* war and social upheaval: World War II -- biographies Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov








World War II Biographies: Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov (Russian, 1897-1974)


Figure 1.--.

Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov (Zukov) was a Soviet military commander during World war II. He was arguably the finest Soviet field commander of the War. He might be described as the most successful army commanders of World War II, in part because of the overall imprtance of the Eastern Front and the key operations that he commanded. Zukov was born into a peasant family in Strelkovka, Kaluga Province. He was apprenticed to work in Moscow. During World war I he was conscripted into a dragoon regiment as a private (1915). He was a decorated soldier, awarded the St.George Cross twice and promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer for bravery in battle. He joined the Communist Party after the October Revolution (1917). In Tsarist Russia his peasant background ws a detriment. In Soviet Russia it was an assett. He contracted typhus. After recovering he fought in the civil war (1918-1920). He was awarded the Order of the Battle Red Banner for subduing a peasant revolt. He rose steadily in thec Red Army, avoiding Stalin's purges (1930s). He was an early advocate of tank warfare, alough his concept of tactics was at first weak. He was best known for detailed planning and tough discipline. He oversaw some of the most important battles of the War: Lenningrad (1941), Moscow (1941), and Stalingrad (1941-42). He was given the honor of taking Berlin. a feat accomplished at enormous cost (1945). After the War, Stalin resented his enormous popularity and basically exiled him.

Parents

Zukov was born into a peasant family in Strelkovka, Kaluga Province.

Childhood

He was apprenticed to work in Moscow.

Education


Early Military Career

During World war I he was conscripted into a dragoon regiment as a private (1915). He was a decorated soldier, awarded the St.George Cross twice and promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer for bravery in battle. He joined the Communist Party after the October Revolution (1917). In Tsarist Russia his peasant background ws a detriment. In Soviet Russia it was an assett. He contracted typhus. After recovering he fought in the civil war (1918-1920). He was awarded the Order of the Battle Red Banner for subduing a peasant revolt. He rose steadily in thec Red Army, avoiding Stalin's purges (1930s). He was an early advocate of tank warfare, alough his concept of tactics was at first weak. He was best known for detailed planning and tough discipline.

World War II

Georgi Konstantinovich Zhukov (Zukov) was a Soviet military commander during World war II. He was arguably the finest Soviet field commander of the War. He might be described as the most successful army commanders of World War II, in part because of the overall imprtance of the Eastern Front and the key operations that he commanded. He oversaw some of the most important battles of the War. Stalin turned to him at every critical point on the Eastern Front. [Roberts] He helped save Lenningrad (Seotember 1941). He oversaw the vital Red Armny offensive before Moscow (October 1941). It was Zukov who planned Operation Uranus that trapped the German 6th Army in Stalingrad (November 1942). Zukov oversaw the Soviet operations at Kiev (July 1943). Zukov and Manstein dueld after Kiev in vast sweeping movemrnts. Gradually German losses ahd the arrival of American supplies chnginged the ballance of forces. Increasing numbers of Soviet tanks and American Lend Lease trucjs gave the Red Army the mobility it had previously lacked which greatly imorived the capabilities of rghe armies Zykov commanded. Stalin given him the honor of taking Berlin. a feat accomplished at enormous cost (1945).

Cold War

After the War, Stalin resented his enormous popularity and basically exiled him. Khrushcev rehabilitated him, and made him Defense Minister. He became one of the principal rchetechts of Soviet Cold war military strategy, He continued to encounter politicalmproblems. He was again banished. Amazingly he was twice written out of official Soviet mikitary history. [Zhukov] This was an incredible feat fiven his imporance.,

Sources

Roberts, Godfrey. Stalin's Geneal: The Life of Georgy Zhukov (2012).






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Created: 7:19 AM 7/22/2012
Last updated: 7:19 AM 7/22/2012