Kulik, the most incompetent marshal of the Soviet Union? In fact, he is not incompetent, but framed by Zhukov

In the early days of the Soviet-German War, there were many generals in the Soviet Union who were demoted or even executed because of unfavorable work and panic. But the only marshal who was beaten to the end was Grigory Ivanovich Kulik.

He has been charged with many crimes in history, such as shortsightedness, incompetence in command, weakness and timidity, and most of these charges are blamed by Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov. So how true these accusations are, we will analyze them today.

One. The conservative Kulik

Grigory Ivanovich Kulik was an old Bolshevik, born in a peasant family in 1890, he was like most Soviet generals at first All were low-ranking officers in the Tsarist army. After joining the Red Army, he was the artillery commander. In the Battle of Tsaritsyn, he was the artillery commander of the 14th Army of the Red Army.

The key to victory or defeat in this battle is the concentrated use of artillery firepower, and a sudden fire attack on the white army preparing to launch a general offensive. It can be said that this is entirely the credit of Kulik, which also made Kulik start to stand out, and later became the artillery commander of the First Cavalry Army.

In June 1921, Kulik was appointed as the Artillery General Staff of the North Caucasus Military Region. After graduating from the Higher Military School in 1924, he became the Chief Assistant to the Artillery of the Red Army. In October 1925, he served as the vice chairman of the Military Industrial Committee of the Supreme Economic Committee. From November 1926 to November 1929, he was appointed as the director of the Soviet Red Army Ordnance Bureau.

After 1930, he entered the Frunze Military Academy for advanced studies. After graduation, he served as the commander-in-chief and political commissar of the 3rd Army. In 1935, the Soviet Union restored the military rank system and was awarded the rank of commander on November 20. From 1936 to 1937, the pseudonym General Cooper participated in the Spanish Civil War as a Soviet adviser. He returned to the Soviet Union in May 1937. He was awarded the rank of the second group army on June 14 and served as the artillery chief.

It should be pointed out that Kulik is a conservative officer. His knowledge of tanks and submachine guns is indeed conservative . On the one hand, tanks and submachine guns were indeed not highly valued at that time. . Before the French campaign in 1940, tanks were regarded as vassals of cavalry forces, so Kulik’s view was not wrong.

On the other hand, he believes that under the current road conditions in Russia, more attention should be paid to self-propelled artillery than tanks. He believes that this is more in line with the actual needs of the Soviet Union. But Kulik did not oppose the tank, even he supported the development of the tank.

If you consider the speed of equipment replacement and production of the Soviet armed forces during Kulik’s tenure, Kulik’s management capabilities are desirable. In terms of equipment production and procurement, he did not oppose the T34 tank. The often said Kulik did not oppose the T34. just felt that the T34’s armor was not good enough and the space utilization rate was poor.

So in this regard, Kulik asked for rectification of the T34 tank, but in the end it was nothing. Then since Kulik’s ability is not a problem, why would there be conflicts between him and Zhukov?

Two. The contradiction between Zhukov and Kulik

In fact, the contradiction between Zhukov and Kulik was caused by Zhukov's battle of fame, Normenhan Battle. The history of Russian warfare is called the Battle of the Haraha River. At that time Zhukov was transferred to deal with the Japanese Kwantung Army, and the fighting between the two sides was fierce.

At that time, Zhukov’s use of armored soldiers can be said to be suicidal. allowed the 11th Tank Brigade and the 149th Motorized Infantry Regiment to attack independently without the cover of infantry. The troops suffered heavy losses. The 11th Tank Brigade longYakovlev and Suminov, commander of the 149th Motorized Infantry Regiment, were killed in action.

According to the decryption of war history, the Soviet army lost 392 tanks and armored vehicles in the entire Battle of Normanhan, but this figure does not include repeated maintenance, so In fact, some more tanks and armored vehicles may be added, about 150 tanks and armored vehicles.

So the losses of the Soviet army became what we saw later, those frightening figures- The Soviet army killed 9703 people in battle, 15251 people were injured, 701 people were sick, and a total loss of 25,655 People, cars, tractors, transport vehicles: 692, 397 tanks and armored vehicles, 207 fighters lost.

During the battle, Zhukov’s staff reported to Moscow that Zhukov’s command made a mistake and caused serious losses to the troops. Moscow naturally attaches great importance to it, because this battle at Nomenham will be related to the future and the situation between the Soviet Union and Japan, so Moscow sent Kulik to lead an investigation team to investigate Zhukov. After

came, Kulik found that Zhukov was completely unilaterally letting the tank launch an attack, without the slightest cover. This hasty offense caused Kulik's strong dissatisfaction. After all, Zhukov's many losses should not be in the eyes of Kulik.

But Zhukov’s mind is also more active. First, Kulik sent a report to Moscow, saying that Kulik influenced his command in Nomenham and asked Moscow to Kulik and his investigation team were transferred back.

Moscow considers that there is now a fierce battle in Nomenham, and Kulik is obviously not suitable there, especially when it will be a taboo for soldiers to change, so it is transferred back to Kulik. But although Kulik was transferred back, the contradiction between the two sides formed.

After the Battle of Nomenhan, Zhukov was transferred to the General Staff, and his contact with Kulik became more frequent. So there is such a situation, where Kulik agrees, Zhukov will oppose it. Zhukov would agree to any Kulik objected. Conversely, Kulik treated Zhukov in the same way.

So the relationship between the two parties is getting worse and worse. Anyway, neither of them looked at each other very pleasingly. Kulik thinks that Zhukov is a Bonapartist hidden in the Soviet army, while Zhukov thinks that Kulik is an old stubborn in the army and does not understand modern warfare.

And the other big conflict between the two sides before the war was about the issue of the new border fortification zone. Because at the meeting of the General Staff from the end of 1940 to April 1941, the high-level Soviet army had repeatedly discussed whether to build a fortification zone on the old border line, also known as the Stalin Line The weapons in the fortification zone were taken down and sent to the new border.

Kulik thinks it is feasible, because at that time the Soviet military department had heavy tasks and it was impossible to complete these additional production plans on time, so let the fortress equipment that is no longer available to play a role on the new border feasible. Zhukov opposed this approach, believing that the old fortification zones may play a role in the future, and it is irresponsible to dismantle them now.

According to the actual situation at the time, Kulik's approach may not be wrong, and Stalin also recognized his approach, so it is difficult for us to say Kulik wrong. If it is true that there is a misjudgment of the situation, then the person who misjudged is not only Kulik, so it cannot be said that it is Kulik's fault.

But Zhukov remembered this, so his dissatisfaction with Kulik increased again. If there is a chance, Zhukov will obviously retaliate.

Three. Zhukov’s Conspiracy

On the day of the outbreak of the German-Soviet War, Kulik, as a representative of the Supreme Command, was dispatched to the Western Front to command frontline battles. On June 23, he flew to Bialystok and served as the commander of the 3rd and 10th Army and organized a mechanized counterattack.

However, his 10th Army was surrounded by the Nazi German Army shortly afterwards and lost contact with the general headquarters. He was not found until two weeks later. For this reason, he contacted General Meretskov and Vannikov. , Pavlov first-level generals were arrested.

However, Kulik's luck was good, and he was soon released again, and began to command the independent 54th Army, which belongs to the base camp directly under the army, and its strength exceeds the general army, so it is not wronged by Kulik.

But unfortunately, the commander in Leningrad at the time was no longer Kulik’s old comrade Voroshilov, but Zhukov. After Zhukov learned that it was his old enemy Kulik who commanded the 54th Army of the Independent, the first order was for Kulik to launch an attack on the Mga protrusion.

If on the surface, there is nothing wrong with this order. Let the powerful independent 54th Group Army attack the Mga Bulge and dispel Leninger. Threat to the flanks. But Zhukov's order actually hides murderous intentions.

At that time, Loeb led a powerful northern army group to storm Leningrad, A German infantry corps and two armored divisions just occupied Shlisselburg, which cut off Leningrad’s contact with the outside world. If the 54th Independent Army launches an offensive again, Volkhov will certainly not be protected, because Volkhov is about 70 kilometers away from Mga in a straight line.

At this time, the 54th Independence Army held a position on the west bank of Lake Ladoga, very close to Leningrad on the north bank. It is the shortest distance on a straight line. If you consider the siege of Leningrad, then keeping Volkhov is equivalent to keeping Leningrad’s traffic line.

Then from this perspective, it is not difficult for us to understand why Kulik refused to execute Zhukov’s offensive order. Because the offensive means the loss of Leningrad's peripheral communication lines. Once the communication lines are lost, then Leningrad is destined to be breached.

And the ultimate condition for Leningrad to remain standing is that the Soviet and German forces repeatedly competed for the outer lines of communication. Although the life channel on Ladoga Lake is dangerous and fragile, it has maintained Leningrad’s combat effectiveness.

Then if we look at this, Zhukov’s offensive order, if it’s not that he really doesn’t understand the form, then he intends to really kill Kulik. Because of Kulik’s attack, he will inevitably fail. The typical example of

was the subsequent relief offensive against Leningrad in 1942-the Sinivian Offensive. The Second Assault Army launched an attack along this route, and the result was devastated.

Obviously, Zhukov would not know that such an offensive is a dead end, so letting the 54th Independent Army attack is clearly not wanting Kulik to stay here. Kulik will certainly not attack, so he will disobey the order. Then Zhukov could justifiably report Kulik to Moscow, saying that Kulik disobeyed the military order and must withdraw.

In this way, Kulik will be completely beaten into the cold palace. You can imagine how insidious Zhukov's intentions are. And Kulik was indeed relieved of his military power for this, and eventually received an undue punishment. Incidentally, after Kulik was transferred from the 54th Independent Army, this offensive order was cancelled.

结语

It can be seen that Kulik was actually framed by Zhukov. This Zhukov himself was a person who was too arrogant and small, and Kulik was the one killed by him.

There were many generals who failed in the war, and Kulik was not Pavlov, so naturally he should not have such a fate, but unfortunately because of Zhukov’s frame, he had bad luck afterwards. This has to be said. A pity.

References: "Reminiscences and Thinking"

"East advance · Soviet-German War"

"World War II Decryption"