How to solve Unified State Exam tests on the Great Patriotic War? Battles of the Great Patriotic War. Major battles, operations and battles of the Great Patriotic War

This reference and information collection "Frontiers of the military glory of the Fatherland: people, events, facts", prepared by the team of authors of the Institute of Military History of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, is part of the practical implementation of the State program "Patriotic education of citizens of the Russian Federation for 2001-2005", adopted on 16 February 2001 by the Government of the Russian Federation. The state status of the Program requires for its implementation to combine the efforts of federal executive authorities, executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, scientific, creative, public and other organizations of the country. The program determines the main ways of developing the system of patriotic education of citizens of the Russian Federation.

The content of the Program was based on the Federal Laws of the Russian Federation “On Education”, “On Higher and Postgraduate Professional Education”, “On Military Duty and Military Service”, “On Veterans”, “On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia” , "On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." Law of the Russian Federation “On perpetuating the memory of those killed in defense of the Fatherland”, as well as Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 31, 1999 N 1441 “On approval of the Regulations on the preparation of citizens of the Russian Federation for military service” and the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 10, 2000 No. 24 "On the Concept of National Security of the Russian Federation".

As part of the implementation of this State program, aimed at maintaining socio-political stability in society, restoring the economy and strengthening the country’s defense capability, this work has been prepared. The book briefly presents reference material on the most significant battles and engagements in the military history of Russia, and evaluates military reforms and some prominent Russian military reformers. The work reflects the biographical data of prominent commanders, naval commanders and military leaders of Russia, and military ministers. The work shows the evolution of power structures in Russia and the USSR from ancient times to the beginning of the 21st century. For convenience, the information is given in chronological order. The book is intended for everyone who is interested in the glorious military past of our Motherland.

The most significant battles and battles in the military history of Russia
Until the second half of the 19th century. It was customary to call a battle a decisive clash of the main forces of the warring parties, which unfolded in a limited space and had the character of a mass bloody and relatively fleeting hand-to-hand combat in order to defeat the enemy.

In the wars of the 20th century. a battle is a series of simultaneous and sequential offensive and defensive operations of large groupings of troops in the most important directions or theaters of military operations.

An operation is usually understood as a set of battles, battles, strikes and maneuvers coordinated and interconnected in terms of purpose, objectives, place and time, carried out simultaneously and sequentially according to a single concept and plan to solve problems in a theater of military operations or a strategic direction.

A battle is an integral part of an operation and represents a set of the most important battles and attacks carried out sequentially or simultaneously on the entire front or in a separate direction. Until the beginning of the 20th century. battles were divided into private and general, and in many cases the concept of “battle” was identified with the concepts of “battle” and “battle”.

Battles and battles of the X - early XX centuries. Battle of Dorostol 971
The Kiev prince Svyatoslav in 969 undertook a campaign to Bulgaria. The military successes of the Rus near Philippopolis and Adrianople and the likelihood of creating a strong Russian-Bulgarian state alarmed Byzantium. The commander Tzimiskes with 30 thousand infantry and 15 thousand cavalry opposed Svyatoslav, who had an army of 30 thousand.

On April 23, 971, the Byzantine army approached Dorostol (now the city of Silistria in Bulgaria). On the same day, the first battle took place, which began with an ambush attack by a small Russian detachment on the Byzantine vanguard. Svyatoslav's troops stood in the usual battle formation, shields closed and spears extended. Emperor Tzimisces lined up horsemen in iron armor on the flanks of the infantry, and behind were riflemen and slingers who constantly showered the enemy with stones and arrows. Two days later, the Byzantine fleet approached Dorostol, and Tzimiskes launched an assault on the city walls, but it failed. By the end of the day on April 25, the city was completely surrounded by the Byzantines. During the blockade, Svyatoslav’s warriors made forays more than once, inflicting damage on the enemy.

On July 21, it was decided to give the last battle. The next day the Rus left the city, and Svyatoslav ordered the gates to be locked so that no one could think about escaping. According to the chronicler, before the battle, Svyatoslav addressed the squad with the following words: “Let us not disgrace the Russian lands, but let us lie down with their bones: the dead have no shame.” The battle began with Svyatoslav's warriors attacking the enemy army. By noon, the Byzantines began to gradually retreat. Tzimiskes himself rushed to the aid of the retreating troops with a select detachment of cavalry. To make better use of his numerical superiority, Tzimiskes lured the Rus to the plain with a false retreat. At this time, another detachment of Byzantines came to their rear and cut them off from the city. Svyatoslav's squad would have been destroyed if there had not been a second line of troops behind their battle formation - the "wall" -. The soldiers of the second line turned to the Byzantines, who struck from the rear, and did not allow them to approach the “wall.” Svyatoslav’s army had to fight surrounded, but thanks to the courage of the warriors, the encirclement ring was broken.

The next day, Svyatoslav invited Tzimiskes to begin negotiations. Svyatoslav undertook not to fight with Byzantium, and Tzimiskes had to let the Rus' boats through without hindrance and give two measures of bread to each warrior for the road. After this, Svyatoslav’s army moved home. The treacherous Byzantines warned the Pechenegs that the Rus were coming in a small force and with booty. On the Dnieper rapids, Svyatoslav was ambushed by the Pecheneg Khan Kurei and was killed.

Battle of the Ice 1242
In the early 40s of the 13th century. Swedish feudal lords, taking advantage of the weakening of Rus', decided to seize its northwestern lands, the cities of Pskov, Ladoga, Novgorod. In 1240, a 5,000-strong Swedish landing force on 100 ships entered the Neva and set up camp at the confluence of the Izhora River. The Novgorod prince Alexander Yaroslavich, having gathered 1,500 soldiers, launched a sudden pre-emptive strike against the invading enemy and defeated him. For the brilliant victory, the Russian people named the 20-year-old commander Alexander Nevsky.

The German knights of the Livonian Order (a branch of the Teutonic Order in the Baltic states), taking advantage of the distraction of the Russian army to fight the Swedes, captured Izborsk, Pskov in 1240 and began to advance towards Novgorod. However, troops under the command of Alexander Nevsky launched a counteroffensive and stormed the Koporye fortress on the coast of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, and then liberated Pskov. In the spring of 1242, Russian troops (12 thousand people) reached Lake Peipus, bound by ice. Alexander Nevsky, taking into account the peculiarity of the tactics of the knights, who usually carried out a frontal attack with an armored wedge, called a “pig” in Rus', decided to weaken the center of the combat formation of the Russian army and strengthen the regiments of the right and left hands. He placed the cavalry, divided into two detachments, on the flanks behind the infantry. Behind the “chelo” (the regiment of the center of the battle formation) was the prince’s squad. On April 5, 1242, the crusaders (12 thousand people) attacked the advanced Russian regiment, but got bogged down in a battle with the “brow”. At this time, the regiments of the right and left hands covered the flanks of the “pig”, and the cavalry struck the rear of the enemy, who was completely defeated. As a result of this victory, the knightly expansion to the east was stopped and the Russian lands were saved from enslavement.

Battle of Kulikovo 1380
In the second half of the 14th century. The Principality of Moscow began an open struggle to overthrow the yoke of the Golden Horde. This fight was led by Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich. In 1378, the Russian army under his command on the river. The leader was defeated by a strong Mongol-Tatar detachment of Murza Begich. In response to this, the ruler of the Golden Horde, Emir Mamai, launched a new campaign against Rus' in 1380. The Russian army, led by Dmitry Ivanovich, came out to meet the enemy, who decided to forestall the enemy and not give him the opportunity to unite with the allied army of the Lithuanian prince Jagiello. Before the battle, Russian troops (50-70 thousand people) lined up on the Kulikovo field in a battle formation that had great depth. In front was a guard regiment, behind it was an advanced regiment, in the center was a large regiment and on the flanks were regiments of the right and left hands. Behind the large regiment there was a reserve (cavalry), and in “Green Dubrava” behind the left flank of the main forces there was an ambush regiment. Mamai's army (over 90-100 thousand people) consisted of a vanguard (light cavalry), main forces (infantry in the center, and cavalry deployed in two lines on the flanks) and reserve. On September 8, at 11 o'clock, the guard regiment, in which Dmitry himself was located, dealt a strong blow, crushed the Mongol-Tatar reconnaissance and forced Mamai to begin the battle even before the approach of the Lithuanian army. During the fierce battle, all enemy attempts to break through the center and right wing of the Russian army failed. However, the enemy cavalry managed to overcome the resistance of the left wing of the Russian army and reach the rear of its main forces. The outcome of the battle was decided by a sudden attack by an ambush regiment on the flank and rear of the Mongol-Tatar cavalry that had broken through. As a result, the enemy could not withstand the blow and began to retreat, and then fled. For the victory on the Kulikovo field, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich was nicknamed Donskoy. This victory marked the beginning of the liberation of Rus' from the Golden Horde yoke.

100 years later, in October 1480, the Russian and Golden Horde troops met again, but now on the river. Ugra. All attempts by the enemy to cross to the opposite bank of the river were repulsed, and after a long confrontation he began to retreat, not daring to go on the offensive. This event, which took place on November 12, 1480, marked the complete liberation of Rus' from the yoke of the Golden Horde.

Battle of Molodi 1572
In 1572, the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey, taking advantage of the fact that the main forces of the Russian army were in Livonia, decided to make a lightning raid on Moscow. He gathered significant forces under his banner: strong cavalry detachments of Nogais joined the 60,000-strong horde along the way. Numerous Khan's artillery was served by Turkish gunners. At the disposal of the governor M.I. Vorotynsky there were no more than twenty thousand warriors. But the campaign of the Krymchaks did not come as a surprise to the Russian command. The village and guard service, created shortly before, warned of the approach of the enemy. In July, the Tatars approached Tula and, having crossed the Oka, moved towards Moscow. The commander of the advanced regiment, Prince D.I. Khvorostinin, in the battle at Senka Ford, managed to delay the vanguard of the Tatar army, but when the main forces of the enemy crossed the Oka River, the governor decided to withdraw the regiment.

Prince Vorotynsky, standing at the head of the Great Regiment in Kolomna, decided to use flank attacks to delay the advance of the Tatar horde to the capital, and with his main forces to catch up with the enemy and force a decisive battle on him on the outskirts of Moscow. While Vorotynsky and his main forces were making a roundabout maneuver, the regiments of governors Khvorostinin, Odoevsky and Sheremetev struck at the rear of the Tatar army. Odoevsky and Sheremetev on the Nara River inflicted significant damage on the Tatar cavalry, and on August 7 Khvorostinina defeated the rearguard of the Crimean army, which consisted of selected cavalry detachments. By this time, Voivode Vorotynsky had managed to move the main forces from Kolomna and hid them in a mobile fortress ("walk-city") 45 km from Moscow "on Molodi". When the Tatars arrived there on August 10, they came under heavy artillery fire and suffered significant losses.

The decisive battle took place on August 11. The Tatars launched an assault on the mobile fortress, which was defended by Khvorostinin with small forces. Time after time, Tatar waves rolled onto the walls of the “walk-city”. The archers beat them at point-blank range with arquebuses, and cut down the Tatars with sabers, “children of the boyars.” While the Krymchaks unsuccessfully attacked the hiding archers, Vorotynsky with his main forces quietly reached the rear of the Khan’s army along the bottom of the ravine. At the agreed signal, Khvorostinin opened fire from all arquebuses and cannons, and then launched a sortie. At the same time, Vorotynsky struck from the rear. The Tatars could not withstand the double blow. A panicked retreat began, an example of which was shown by Devlet-Girey himself. The army abandoned by the khan completely scattered. The Russian cavalry rushed after the Tatars, completing a complete rout.

The victory of the Moscow regiments at Molodi permanently eliminated the threat to the southern borders of Rus' from the Crimea.

Heroic defense of Pskov August 1581 - January 1582
Under Tsar Ivan IV (1530-1584), the Russian state waged a fierce struggle: in the southeast - with the Kazan, Astrakhan and Crimean khanates, in the west - for access to the Baltic Sea. In 1552, the Russian army captured Kazan. In 1556-1557 The Astrakhan Khanate and the Nogai Horde recognized vassal dependence on the Russian state, and Chuvashia, Bashkiria and Kabarda voluntarily became part of it. With the security of the southeastern borders secured, it became possible to break the blockade in the west, where the Livonian Order was persistently pushing Russia away from the countries of Western Europe. In January 1558, the Livonian War began, which lasted 25 years.

The troops of the Livonian Order could not resist for long, and in 1560 Livonia fell apart. On its territory the Duchy of Courland and the Bishopric of Riga, dependent on Poland and Sweden, were formed. In 1569, Poland and Lithuania formed a single state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These countries presented a united front against Russia. The war became protracted.

In 1570, Sweden began military operations against the Russians in the Baltic states. Nine years later, the army of the Polish king Stefan Batory captured Polotsk and Velikiye Luki. In August 1581, more than 50,000 troops (according to some sources, about 100,000 people) of Batory surrounded Pskov, which was defended by a 20,000-strong garrison. The defenders repelled all enemy attacks for four and a half months, withstanding more than 30 assaults. Having failed to achieve success near Pskov, Batory was forced on January 15, 1582 to conclude a truce with Russia for 10 years, and a year later a truce was signed between Russia and Sweden, putting an end to the Livonian War.

Liberation of Moscow from Polish invaders in 1612
After the death of Ivan IV in 1584 and his son Fyodor in 1589, the Rurik dynasty was interrupted. The boyars took advantage of this and fought among themselves for power. In 1604, Polish troops invaded Russian territory, and in 1610, the Swedes.

On September 21, 1610, Polish invaders, taking advantage of the betrayal of the boyars, captured Moscow. Residents of the capital and other Russian cities rose up to fight them. In the fall of 1611, on the initiative of the townsman of Nizhny Novgorod, Kozma Minin, a militia (20 thousand people) was created. It was headed by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kozma Minin. At the end of August 1612, the militia blocked the 3,000-strong Polish garrison in Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin, thwarted all attempts of the Polish army (12,000 people) of Hetman Jan Chodkiewicz to release the besieged, and then defeated it. After careful preparation, the Russian militia took Kitay-Gorod by storm on October 22. On October 25, the Poles holed up in the Kremlin released all the hostages, and the next day they capitulated.

With the expulsion of the interventionists from Russia, the restoration of its statehood began. Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected to the throne in 1613. But the struggle with the Poles continued for many years, and only on December 1, 1618, a truce was signed between Russia and Poland.

Battle of Poltava 1709
During the reign of Peter I (1682-1725), Russia faced two difficult problems related to access to the seas - the Black and Baltic. However, the Azov campaigns of 1695-1696, which ended with the capture of Azov, did not completely resolve the issue of access to the Black Sea, since the Kerch Strait remained in the hands of Turkey.

Peter I's trip to the countries of Western Europe convinced him that neither Austria nor Venice would become Russia's allies in the war with Turkey. But during the “great embassy” (1697-1698), Peter I became convinced that a favorable situation had developed in Europe for solving the Baltic problem - getting rid of Swedish rule in the Baltic states. Denmark and Saxony, whose elector Augustus II was also the Polish king, joined Russia.

The first years of the Northern War 1700-1721. turned out to be a serious test for the Russian army. The Swedish king Charles XII, having a first-class army and navy in his hands, brought Denmark out of the war and defeated the Polish-Saxon and Russian armies. In the future, he planned to capture Smolensk and Moscow.

Peter I, anticipating the advance of the Swedes, took measures to strengthen the northwestern borders from Pskov to Smolensk. This forced Charles XII to abandon his attack on Moscow. He took his army to Ukraine, where, counting on the support of the traitor Hetman I.S. Mazepa, intended to replenish supplies, spend the winter, and then, joining the corps of General A. Levengaupt, move to the center of Russia. However, on September 28 (October 9), 1708, Levengaupt’s troops were intercepted near the village of Lesnoy by a flying corps (corvolant) under the command of Peter I. In order to quickly defeat the enemy, about 5 thousand Russian infantry were mounted on horses. They were assisted by about 7 thousand dragoons. The corps was opposed by Swedish troops numbering 13 thousand people, who guarded 3 thousand carts with food and ammunition.

The Battle of Lesnaya ended in a brilliant victory for the Russian army. The enemy lost 8.5 thousand people killed and wounded. Russian troops captured almost the entire convoy and 17 guns, losing over 1,000 people killed and 2,856 people wounded. This victory testified to the increased fighting strength of the Russian army and contributed to the strengthening of its morale. Peter I later called the battle at Lesnaya “the Mother of the Poltava Battle.” Charles XII lost much-needed reinforcements and convoys. Overall, the Battle of Lesnaya had a great influence on the course of the war. It prepared the conditions for a new, even more magnificent victory of the Russian regular army near Poltava.

During the winter of 1708-1709. Russian troops, avoiding a general battle, exhausted the forces of the Swedish invaders in separate battles and clashes. In the spring of 1709, Charles XII decided to resume the attack on Moscow through Kharkov and Belgorod. In order to create favorable conditions for carrying out this operation, it was planned to first capture Poltava. The city garrison under the command of Colonel A.S. Kelina consisted of only 4 thousand soldiers and officers, who were supported by 2.5 thousand armed residents. They heroically defended Poltava, withstanding 20 assaults. As a result, the Swedish army (35 thousand people) was detained under the walls of the city for two months, from April 30 (May 11) to June 27 (July 8), 1709. The persistent defense of the city made it possible for the Russian army to prepare for a general battle.

Peter I at the head of the Russian army (42 thousand people) was located 5 km from Poltava. In front of the position of the Russian troops stretched a wide plain, bordered by forests. On the left there was a copse through which the only possible path for the Swedish army to advance passed. Peter I ordered the construction of redoubts along this route (six in a line and four perpendicular). They were quadrangular earthen fortifications with ditches and parapets, located one from the other at a distance of 300 steps. Each of the redoubts housed two battalions (over 1,200 soldiers and officers with six regimental guns). Behind the redoubts there was cavalry (17 dragoon regiments) under the command of A.D. Menshikov. Peter I's plan was to exhaust the Swedish troops at the redoubts and then deal them a crushing blow in a field battle. In Western Europe, Peter's tactical innovation was applied only in 1745.

The Swedish army (30 thousand people) was built in front at a distance of 3 km from the Russian redoubts. Its battle formation consisted of two lines: the first - infantry, built in 4 columns; the second is cavalry, built in 6 columns.

Early in the morning of June 27 (July 8), the Swedes went on the offensive. They managed to capture two unfinished forward redoubts, but were unable to take the rest. During the passage of the Swedish army through the redoubts, a group of 6 infantry battalions and 10 cavalry squadrons was cut off from the main forces and captured by the Russians. With heavy losses, the Swedish army managed to break through the redoubts and reach the open. Peter I also withdrew his troops from the camp (with the exception of 9 reserve battalions), who prepared for the decisive battle. At 9 o'clock in the morning, both armies converged and hand-to-hand combat began. The right wing of the Swedes began to press the center of the combat formation of the Russian troops. Then Peter I personally led a battalion of the Novgorod regiment into battle and closed the emerging breakthrough. The Russian cavalry began to cover the Swedes' flank, threatening their rear. The enemy wavered and began to retreat, and then fled. By 11 o'clock the Battle of Poltava ended in a convincing victory for Russian weapons. The enemy lost 9,234 soldiers and officers killed and over 3 thousand captured. The losses of Russian troops amounted to 1,345 people killed and 3,290 people wounded. The remnants of the Swedish troops (more than 15 thousand people) fled to the Dnieper and were captured by Menshikov’s cavalry. Charles XII and Hetman Mazepa managed to cross the river and leave for Turkey.

Most of the Swedish army was destroyed on the Poltava field. The power of Sweden was undermined. The victory of Russian troops near Poltava predetermined the victorious outcome of the Northern War for Russia. Sweden was no longer able to recover from the defeat.

In the military history of Russia, the Battle of Poltava rightfully ranks with the Battle of the Ice, the Battle of Kulikovo and Borodino.

Battle of Gangut in the Northern War of 1714
After the victory at Poltava, the Russian army during 1710-1713. expelled Swedish troops from the Baltic states. However, the Swedish fleet (25 warships and auxiliary vessels) continued to operate in the Baltic Sea. The Russian rowing fleet consisted of 99 galleys, half-galleys and scampaways with a landing force of about 15 thousand people. Peter I planned to break through to the Abo-Aland skerries and land troops to strengthen the Russian garrison in Abo (100 km northwest of Cape Gangut). On July 27 (August 7), 1714, a naval battle between the Russian and Swedish fleets began at Cape Gangut. Peter I, skillfully using the advantage of rowing ships over the enemy's linear sailing ships in the conditions of a skerry area and no wind, defeated the enemy. As a result, the Russian fleet received freedom of action in the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Russian army received the opportunity to transfer hostilities to Swedish territory.

The battle of the Russian rowing fleet at Gangut in 1714, the Ezel naval battle in 1719, and the victory of the Russian rowing fleet at Grengam in 1720 finally broke the power of Sweden at sea. On August 30 (September 10), 1721, a peace treaty was signed in Nystadt. As a result of the Peace of Nystadt, the shores of the Baltic Sea (Riga, Pernov, Revel, Narva, Ezel and Dago islands, etc.) were returned to Russia. It became one of the largest European states and in 1721 officially became known as the Russian Empire.

Battle of Kunersdrof 1759
During the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763. On August 19 (30), 1757, Russian troops defeated the Prussian army at Gross-Jägersdorf, occupied Königsberg on January 11 (22), 1758, and on August 14 (25) of the same year defeated the troops of Frederick II at Zorndorf. In July 1759, the Russian army captured Frankfurt an der Oder, posing a threat to Berlin. On August 1 (12), on the right bank of the Oder, 5 km from Frankfurt, near Kunersdorf, the largest battle of the Seven Years' War took place, in which 60 thousand people took part from the Russian and allied Austrian army, and 48 thousand people from Prussia. The allies under the command of Chief General P.S. Saltykov repelled all attacks of the Prussian troops, and then launched a counteroffensive, which ended in the defeat of the Prussian army. The victory at Kunersdorf was achieved thanks to the superiority of the tactics of the Russian troops over the standard tactics of the Prussian army. The enemy lost about 19 thousand people, and the allies - 15 thousand.

Battle of Chem 1770
With the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. Empress Catherine II decided to lead it offensively. To implement the planned plan, three armies were deployed in the south of the country, and on July 18 (29) a squadron under the command of G.A. set off from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea. Spiridova. The general leadership of military operations in the Mediterranean Sea was entrusted to Count A.G. Orlova.

On June 24 (July 5), 1770, a Russian squadron consisting of 9 battleships, 3 frigates, 1 bombardier ship and 17 auxiliary ships in the Chios Strait entered into battle with the Turkish fleet, consisting of 16 battleships, 6 frigates and about 50 auxiliary ships , under the command of Admiral Hasan Bey. During the battle, the Turkish flagship Real Mustafa was destroyed, but the Russian ship Eustathius was also killed. Deprived of control, the enemy fleet retreated in disarray into Chesme Bay, where it was blocked by a Russian squadron.

On the night of June 26 (July 7), the Russian vanguard consisting of 4 battleships, 2 frigates, 1 bombardment ship and 4 fire ships under the command of S.K. was sent to Chesme Bay to destroy it. Greig. Entering the bay, the battleships anchored and opened fire on the Turkish fleet. The frigates fought with the Turkish coastal batteries. Then 4 fire ships went on the attack, one of which, under the command of Lieutenant D.S. Ilyin, set fire to a Turkish ship, the fire from which spread to the entire Turkish fleet. As a result of the battle, the enemy fleet lost 15 battleships, 6 frigates and about 40 smaller ships. Turkish personnel losses amounted to 11 thousand people.

The victory in the Battle of Chesme contributed to the successful conduct of hostilities in the main theater of war and marked the beginning of the permanent naval presence of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Battle of the Cahul River 1770
During the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. one of its largest battles took place near the river. Cahul. On July 21 (August 1), 1770, the Turkish command concentrated 100 thousand cavalry and 50 thousand infantry near the river. The 80,000-strong cavalry of the Crimean Tatars entered the rear of the army of Field Marshal P. A. Rumyantsev (38 thousand people) moving towards Cahul. In order to cover his rear and convoy, Rumyantsev allocated over 10 thousand soldiers against the Crimean cavalry, and with the rest of his forces (27 thousand people) he decided to attack the Turkish army. During a fierce battle, the 150,000-strong Turkish army was defeated. The enemy's losses amounted to 20 thousand people, and the Russian army - 1.5 thousand. During the battle, Rumyantsev skillfully used a square battle formation, which allowed him to maneuver on the battlefield and repel attacks of the Turkish cavalry.

Battle of the Rymnik River 1789
The period of the Russian-Turkish war 1787-1791. marked by a number of battles on land and sea. One of them was the battle on the river. Rymnik September 11 (22), 1789 between the 100,000-strong Turkish army and the allied army (7,000-strong Russian and 18,000-strong Austrian detachments). Turkish troops occupied three fortified camps located at a distance of 6-7 km from one another. A.V. Suvorov, who commanded the Russian detachment, decided to defeat the enemy piecemeal. For this purpose, he used battalion squares in two lines, behind which the cavalry advanced. During a stubborn battle that lasted 12 hours, the Turkish army was completely defeated. The Russians and Austrians lost 1 thousand people killed and wounded, and the Turks - 10 thousand.

Battle of Tendra Island 1790
The naval battle off Tendra Island took place during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791. between the Russian squadron (37 ships and auxiliary vessels) of Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov and the Turkish squadron (45 ships and auxiliary vessels). On August 28 (September 8), 1790, the Russian squadron suddenly attacked the enemy on the move, without changing into battle formation. During a fierce battle that ended on August 29 (September 9), the Turkish squadron was defeated. As a result of this victory, the lasting dominance of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was ensured.

Storm of Ishmael 1790
Of particular importance during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. had the capture of Izmail, the citadel of Turkish rule on the Danube.

Izmail, called "Ordu-kalessi" ("army fortress") by the Turks, was rebuilt by Western engineers in accordance with the requirements of modern fortification. From the south the fortress was protected by the Danube. A ditch 12 m wide and up to 10 m deep was dug around the fortress walls. Inside the city there were many stone buildings convenient for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people with 265 guns.

Russian troops approached Izmail in November 1790 and began its siege. However, bad autumn weather made combat operations difficult. Sickness began among the soldiers. And then the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Field Marshal General A. Potemkin, decided to entrust the capture of Izmail to A. V. Suvorov, who arrived in the army on December 2 (13). Suvorov had 31 thousand people and 500 guns under his command.

Suvorov immediately began preparing for the assault. The troops were trained to overcome obstacles using fascines and assault ladders. Much attention was paid to raising the morale of Russian soldiers. The plan for the assault on Izmail was a sudden night attack of the fortress from three sides at once with the support of a river flotilla.

After completing preparations for the assault, A.V. Suvorov sent a letter to the commandant of the fortress Aidos Mehmet Pasha on December 7 (18) demanding surrender. The commandant's envoy conveyed the answer that “it would be more likely that the Danube would stop in its flow, the sky would fall to the ground, than Ishmael would surrender.”

On December 10 (21), Russian artillery opened fire on the fortress and continued it all day. On December 11 (22), at 3 o'clock in the morning, at a signal from a rocket, columns of Russian troops began to advance to the walls of Izmail. At 5.30 the assault began. The Turks opened strong rifle and cannon fire, but it did not hold back the rush of the attackers. After a ten-hour assault and street fighting, Ishmael was taken. During the capture of Izmail, Major General M.I. Kutuzov, who was appointed commandant of the fortress, distinguished himself.

Enemy losses amounted to up to 26 thousand killed and about 9 thousand captured. The Russian army lost 4 thousand killed and 6 thousand wounded.

Izmail was taken by an army that was inferior in number to the garrison of the fortress - an extremely rare case in the history of military art. The advantage of an open assault on fortresses compared to the then dominant methods in the West of mastering them through a long siege was also revealed. The new method made it possible to take fortresses in a shorter time and with few losses.

The thunder of the cannons near Izmail announced one of the most brilliant victories of Russian weapons. The legendary feat of Suvorov's miracle heroes, who crushed the strongholds of the impregnable fortress, became a symbol of Russian military glory. The assault on the Izmail fortress ended the military campaign of 1790. However, Turkey did not lay down its arms. And only the defeat of the Sultan’s army near Machin in the Balkans, the capture of Anapa in the Caucasus, and the victory of Rear Admiral F.F. Ushakov in the naval battle of Kaliak-ria forced the Ottoman Empire to enter into peace negotiations. On December 29, 1791 (January 9, 1792), the Treaty of Jassy was concluded. Türkiye finally recognized Crimea as part of Russia.

Battle of Cape Kaliakra 1791
There was a Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. After the defeat at Izmail in December 1790, Turkey did not lay down its arms, pinning its last hopes on its fleet. July 29 (August 9) Admiral F.F. Ushakov led the Black Sea Fleet out to sea from Sevastopol, consisting of 16 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 bombardment ships, 17 cruising ships, 1 fire ship and a rehearsal ship (998 guns in total) with the goal of searching for and destroying the Turkish fleet. On July 31 (August 11), on the approach to Cape Kaliakria, he discovered the Turkish fleet of Kapudan Pasha Hussein at anchor, consisting of 18 battleships, 17 frigates and 43 smaller ships (1,800 guns in total). The Russian flagship, having assessed the enemy's position, decided to win the wind and cut off the Turkish ships from the coastal batteries covering it in order to give a general battle on the high seas in favorable conditions.

The rapid approach of the Russian fleet took the enemy by surprise. Despite the powerful fire from the coastal batteries, the Russian fleet, having reformed into a battle formation as it approached the enemy, passed between the shore and the Turkish ships, and then attacked the enemy from a short distance. The Turks desperately resisted, but could not withstand the fire of Russian cannons and, cutting off the anchor ropes, began to retreat randomly to the Bosporus. The entire Turkish fleet was scattered across the sea. Of its composition, 28 ships did not return to their ports, including 1 battleship, 4 frigates, 3 brigantines and 21 gunboats. All surviving battleships and frigates were seriously damaged. Most of the crews of the Turkish fleet were destroyed, while 17 people were killed and 28 wounded on Russian ships. The Black Sea Fleet had no losses in its ship composition.

Since the Chesme fire (1770), the Turkish fleet has not known such a crushing defeat. As a result of the victory, the Russian fleet gained complete dominance in the Black Sea, and Russia finally established itself as an influential Black Sea power. The defeat of the Turkish fleet in the battle of Cape Kaliakria largely contributed to the final defeat of Turkey in the war with Russia. On January 9 (20), 1792, a peace treaty was signed in Iasi, according to which Russia secured Crimea and the entire northern coast of the Black Sea.

Battle of Borodino 1812
During the Patriotic War of 1812, the commander-in-chief of the united Russian armies, M. I. Kutuzov, decided to stop the advance of Napoleon’s army towards Moscow near the village of Borodino. Russian troops went on the defensive in a strip 8 km wide. The right flank of the position of the Russian troops adjoined the Moscow River and was protected by a natural barrier - the Koloch River. The center rested on the Kurgannaya height, and the left flank abutted the Utitsky forest, but had open space in front of it. To strengthen the position on the left flank, artificial earthen fortifications were built - flashes, which were occupied by the army of P. I. Bagration. Napoleon, who adhered to offensive tactics, decided to strike at the left flank of the combat formation of the Russian troops, break through the defenses and reach their rear, and then, pressing them to the Moscow River, destroy them. On August 26 (September 7), after powerful artillery preparation, the French army (135 thousand people) attacked Bagration’s flushes. After eight attacks, by 12 noon they were captured by the enemy, but the retreating Russian troops (120 thousand people) prevented his breakthrough on the left flank. The French onslaught in the center on Kurgan Heights (Raevsky's battery) ended just as fruitlessly. Napoleon's attempt to bring the guard, the last reserve, into the battle was thwarted by a raid by the Cossacks of M. I. Platov and the cavalry of F. P. Uvarov. By the end of the day, the Russian army continued to stand firmly in the Borodino positions. Napoleon, convinced of the futility of the attacks and fearing that the Russian troops would take active action, was forced to withdraw his troops to the starting line. During the battle, the French lost 58 thousand, and the Russians - 44 thousand people. On the Borodino field the myth of the invincibility of Napoleonic army was dispelled.

Navarino naval battle 1827
The battle in Navarino Bay (the southwestern coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula) between the united squadrons of Russia, England and France, on the one hand, and the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, on the other, took place during the Greek national liberation revolution of 1821-1829.

The united squadrons included: from Russia - 4 battleships, 4 frigates; from England - 3 battleships, 5 corvettes; from France - 3 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes. Commander - English Vice Admiral E. Codrington. The Turkish-Egyptian squadron under the command of Muharrem Bey consisted of 3 battleships, 23 frigates, 40 corvettes and brigs.

Before the start of the battle, Codrington sent an envoy to the Turks, then a second one. Both envoys were killed. In response, the united squadrons attacked the enemy on October 8 (20), 1827. The Battle of Navarino lasted about 4 hours and ended with the destruction of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. His losses amounted to about 60 ships and up to 7 thousand people. The Allies did not lose a single ship, with only about 800 men killed or wounded.

During the battle, the following distinguished themselves: the flagship of the Russian squadron "Azov" under the command of Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev, which destroyed 5 enemy ships. Lieutenant P. S. Nakhimov, midshipman V. A. Kornilov and midshipman V. I. Istomin - future heroes of the Battle of Sinop and the defense of Sevastopol in the Crimean War of 1853-1856 - skillfully acted on this ship.

Battle of Sinop 1853
At the beginning of the Crimean War of 1853-1856, actions at sea became decisive. The Turkish command planned to land a large assault force in the area of ​​Sukhum-Kale and Poti. For these purposes, it concentrated large naval forces in the Sinop Bay under the command of Osman Pasha. To destroy it, a squadron of the Black Sea Fleet under the command of P.S. left Sevastopol. Nakhimov. On the approach to Sinop, Nakhimov discovered a Turkish squadron consisting of 7 large frigates, 3 corvettes, 2 steam frigates, 2 brigs and 2 military transports, which were under the protection of coastal batteries. Nakhimov blocked the enemy in Sinop Bay and decided to attack him. Nakhimov had 6 battleships, 2 frigates and 1 brig at his disposal.

The signal for battle was raised on Nakhimov’s flagship at 9:30 a.m. on November 18 (30). On the approach to the bay, the Russian squadron was met with fire from Turkish ships and coastal batteries. The Russian ships continued to approach the enemy without firing a single shot, and only when they arrived at the designated places and anchored did they open fire. During the battle, which lasted 3 hours, 15 of 16 enemy ships were set on fire, and 4 of 6 coastal batteries were blown up.

The Battle of Sinop ended in the complete victory of Russian weapons. The Turks lost almost all their ships and over 3,000 killed. The wounded commander of the Turkish squadron, Vice Admiral Osman Pasha, the commanders of three ships and about 200 sailors surrendered. The Russian squadron had no losses in ships. The defeat of the Turkish squadron significantly weakened Turkey's naval forces and thwarted its plans to land troops on the Caucasus coast.

The Battle of Sinop was the last major battle of the era of the sailing fleet.

Defense of Sevastopol 1854-1855.
During the Crimean War, the 120,000-strong Anglo-French-Turkish army began an assault on Sevastopol on October 5 (17), 1854, which was defended by a garrison of 58 thousand people. For 11 months, Russian troops steadfastly held the defense of the city, despite the enemy's superiority in forces and means. The organizers of the defense of Sevastopol were Vice Admiral V.A. Kornilov, and after his death - P.S. Nakhimov and V.I. Istomin. Attempts by the Russian field army to lift the siege of the city were unsuccessful. On August 27 (September 8), 1855, its defenders left the South Side and crossed to the North Side via a floating bridge.

Defense of Shipka 1877-1878
During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. A Russian-Bulgarian detachment under the command of N. G. Stoletov occupied the Shipka Pass in the Stara Planina Mountains (Bulgaria). For 5 months, from July 7 (19), 1877 to January 1878, Russian and Bulgarian soldiers repelled all attempts by Turkish troops to seize the pass, holding it until the Russian Danube Army launched a general offensive.

Siege of Plevna in 1877
During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The combined Russian-Romanian troops, after unsuccessful assaults on Plevna, moved on to a siege, blocking the Turkish troops. On the night of November 27 to 28 (December 9 to 10), parts of the Turkish garrison attempted to break the blockade, but, having lost 6 thousand people killed and 43 thousand prisoners, capitulated. The losses of the Russian-Romanian troops amounted to 39 thousand people killed. In the battles near Plevna from July 8 (20) to November 28 (December 10), 1877, the tactics of rifle chains were developed, and the need to increase the role of howitzer artillery in preparing the attack was revealed.

Shutrm of Kars in 1877
One of the important achievements of Russian military art is the skillful assault on the Kare fortress during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Before the start of the assault, artillery bombardment of the fortress, whose garrison consisted of 25 thousand people, was carried out for 8 days (with interruptions). After which, on November 5 (17), 1877, a simultaneous attack began by five columns of a detachment (14.5 thousand people) under the command of General I. D. Lazarev. During a fierce battle, Russian troops broke the enemy's resistance and captured the fortress on November 6 (18). More than 17 thousand Turkish soldiers and officers were captured.

Defense of Port Arthur in 1904
On the night of January 27 (February 9), 1904, Japanese destroyers suddenly attacked a Russian squadron stationed in the outer roadstead in Port Arthur, damaging 2 battleships and one cruiser. This act started the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

At the end of July 1904, the siege of Port Arthur began (garrison - 50.5 thousand people, 646 guns). The 3rd Japanese Army, which stormed the fortress, numbered 70 thousand people, about 70 guns. After three unsuccessful assaults, the enemy, having received reinforcements, launched a new assault on November 13 (26). Despite the courage and heroism of the defenders of Port Arthur, the commandant of the fortress, General A. M. Stessel, contrary to the opinion of the military council, surrendered it to the enemy on December 20, 1904 (January 2, 1905). In the fight for Port Arthur, the Japanese lost 110 thousand people and 15 ships.

The cruiser "Varyag", which was part of the 1st Pacific Squadron, together with the gunboat "Koreets" during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. entered on January 27 (February 9), 1904, into an unequal battle with the ships of the Japanese squadron, sank one destroyer and damaged 2 cruisers. "Varyag" was scuttled by the crew to avoid its capture by the enemy.

BATTLE OF MUKDE 1904

The Battle of Mukden took place on February 6 (19) - February 25 (March 10), 1904 during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Three Russian armies (293 thousand bayonets and sabers) took part in the battle against five Japanese armies (270 thousand bayonets and sabers).

Despite the almost equal balance of forces, Russian troops under the command of General A.N. Kuropatkin were defeated, but the goal of the Japanese command - to encircle and destroy them - was not achieved. The Mukden battle, in concept and scope (front - 155 km, depth - 80 km, duration - 19 days), was the first front-line defensive operation in Russian history.

Battles and operations of the First World War 1914-1918.
World War I 1914-1918 was caused by the aggravation of contradictions between the leading powers of the world in the struggle for the redistribution of spheres of influence and investment of capital. 38 states with a population of over 1.5 billion people were involved in the war. The reason for the war was the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. By August 4-6 (17-19), 1914, Germany fielded 8 armies (about 1.8 million people), France - 5 armies (about 1.3 million people), Russia - 6 armies (over 1 million people). people), Austria-Hungary - 5 armies and 2 army groups (over 1 million people). Military actions covered the territory of Europe, Asia and Africa. The main land fronts were the Western (French). Eastern (Russian), the main naval theaters of military operations are the North, Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Seas. There were five campaigns during the war. The most significant battles and operations involving Russian troops are given below.

The Battle of Galicia is a strategic offensive operation of the troops of the Southwestern Front under the command of General N.I. Ivanov, carried out on August 5 (18) - September 8 (21), 1914 against the Austro-Hungarian troops. The offensive zone of the Russian troops was 320-400 km. As a result of the operation, Russian troops occupied Galicia and the Austrian part of Poland, creating the threat of an invasion of Hungary and Silesia. This forced the German command to transfer some troops from the Western to the Eastern Theater of Operations (TVD).

Warsaw-Ivangorod offensive operation of 1914
The Warsaw-Ivangorod offensive operation was carried out by the forces of the North-Western and South-Western fronts against the 9th German and 1st Austro-Hungarian armies from September 15 (28) to October 26 (November 8), 1914. In the oncoming battles, Russian troops stopped advancing the enemy, and then launching a counter-offensive, threw him back to his original positions. Large losses (up to 50%) of the Austro-German troops forced the German command to transfer part of their forces from the Western to the Eastern Front and weaken their attacks against Russia’s allies.

The Alashkert operation was carried out by Russian troops in the Caucasian theater of operations on June 26 (July 9)—July 21 (August 3), 1915. From July 9 to July 21, the strike force of the 3rd Turkish Army pushed back the main forces of the 4th Corps of the Caucasian Army and created the threat of a breakthrough her defense. However, Russian troops launched a counterattack on the left flank and rear of the enemy, who, fearing an encirclement, began to hastily retreat. As a result, the plan of the Turkish command to break through the defenses of the Caucasian Army in the Kara direction was thwarted.

Erzurum operation 1915-1916
The Erzurum operation was carried out by the forces of the Russian Caucasian Army under the command of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, December 28, 1915 (January 10, 1916) - February 3 (16), 1916. The purpose of the operation was to capture the city and fortress of Erzurum, defeat the 3rd Turkish army until reinforcements arrive. The Caucasian army broke through the heavily fortified defenses of the Turkish troops, and then, with attacks on directions converging from the north, east and south, took Erzurum by storm, throwing the enemy 70-100 km to the west. Success in the operation was achieved thanks to the correct choice of the direction of the main attack, careful preparation of the offensive, and extensive maneuver of forces and means.

Brusilovsky breakthrough 1916
In March 1916, at the conference of the Entente powers in Chantilly, the actions of the allied forces in the upcoming summer campaign were agreed upon. In accordance with this, the Russian command planned to launch a major offensive on all fronts in mid-June 1916. The main blow was to be delivered by troops of the Western Front from the Molodechno region to Vilna, and auxiliary attacks by the Northern Front from the Dvinsk region and the Southwestern Front from the Rivne region to Lutsk. During the discussion of the campaign plan, differences emerged among the top military leadership. Commander of the Western Front, Infantry General A.E. Evert expressed concern that the front troops would not be able to break through the enemy’s well-prepared engineering defenses. Recently appointed commander of the Southwestern Front, cavalry general A.A. Brusilov, on the contrary, insisted that his front not only could, but should, intensify its actions.

At the disposal of A.A. Brusilov there were 4 armies: the 7th - General D.G. Shcherbachev, 8th - General A.M. Kaledin, 9th - General P.A. Lechitsky and 11th - General V.V. Sakharov. The front forces numbered 573 thousand infantry, 60 thousand cavalry, 1770 light and 168 heavy guns. They were opposed by an Austro-German group consisting of: 1st (commander - General P. Puhallo), 2nd (commander General E. Bem-Ermoli), 4th (commander - Archduke Joseph Ferdinand), 7th ( commander - General K. Pflanzer-Baltina) and the South German (commander - Count F. Bothmer) army, totaling 448 thousand infantry and 27 thousand cavalry, 1300 light and 545 heavy guns. The defense, up to 9 km deep, consisted of two, and in some places three, defensive lines, each of which had two or three lines of continuous trenches.

In May, the Allies, due to the difficult situation of their troops in the Italian theater of operations, turned to Russia with a request to speed up the start of the offensive. The headquarters decided to meet them halfway and set out 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

The offensive began along the entire front on May 22 (June 4) with a powerful artillery bombardment, which lasted in different areas from 6 to 46 hours. The greatest success was achieved by the 8th Army, which advanced in the Lutsk direction. After only 3 days, its corps took Lutsk, and by June 2 (15) they defeated the 4th Austro-Hungarian Army. On the left wing of the front in the zone of action of the 7th Army, Russian troops, having broken through the enemy’s defenses, captured the city of Yazlovets. The 9th Army broke through an 11-kilometer front in the Dobronouc area and defeated the 7th Austro-Hungarian Army, and then cleared all of Bukovina.

The successful actions of the Southwestern Front should have supported the troops of the Western Front, but General Evert, citing the incompleteness of the concentration, ordered the offensive to be postponed. The Germans immediately took advantage of this mistake by the Russian command. 4 infantry divisions from France and Italy were transferred to the Kovel area, where units of the 8th Army were supposed to advance. On June 3 (16), German army groups of generals von Marwitz and E. Falkenhayn launched a counterattack in the direction of Lutsk. In the Kiselin area, a fierce defensive battle began with the German group of General A. Linsingen.

From June 12 (25) there was a forced calm on the Southwestern Front. The offensive resumed on June 20 (July 3). After a powerful bombardment, the 8th and 3rd armies broke through the enemy's defenses. The 11th and 7th advancing in the center did not achieve much success. Units of the 9th Army captured the town of Delyatin.

When, at last, Headquarters realized that the success of the campaign was being decided on the Southwestern Front, and transferred reserves there, time had already been lost. The enemy concentrated large forces there. The special army (commanded by General V.M. Bezobrazov), which consisted of selected guards units and whose help Nicholas II really counted on, in fact turned out to be ineffective due to the low combat skills of the senior officers. The fighting became protracted, and by mid-September the front had finally stabilized.

The offensive operation of the troops of the Southwestern Front was completed. It lasted more than a hundred days. Despite the fact that the initial success was not used by Headquarters to achieve a decisive result on the entire front, the operation was of great strategic importance. The Austro-Hungarian army in Galicia and Bukovina suffered complete defeat. Its total losses amounted to about 1.5 million people. Russian troops alone captured 8,924 officers and 408,000 soldiers. 581 guns, 1,795 machine guns, and about 450 bomb throwers and mortars were captured. The losses of Russian troops amounted to about 500 thousand people. To eliminate a breakthrough; the enemy was forced to transfer 34 infantry and cavalry divisions to the Russian front. This eased the situation for the French at Verdun and the Italians in Trentino. The English historian L. Hart wrote: “Russia sacrificed itself for the sake of its allies, and it is unfair to forget that the allies are Russia’s unpaid debtors for this.” The immediate result of the actions of the Southwestern Front was Romania's renunciation of neutrality and its accession to the Entente.

Military actions during the period between the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars
Soviet-Japanese military conflict in the area of ​​Lake Khasan in 1938
In the second half of the 30s of the XX century. The situation in the Far East sharply worsened, where cases of violation of the state border of the USSR by the Japanese, who occupied the territory of Manchuria, became more frequent. The Main Military Council of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), taking into account the growing tension in the Far East, on June 8, 1938, adopted a resolution on the creation on the basis of the Separate Red Banner Far Eastern Army (OK-DVA) of the Red Banner Far Eastern Front under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union V.K. Blucher.

In early July, the command of the Posyet border detachment, having received information about the impending capture of the Zaozernaya heights by the Japanese (the Manchu name is Zhangofeng), sent a reserve outpost there. The Japanese side regarded this step as provocative, considering that Zhangofeng is located on the territory of Manchuria. By decision of the Japanese government, the 19th Infantry Division was transferred to the Lake Khasan area, and two more infantry divisions, one infantry and one cavalry brigade were preparing for relocation. On July 15, 5 Japanese violated the border in the area of ​​Lake Khasan, and when Soviet border guards tried to detain them, one person was killed. This incident led to an escalation in late July and early August of hostilities between Soviet and Japanese troops in the area of ​​the Zaozernaya and Bezymyannaya heights.

To defeat the enemy, the commander of the Red Banner Far Eastern Front formed the 39th Rifle Corps (about 23 thousand people), which included the 40th and 32nd Rifle Divisions, the 2nd Mechanized Brigade and reinforcement units.

On August 6, 1938, after aviation and artillery preparation, units of the 39th Rifle Corps went on the offensive with the goal of defeating Japanese troops in the zone between the Tumen-Ula River and Lake Khasan. Overcoming fierce enemy resistance, the 40th Infantry Division, in cooperation with the 96th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division, captured the Zaozernaya height on August 8, and the main forces of the 32nd Infantry Division stormed the Bezymyannaya height the next day. In this regard, on August 10, the Japanese government proposed to the USSR government to begin negotiations, and on August 11, hostilities between the Soviet and Japanese troops ceased.

The losses of Japanese troops, according to Japanese sources, amounted to about 500 people. killed and 900 people. wounded. Soviet troops lost 717 people killed and 2,752 people wounded, shell-shocked and burned.

Battle of the Khalkhin Gol River 1939
In January 1936, in the face of an increased threat of attack on the Mongolian People's Republic (MPR) from Japan, the Mongolian government turned to the USSR government with a request for military assistance. On March 12, in Ulaanbaatar, the Soviet-Mongolian Protocol on Mutual Assistance was signed for a period of 10 years, which replaced the 1934 agreement. In accordance with this protocol, by May 1939, the 57th separate rifle corps was stationed on the territory of Mongolia, the base of which was subsequently deployed by the 1st Army Group.

The situation on the eastern border of the Mongolian People's Republic began to heat up after a surprise attack on May 11, 1939 by Japanese-Manchurian troops on the border outposts eastern of the Khalkhin Gol River. By the end of June 1939, the Japanese Kwantung Army had 38 thousand soldiers and officers, 310 guns, 135 tanks, 225 aircraft. The Soviet-Mongolian troops, which were taken over by Divisional Commander K. Zhukov on June 12, 1939, numbered 12.5 thousand soldiers and commanders, 109 guns, 266 armored vehicles, 186 tanks, 82 aircraft.

The enemy, using numerical superiority, went on the offensive on July 2 with the goal of encircling and destroying Soviet-Mongolian units and seizing an operational bridgehead on the western bank of Khalkhin Gol for the deployment of subsequent offensive actions in the direction of Soviet Transbaikalia. However, during three days of bloody battles, all Japanese troops that managed to cross the river were destroyed or driven back to its eastern bank. Subsequent attacks by the Japanese throughout most of July did not bring them success, as they were repulsed everywhere.

In early August, the Japanese 6th Army was created under the command of General O. Rippo. It consisted of 49.6 thousand soldiers and officers, 186 artillery and 110 anti-tank guns, 130 tanks, 448 aircraft.

The Soviet-Mongolian troops, consolidated in July into the 1st Army Group under the command of Corps Corps G. K. Zhukov, numbered 55.3 thousand soldiers and commanders. They included 292 heavy and light artillery, 180 anti-tank guns, 438 tanks, 385 armored vehicles and 515 aircraft. For ease of control, three groups of troops were created: Northern, Southern and Central. Having forestalled the enemy, after powerful air strikes and almost three hours of artillery preparation, the Northern and Southern groups went on the offensive on August 20. As a result of the decisive actions of these groups on the enemy flanks, on August 23, four Japanese regiments were encircled. By the end of August 31, the group of Japanese troops was completely defeated. Air battles continued until September 15, and on September 16, at Japan’s request, a Soviet-Japanese agreement on a cessation of hostilities was signed.

During the battles at Khalkhin Gol, the Japanese lost 18.3 thousand people killed, 3.5 thousand wounded and 464 prisoners. Soviet troops suffered the following losses: 6,831 people killed, 1,143 people missing, 15,251 people wounded, shell-shocked and burned.

Soviet-Finnish War 1939-1940
By the end of the 30s, relations between the Soviet Union and Finland worsened, which feared great-power aspirations on the part of the USSR, and the latter, in turn, did not exclude its rapprochement with the Western powers and their use of Finnish territory to attack the USSR. Tension in relations between the two countries was also caused by the construction by the Finns of powerful defensive fortifications on the Karelian Isthmus, the so-called Mannerheim Line. All attempts to normalize Soviet-Finnish relations through diplomatic means were unsuccessful. The USSR government, guaranteeing the inviolability of Finland, demanded that it cede part of the territory on the Karelian Isthmus, offering in return an equivalent territory within the Soviet Union. However, this demand was rejected by the Finnish government. On November 28, 1939, the Soviet government broke off diplomatic relations with Finland. The troops of the Leningrad Military District were given the task of “crossing the border and defeating the Finnish troops.”

By the end of November 1939, the Finnish armed forces, together with a trained reserve, numbered up to 600 thousand people, about 900 guns of various calibers, and 270 combat aircraft. 29 ships. Almost half of the ground forces (7 infantry divisions, 4 separate infantry and 1 cavalry brigades, several separate infantry battalions) united in the Karelian Army were concentrated on the Karelian Isthmus. Special groups of troops were created in the Murmansk, Kandalaksha, Ukhta, Rebolsk and Petrozavodsk directions.

On the Soviet side, the border from the Barents Sea to the Gulf of Finland was covered by four armies: in the Arctic - the 14th Army, which was supported by the Northern Fleet; in northern and central Karelia - the 9th Army; north of Lake Ladoga - 8th Army; on the Karelian Isthmus - the 7th Army, to support which the Red Banner Baltic Fleet and the Ladoga Military Flotilla were allocated. In total, the group of Soviet troops numbered 422.6 thousand people, about 2,500 guns and mortars, up to 2,000 tanks, 1,863 combat aircraft, more than 200 warships and vessels.

The military operations of the Soviet troops in the war with Finland are divided into two stages: the first lasted from November 30, 1939 to February 10, 1940, the second from February 11 to March 13, 1940.

At the first stage, troops of the 14th Army, in cooperation with the Northern Fleet, in December captured the Rybachy and Sredniy peninsulas, the city of Petsamo and closed Finland’s access to the Barents Sea. At the same time, the troops of the 9th Army, advancing to the south, penetrated 35-45 km deep into the enemy’s defenses. Units of the 8th Army fought forward up to 80 km, but some of them were surrounded and forced to retreat.

The most difficult and bloody battles took place on the Karelian Isthmus, where the 7th Army was advancing. By December 12, army troops, with the support of aviation and the navy, overcame the support zone (forefield) and reached the front edge of the main strip of the Mannerheim Line, but were unable to break through it on the move. Therefore, the Main Military Council at the end of December 1939 decided to suspend the offensive and plan a new operation to break through the Mannerheim Line. On January 7, 1940, the North-Western Front, disbanded at the beginning of December 1939, was recreated. The front included the 7th Army and the 13th Army, created at the end of December. For two months, Soviet troops underwent training on overcoming long-term fortifications at special training grounds. At the beginning of 1940, part of the forces was separated from the 8th Army, on the basis of which the 15th Army was formed.

On February 11, 1940, after artillery preparation, the troops of the Northwestern Front under the command of Army Commander 1st Rank S.K. Timoshenko went on the offensive. On February 14, units of the 123rd Infantry Division of the 7th Army crossed the main strip of the Mannerheim Line and the 84th Infantry Division from the front reserve and a mobile group (two tanks and a rifle battalion) were introduced into the breakthrough.

On February 19, the main forces of the 7th Army reached the second stripe, and the left flank formations of the 13th Army reached the main stripe of the Mannerheim Line. After regrouping and the approach of artillery and rear forces, Soviet troops resumed their offensive on February 28. After heavy and lengthy battles, they defeated the main forces of the Karelian army and by the end of March 12 captured Vyborg. On the same day, a peace treaty was signed in Moscow between the USSR and Finland, and from 12 o'clock the next day hostilities ceased. According to the agreement, the border on the Karelian Isthmus was moved back by 120-130 km (beyond the Vyborg-Sortavala line). The USSR also received a small territory north of Kuolajärvi, several islands in the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish part of the Sredniy and Rybachy peninsulas in the Barents Sea, and was given the Hanko Peninsula for a period of 30 years with the right to create a naval base on it.

The war between the Soviet Union and Finland came at a high price for both countries. According to Finnish sources, Finland lost 48,243 people killed and 43,000 wounded. The losses of the Soviet troops amounted to: 126,875 people killed, missing, died from wounds and illnesses, as well as 248 thousand wounded, shell-shocked and frostbitten.

Such large losses of the Soviet troops were due not only to the fact that they had to break through heavily fortified defenses and operate in difficult natural and climatic conditions, but also to shortcomings in the preparation of the Red Army. Soviet troops were not prepared to overcome dense minefields or to take decisive action in breaking through the complex system of long-term fortifications on the Karelian Isthmus. There were serious shortcomings in the command and control of troops, the organization of operational and tactical cooperation, in providing personnel with winter uniforms and food, and in the provision of medical care.

The enemy turned out to be better prepared for war, although he also suffered significant losses in people. The Finnish army, its equipment, weapons and tactics were well adapted to conducting combat operations in terrain with numerous lakes and large forests, in conditions of heavy snow and harsh winters, using natural obstacles.

The most important battles and operations of the Second World War 1939-1945.
The largest war in human history was prepared and unleashed by the main aggressive states of that period: Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and militaristic Japan. The war is usually divided into five periods. First period (September 1, 1939 - June 21, 1941): the beginning of the war and the invasion of German troops into Western Europe. Second period (June 22, 1941 - November 18, 1942): Nazi Germany's attack on the USSR, expansion of the war, the collapse of Hitler's blitzkrieg doctrine. Third period (November 19, 1942 - December 31, 1943): a turning point in the course of the war, the collapse of the offensive strategy of the fascist bloc. Fourth period (January 1, 1944 - May 9, 1945): the defeat of the fascist bloc, the expulsion of enemy troops from the USSR, liberation from the occupation of European countries, the complete collapse of Nazi Germany and its unconditional surrender. Fifth period (May 9—September 2, 1945): the defeat of militaristic Japan, the liberation of the peoples of Asia from Japanese occupation, the end of the Second World War.

The USSR took part in World War II in the European Theater of Operations during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, and in the Asian and Pacific Theater of Operations during the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945.

Based on the “Barbarossa” plan developed by Hitler’s leadership, fascist Germany, violating the Soviet-German non-aggression pact, at dawn on June 22, 1941, suddenly, without declaring war, attacked the Soviet Union.

Battle of Moscow 1941-1942
The battle consisted of two stages. The first stage is the Moscow strategic defensive operation September 30 - December 5, 1941. The operation was carried out by troops of the Western, Reserve, Bryansk and Kalinin fronts. During the fighting, the following additional units were added to the Soviet troops: the directorates of the Kalinin Front, the 1st Shock Army, the 5th, 10th and 16th armies, as well as 34 divisions and 40 brigades.

During the operation, the Oryol-Bryansk, Vyazemsk, Kalinin, Mozhaisk-Maloyaroslavets, Tula and Klin-Solnechnogorsk frontal defensive operations were carried out. The duration of the operation is 67 days. The width of the combat front is 700-1,110 km. The depth of withdrawal of Soviet troops is 250-300 km. Beginning on September 30, the operation marked the beginning of the Battle of Moscow, which became the main event of 1941 not only on the Soviet-German front, but throughout the entire Second World War.

During fierce battles on the distant and near approaches to Moscow, by December 5, Soviet troops stopped the advance of the German Army Group Center literally at the walls of the capital. The highest self-sacrifice, mass heroism of soldiers of various branches of the Red Army, the courage and fortitude of Muscovites, fighters of destruction battalions, and militia formations

It's sad, but war has always been and is the most powerful engine in human history. It is difficult to judge whether it is good or bad; huge losses of people have always been replaced by progress in science and culture, in the economy or industry. During the entire existence of mankind on earth, you can hardly count a couple of centuries when everyone lived in peace and harmony. Absolutely every battle changed the course of the entire history of mankind and left its imprint on the faces of its witnesses. And the most famous wars are not on this list, there are simply those that you need to know and remember always.

It is considered the last naval battle in the history of antiquity. The troops of Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony fought in this battle. The confrontation in 31 BC near Cape Actium is subsidized. Historians say that Octavian's victory played a huge role in the history of Rome and put an end to such a long civil war. Unable to survive his loss, Mark Antony soon committed suicide.

The famous battle between Greek and Persian troops took place on September 12, 490 BC near the tiny town of Marathon near Athens. The Persian ruler Darius madly wanted to subjugate all the cities of Greece. The disobedience of the inhabitants seriously angered the ruler, and he sent an army of 26,000 soldiers against them. Imagine his surprise that the Greek army, consisting of only 10,000 thousand people, withstood the onslaught and, in addition, completely defeated the enemy army. It seems that everything is as always, war is like war, and probably this battle remained only in the records of several historians, if not for the messenger. Having won the battle, the Greeks sent a messenger with good news. The messenger ran without stopping for more than 42 km. Arriving in the city, he proclaimed victory and, unfortunately, these were his last words. Since then, the battle not only began to be called a marathon, but also the distance of 42 km 195 meters became an indispensable length for athletics.

A naval battle between the Persians and Greeks took place in 480 BC near the island of Salamis. According to historical data, the Greek fleet consisted of 380 ships and could not in any way surpass the power of the 1000 ships of the Persian warriors, however, thanks to the unsurpassed command of Eurybiades, it was the Greeks who won the battle. It has been historically proven that the victory of Greece turned the entire course of events in the Greco-Persian civil strife.

This battle is popularly referred to as the “Battle of Tours.” The battle took place in 732 between the Frankish kingdom and Aquitaine, in the territory of the city of Tours. As a result of the battle, the troops of the Frankish kingdom won and thereby put an end to Islam on the territory of their state. It is believed that it was this victory that gave further development to all of Christianity.

The most famous, sung in many works and films. The battle of the Novgorod Republic and the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality against the Livonian and Teutonic Orders. Historians suggest that the day of the battle was April 5, 1242. The battle gained its fame thanks to the brave knights who broke through the ice and went under the water in their full uniform. The result of the war was the signing of a peace treaty between the Teutonic Order and Novgorod.

On September 8, 1380, a battle took place on the Kulikovo Field, which became the main stage in the creation of the Russian state. The battle took place between the Moscow, Smolensk and Nizhny Novgorod principalities against the Horde of Mamai. In the battle, Russian troops suffered colossal losses in people, but, despite everything, they destroyed the enemy army forever. As time passed, many historians began to argue that it was this battle that became the “point of no return” for the pagan nomads.

The well-known battle of three emperors: Napoleon 1 and allies Frederick 1 (Austrian Empire) and Alexander 1 (Russian Empire). The battle took place on December 2, 1805 near Austerlitz. Despite the huge superiority in strength of the allied sides, Russia and Austria were defeated in the battle. Brilliant strategy and battle tactics brought Napoleon triumphant victory and glory.

The second major battle against Napoleon took place on June 18, 1815. France was opposed by the allied empire represented by Great Britain, the Netherlands, Hanover, Prussia, Nassau and Brunswick-Lüneburg. This was another attempt by Napoleon to prove his autocracy, but to his great surprise, Napoleon did not show the same brilliant strategy as at the Battle of Austerlitz and lost the battle. To date, historians have been able to accurately describe the entire course of the battle, and several films have even been made dedicated to the momentous Battle of Waterloo.

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In the four years that passed between the undeclared start of the war and the signing of the German surrender, the parties fought countless battles. Some of them will forever go down in military history as battles that determined the outcome of the most terrible war in human history. Today Primorskaya Gazeta will remember the five most significant battles of the Great Patriotic War.

1. Battle of Moscow (1941 - 1942)

At the beginning of September 1941, the German command began preparing the operation to capture Moscow. The idea of ​​the operation was to use powerful strikes from large groups to encircle the main forces of the Red Army troops covering the capital and destroy them in the areas of Bryansk and Vyazma, and then quickly bypass Moscow from the north and south with the aim of capturing it. The operation to capture Moscow was codenamed “Typhoon”.

Red Army soldiers go straight from the parade to the front

To implement this plan, the German command managed to create an impressive superiority in manpower and equipment in the directions of the main attacks.

The general offensive of German troops began on September 30, 1941, and by October 7 they managed to encircle four Soviet armies west of Vyazma and two south of Bryansk. The path to Moscow, as the German command believed, was open. But the plans of the fascists were not destined to come true. The encircled Soviet armies pinned down about 20 German divisions in stubborn battles for two weeks. At this time, the Mozhaisk defense line was hastily strengthened, and reserve troops were urgently brought up. Georgy Zhukov was recalled from the Leningrad Front and took command of the Western Front on October 10.

Despite heavy losses, the Germans continued to rush towards Moscow. They captured Kalinin, Mozhaisk, Maloyaroslavets. In mid-October, the evacuation of government institutions, the diplomatic corps, industrial enterprises, and the population from Moscow began. The rush to evacuate created confusion and panic. Rumors spread throughout Moscow about the planned surrender of the city to the Germans. This forced the State Defense Committee to introduce a state of siege in Moscow from October 20.

By the beginning of November, the city’s defenders managed to stop the enemy’s advance, and on December 5, Soviet troops, having repelled a number of more attacks, went on the offensive. On the fields of the Moscow region, Germany suffered its first major defeat in World War II, and the myth of the invincibility of its army was dispelled. The Germans lost a total of more than half a million people, 1,300 tanks, 2,500 guns, more than 15 thousand vehicles and much other equipment.

2. Battle of Stalingrad (1942 - 1943)

Encouraged by the successes near Moscow, the Soviet leadership tried to seize the strategic initiative and in May 1942 launched large forces on the offensive near Kharkov. For the Wehrmacht, this operation came as a complete surprise, and at first the Soviet offensive was a serious threat to the German Army Group South.

German military leaders, however, demonstrated that they were capable of making bold decisions in critical situations, and thanks to the concentration of troops on a narrow section of the front, they were able to break through the Soviet defenses, take the attacking group into a “cauldron” and defeat it.

Street fighting in Stalingrad

The “Kharkov disaster” was a serious blow to the morale of the USSR army, but the worst consequence was that the road to the Caucasus and the Volga direction was no longer covered by anyone.

In May 1942, the Fuehrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, personally intervened in strategic planning and ordered the division of Army Group South into two groups. One of them was to continue the offensive into the northern Caucasus, and Group B, including Paulus's 6th Army and Hoth's 4th Panzer Army, was to move east towards the Volga and Stalingrad.

The capture of Stalingrad was very important for Hitler for several reasons. It was a large industrial city on the banks of the Volga, along which and along which strategically important transport routes ran, connecting the Center of Russia with the Southern regions of the USSR. The capture of Stalingrad would have allowed the Nazis to cut the water and land communications vital for the USSR, reliably cover the left flank of the German troops advancing in the Caucasus, and create serious supply problems for the Red Army units opposing them. Finally, the very fact that the city bore the name of Stalin, Hitler’s ideological enemy, made the capture of the city a winning ideological and propaganda move.

However, the defenders of Stalingrad managed not only to defend their city, but also to encircle and then destroy the enemy army along with the formations rushing to its aid.

German fighter shot down in the sky over Stalingrad

From January 10 to February 2, 1943 alone, over 91 thousand people were captured, including two and a half thousand officers and 24 generals. In total, during the Battle of Stalingrad, the enemy lost about one and a half million people killed, wounded, captured and missing - a quarter of their forces operating on the Soviet-German front.

The victory of the Soviet troops in the Battle of Stalingrad had enormous political and international significance; it had a significant impact on the development of the Resistance Movement in the territories of European states occupied by the fascist invaders. As a result of the battle, the Soviet armed forces wrested the strategic initiative from the enemy and retained it until the end of the war.

3. Battle of Kursk (1943)

The successes achieved at Stalingrad were consolidated in the summer of that year.

During the winter offensive of the Red Army and the subsequent counter-offensive of the Wehrmacht in Eastern Ukraine, a protrusion up to 150 kilometers deep and up to 200 kilometers wide, facing west, was formed in the center of the Soviet-German front - the so-called “Kursk Bulge”. The German command, flattering itself with the hope of regaining the strategic initiative, decided to conduct a strategic operation on the Kursk salient. For this purpose, a military operation codenamed “Citadel” was developed and approved. Having information about the preparation of enemy troops for an offensive, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command decided to temporarily go on the defensive on the Kursk Bulge and, during the defensive battle, bleed the enemy’s strike forces and thereby create favorable conditions for the Soviet troops to launch a counteroffensive, and then a general strategic offensive.

Soviet soldiers advance under the cover of tanks

To carry out Operation Citadel, the German command concentrated in a narrow area about 70% of tank, up to 30% of motorized and more than 20% of infantry divisions, as well as over 65% of all combat aircraft operating on the Soviet-German front.

On July 5, 1943, German attack groups, according to the operation plan, began an attack on Kursk from the Orel and Belgorod areas, and on July 12, in the area of ​​the Prokhorovka railway station, 56 kilometers north of Belgorod, the largest oncoming tank battle of the Second World War took place. On both sides, up to 1,200 tanks and self-propelled guns took part in the battle. The fierce battle lasted all day; by evening, tank crews and infantry were fighting hand-to-hand.

Despite the massive scale of the offensive, Soviet troops managed to stop the enemy’s advance deeper into the Kursk ledge, and just a day later, troops from the Bryansk, Central and Western fronts organized a counteroffensive. By July 18, the Soviet army had completely eliminated the enemy wedge in the Kursk direction; a little later, troops of the Steppe Front were brought into the battle and began pursuing the retreating enemy.

Red Army counteroffensive

Developing the offensive, Soviet ground forces, supported by air strikes from two air armies, as well as long-range aviation, pushed the enemy to the west and liberated Orel, Belgorod and Kharkov.

According to Soviet sources, the Wehrmacht lost over 500 thousand soldiers and officers, 1.5 thousand tanks, more than 3.7 thousand aircraft, and three thousand guns in the Battle of Kursk. The losses of Soviet troops were even worse. 863 thousand people did not return from the battle, and the armored fleet was depleted by six thousand vehicles.

However, the demographic resources of the USSR were much higher than the German ones, so the Battle of Kursk was more difficult for the invaders. The balance of forces at the front changed sharply in favor of the Red Army, which provided it with favorable conditions for the deployment of a general strategic offensive. The whole world realized that the defeat of Nazi Germany was a matter of time.

4. Belarusian operation (1944)

One of the largest military operations in human history, in which up to four million people took part on both sides (according to various sources).

By June 1944, the front line in the east approached the line Vitebsk - Orsha - Mogilev - Zhlobin, forming a huge protrusion - a wedge facing deep into the USSR, the so-called “Belarusian balcony”. If in Ukraine the Red Army managed to achieve a series of impressive successes (almost the entire territory of the republic was liberated, the Wehrmacht suffered heavy losses in the chain of “cauldrons”), then when trying to break through in the direction of Minsk in the winter of 1943-1944, the successes, on the contrary, were quite modest.

Artillery attack on German positions

At the same time, by the end of spring 1944, the offensive in the south slowed down, and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, on the initiative of Konstantin Rokossovsky, decided to change the direction of efforts.

The goal of the operation was the defeat of the German Army Group Center and the liberation of Belarus with subsequent access to the territories of Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. This offensive operation was included in the operational documents of the Headquarters under the code name “Bagration”.

The operation plan provided for a simultaneous breakthrough of the enemy’s defenses in six sections of the “Belarusian Balcony”.

The operation consisted of two stages. During the first, which lasted from June 23 to July 4, Soviet troops broke through the front and, with the help of a series of enveloping maneuvers, surrounded large German groups. Near Bobruisk, Soviet troops for the first time used a massive air strike to destroy the encircled group, which disorganized and scattered the German units going for a breakthrough.

To the west!

As a result, the main forces of Army Group Center were defeated, a 400-kilometer gap was formed in the center of the Soviet-German front, and Soviet troops were able to advance to the West. A huge role in this operation was played by Belarusian partisans, who disorganized the operational rear of the Germans, paralyzing their transfer of reserves.

At the second stage (July 5 - August 29), operations were carried out that ensured that Soviet troops continued to advance deeper into territories that had recently been under enemy control.

During the Belarusian operation, the USSR army liberated all of Belarus, most of Lithuania and Latvia, entered the territory of Poland and advanced to the borders of East Prussia. For carrying out the operation, Army General Konstantin Rokossovsky received the rank of marshal.

5. Berlin operation (1945)

One of the last strategic operations of Soviet troops in the European theater of operations, during which the Red Army occupied the capital of Germany and victoriously ended the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War in Europe. The operation lasted 23 days - from April 16 to May 8, 1945, during which Soviet troops advanced westward to a distance of 100 to 220 km.

After the fighting on the streets of Berlin

At the final stage of the Great Patriotic War, the world community no longer had any doubts that the anti-Hitler coalition would win the protracted war. However, the German leadership hoped to the last to mitigate the consequences of the war. In particular, the Germans wanted to conclude a separate peace with Great Britain and the United States, and then, left alone with the Soviet Union, gradually restore strategic equality.

Therefore, the Soviet command was required to make quick and bold decisions aimed at ending the war as quickly as possible. It was necessary to prepare and carry out an operation to defeat a group of German troops in the Berlin direction, capture Berlin and reach the Elbe River to join the Allied forces. The successful completion of this strategic task made it possible to thwart the plans of the Nazi leadership.

To carry out the operation, troops of three fronts were involved: the 2nd Belorussian under the leadership of Marshal Rokossovsky, the 1st Belorussian (Marshal G.K. Zhukov) and the 1st Ukrainian (Marshal I.S. Konev). In total, the attacking troops included up to 2.5 million soldiers and officers, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6,250 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, 7,500 aircraft, as well as part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet and the Dnieper Military Flotilla.

Based on the nature of the tasks performed and the results, the Berlin operation was divided into three stages. First, the Oder-Neissen line of enemy defense was broken through, then the enemy troops were surrounded and dismembered.

On April 30, 1945 at 21:30, units of the 150th Infantry Division under the command of Major General V.M. Shatilov and the 171st Infantry Division under the command of Colonel A.I. Negoda stormed the main part of the Reichstag building. The remaining Nazi units offered stubborn resistance. We had to fight for every room. In the early morning of May 1, the assault flag of the 150th Infantry Division was raised over the Reichstag, but the battle for the Reichstag continued all day, and only on the night of May 2 did the Reichstag garrison capitulate.

On May 1, only the Tiergarten district and the government quarter remained in German hands. The imperial chancellery was located here, in the courtyard of which there was a bunker at Hitler's headquarters. On the night of May 1, by prior agreement, the Chief of the General Staff of the German Ground Forces, General Krebs, arrived at the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army. He informed the army commander, General V.I. Chuikov, about Hitler’s suicide and the proposal of the new German government to conclude a truce. However, the German government rejected the demand for unconditional surrender, and Soviet troops resumed the assault with renewed vigor.

Soviet soldiers against the backdrop of the captured Reichstag

At one o'clock in the morning on May 2, the radio stations of the 1st Belorussian Front received a message in Russian: “We ask you to cease fire. We are sending envoys to the Potsdam Bridge." A German officer who arrived at the appointed place, on behalf of the commander of the defense of Berlin, General Weidling, announced the readiness of the Berlin garrison to stop resistance. At 6 a.m. on May 2, Artillery General Weidling, accompanied by three German generals, crossed the front line and surrendered. An hour later, while at the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army, he wrote a surrender order, which was duplicated and, with the help of loudspeaker installations and radio, delivered to enemy units defending in the center of Berlin. As this order was communicated to the defenders, resistance in the city ceased. By the end of the day, the troops of the 8th Guards Army cleared the central part of the city from the enemy. Individual units that did not want to surrender tried to break through to the west, but were destroyed or scattered.

Alexey Mikhaldyk

The heroism and courage of Soviet soldiers shown during the battles of the Great Patriotic War deserve eternal memory. The wisdom of military leaders, which became one of the most important components of the overall victory, continues to amaze us today.

Over the long years of the war, so many battles took place that even some historians disagree on the meaning of certain battles. And yet, the largest battles, which have a significant impact on the further course of military operations, are known to almost every person. It is these battles that will be discussed in our article.

The bloodiest battle in human history is Stalingrad. Nazi Germany lost 841,000 soldiers in the battle. USSR losses amounted to 1,130,000 people. Accordingly, the total number of deaths was 1,971,000 people.

By mid-summer 1942, the battles of the Great Patriotic War had reached the Volga. The German command also included Stalingrad in the plan for a large-scale offensive in the south of the USSR (Caucasus, Crimea). Hitler wanted to implement this plan in just a week with the help of Paulus's 6th Field Army. It included 13 divisions, with about 270,000 people, 3 thousand guns and about five hundred tanks. On the USSR side, German forces were opposed by the Stalingrad Front. It was created by decision of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command on July 12, 1942 (commander - Marshal Timoshenko, since July 23 - Lieutenant General Gordov).

On August 23, German tanks approached Stalingrad. From that day on, fascist aircraft began to systematically bomb the city. The battles on the ground also did not subside. The defending troops were ordered to hold the city with all their might. Every day the fighting became more and more fierce. All houses were turned into fortresses. The battles took place over floors, basements, and individual walls.

By November, the Germans had captured almost the entire city. Stalingrad was turned into complete ruins. The defending troops held only a low strip of land - a few hundred meters along the banks of the Volga. Hitler hastened to announce to the whole world the capture of Stalingrad.

On September 12, 1942, at the height of the battles for the city, the General Staff began developing the offensive Operation Uranus. Marshal G.K. Zhukov was involved in its planning. The plan was to strike the flanks of the German wedge, which was defended by Allied troops (Italians, Romanians and Hungarians). Their formations were poorly armed and did not have high morale. Within two months, near Stalingrad, in conditions of the deepest secrecy, a strike force was created. The Germans understood the weakness of their flanks, but could not imagine that the Soviet command would be able to assemble such a number of combat-ready units.

On November 19, the Red Army, after powerful artillery preparation, launched an offensive with tank and mechanized units. Having overthrown Germany's allies, on November 23, Soviet troops closed the ring, surrounding 22 divisions numbering 330 thousand soldiers.

Hitler rejected the option of retreat and ordered the commander-in-chief of the 6th Army, Paulus, to begin defensive battles in encirclement. The Wehrmacht command tried to release the encircled troops with a strike from the Don Army under the command of Manstein. There was an attempt to organize an air bridge, which was stopped by our aviation. The Soviet command presented an ultimatum to the encircled units. Realizing the hopelessness of their situation, on February 2, 1943, the remnants of the 6th Army in Stalingrad surrendered.

2 "Verdun Meat Grinder"

The Battle of Verdun was one of the largest and one of the bloodiest military operations in the First World War. It took place from February 21 to December 18, 1916 between the troops of France and Germany. Each side tried unsuccessfully to break through the enemy's defenses and launch a decisive offensive. During the nine months of battle, the front line remained virtually unchanged. Neither side achieved a strategic advantage. It was no coincidence that contemporaries called the Battle of Verdun a “meat grinder.” 305,000 soldiers and officers on both sides lost their lives in a futile confrontation. The losses of the French army, including killed and wounded, amounted to 543 thousand people, and the German army - 434 thousand. 70 French and 50 German divisions passed through the “Verdun meat grinder”.

After a series of bloody battles on both fronts in 1914-1915, Germany did not have the forces to attack on a wide front, so the goal of the offensive was a powerful blow in a narrow area - in the area of ​​​​the Verdun fortified area. Breaking through the French defense, encircling and defeating 8 French divisions would mean free passage to Paris, followed by the surrender of France.

On a small section of the front 15 km long, Germany concentrated 6.5 divisions against 2 French divisions. To maintain a continuous offensive, additional reserves could be introduced. The skies were cleared of French aircraft so that German fire spotters and bombers could operate unhindered.

The Verdun operation began on February 21. After a massive 8-hour artillery preparation, German troops went on the offensive on the right bank of the Meuse River, but met stubborn resistance. The German infantry led the attack in dense combat formations. During the first day of the offensive, German troops advanced 2 km and occupied the first French position. In the following days, the offensive was carried out according to the same pattern: during the day the artillery destroyed the next position, and by the evening the infantry occupied it.

By February 25, the French had lost almost all of their forts. The Germans managed to take the important fort of Douaumont almost without resistance. However, the French command took measures to eliminate the threat of encirclement of the Verdun fortified area. Along the only highway connecting Verdun with the rear, troops from other sectors of the front were transferred in 6,000 vehicles. During the period from February 27 to March 6, about 190 thousand soldiers and 25 thousand tons of military cargo were delivered to Verdun by vehicles. The advance of the German troops was stopped by almost one and a half superiority in manpower.

The battle became protracted; from March the Germans transferred the main blow to the left bank of the river. After intense fighting, German troops managed to advance only 6-7 km by May.

The last attempt to capture Verdun was made by the Germans on June 22, 1916. They acted, as always, according to a template: first, a powerful artillery barrage was followed by the use of gas, then the thirty-thousandth German vanguard went on the attack, acting with the desperation of the doomed. The advancing vanguard managed to destroy the opposing French division and even take Fort Tiamon, located only three kilometers north of Verdun, the walls of the Verdun Cathedral were already visible ahead, but there was simply no one to continue the attack further, the advancing German troops were killed on the battlefield almost completely, reserves ran out, the general offensive floundered.

The Brusilov breakthrough on the Eastern Front and the Entente operation on the Somme River forced German troops to go on the defensive in the fall, and on October 24, French troops went on the offensive and by the end of December reached the positions they occupied on February 25, pushing the enemy 2 km from Fort Douamont.

The battle did not bring any tactical or strategic results - by December 1916, the front line had moved to the lines occupied by both armies by February 25, 1916.

3 Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of the First World War, with more than 1,000,000 people killed and wounded, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history. On the first day of the campaign alone, July 1, 1916, the British landing force lost 60,000 people. The operation dragged on for five months. The number of divisions participating in the battle increased from 33 to 149. As a result, French losses amounted to 204,253 people, British - 419,654 people, a total of 623,907 people, of which 146,431 people were killed and missing. German losses amounted to more than 465,000 people, of which 164,055 were killed and missing.

The offensive plan on all fronts, including the Western, was developed and approved at the beginning of March 1916 in Chantilly. The combined army of the French and British was supposed to launch an attack on fortified German positions in early July, and the Russian and Italian 15 days earlier. In May, the plan was significantly changed; the French, having lost over half a million soldiers killed at Verdun, could no longer field in the upcoming battle the number of soldiers that the allies demanded. As a result, the length of the front was reduced from 70 to 40 kilometers.

On June 24, British artillery began intensive shelling of German positions near the Somme River. As a result of this shelling, the Germans lost more than half of all their artillery and the entire first line of defense, after which they immediately began to pull reserve divisions into the breakthrough area.

On July 1, as planned, the infantry was launched, which easily overcame the practically destroyed first line of German troops, but when moving to the second and third positions, it lost a huge number of soldiers and was driven back. On this day, over 20 thousand British and French soldiers died, more than 35 thousand were seriously injured, some of them were taken prisoner. At the same time, the outnumbered French not only captured and held the second line of defense, but also took Barle, however, leaving it a few hours later, since the commander was not ready for such a rapid development of events and ordered a retreat. A new offensive on the French sector of the front began only on July 5, but by this time the Germans had pulled several additional divisions to this area, as a result several thousand soldiers died, but the city that was so recklessly abandoned was not taken. The French tried to capture Barle from the moment of their retreat in July until October.

Just a month after the start of the battle, the British and French lost so many soldiers that 9 additional divisions were brought into the battle, while Germany transferred as many as 20 divisions to the Somme. By August, against 500 British aircraft, the Germans were able to field only 300, and against 52 divisions, only 31.

The situation for Germany became greatly complicated after the Russian troops carried out the Brusilov breakthrough; the German command exhausted all its reserves and was forced to switch to a planned defense with the last of its strength, not only on the Somme, but also near Verdun.

Under these conditions, the British decided to make another breakthrough attempt, scheduled for September 3, 1916. After the artillery shelling, all available reserves, including French ones, were brought into action, and on September 15, tanks went into battle for the first time. In total, the command had about 50 tanks with a well-trained crew at its disposal, but only 18 of them actually took part in the battle. A big miscalculation of the designers and developers of the tank offensive was discarding the fact that the area near the river was swampy, and the bulky, clumsy tanks simply could not get out of the swampy quagmire. However, the British were able to advance several tens of kilometers deep into enemy positions and on September 27 they were able to capture the heights between the Somme River and the small Ancre River.

A further offensive made no sense, since the exhausted soldiers would not have been able to hold the positions they had regained, therefore, despite several offensive attempts made in October, in fact, since November, no military operations had been carried out in this area, and the operation was completed.

4 Battle of Leipzig

The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations, is the largest battle in the series of Napoleonic Wars and in world history before the First World War. According to rough estimates, the French army lost 70-80 thousand soldiers near Leipzig, of which approximately 40 thousand were killed and wounded, 15 thousand prisoners, another 15 thousand were captured in hospitals and up to 5 thousand Saxons went over to the Allied side. According to the French historian T. Lenz, the losses of the Napoleonic army amounted to 70 thousand killed, wounded and prisoners, another 15-20 thousand German soldiers went over to the Allied side. In addition to combat losses, the lives of soldiers of the retreating army were claimed by a typhus epidemic. Allied losses amounted to up to 54 thousand killed and wounded, of which up to 23 thousand Russians, 16 thousand Prussians, 15 thousand Austrians and 180 Swedes.

From October 16 to 19, 1813, a battle took place near Leipzig between the armies of Napoleon I and the sovereigns united against him: Russian, Austrian, Prussian and Swedish. The forces of the latter were divided into three armies: Bohemian (main), Silesian and northern, but of these, only the first two took part in the battle on October 16. The bloody actions of that day did not bring any significant results.

On October 17, both warring sides remained inactive, and only on the northern side of Leipzig did a cavalry skirmish occur. During this day, the position of the French deteriorated significantly, since only one corps of Rainier (15 thousand) came to reinforce them, and the allies were strengthened by the newly arrived northern army. Napoleon found out about this, but did not dare to retreat, because, retreating, he left the possessions of his ally, the King of Saxony, at the mercy of the enemies, and finally abandoned the French garrisons scattered at different points on the Vistula, Oder and Elbe to the mercy of fate. By the evening of the 17th, he pulled his troops to new positions, closer to Leipzig; on October 18, the allies resumed their attack along the entire line, but, despite the enormous superiority of their forces, the result of the battle was again far from decisive: on Napoleon’s right wing all attacks of the Bohemian army were repulsed; in the center the French ceded several villages and moved back to Leipzig; their left wing held its position north of Leipzig; in the rear, the French retreat route to Weissenfels remained clear.

The main reasons for the small success of the Allies were the timing of their attacks and the inaction of the reserve, which Prince Schwarzenberg was unable or unwilling to use properly, contrary to the insistence of Emperor Alexander. Meanwhile, Napoleon, taking advantage of the fact that the route of retreat remained open, began to send back his convoys and separate units of troops even before noon, and on the night of 18-19 the entire French army retreated to Leipzig and beyond. For the defense of the city itself, 4 corps were left. The commander of the rearguard, MacDonald, was ordered to hold out until at least 12 o'clock the next day, and then retreat, blowing up the only bridge on the Elster River behind him.

On the morning of October 19, a new Allied attack followed. Around one o'clock in the afternoon, the allied monarchs could already enter the city, in some parts of which fierce battle was still in full swing. Due to a disastrous mistake for the French, the bridge on Elster was blown up prematurely. The cut-off troops of their rearguard were partly captured, and partly died trying to escape by swimming across the river.

The Battle of Leipzig, due to the size of the forces of both sides (Napoleon had 190 thousand, with 700 guns; the Allies had up to 300 thousand and more than 1300 guns) and due to its enormous consequences, is called by the Germans “the battle of the nations.” The consequence of this battle was the liberation of Germany and the fall of the troops of the Confederation of the Rhine from Napoleon.

5 Battle of Borodino

The Battle of Borodino is considered the bloodiest one-day battle in history. During it, every hour, according to the most conservative estimates, about 6 thousand people were killed or injured. During the battle, the Russian army lost about 30% of its strength, the French - about 25%. In absolute numbers, this is about 60 thousand killed on both sides. But, according to some sources, up to 100 thousand people were killed during the battle and died later from injuries.

The Battle of Borodino took place 125 kilometers west of Moscow, near the village of Borodino, on August 26 (September 7, old style) 1812. French troops under the leadership of Napoleon I Bonaparte invaded the territory of the Russian Empire in June 1812 and by the end of August reached the capital itself. Russian troops were constantly retreating and, naturally, caused great discontent both among society and Emperor Alexander I himself. To turn the situation around, Commander-in-Chief Barclay de Tolly was removed, and Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov took his place. But the new leader of the Russian army also preferred to retreat: on the one hand, he wanted to wear down the enemy, on the other, Kutuzov was waiting for reinforcements to give a general battle. After the retreat near Smolensk, Kutuzov’s army settled down near the village of Borodino - there was nowhere to retreat further. It was here that the most famous battle of the entire Patriotic War of 1812 took place.

At 6 am, French artillery opened fire along the entire front. The French troops lined up for the attack launched their onslaught on the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment. Desperately resisting, the regiment retreated beyond the Koloch River. The flashes, which would become known as the Bagrationovs, protected the chasseur regiments of Prince Shakhovsky from encircling. Ahead, the rangers also lined up in a cordon. Major General Neverovsky's division occupied positions behind the flushes.

The troops of Major General Duka occupied the Semenovsky Heights. This sector was attacked by the cavalry of Marshal Murat, the troops of Marshals Ney and Davout, and the corps of General Junot. The number of attackers reached 115 thousand people.

The course of the Battle of Borodino, after the repelled attacks of the French at 6 and 7 o'clock, continued with another attempt to take flushes on the left flank. By that time, they were reinforced by the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments, Konovnitsin’s division and cavalry units. On the French side, it was in this area that serious artillery forces were concentrated - 160 guns. However, subsequent attacks (at 8 and 9 am) were, despite the incredible intensity of the fighting, completely unsuccessful. The French briefly managed to capture flushes at 9 am. But they were soon driven out from the Russian fortifications by a powerful counterattack. The dilapidated flashes stubbornly held on, repelling subsequent enemy attacks.

Konovnitsin withdrew his troops to Semenovskoye only after holding these fortifications ceased to be necessary. The Semenovsky ravine became the new line of defense. The exhausted troops of Davout and Murat, who did not receive reinforcements (Napoleon did not dare to bring the Old Guard into the battle), were unable to carry out a successful attack.

The situation was extremely difficult in other areas as well. Kurgan Heights was attacked at the same time that the battle for taking flushes was raging on the left flank. Raevsky's battery held the height, despite the powerful onslaught of the French under the command of Eugene Beauharnais. After reinforcements arrived, the French were forced to retreat.

The actions on the right flank were no less intense. Lieutenant General Uvarov and Ataman Platov, with a cavalry raid deep into enemy positions, carried out at about 10 o’clock in the morning, drew off significant French forces. This made it possible to weaken the onslaught along the entire front. Platov was able to reach the rear of the French (Valuevo area), which suspended the offensive in the central direction. Uvarov made an equally successful maneuver in the Bezzubovo area.

The Battle of Borodino lasted all day and began to gradually subside only at 6 o’clock in the evening. Another attempt to bypass Russian positions was successfully repulsed by soldiers of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment in the Utitsky Forest. After this, Napoleon gave the order to retreat to their original positions. The Battle of Borodino lasted more than 12 hours.