Sergeant A.A. Kurbatov... Sapun Mountain is the forerunner of the Reichstag.

V

The remnants of the 17th Army, several tens of thousands of Germans, Romanians and traitors to their homeland, gathered at Cape Chersonesos, hoping for evacuation.

In a certain sense, the situation of 1941 was repeated, repeated in a mirror image.

On May 12, the entire Chersonesos peninsula was liberated. The Crimean operation is completed. The peninsula presented a monstrous picture: the skeletons of hundreds of houses, ruins, fires, mountains of human corpses, mangled equipment - tanks, planes, guns...

A captured German officer testifies: “...we were constantly receiving reinforcements. However, the Russians broke through the defenses and occupied Sevastopol. Then the command gave a clearly belated order - to hold powerful positions on Chersonesus, and in the meantime try to evacuate the remnants of the defeated troops from the Crimea. Up to 30,000 soldiers have accumulated in our area. Of these, it was hardly possible to remove more than one thousand. On the tenth of May I saw four ships enter Kamyshevaya Bay, but only two came out. Two other transports were sunk by Russian aircraft. Since then I have not seen any more ships. Meanwhile, the situation became more and more critical... the soldiers were already demoralized. Everyone fled to the sea in the hope that maybe in last minute any ships would appear... Everything was mixed up, and chaos reigned all around... It was a complete disaster for the German troops in the Crimea.”

+++

On May 10, at one in the morning (at one in the morning!) Moscow saluted the liberators of the city with 24 salvos from 342 guns.

It was a victory.

This was a harbinger of the Great Victory.

The Pravda newspaper wrote: “Hello, dear Sevastopol! Favorite city of the Soviet people, hero city, hero city! The whole country joyfully greets you!” "Hello, dear Sevastopol!" – the whole country repeated then.

Article 6. Memo for June 22

But when reminded of this event on TV, you usually hear about a “preventive strike”, “Stalin is no less to blame for the war than Hitler”, “why did we get involved in this unnecessary war”, “Stalin was an ally of Hitler” and other vile nonsense.

Therefore, I consider it necessary to once again briefly recall the facts, because the flow of Artistic Truth, that is, vile nonsense, does not stop.

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked us without declaring war.. She attacked deliberately, after long and careful preparation. Attacked by superior forces.

That is, it was blatant, undisguised and unmotivated aggression. Hitler made no demands or claims. He did not urgently try to scrape out troops from anywhere for a “preemptive strike” - he simply attacked. That is, he staged an act of obvious aggression.

On the contrary, we had no intention of attacking. We did not carry out or even begin mobilization, no orders were given for an offensive or preparation for it. We fulfilled the terms of the non-aggression pact.

That is, we are a victim of aggression, without any options.

The non-aggression pact is not an alliance treaty. So the USSR was never(!) an ally of Nazi Germany.

The Non-Aggression Pact is just that, a Non-Aggression Pact, no less, but no more. It did not give Germany the opportunity to use our territory for military operations, and did not lead to the use of our armed forces in hostilities with Germany’s opponents.

So all the talk about the alliance of Stalin and Hitler is either a lie or nonsense.

Stalin fulfilled the terms of the treaty and did not attack - Hitler violated the terms of the treaty and attacked.

Hitler attacked without making any claims or conditions, without giving the opportunity to resolve everything peacefully, so the USSR had no choice whether to enter the war or not. The war was imposed on the USSR without asking consent. And Stalin had no choice but to fight.

And it was impossible to resolve the “contradictions” between the USSR and Germany. After all, the Germans did not seek to seize the disputed territory or change the terms of the peace agreements in their favor.

The goal of the Nazis was the destruction of the USSR and genocide of the Soviet people. It just so happened that communist ideology, in principle, did not suit the Nazis. And it just so happened that in a place that represented “necessary living space” and intended for the harmonious settlement of the German nation, some Slavs brazenly lived. And all this was clearly voiced by Hitler.

That is, the war was not about redrawing treaties and border lands, but about destroying Soviet people. And the choice was simple - die, disappear from the map of the Earth, or fight and survive.

Was Stalin trying to avoid this day and this choice? Yes! I tried.

The USSR made every effort to prevent war. Tried to stop the division of Czechoslovakia, tried to create a system of collective security. But the contractual process is complicated because it requires the consent of all contracting parties, and not just one of them. And when it turned out to be impossible to stop the aggressor at the beginning of the path and save all of Europe from war, Stalin began to try to save his country from war. Withhold from war at least until readiness for defense is achieved. But we managed to win only two years.

So on June 22, 1941, the might of the strongest army and one of the strongest economies in the world fell upon us without a declaration of war. And this power had the goal of destroying our country and our people. No one was going to negotiate with us - only destroy us.

On June 22, our country and our people accepted a battle that they did not want, although they were preparing for it. And they endured this terrible, difficult battle, breaking the back of the Nazi beast. And they received the right to live and the right to remain themselves.

Article 7. Russians are best at making friends and fighting.

June 22. Russians are best at making friends and fighting.

June 22. Russia – USA: Before the fight

Everyone remembers what the result of the negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama looked like. The leaders of the two countries could not look each other in the eye. The moment of truth has arrived. Details of the meeting between the leaders of the two countries are beginning to leak out and many previously unclear things are becoming clear. Why both presidents didn't have a face. Today we can say with confidence that today the two powers are closer than ever to fatal actions.

Everything turned out to be very simple. Realizing the impossibility of pushing through a resolution on Syria necessary for war in the UN Security Council, Washington is relying on exerting pressure or striking Iran. In the end, it is not Syria that interests Washington, but Iran. The United States is transferring troops to Kuwait, from here to the border with Iran is only 80 kilometers. The very troops that Obama promised to withdraw from Afghanistan will now be redeployed to Kuwait. The first 15 thousand military personnel have already received orders to redeploy.

There is a travel mood in the editorial offices of Western media. Everything is moving towards a serious deterioration of the situation.

President Vladimir Putin said quite a lot in his own words, saying that he would not go into intelligence with anyone, joking that he “hasn’t served for a long time.”

The world did not understand his joke, but was wary.

In this joke, as in all others, there is some truth, sometimes a very large part. In general, it was necessary to listen carefully to what the Russian president was saying.

It seems that the US Marines are quite seriously planning to act against the Russian paratroopers.

Just thinking about what could happen makes your body break out in a cold sweat. This arrangement of ground forces, too dangerous due to its proximity, is almost guaranteed to end in a clash.

This first step - the redeployment of 15 thousand marines to Kuwait, may not be the most obvious intention, because in the end with such forces you will not start a war, but if this batch of troops is followed by the next one, it will be possible to speak with confidence about the impending threat.

For now, in fact, this redeployment plays more into the hands of Russia than of America. Of course, now oil is creeping up and the risks are becoming higher. Russia will be the main beneficiary in this show, because it is always good to be a seller when the price of your product is high, and, of course, it is unprofitable to buy oil when you yourself have “raised” the price for it.

In this case, the US budget will bear additional burdens.

Another truth in this story is that neither president will be able to back down in this confrontation. If Obama backs down, he will bury his election because Americans don't like weaklings (who does?).

Therefore, Obama will have to come up with something to remain with a “handsome face.”

Putin cannot back down either. In addition to geopolitical interests, there is an expectation among Russian citizens that their president will not give up this time, as he has never given up before. It was not for nothing that they voted for him and entrusted him with building a strong Russia.

Putin cannot deceive the expectations of his citizens, he has indeed never deceived those who voted for him, and it seems that this time he is also going to demonstrate his very advanced qualities as a leader, perhaps even a crisis manager.

The matter could perhaps have been resolved peacefully if the presidents of the two countries had announced some new idea, program, or joint project of the two states. In this case, no one would dare to reproach their president, because two countries would benefit from this, and the whole world would become safer.

Both presidents would benefit here. But such a project still needs to be invented. Judging by the faces of Obama and Putin, there is no such project.

But there are ever-increasing disagreements.

In this case, Obama’s career is in big doubt, Putin’s career is not in danger. Putin has already passed the elections, but Obama still has it ahead.

However, as always in such cases, you need to look at the details. They are sometimes quite eloquent.

Nuclear-powered ships make their first moves

According to some reports, nuclear-powered ships of the two most powerful fleets - the Northern and Pacific - may in the coming days receive a combat mission to take up a strike position in neutral waters off the US mainland. This has happened before, when in 2009 two nuclear-powered missile carriers surfaced in different places off the east coast of the United States. This was done completely deliberately, in order to indicate their presence.

The report of an American journalist, a specialist in military issues, looks strange. Then he said that these boats are not scary because they do not have intercontinental missiles. It remains only to understand why a boat that is located 200 nautical miles from the coast needs intercontinental ballistic missiles if its standard P-39s cover a distance of up to 1,500 nautical miles.

The R-39 solid-fuel missiles with three-stage propulsion engines used by the D-19 complex are the largest submarine-launched missiles with 10 multiple nuclear warheads weighing 100 kilograms each. Even one such missile can lead to global catastrophe for the whole country, 20 units are standardly located on board the Project 941 Akula submarine, which surfaced in 2009. Considering that there were two boats, the optimistic mood of the American commentator of this event is simply incomprehensible.

Where is Georgia and where is Georgia

The question may arise: why talk now about what happened in 2009? I think there are parallels here. On August 5, 2009, when the military events of the 08/08/08 war were still fresh in memory, serious pressure was put on Russia. Orders were dictated almost like a command Russian authorities leave Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Then all events revolved around Georgia. On July 14, 2009, the US Navy destroyer Stout entered Georgian territorial waters. Of course, this is putting pressure on the Russians. It was then, half a month later, that two boats surfaced off the coast of North America.

If one of them was located near Greenland, then the second surfaced right under the nose of the largest naval base. The Norfolk naval base is located only 250 miles northwest of the site of the ascent, but it may be indicative that the boat surfaced closer to the coastline of the state of Georgia (this is the name of the former Georgian SSR, now Georgia, in the English manner.) That is, in some special way these two events may intersect. You sent a ship to us in Georgia (Georgia), so get our submarine from your Georgia.

This looks like some kind of hellish joke that would make no one laugh. With this comparison of events, the author wants to show that there is no need to think that Putin has no choice and must concede in Syria, where the US Navy group is tens of times more representative than the Russian Navy in Tartus, even after the arrival of Russian paratroopers there.

Today the war may be such that having defeated Russia in Syria, you can again be surprised off the coast of Georgia. The Pentagon understands this well. Americans are able to understand well the meaning of what is said, and even better they understand the meaning of what is shown.

Thus, one should not expect Putin to back down from his plans in Syria. The only thing that can force Putin to take a step back is truly normal human relations.

Naive Russians still believe in friendship. The author of these lines is already tired of repeating to his American colleagues and writing in his articles: Russians in general are best at making friends and fighting. Whatever the Russian president chooses to choose from, it will always be done “from the heart and on a grand scale.”

Article 8. The Perfidious West

“Democratic” America surpassed fascist Germany...

Olga Olgina, with whom I am constantly in contact in Hydepark, published an article by Sergei Chernyakhovsky, whom I know from honest, relevant publications.

I read it and thought...

June 22, 1941. I just published an article on my blogs by my friend Sergei Filatov, “Why was the German attack on the USSR called “treacherous”?” And in one comment a blogger – anonymous, no data, I looked into his personal account – writes to me (I keep his spelling):

“On June 22, 1941 at 4:00, Reich Foreign Minister Ribbentrop handed the Soviet Ambassador in Berlin Dekanozov a note declaring war. Officially, the formalities have been completed."

This anonymous person is dissatisfied that we, Russians, call Germany’s attack on our homeland treacherous.

And then I caught myself...

My parents survived June 22, 1941. My father, a colonel, a former cavalryman, was then in Monino. At the aviation school. As they said then, from “horse to engine!” We were preparing personnel for aviation... Dad and Mom experienced the first bombings... and then.... Four terrible years of war!

Why am I saying this?

“Foreign Minister Ribbentrop handed the Soviet ambassador in Berlin Dekanozov a note declaring war. Officially, the formalities have been completed."

Was a note handed to the ambassador of the Libyan Jamahiriya in some capital of some democratic country of the NATO alliance?

Have formalities been officially completed?

There is only one answer - no!

There were no notes, memoranda, letters, there were no formalities.

It turns out that this was a new, humane, democratic war of the humane, democratic West against a sovereign, Arab, African state.

To anyone who begins to hint to me about the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which supposedly gave the NATO alliance the right to this war, I will say - and I will be supported by all international lawyers who still have a conscience: make a tube out of the paper of this resolution and insert it in one place . This resolution did not give anyone any right in any letter. Everything was invented, composed, distributed, and therefore cast in bronze! Steadfast like the Statue of Liberty!

I really like one image of her that I found on the Internet: the statue, unable to withstand the mockery of America and its partners against freedom and human rights, covers its face with its hands. She's ashamed!

Why is it embarrassing?

Because there was no declaration of war. And no one can talk about the treachery of the West in relation to the Jamahiriya and personally to its leader, with whom every Western politician - and thousands of photographs confirm this - sought to kiss personally.

Kiss of Judas!

Now each of us knows what it is!

I kissed you - and now anything is possible!

No notes or formalities!

And now I come to the most important thing: if the West is chattering at every corner that it is ready to strike Syria, then, forgive me, will the formalities be observed? Will notes declaring war be delivered IN ADVANCE to Syrian ambassadors in Western capitals?

Oh, there are no ambassadors anymore?

And there is no one to give it to?

What a shame!

It turns out that the smart, cunning West has surpassed Hitler. Now you can attack, bomb, kill, commit any atrocities WITHOUT DECLARING WAR!

And no treachery!

Now read Chernyakhovsky’s article, which Olgina published.

"Democratic" America surpassed Nazi Germany...

The situation in the world is now worse than it was in 1938-1939. Only Russia can stop the war

On June 22, we remember the tragedy. We mourn the dead. We are proud of those who took the blow and responded to it, as well as the fact that, having received this terrible blow, the people gathered their strength and crushed the one who inflicted it. But all this is turned to the past. And society has long forgotten the thesis that kept the world from war for 50 years - “The forty-first year should not be repeated,” and it was kept not by repetition, but by practical implementation.

Sometimes even quite pro-Soviet-oriented people and political figures (not to mention those who consider themselves subjects of other countries) express skepticism about the overload of the USSR economy with military expenditures, and sneer at the “Ustinov Doctrine” - “The USSR must be ready to wage a simultaneous war with any two other powers” ​​(meaning the USA and China) and claim that it was the adherence to this doctrine that undermined the economy of the USSR.

Whether it was torn or not is a big question, because until 1991, in the vast majority of industries, output was growing. But why the store shelves turned out to be empty, but were immediately filled with products in just two weeks after it was allowed to arbitrarily increase prices on them - this is another question for other people.

Ustinov actually advocated this approach. But he did not formulate it: in world politics the status great country has long been defined through the ability to wage a simultaneous war with any two other countries. And Ustinov knew why he defended it: because on June 9, 1941, he accepted the post of People's Commissar of Armaments of the USSR and knew what it cost to arm the army when it was already forced to fight an under-armed war. And with all the changes in the title of the position, he remained in it until he became Minister of Defense - until 1976.

Then, at the end of the 80s, it was announced that the USSR’s weapons were no longer needed, that the Cold War was over, and that now no one was threatening us. The Cold War has a very important virtue: it is not “hot”. But as soon as it ended, “hot” wars began in the world, and now in Europe.

However, no one has attacked Russia yet – from among the independent countries and directly. But, firstly, it has already been repeatedly attacked by “small military entities” - under the instructions and with the support large countries. Secondly, the big ones did not attack mainly because Russia still had the weapons that were created in the USSR, and, with all the decomposition of the army, state and economy, these weapons were enough to repeatedly destroy any of them individually and all together. But after the creation of the American missile defense system, this situation will no longer exist.

Despite the fact that the current situation in the world is not much better, or rather, not at all better situation, which took shape both before 1914 and before 1939-41. The conversation that if the USSR (Russia) stops opposing the West, disarms and abandons its socio-economic system, then the threat of world war will disappear and everyone will live in peace and friendship cannot even be considered bewilderment. This is an outright lie aimed at the moral capitulation of the USSR, in particular because most wars in history were wars not between countries with different socio-political systems, but between countries with a homogeneous system. In 1914, England and France were not much different from Germany and Austria-Hungary, and monarchical Russia fought on the side not of the latter monarchies, but of the British and French democracies.

In the 30s, the leader of fascist Italy, Benito Mussolini, was one of the first to call for the creation of a system of European collective security to repel possible Hitlerite aggression, and he agreed to an alliance with the Reich only when he saw that England and France were refusing to create such a system. And the Second began world war not from the war of capitalist countries with the socialist USSR, but from conflicts and wars between capitalist countries. And the immediate cause was the war between two not just capitalist, but fascist countries - Germany and Poland.

To believe that there cannot be a war between the USA and Russia because both of them today, let’s be careful, are “non-socialist”, is simply being captive of the aberrations of consciousness. By 1939, Hitler had conflicts not so much with the USSR, but with countries socially similar to him, and these conflicts were fewer than those in which the United States is already involved today.

Hitler then sent troops into the demilitarized Rhine Zone, which, however, was located on the territory of Germany itself. He carried out the Anschluss of Austria, formally - peacefully on the basis of the will of Austria itself. With the consent of the Western powers, he seized the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, and then captured Czechoslovakia itself. And he participated on the side of Franco in the Spanish Civil War. There are four conflicts in total, one of which is actually armed. And everyone recognized him as the aggressor and said that war was on the doorstep.

USA and NATO today:

1. Twice they carried out aggression against Yugoslavia, dismembered it into parts, seized part of its territory and destroyed it as a single state.

2. Invaded Iraq, overthrew the national government and occupied the country, establishing a puppet regime there.

3. They did the same in Afghanistan.

4. Prepared, organized and unleashed the war of the Saakashvili regime against Russia and took it under open protection after the military defeat.

5. They carried out aggression against Libya, subjected it to barbaric bombings, overthrew the national government, killed the leader of the country, and brought a generally barbaric regime to power.

6. Untied civil war in Syria, they are practically participating in it on the side of their satellites, preparing military aggression against the country.

7. Threatening war against sovereign Iran.

8. Overthrew national governments in Tunisia and Egypt.

9. They overthrew the national government in Georgia and installed a puppet dictatorial regime there, and in fact occupied the country. Up to and including depriving her of the right to speak native language: now the main requirement in Georgia when applying for civil service and when receiving a diploma higher education– Fluency in the US language.

10. Partially accomplished the same thing or tried to do it in Serbia and Ukraine.

A total of 13 acts of aggression, 6 of which were direct military interventions. Against four, including one armed, Hitler had by 1941. The words pronounced are different - the actions are similar. Yes, the United States can say that in Afghanistan it acted in self-defense, but Hitler could also say that in the Rhineland he acted in defense of German sovereignty.

It seems absurd to compare the democratic United States with fascist Germany, but this does not make it any easier for the Libyans, Iraqis, Serbs and Syrians killed by the Americans. In terms of the scale and number of acts of aggression, the United States has long and far surpassed Hitler's Germany in the pre-war era. Only Hitler, paradoxically, was much more honest: he sent his soldiers into battle, sacrificing their lives for him. The United States basically sends its mercenaries, and they themselves strike from almost around the corner, killing the enemy from planes from a safe position.

The United States, as a result of its geopolitical offensive, committed three times more acts of aggression and unleashed six times more military acts of aggression than Hitler did in the pre-war period. And the point in this case is not which of them is worse (although Hitler looks almost like a moderate politician against the backdrop of non-stop US wars in recent years), but that the situation in the world is worse than it was in 1938-39 . The leading and hegemony-seeking country carried out more aggression than a similar country by 1939. Acts of Hitler's aggression were relatively local and concerned mainly adjacent territories. US acts of aggression are widespread throughout the world.

In the 1930s, there were several relatively equal centers of power in the world and Europe, which, with a successful combination of circumstances, could prevent aggression and stop Hitler. Today there is one center of power striving for hegemony and many times superior in its military potential to almost all other participants in world political life.

The danger of a new world war is greater today than in the second half of the 1930s. The only factor that makes it unrealistic for now is Russia’s deterrent capabilities. Not the other nuclear powers (their potential for this is insufficient), but Russia. And this factor will disappear in a few years, when the American missile defense system is created.

Maybe war is inevitable. Maybe she won't exist. But it will not happen only if Russia is ready for it. The whole situation is developing too much like the beginning of the twentieth century and the 1930s. The number of military conflicts involving leading countries of the world is growing. The world is heading towards war.

Russia has no other choice: it must prepare for it. Transfer the economy to a war footing. Look for allies. Re-equip the army. Destroy enemy agents and fifth column.

Here is an article by Sergei Chernyakhovsky. Let me add: of course, it should not happen again. But if it happens again, then the first blows, vile, treacherous, and there is no other way to call them, will fall on peaceful Syrian cities and villages...

How it happened to the cities and villages of the Soviet Union.