Victory Symbol - Zhukov

Author: Wang Rizhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: World War II was the largest-scale war in human history. In this war, where the Fascist Axis powers fought against the Anti-Fascist Allies, the number of troops and weaponry deployed, the vast scope of the battlefields, the novelty of combat tactics, the magnitude of losses, and the depth of impact were unprecedented. Although nearly 50 years have passed since the end of the war, with the passage of time and changes in circumstances, it still attracts numerous military strategists and historians from China and abroad to explore and write about it with its grandeur, profound connotations, and rich heritage. World War II provided countless soldiers with opportunities to demonstrate their talents and showcase their skills, giving rise to a generation of outstanding generals. Among the Anti-Fascist camp, a group of brilliant generals with remarkable achievements and glorious military records emerged, their names etched in history for their outstanding contributions. The "Illustrated Series of International Figures in World War II" consists of 15 volumes, featuring 15 renowned figures, essentially covering the representative figures on both sides of the war who played decisive roles in politics and military. These include books written by the popular international affairs expert and best-selling author Jie Lifu, such as "The Three of World War II" and "The Three of World War II," as well as works compiled by other military historians on famous generals of World War II.
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, born on December 2, 1896, in a cobbler family in Kaluga Province, southwest of Moscow, joined the army at the age of 19 and participated in World War I. For his meritorious service in combat, he was awarded two George Crosses. The following year after the October Revolution, Zhukov joined the Red Army and rose from soldier to company commander during battles against the White Army led by Kolchak. He then pursued further education, graduating from the Cavalry Training Course in 1920, the Advanced Cavalry Command Course in 1925, and the Higher Command Course in 1930. Subsequently, he held various positions, including commander of a cavalry brigade, assistant inspector of cavalry, commander of the 4th Cavalry Division, commander of the 3rd and 6th Cavalry Corps, and deputy commander of the Belorussian Special Military District.
In June 1939, Zhukov was transferred to command the 1st Mongolian-Soviet Army Group, where he successfully led the Soviet-Mongolian forces to execute the Kharin Gol Campaign, encircling and destroying a large Japanese force, thwarting Japan's northern advance. For this achievement, Zhukov was first awarded the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union." He then rose to prominence as a shining star. In June 1940, he was promoted to Marshal and appointed commander of the Kyiv Special Military District. In January 1941, Zhukov was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, becoming its top leader.
On June 22, 1941, the Soviet-German War broke out. The next day, the Supreme High Command Headquarters was established, and Zhukov became one of its seven members. On July 29, Zhukov advised Stalin to abandon Kyiv and focus on defending Moscow. Stalin retorted, "Nonsense! How can we abandon Kyiv to the enemy?" Zhukov couldn't help but reply, "If you think my role as Chief of the General Staff is just to talk nonsense, then I am no longer needed here. I request to be relieved of my position and sent to the front." After a heated argument, Stalin decided to relieve Zhukov of his command and sent him to the front as commander of the Reserve Front. The subsequent course of the war demonstrated Zhukov's foresight. Had Stalin accepted his advice at the time, the tragedy of 660,000 Soviet soldiers being encircled and destroyed in the Kyiv Campaign could have been avoided.
Within hours, Zhukov set off for the front to command the Reserve Front. He led the front in successfully executing the first offensive of the Great Patriotic War, crushing the German vanguard. In September 1941, when Leningrad was encircled by German forces, Zhukov was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front and coordinated with the Baltic Fleet to effectively halt the German advance, foiling Hitler's attempt to "erase the city from the face of the Earth." That same October, with the capital Moscow under siege, Zhukov was again transferred to Moscow to command the new Western Front, taking full responsibility for the defense of the city. He established a strong defensive line west of Moscow, withstood the frontal assault of the German 4th Army, exhausting and demoralizing the enemy. As winter approached, the Soviet forces launched a powerful counterattack against the exhausted and freezing German troops, forcing them to retreat and securing a victory in the defense of Moscow, compelling the Germans to shift from a lightning war to a protracted one.
In August 1942, Stalin appointed Zhukov as Deputy Supreme Commander and sent him to the Stalingrad front to oversee the battle. After analyzing the situation in Stalingrad, he first organized the Red Army to adopt a proactive defense to tire out the enemy, then collaborated with Vasilevsky to formulate a grand counteroffensive plan, encircling and destroying 300,000 German troops in the Stalingrad area. On January 18, 1943, following the Battle of Stalingrad, Zhukov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. He then led the successful lifting of the siege of Leningrad and the Battle of Kursk, achieving even greater victories.