Marshal Timoshenko - twice Hero

Marshal Timoshenko was born in 1895 in the Bessarabian village of Furmanka, in a poor family. Up to 12 years old he went to school, then worked. In 1915 he was taken into the army. He was a cavalry-machine gunner in the First World War. Participated in the October Revolution. Since 1918 - in the Soviet Army. He showed himself in the battles of the city of Tsaritsyn, made a big leap from the simple commander of the machine-gun team to the brigade commander, fought against the enemies of the revolution. Budenny's ally, from 1919 to 1924 - a cavalry commander.

The future People's Commissar studied a lot, in 1922-24. Graduated from the party school and higher courses at the Military Academy. Tukhachevsky, attesting cadet Timoshenko, spoke of him as one of the brilliant cavalry commanders. He said that, having strong qualities of the "shirt", at the same time he constantly studies military affairs and studies new equipment. By 1933, Tymoshenko headed the cavalry corps. And already in August 1933 he replaced the commander of the military districts of Belarus and Kiev, 1937-1940 - he himself heads the troops of the Kharkov, North Caucasus and Kiev Special Districts, the Ukrainian and North-Western Fronts. At the time of the Soviet-Finnish company, the Soviet Army was breached by the famous "Mannerheim Line" under his leadership. Career quickly went up the hill. In March 1940 Tymoshenko was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union, and in May received the highest rank - Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Baghramyan wrote in his memoirs that this man was created for military service by nature itself: a two-meter growth, the impeccable equipage of a cavalier-guard. The marshal's uniform marched surprisingly. The Ukrainian accent made the speech intimate and colorful.

Marshal Tymoshenko is less known than Voroshilov and Budyonny, although there was a period when he was the No. 1 commander in the army. From May 1940 to July 1941, Semyon Konstantinovich holds the post of People's Commissar of Defense of the Soviet Union. The People's Commissar launched a massive restructuring in the army. With it, strong mechanized armored corps were formed, infantry was reequipped, caterpillar tractors appeared in artillery, communications troops were technically strengthened .

The German attack provoked confusion in the Kremlin. Stalin did not appear in public for more than a week. And on June 23, it is Marshal Timoshenko who is appointed Chairman of the Supreme Headquarters Supreme Headquarters. Joseph Stalin took all the command posts only in July 1941, and the position of People's Commissar including. And the marshal is transferred to the commanders of strategic directions. The history of many battles (under Vyazma, Kharkov, Rostov-on-Don) and victories (Iasi-Chisinau and Budapest operations) is inextricably linked with the name of Tymoshenko. Marshal, whose photo is presented here (and confirms Baghramyan's words), was part of the Stavka. He commanded the fronts, coordinated their actions as its representative.

After the war, Tymoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich continues to serve. Since 1960, he headed the General Inspectorate of the Soviet Army. From 1962 to 1970, he always leads a committee of war veterans. The second "Gold Star" Marshal Timoshenko received for his services to the country and in connection with the anniversary in 1965. The hero died in 1970.