On January 1st, 1941, General Georgy Zhukov was appointed as Chief of the Soviet Union’s General Staff. This appointment would prove to be a crucial turning point in the course of World War II for the Soviets and their allies.
Who Was General Zhukov?
Georgy Zhukov was a highly decorated Russian general who had already served with distinction under Joseph Stalin in several military campaigns throughout Europe prior to his appointment as Chief of the General Staff. Born in 1896, he enlisted in the cavalry during WWI and fought against both German and Austro-Hungarian forces during his time as an officer. After rising through the ranks, he was eventually awarded the Order of Lenin for his service during WWII.
What Impact Did His Appointment Have?
Though he had already earned a reputation for being an effective military strategist leading up to his appointment, it was only after becoming Chief of the General Staff that his true potential was realized. Under his leadership, the Red Army achieved major successes against Nazi forces on multiple fronts, including at Stalingrad and Kursk. As such, he is widely credited with helping turn the tide in favor of allied forces during WWII. He also went on to help liberate Poland from Nazi occupation in 1945 before returning to Moscow, where he continued to serve until 1949, when Joseph Stalin ordered him to retire.
Pre-War Military Career of General Zhukov
In 1915, Zhukov officially joined the Imperial Russian Army’s 10th Dragoon Novgorod Regiment and was wounded while battling against German forces in Kharkiv. During World War I, his bravery on the battlefield earned him two Cross of St. George awards which led to a promotion to non-commissioned officer ranks.
A young Zhukov in 1916
After the 1917 October Revolution, he joined the Bolshevik Party, and his impoverished background proved to be an advantage in party circles. When he recovered from a serious bout of typhus, he fought in the Russian Civil War as part of Semyon Timoshenko’s Second Cavalry Brigade, which was eventually absorbed into Semyon Budyonny’s 1st Cavalry Army.
After successfully completing a cavalry training course for officers in 1920, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his accomplishments in suppressing the Tambov Rebellion over a year later. Subsequently, he received his commission as an officer.
Zhukov swiftly rose through the military echelons from a troop and squadron commander to Deputy Commander of a cavalry regiment. On May 1923, he was anointed as the 39th Cavalry Regiment’s Chief Commander. The following year Zhukov enrolled in the Higher School of Cavalry, which he graduated in 1924 with honors before returning to command his former regiment. In 1929, Zhukov began studies at Frunze Military Academy, where he completed them in 1930 successfully.
In May 1930, Zhukov was appointed commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade for the 7th Cavalry Division. By February 1931, he had advanced to Assistant Inspector of Cavalry in the Red Army.
In May 1933, Zhukov was assigned to lead the 4th Cavalry Division. During the Great Purge in 1937, thousands of officers were arrested or executed; however, individuals associated with the First Cavalry Army escaped punishment as well as allowed his career to expand rapidly. Quickly after this event, he rose up from commander of the first 3rd and then 6th Cavalry Corps before ultimately becoming deputy cavalry commander for the Belorussian Military District by 1938.
In 1938, Marshal Zhukov was put in charge of the First Soviet Mongolian Army Group and engaged Japan’s Kwantung Army along the border between Mongolia and Manchukuo. The ensuing conflict – known as the Soviet-Japanese Border Conflicts – escalated quickly from mere skirmishes to a full-on war with Japanese forces totaling 80,000 soldiers, 180 tanks, and 450 aircraft.
The battle of Khalkhin Gol was a critical turning point in the conflict, and Marshal Zhukov marshaled an immense army to strike. On August 20th 1939, following a powerful bombardment from artillery guns, almost 500 BT-5 and BT-7 tanks advanced forward with air support from over 500 fighter planes and bombers – marking it as the Soviet Air Force’s inaugural fighter bomber mission.
At first, the offensive presented itself as a customary frontline attack. Yet, two tank brigades were initially held back and later advised to march around both flanks with motorized artillery, infantrymen, and other tanks in tow. This tactical maneuver enveloped the Japanese 6th Army and seized their unprotected rear supply zones. By 31 August, the Soviets had emerged victorious after successfully obliterating all traces of Japan from the disputed borderlands.
This campaign was not just a local, tactical victory; it had implications far beyond. Zhukov implemented strategies that were later used against Germany during the Second World War on the Eastern Front – such as deploying underwater bridges and strengthening inexperienced troops by integrating experienced fighters to bolster their training. His techniques revolutionized combat strategy for years to come.
After closely examining the issues rooted in the performance of their BT tanks, it was determined that petrol (gasoline) engines would be removed and replaced with diesel ones. This battle provided priceless firsthand knowledge, which helped Russia create the T-34 medium tank used during World War II. On top of this, veterans were transferred to untested units to share what they learned from their combat experience with newcomers to increase their chances of success.
For this glorious accomplishment, Zhukov was honored with the Hero of the Soviet Union title. However, his innovative use of tanks in battle and campaigns were largely unknown outside of Russia. He believed that what he experienced at Khalkhin Gol positively contributed to his success during WWII; hence why he granted himself a promotion to army general right after—becoming one among only eight high-ranking Red Army officers!
Conclusion
The appointment of Georgy Zhukov as Chief of the Soviet Union’s General Staff on April 20th, 1941, proved to be a decisive moment in WWII history and one that ultimately changed its course for good. With Zhukov at its helm, the Red Army achieved several victories against Nazi forces which would have otherwise been impossible without him leading them—and this led to the eventual Allied victory over Hitler’s Germany and Axis powers by 1945. For this reason, modern historians view General Georgy Zhukov as one of Russia’s greatest-ever wartime leaders.