First Admiral of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov

Since 1917, N. G. Kuznetsov worked as a messenger in the Arkhangelsk port. In 1919, at the age of 15, he joined the Severodvinsk flotilla, giving himself two years to be accepted (the erroneous birth year of 1902 is still found in some reference books). In 1921-1922 he was a combatant in the Arkhangelsk naval crew.

Since 1922, N. G. Kuznetsov served in, in 1923-1926 he studied at the Naval School named after. , from which he graduated with honors. He served on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" of the Black Sea Fleet, holding the positions of battery commander, company commander, and senior watch commander.

In 1929-1932, N. G. Kuznetsov was a student at the Naval Academy, which he also graduated with honors. In 1932-1933 he was senior assistant to the commander of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". From November 1933 to August 1936 he commanded the cruiser Chervona Ukraine.

In August 1936, N. G. Kuznetsov was sent to Spain, where he took part in the Civil War of 1936-1938 (he was a naval attaché and naval adviser to the government of the Spanish Republic under the pseudonym Nicholas Lepanto). Participated in the preparation and conduct of combat operations of the Republican fleet, ensured the reception of transports from the USSR. For his activities in Spain he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

From August 1937, N.G. Kuznetsov served as deputy commander, and from January 1938 to March 1939, commander of the Pacific Fleet. Under his command, naval forces supported the actions of ground forces during the battles near Lake Khasan.

In March 1939, N. G. Kuznetsov was transferred to the post of Deputy People's Commissar of the USSR Navy. In this post, he managed to make a great contribution to strengthening the fleet before the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. A number of major exercises were conducted under the leadership of N. G. Kuznetsov. He personally visited many ships, resolving organizational and personnel issues. He initiated the opening of new maritime schools and maritime special schools (later Nakhimov schools). With the introduction of the ranks of general and admiral in June 1940, he was awarded the rank of admiral.

During the Great Patriotic War, N. G. Kuznetsov was the chairman of the Main Military Council of the Navy and the commander-in-chief of the Navy. He promptly and energetically led the fleet, coordinating its actions with the operations of other armed forces. The admiral was a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command and constantly traveled to ships and fronts. The fleet prevented an invasion of the Caucasus from the sea. In 1944, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded the military rank of fleet admiral. On May 25, 1945, this rank was equated to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union and marshal-type shoulder straps were introduced. In 1945, N. G. Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1946, the People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was abolished, and the Navy was included in the united Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR. N. G. Kuznetsov was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In January 1947, due to disagreements over the program for the further development of the Navy, the admiral was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and in February 1947 he was appointed head of the Directorate of Naval Educational Institutions.

On January 12, 1948, Kuznetsov, together with a group of admirals, was brought before the Court of Honor of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR on charges that in 1942-1944, without the permission of the USSR Government, they transferred to Great Britain and the USA secret drawings and descriptions of a high-altitude parachute torpedo, a remote grenade, and several ship artillery systems, fire control circuits, as well as a large number of secret nautical charts. The court of honor found them guilty.

In February 1948, the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR found N. G. Kuznetsov guilty of the charges brought against him, but, taking into account his great merits in the past, decided not to apply criminal punishment to him. At the same time, the Military Collegium decided to petition the Council of Ministers to reduce Kuznetsov in military rank to rear admiral. The remaining defendants were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

In 1948-1950, Rear Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Far East for naval forces.

From February 1950, he commanded the 5th Navy in the Pacific. In January 1951, he was awarded the military rank of vice admiral.

In 1951-1953, N. G. Kuznetsov again headed the fleet as the Minister of Navy of the USSR. In May 1953, his conviction was cleared and the rank of fleet admiral was returned.

In 1953-1955, N. G. Kuznetsov was 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. In March 1955, his rank was renamed "Admiral of the USSR Fleet" and he was awarded the Marshall Star. During this period, the naval commander paid great attention to issues of technological re-equipment of the fleet, in particular, the development of aircraft carriers. He participated in the preparation and implementation of the state program for the construction of the USSR nuclear and missile fleet.

The admiral's tense relationship with the USSR Minister of Defense negatively affected his future service. In December 1955, N. G. Kuznetsov, under the pretext of guilt in the explosion on the battleship Novorossiysk, was removed from his post. On February 17, 1956, the naval commander was demoted to the rank of vice admiral and dismissed with the wording “without the right to work in the fleet.” In retirement, he created a number of works of memoir literature of great historical value.

N. G. Kuznetsov was a member of the CPSU (b) since 1925. In 1939-1955 he was a member of the Central Committee of the party. He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st, 2nd and 4th convocations.

Among the awards of N. G. Kuznetsov are four orders, three orders of the Red Banner, the Order of the Red Star, two orders of the 1st degree, the Order of the Badge of Honor, as well as a number of foreign orders.

Admiral Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, who devoted his entire life to the navies of the Soviet Union and Russia, is known far beyond the borders of his homeland.

His career in the navy and diplomatic activities were included in textbooks on the art of war.

Beginning of a military career

On July 11, 1904, in the village of Medvedka, Vologda province (modern Arkhangelsk region), the future admiral was born. His parents were state-owned peasants, his father served as a messenger for the Arkhangelsk port. The first fifteen years of the boy’s life passed in the village and port.

In 1919, at the age of 15, he decided to become a sailor, for which he left home and voluntarily joined the Red Fleet. To be enrolled in the flotilla, Nikolai added two years to himself, writing in the documents the year of birth 1902. This date is found in some documents, which is a mistake made by Kuznetsov specifically in his youth.

He spent the entire Civil War as a sailor in the flotilla, and after that his military career began. But for this it was necessary to join the Communist Party, which the young man did in 1925. A year later he graduated from the Naval School. Frunze, immediately entering the operational department of the Naval Academy.

In 1932 he went to serve on the cruiser, which bore the proud name Red Caucasus. There he alternately held several positions: He was a watch commander; Then he served as fleet commander. Such a rapid career continued on another ship - the cruiser Chervona Ukraine (Black Sea Fleet, 1933).

After a while, Kuznetsov was sent to work in Spain, where from 1936 to 1937 he was engaged in military-diplomatic activities. Performed several important functions:

• Naval Attaché;
• Chief Naval Adviser to the Government;
• The leader of a group of Soviet naval sailors who arrived from the Soviet Union to fight against the fascist government in Spain;
• The developer of combat operations carried out by the Republic fleet, working out the interaction of ground forces, navy and aviation.

After Spain and service there, Nikolai Kuznetsov gained enormous experience and received the highest awards from the Soviet government - the Order of the Red Banner and V.I. Lenin.

Years of World War II

Before the war, Kuznetsov was sent to serve in the Pacific Fleet, where he was first deputy commander, and then took the post of commander himself. In the spring of 1939, Nikolai Trofimovich was transferred to the post of Deputy People's Commissar of the Navy of the Soviet Union. He stayed in this position for only one month, becoming the new People's Commissar and Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet.

Such promotion was associated not only with the talents of the commander, but also with serious purges of senior personnel in the army and navy. Therefore, the talented military commander faced a number of problems in the first months of work in his new post as People's Commissar of the Navy. Considering that there were constantly rumors in military and political circles about the inevitable outbreak of World War II, Kuznetsov began to reorganize the work of the People's Commissariat. For two years he was engaged in the development and drafting of statutory documents, plans and instructions in the event of the outbreak of war. He also created a system of operational readiness, which was very helpful during the war.

The results of the fruitful work were not long in coming - the Soviet Union fleet met the German attack in combat readiness and suffered virtually no losses. Under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, the fleet took part in numerous combat operations, evacuating civilians, transporting troops, transporting cargo and troops. Nikolai Gerasimovich also initiated the creation of special naval rifle brigades, which took part in various battles, including for Moscow, offensive operations, and the capture of Berlin. Kuznetsov personally took part in the operations, coordinated the interaction between the fleet and the army, which greatly helped in the development of landing operations.

February 1944 brought Kuznetsov another military award. He became the holder of the highest military rank of admiral of the fleet, becoming the first person to receive this rank. For several months his shoulder straps were decorated with four stars, and at the end of May of the same year they were replaced with marshal's, which equated the rank to Marshal of the USSR.

The war ended for Kuznetsov in September 1945, leading the Pacific Fleet and the Amur Military Flotilla. He took part in the liberation of the Far East, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, North Korea, and Japan, for which he received the title of Hero of the USSR. A great achievement for Nikolai Kuznetsov was an invitation to participate in the Crimean and Berlin conferences, and then he was sent to Crimea to solve many problems. From there he was redirected to Postdam to decide the fate of the German fleet.

Opals and name rehabilitation

Nikolai Gerasimovich continued to command the fleet after the victory, helping to restore the fleet and create new types of warships ready to repel nuclear weapons. Kuznetsov wanted to create a fleet where there would be a balance between the branches of the forces and classes of ships of the Navy. The People's Commissariat of Shipbuilding did not support the plans of the Commander-in-Chief, and then a constant struggle began between him and the leadership of the People's Commissariat.

The institution was abolished in 1946, and Kuznetsov was transferred to the post of Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. During this period, problems began in Kuznetsov’s career. In 1946, there was a serious disagreement with I. Stalin, which concerned the division of the Baltic Fleet. The next step was the release of Nikolai Gerasimovich from command of the fleet, and he was sent to Leningrad to command naval educational institutions.

In 1948, he was accused of handing over documents to foreign spies that related to state secrets of the USSR, which was a complete lie. As a result, he was demoted in rank and became a rear admiral. Kuznetsov asked to be sent somewhere for service and received orders to go to Khabarovsk. In the early 1950s. again received the Order of Lenin and the rank of vice admiral, became Minister of War in the restored People's Commissariat of the Navy, and led the fleet. Soon he received the rank of admiral, and then admiral of the fleet.

The return to Moscow did not bring reconciliation with Stalin, since both saw the development of the navy differently. For three years - from 1953 to 1956. - served as the Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union. Having suffered a heart attack in 1955, he asked to be transferred to an easier job. But his request was not heard.

After the explosion on the battleship Novorossiysk, Kuznetsov was removed from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, demoted in rank, and asked to resign. In retirement, he was engaged in scientific work, writing several books and articles, learning English, and translating books. He enjoyed organizing and conducting seminars, communicating with students, fellow teachers, and scientists. He took an active part in the creation of the multi-volume History of the Second World War.

Nikolai Kuznetsov died on December 6, 1974, after he underwent surgery. The rank of Admiral of the Fleet was returned to him posthumously, already in 1988.

The great Russian commanders created the glory of Russian weapons on land, in the air and at sea. Peter I planned the development of the country as a maritime power, establishing the first shipyards and attracting foreign engineers. His works made it possible for Russia to win many high-profile victories at sea. Ushakov and Nakhimov are the first naval commanders whose names our country can be proud of. In the USSR, Admiral Kuznetsov became the successor of their victories; his life was inextricably linked with the naval forces.

Biography

According to Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov himself, the experience of operating a ship is not given right away, it must be gained by going from a sailor. This is exactly how the rapid career of a young boy from the village of Medvedki in the Astrakhan region began. The future admiral Kuznetsov joined the fleet at the age of 15, adding two years to his age, he volunteered for the Civil War. In 1919, he fought as a sailor on a ship in the North Dvina Flotilla. After graduating from the naval school and then the academy with honors, Kuznetsov is sent to serve in the Black Sea Fleet. The cruiser "Chervona Ukraine" became a sailor's school for him, which began with the position of watch commander. Since 1933, he became the commander of the cruiser; over the next five years of service, the ship was noted as exemplary in military training, discipline, and shooting performance. The navy started talking about creating the Kuznetsov system, which became a method of military training for ships in all fleets of the USSR. The youngest was awarded the Order of the Red Star in 1935. During his service on the cruiser, Kuznetsov developed new tactical techniques for naval combat and realized the importance of aviation reconnaissance. His theoretical calculations say that the interaction of everyone should give good results during military operations. The most important role in it was assigned to aviation. Subsequently, this theory was not only confirmed, but also, thanks to Kuznetsov, saved many lives, making a tangible contribution to the victory of the USSR on the fronts of World War II.

Spain

In 1936, the tasks of volunteer sailors in the fight against fascism were the timely delivery and unloading of aid coming from the USSR. Kuznetsov, as a naval attache in Spain, is convinced in practice of the correctness of his theory. Enemy aircraft sank transport ships on the approaches to ports; their actions significantly complicated unloading, which affected the effectiveness of military operations. Kuznetsov creates a new branch of the military - naval aviation, which is based in the port area and repels attacks by enemy fighters. For this work he was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner and Lenin. Returning from Spain in 1937, Kuznetsov was appointed first as deputy, and then as the main rule, which he learned from the fighting in Spain, is the constant readiness of each ship and the fleet as a whole.

Before the war

In the 1930s, the USSR began creating a new, more powerful fleet, which was destroyed during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. In 1937, the future Admiral Kuznetsov became a member of the command staff of the Main Military Council of the Navy, which was created under the People's Commissariat. At 34, he becomes the youngest People's Commissar of the Navy. Under his command were young, not very experienced officers, but striving to double the glory of Russian weapons. Kuznetsov reported directly to Stalin, which greatly complicated his work. The commander-in-chief was going to build a new fleet of large ships - battleships, cruisers. Kuznetsov, on the contrary, insisted on the production of naval vessels of various classes, including aircraft carriers. He argued to the leader the need to create coastal aviation capable of conducting rapid reconnaissance and ensuring the safe movement of ships. Kuznetsov assigned an important role to the training of personnel; combat situations and the readiness of each ship for a surprise attack were regularly practiced in the active forces. Between 1938 and 1948, many educational institutions were opened to create qualified naval officers and sailors. Kuznetsov personally visited each ship, monitored compliance with the ship's and disciplinary regulations, and assessed the actions of the ships in the exercises. By the time the war began, despite disagreements with Stalin, the young People's Commissar achieved the fulfillment of many of his plans and created a new combat-ready Soviet fleet.

The Great Patriotic War

TASS reports refuting the possibility became a signal to action for Kuznetsov. The ships were supplied with fuel reserves, a complete inventory of materiel and ammunition was carried out, patrols and reconnaissance were strengthened. Since May 1941, personnel were prohibited from going ashore, while at the same time, the political training of soldiers was intensified. The fleet met the beginning of fascist aggression in full combat readiness, which made it possible to avoid losses. The plan of protective measures created before the war unfolded on the orders of Kuznetsov without the direct intervention of the Commander-in-Chief. Barrages of mines were installed, submarines were deployed, and enemy aircraft were destroyed as they approached the fleet's bases. On June 24, the threat of blockade arose over the ships of the Baltic Navy; on the orders of Kuznetsov, he broke through to Kronstadt, leaving Tallinn. Naval artillery helped significantly in the defense of Leningrad and its liberation from the siege. The sailors took part in land operations, helping to contain the fascist armada. The bombers of the Baltic Fleet in August 1941 carried out several massive attacks on Berlin; they did not cause significant damage to the German capital, but raised the morale of our troops. Since 1944, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, Kuznetsov N.G. - Admiral of the Fleet, this rank was awarded for the first time and was equivalent to a marshal.

Result

Active military operations of the Soviet fleet led to heavy losses on the part of the enemy. Fleet Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov personally developed all ongoing operations, which were then approved by the Commander-in-Chief, and acted in constant consolidation with other branches of the military. During the war, ships and submarines destroyed 1,200 enemy units (transport, security). Navy aviation destroyed more than 5,000 German aircraft in battles and at airfields. At the same time, the forces carried out security and transportation of goods from allied states. Hundreds of thousands of people were taken along the road of life from besieged Leningrad, more than 10 tons of cargo were delivered to the starving city. More than 200 enemy ships were destroyed in minefields. Fleet Admiral Kuznetsov was awarded 1st degree, "Red Banner" and "Lenin". More than 70 ships were awarded the Guards title, 513 sailors became Heroes of the Soviet Union. As Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Kuznetsov of the Soviet Union participated in international conferences, negotiations and meetings with allies.

After the war

The main task in peacetime was the restoration of the fleet. Projects for shipbuilding (including aircraft carriers) and the development of naval forces were presented to Stalin personally by the People's Commissar. N. G. Kuznetsov, an admiral who became famous during the war years, insisted on his plans and demands, which often differed from the opinion of the leader. Because of these disagreements and confidence in his rightness, in 1948 Kuznetsov was demoted to the rank of rear admiral and almost sat in the dock. He spent six months without service, suffered a heart attack, but was able to begin work as deputy commander-in-chief of the Far East Navy. It was there that he received the next rank of vice admiral for the second time. In 1951, by personal order of Stalin, he returned to Moscow and was completely rehabilitated. Admiral N. Kuznetsov received his next rank in 1953; he actively got involved in the work and sought a revision of the shipbuilding program.

Three times admiral

The further fate of Nikolai Gerasimovich is connected with the transformation of the fleet; his close cooperation with relevant departments and the USSR Academy of Sciences made it possible to create nuclear submarines. He attached great importance to equipping ships with missiles. They were placed on submarines and surface vehicles. The idea of ​​​​creating aircraft carriers did not find its implementation until 1972, when this need was dictated by the conditions of the Cold War with America. Kuznetsov's persistence helped advance the fleet's modernization program, but it strained his relationship with the ruling elite. Under Khrushchev, Admiral N. Kuznetsov was once again demoted in rank. His illness made it possible to remove him from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and effectively remove him from the business to which he devoted his whole life. But the fruits of his labors yielded results - the aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov was built. In retirement, Kuznetsov wrote a lot about the fleet, translated foreign literature and assessed his victories and defeats. He died on December 6, 1974, and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. For the third time, Kuznetsov became admiral of the fleet after his death; this title was returned to him in 1988 under pressure from colleagues and the family of Nikolai Gerasimovich.

Aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov

In 1982, the fifth heavy cruiser was laid down on the slipway of the Black Sea Shipyard. Its deck was intended for basing, landing and take-off of SU and MiG type aircraft. From the moment the ship was laid down until the end of all types of tests, it had four names: “Riga”, “Leonid Brezhnev”, “Tbilisi”. And only in 1990 the ship began to bear the name “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”. The ship was launched in 1985, and while afloat it continued to be completed, equipped and armed. In 1989, the crew boarded it, and the pilots began testing the runway's runway characteristics. Mig 29 successfully completed the assigned tasks, after which the ship was transferred to the dock for completion.

Equipment

The aircraft carrier of Admiral Kuznetsov underwent several reconstructions. Its radar, navigation, and electronic weapons must be constantly modernized. A ship of this size and class is very difficult to re-equip and is quite expensive to maintain in a state of combat readiness, but to this day it is in service and is on duty as part of the Northern Fleet forces. Its displacement (maximum) is 61 tons, length - 306 m, width - 71 meters. Overall height is 65 meters, maximum draft is 10 m. Four five-blade propellers are used as propulsion, which are driven by diesel generators (6), steam turbines (4) and turbogenerators (9). The armament consists of Granit, Dirk, and Kinzhal missiles, AK-630 anti-aircraft artillery mounts, and RBU anti-submarine bombs. The basic aviation group includes fifty airplanes and helicopters.

Development

Today it is the largest ship of its type. Its analogues are not produced; the Navy's long-term plans in this direction are secret. But the leadership of the modern Russian fleet recognizes the fact that the development project created by N. G. Kuznetsov 50 years ago remains relevant at the present time. It is possible that soon new aircraft carriers will be laid down at modern shipyards, which will better meet modern requirements. This applies to both weapons and ship engines. New sea vessels under the command of young naval commanders will conquer the vastness of the ocean and show the world the power of Russian weapons, but we should not forget about the people who wrote the first pages of this book.

Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov is a man of amazing destiny. Recalling his life, he wrote: “I never suffered from great ambition and did not strive to climb to the top of the career ladder, but, to be honest, I dreamed of becoming the commander of a ship - large or small - and, standing on the bridge, controlling it. But fate wanted, for a number of reasons, to either lift me high, or throw me down and force me to start my service all over again. Proof of this is the literally unique change in my ranks. Over all the years of service, I was twice a rear admiral, three times a vice admiral, wore four stars on the shoulder straps of an admiral of the fleet and twice had the highest military rank in the fleet - Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union." Our today's story is dedicated to the famous naval commander, one of the few who, defending the interests of the cause, objected to Stalin himself.

Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov is a completely unique figure in the Stalinist system. Bold assessments both in the notes and in communication with Stalin, and what is perhaps most important is courage in decisions that sometimes diverged from the will of the leader, which saved hundreds of human lives.

After all, it was Admiral Kuznetsov, the day before the start of the war, bypassing the order, who declared combat readiness in the fleet, and it was thanks to this that losses such as those that occurred on the ground and in the air were avoided. For example, more than a thousand aircraft were lost on the first day, but the fleet did not lose any aircraft, since it was ready for the attack.

Nikolay Kuznetsov, 1938. (wikipedia.org)

In his notes, Kuznetsov essentially accuses Stalin of incompetence and stubbornness, and almost everyone around him of lies and flattery. “The people surrounding Stalin gradually turned to shameless flattery and lies. The one who was more honest simply remained silent, and the one who rushed forward did not neglect any means.”

Kuznetsov had difficult relationships with too many Soviet military leaders. If he contradicted Stalin, which almost no one dared to do, then he spoke to many others without any reverence at all. For this, Zhukov disliked him and, as a consequence, problems at the moment when Zhukov became People's Commissar of Defense in 1955.

This was the second fall, the first happened under Stalin. Then, in 1948, he was put on trial with a group of admirals, but escaped the unfortunate fate of many of them. Yet he survived, although he was an admiral of the fleet, which was equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union, and was demoted to rear admiral. After Stalin's death, his title was returned to him, but not for long. With the arrival of Zhukov, he was demoted to vice admiral and sent into retirement with the wording “without the right to work in the fleet.”

With his son Nikolai on Navy Day, 1947. (wikipedia.org)

The Soviet system did not like independent people, those who, realizing the mistakes of the leadership, pointed them out to them. Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov was just one of these. Now he is revered; a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser of the Russian fleet is named after him. Then, a few years after the war, everything was different: after his resignation, there was no taboo placed on his name, but they tried to talk about his merits as little as possible. And only on July 26, 1988, he was posthumously restored to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.

Sources

1. Program “Price of Victory”, “Echo of Moscow”

The life and work of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, is a worthy role model for officers of the Navy (Navy), for all patriots of Russia. Thanks to his activities as the People's Commissar of the Navy, on June 22, 1941, the Navy met the Great Patriotic War in full combat readiness, without losing a single ship in the first hours of the war.

During the war, People's Commissar of the Navy, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov professionally and successfully led the Navy, was the chairman of the Main Military Council of the Navy, a member of the Supreme Command Headquarters and the State Defense Committee. After the Great Patriotic War N.G. Kuznetsov directed all his efforts towards creating a new, modern and balanced fleet, building ships, including those with nuclear power plants, adopting nuclear weapons, developing naval missile-carrying aviation, and coastal troops. Nikolai Gerasimovich was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st - 4th convocations, a deputy of the RSFSR of the 3rd convocation.

Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was born on July 11 (24), 1904 in the village of Medvedki (now Kotlas district of the Arkhangelsk region), in the family of a state-owned peasant. In 1915, left without a father, he decided to work as a messenger in the Department of Work to Improve the Arkhangelsk Port. In 1919, having added exactly 2 missing years to himself (the date of birth remained in his personal file - July 11 (24), 1902), he became a naval officer, joining the Northern Dvina military flotilla. In 1920 - 1922 studied at a preparatory school, after which, after passing the entrance exams, he was enrolled as a cadet at the naval school. In his book “On the Eve,” Nikolai Gerasimovich wrote: “...my dream - to forever link my destiny with the fleet - has become a reality. The yellow building of the former naval building became my home...” Having graduated from the Naval School with honors in 1926 (and thereby earning the right to choose his place of service), he continued to serve in the Black Sea Naval Forces as a watch commander (from 1927 - a senior watch commander) on the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine".

In 1929 he entered the Naval Academy, which he also graduated with honors in 1932, returning to serve in the Black Sea as the first mate of the cruiser "Red Caucasus". From 1933 to 1936 - commander of the cruiser "Chervona Ukraine". He initiated and personally developed the single ship combat readiness system, which was later adopted for the entire fleet; introduced a method of emergency heating of ship turbines (instead of 4 hours - only 20 minutes), practiced firing the main caliber at maximum distances and maximum ship speeds. The movement “Fight for the first salvo”, which he started, as a purely artillery concept, developed into a general naval concept, which made it possible to increase the combat readiness of naval formations. The organization of service on the ships "Chervona Ukraine" and "Red Caucasus" was recognized as exemplary.

N.G. Kuznetsov, constantly in search, studied himself and taught his subordinates, improved the art of ship control, and worked out the new crew training system he was creating. In November 1935, Kuznetsov’s ship was subjected to a comprehensive inspection, according to the results of which the commander of the Black Sea Fleet I.K. Kozhanov highly appreciated the preparedness of the ship and crew, noting the activities of the commander and calling him “the youngest captain of the 1st rank of all the seas of the world.” Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov considered naval service and command of a ship to be the work of a real man, a defender of the Fatherland. Over the years, he took part in long trips abroad, visiting many European countries. Fluent in English, German, French, Spanish.

From August 1936 to July 1937 N.G. Kuznetsov participates in the Spanish Civil War on the side of the Republicans - first as a naval attaché, later as a naval adviser, directs the actions of Soviet volunteer sailors, organizes sea transportation of military cargo and people. During hostilities, he goes to sea on ships of the Republican fleet as a volunteer.

In July 1937, Nikolai Gerasimovich was recalled from Spain and appointed 1st deputy commander, and in January 1938 - commander of the Pacific Fleet. In February he was awarded the military rank of 2nd rank flagship. During this time, he participates in organizing the interaction of naval forces and army units, speeds up the transfer of troops and cargo by sea, organizes the transportation of the wounded, and in the midst of battles gives the first directives to ships and fleet units on operational readiness.

His activities N.G. Kuznetsov is directing not only the improvement of the combat readiness of ships and units of the Pacific Fleet, the organization of air defense, the implementation of operational camouflage measures, and the transformation of Vladivostok into a well-fortified fleet base. During this period, he is already comprehending the necessary transformations on the scale of the entire Navy, which would significantly strengthen the fleet. At the April meeting of the Main Military Council of the People's Commissariat of the Navy, Kuznetsov proposes to reconsider issues such as: the process of training naval personnel, especially privates and junior commanding officers; provisions on military service by privates and junior commanding officers - on increasing the terms of their service, on establishing the percentage of long-term service members to the staff, on increasing monetary and clothing allowances, etc.

In April 1939 N.G. Kuznetsov was appointed to the post of People's Commissar of the Navy. He was awarded the military rank of fleet flagship of the 2nd rank. In the short time (2 years and 2 months) remaining before the start of the war, the young People's Commissar, working literally around the clock, manages to do a lot to organize, build and prepare the Navy for war.

In July, he conducts exercises of the Baltic Fleet, summing up the results, talks about the progress of the development of a system of three degrees of combat readiness in the People's Commissariat of the Navy, in August he participates in a meeting of the three powers: the USSR, England, France, and during the negotiations prepares data on the state of the English fleets for the Chief of the General Staff and France. In September, I.V. reports. Stalin and the justification for the need to move the main base of the Dnieper flotilla to Pinsk and receives approval, in November he approves the first instruction on operational readiness, which obligated to have forces in a preliminary deployment position to repel a surprise attack and conduct the first operations. On the instructions of People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov and with his participation, work begins on the preparation of the “Marine Atlas”, which is still very popular (published after the war).

During the war with Finland 1939 - 1940. he organizes the interaction of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet with the front, whose troops, with the support of naval aviation, surface ships and submarines, successfully land troops on the islands of Gogland, Seskar, Lavensaari. After the end of the war with Finland in March 1940, under the leadership of N.G. Kuznetsov, work continues to quickly create a naval base on the Hanko Peninsula.

On June 4, 1940, by resolution No. 946 of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR N.G. Kuznetsov is awarded the military rank of “admiral”. Being a commander himself, Kuznetsov understood the importance and complexity of training command personnel for the fleet. At his proposal, the government decided to open 7 naval special schools, classes in which began in September 1940. The People's Commissar of the Navy continued the good Russian tradition established under Peter I: to prepare the most courageous and talented young men for naval service.

In the summer of 1940, Kuznetsov traveled to Sevastopol and Odessa to organize interaction between the Black Sea Fleet and ground forces during the Bessarabian campaign of the Red Army. Then work in the Baltic Fleet, where the Libau naval base was being restored, resolving issues about the construction of coastal batteries and strengthening the defense of the base from land.

The People's Commissar's special attention is focused on methods of training and education of Navy personnel, taking into account the use of the experience of modern wars. Combat training is carried out in conditions close to combat, without unnecessary restrictions, taking into account the experience of the war in Spain. Through his efforts, the interaction of ships and formations in conditions of complex maneuvering, both day and night, is brought to perfection, and high training of naval crew personnel is achieved. One of the main places in the People's Commissar's activities is the implementation of the shipbuilding program and the vigorous increase in the combat power of the fleet. From January 1941 until the start of the war, People's Commissar Kuznetsov sent reports to I.V. Stalin about the facts of Germany's preparation for war.

Literally on the eve of the war, at 23:50 on June 21, 1941, People's Commissar of the Navy Admiral N.G. Kuznetsov signs directive No. zn/87, in which he instructs the command of the Northern, Baltic, Black Sea fleets, Pinsk and Danube flotillas to switch to increased combat readiness - operational readiness No. 1; June 22, 1941 at 1:50 a.m. No. ZN/88 about the possibility of a surprise attack by the Germans. After receiving information on June 22, 1941 at 3:15 a.m. about a German air raid on Sevastopol, under his own responsibility, he notified the fleets about the beginning of the German attack and gave instructions to repel aggression by force of arms.

The Navy met the attack of Nazi Germany with organized fire, without losing a single ship, not a single aircraft, or a single naval base in the first hours of the war.

During the war, People's Commissar N.G. Kuznetsov acted as a member of the State Defense Committee, a representative of the Supreme Command Headquarters and its member (June - July 1941 and from February 1945) and as Commander-in-Chief of the USSR Navy (from February 1944).

N.G. Kuznetsov in the Black Sea Fleet. 1942

Nikolai Gerasimovich worked on his own initiative or on instructions from Headquarters where the most difficult situation arose on the fleets and fronts, proving himself to be an outstanding organizer of interaction between naval forces and ground forces, making proposals on operations and plans for their conduct to the Supreme High Command, incl. on naval aviation raids on Berlin, ensuring the escort of allied convoys, etc. He set tasks for the fleet: to strengthen the fight against enemy communications and protect their own communications, military transportation, evacuation of cargo, population, troops, blockade of areas of the coast occupied by the enemy, to assist ground forces in operations for the defense and liberation of coastal cities and coastal areas, landings and building up forces in the conquered territories, supporting flank formations with naval artillery fire, regarding supplies and reinforcements, etc.

Nikolai Gerasimovich showed high organizational skills in the defense of naval bases - Tallinn, Odessa, Sevastopol, as well as in developing plans and conducting the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation. At the final stage of the Second World War - during the Soviet-Japanese War in September 1945, he resolved issues of interaction between the Pacific Fleet and the Amur Flotilla, fleet forces with the troops of the 1st and 2nd Far Eastern Fronts, etc.

Kuznetsov did a lot to ensure that the Naval Academy and research institutes of the Navy constantly worked together with academic and other organizations to develop research and development work, improve the organization and activities of the fleet, and develop naval art; theoretical works and operational-tactical documents of the Navy were created. The People's Commissar paid special attention to organizing naval training - naval exercises close to a combat situation, voyages at any time of the year, and improving combat training in wartime conditions. On his initiative, in August 1941, a department was created at the Main Naval Staff to study and summarize the experience of the war, which subsequently made it possible to systematize combat experience and, on its basis, combat training of the fleet. At the suggestion of Nikolai Gerasimovich, preparatory maritime schools and a boatswain school, Nakhimov naval schools were created, orders and medals of F.F. were established. Ushakova and P.S. Nakhimov. During the war years N.G. Kuznetsov proved himself to be a major organizer of interaction between naval forces and ground forces. The actions of the Navy in the Great Patriotic War were highly appreciated by the Supreme High Command and allies. For his contribution to the victory, exemplary leadership of fleet combat operations, personal courage of N.G. Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union on September 14, 1945.

Particularly noteworthy is the activity of N.G. Kuznetsov in the military-diplomatic field as a member of the USSR delegation as part of diplomatic missions at international conferences. He took part in negotiations between the USSR, England and France (1939), the USSR, USA and Great Britain (1941) on joint actions in the war against Germany. He worked as part of the delegation at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences in 1945. During these events, he participated in the preparation, discussion and development of decisions on such important issues as the actions of the allies in Europe and the Far East, naval supplies under Lend-Lease, organization and ensuring the reception and safety of ships and aircraft of allied delegations, the division of the German fleet, etc. For his service to the Motherland, Nikolai Gerasimovich was awarded four Orders of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Ushakov 1st class, the Order of the Red Star and medals, as well as foreign orders.

The highest military rank in the Navy, “Admiral of the Fleet,” was awarded to Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov on May 31, 1944. According to the Table of Ranks, this rank corresponded to the rank of “Marshal of the Soviet Union.” Since 1953, the rank of “Admiral of the Fleet” began to be called “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union” (the status of the rank did not change, this was explained in the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 3, 1955).

After the end of the war, Nikolai Gerasimovich’s main concern was the issue of building a new fleet that would meet the demands of modern times, establishing its place in the system of the country’s Armed Forces. Under the leadership of N.G. Kuznetsov is developing a project for a 10-year fleet construction program, which included the commissioning of aircraft carriers. Back in 1946, he persistently expressed proposals to I.V. Stalin on the use of nuclear power plants on ships. However, high authority, independent thinking, and the courage to express their proposals on the organization and construction of the fleet came into conflict with the opinion of the country's top leadership.

In February 1946, the independent People's Commissariat of the USSR Navy was abolished and included in the united People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Kuznetsov is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Navy - Deputy People's Commissar (then Minister) of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In January 1947, as a result of disagreements with Stalin over the program for the further development of the Navy, he was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief and in February of the same year he was appointed head of the Directorate of Naval Educational Institutions. In 1947, on unfounded charges, Nikolai Gerasimovich was tried by the court of honor, and in 1948 by the court of the Supreme Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. He will be demoted to the rank of “rear admiral” and removed from his post. The first heart attack occurs during the trial, at the age of 44...

Only six months later, after a personal appeal to I.V. Stalin N.G. Kuznetsov is given the opportunity to continue his service. He was appointed to the post of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Far East for the Naval Forces, and in 1950 - commander of the 5th (Pacific) Fleet. In 1951, he was awarded the rank of “vice admiral” for the second time.

In the early 50s. last century in the Armed Forces of the USSR there was an unfavorable situation with the construction of the fleet. The country's leadership again turns to N.G. Kuznetsov, he is returned to service in the newly created naval department to the post of Minister of the Navy. With renewed energy, Nikolai Gerasimovich gets to work, trying to change the state of affairs in the construction of the fleet for the better. The Commander-in-Chief begins to solve problems associated with the development and implementation of new technology. Organizes joint work of naval research institutes and the Naval Academy with the research institutes of the Ministry of Defense, the USSR Academy of Sciences, and industry research centers. Resolves issues related to the construction of the first nuclear submarine, personally conducts regular fleet exercises. As before, he pays great attention to the problems of personnel training. After Stalin's death, the Naval Ministry was liquidated again, and on March 16, 1953, Kuznetsov was appointed to the post of 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR - Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. During this period, Nikolai Gerasimovich worked intensively on issues of fleet construction, explaining the need for “a sharp leap towards new high-quality equipment, not to mention its quantity.” The appearance of the new fleet was determined in the military shipbuilding program for 1955 - 1964 prepared under his leadership. In May 1953, he was completely rehabilitated and restored to the highest naval rank.

However, Nikolai Gerasimovich’s repeated attempts to achieve a positive decision from the USSR Government on the shipbuilding program do not lead to the desired results. In April 1955, at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee, N.G. Kuznetsov again reports on the need to approve the shipbuilding program. The First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N.S. is against it. Khrushchev. In response, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy openly expresses his indignation at the irresponsible attitude towards fleet construction issues. The harsh speech of the Navy Commander-in-Chief is regarded by Khrushchev as an encroachment on his authority as the leader of the country and the leader of the party (after all, the program for building a balanced fleet was adopted and began to be implemented under Nikolai Gerasimovich; he laid the foundation for the creation of a nuclear missile fleet, which has become the most important component of reliable defense countries). The situation in which Kuznetsov worked worsened. The absurdity and hopelessness of the situation affected his health - in May 1955 he suffered a second heart attack. At the end of May N.G. Kuznetsov makes a written request to be relieved of his position for health reasons. The request remains unanswered. The temporary performance of duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy during the illness of Nikolai Gerasimovich is assigned to Vice Admiral S.G. Gorshkova. Until October 1955 N.G. Kuznetsov is undergoing treatment. And on October 28, 1955, a tragedy occurred in the roadstead of Sevastopol - the death of the battleship Novorossiysk. The state commission that investigated the death of the ship did not establish the causes of the tragedy, charges against N.G. Kuznetsova was not nominated. However, this was a suitable reason for reprisals against the unwanted admiral: in the report of the USSR Minister of Defense “On the death of the battleship Novorossiysk” to the CPSU Central Committee N.G. Kuznetsov was presented as the culprit of the incident. At the beginning of 1956, he was removed from his post with the wording “For unsatisfactory leadership of the Navy,” demoted in military rank to vice admiral and dismissed from the Armed Forces without the right to reinstatement.

His family and friends surrounded him with love and care and helped him survive during this difficult period.

Nikolai Gerasimovich decides to write a book dedicated to the struggle of the Spanish people against fascism in 1936 - 1937. and the assistance that the Soviet Union provided her. Creativity captured him, confusion passed, the thirst for activity found its channel and time quickly rushed forward again. Despite the fact that Kuznetsov’s request for information necessary for the book from the archives of the General Staff (in particular, his reports from the “Spanish” period, signed with the name Lepanto) does not even receive a refusal, the work continues. He was helped out by his own memory, which, by the way, was excellent. An essay has been published. Academician I.M. helped Maisky, who, after reading the manuscript, praised N.G. Kuznetsov, noting that this is the first work by an eyewitness of those events of such a high rank. The essay was published in a collection of articles by the publishing house of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1959 under the pseudonym N. Nikolaev. Continuing to work on this topic, in 1966 N.G. Kuznetsov publishes the book “On a Distant Meridian”, which received positive reviews. And memory returned all new names and events. Working on essays about L. Galler, V. Alafuzov, I. Kozhanov, L. Vladimirsky, R. Muklevich, V. Orlov, V. Blucher, B. Shaposhnikov, M. Koltsov, I. Rogov, A. Marinesko. He wrote the book “On the Eve”, published in 1966 as a separate edition in Vladivostok, easily and joyfully. Letters from readers came in streams. Former front-line soldiers - participants in the events - wrote especially a lot, thanking for the honest story about the past.

After the speech of the new General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee L.I. Brezhnev in the year of the 20th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany, in which he called N.G. Kuznetsov, among the outstanding military leaders of the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945, Nikolai Gerasimovich gradually began to enter public life. He was invited to speak at reader conferences in public and government institutions.

During 18 years of his creative life N.G. Kuznetsov wrote 5 books - military memoirs. In the first four, he summarized the pre-war period and the experience of the Great Patriotic War: “On a distant meridian”, “On the eve”, “Combat alert in the fleets”, “Course to victory”. “Sharp Turns” is a memoir “for purely personal reasons.” And from his pen there were about a hundred articles on naval topics and memoirs - about naval people, returning to history the names of those killed and unjustly repressed. Kuznetsov’s translations have published 3 books and several works by foreign authors on the history, strategy and tactics of the navies of the leading world powers.

N.G. Kuznetsov against the background of the cruiser "Red Caucasus"

For Nikolai Gerasimovich, like no one else, the saying of another famous Russian admiral - P.S. Nakhimova: “A sailor has no difficult or easy path. The sailor has one path - a glorious one! All his life he was engaged in work necessary for the Fatherland, which he loved selflessly. They sent him into retirement, tried to consign him to oblivion, but it was impossible to remove him from serving the fleet and the Fatherland. N.G. Kuznetsov’s heart stopped at the 71st year of his life - December 6, 1974. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow, and 14 years later, the title “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union”, which he had earned during the war and restored, was carved on his labrodite tombstone. By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 26, 1988

The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov”, Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, is named after the outstanding admiral.

Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"

Memorial plaques have been unveiled in his memory on the building of the General Staff of the Navy and the house on Tverskaya Street in Moscow where he lived. Monuments to the hero-sailor were erected in Sevastopol, Veliky Ustyug, and Kotlas. In Kotlas, Arkhangelsk and St. Petersburg, streets bear his name, and in his homeland, in the village of Medvedki, a memorial museum of the admiral was created. The motor ship "Admiral N. G. Kuznetsov" sails along the Northern Dvina. In 1997, the Foundation in Memory of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union N.G. was established in Moscow. Kuznetsova. A sea strait and a cliff in the Pacific Ocean, a star in the constellation Leo, are named after the naval commander.

Roman Yurov, captain 1st rank,
Deputy Head of the 4th Directorate
Research Institute of Military History
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation