The First Reader of Nachalo Puti: Alexander Shcherbakov and the Legacy of Voenizdat

Pictured: Photo of V.I. Chuikov from 1942 with inscription (translation)

Comrade Shcherbakov A.N.

To the first reader of my manuscript,

from the author who respects you,

V. Chuikov

21.12.1959, Moscow

It is always inspiring to encounter an inscription that reflects the deep professional respect between two military leaders, such as the one Marshal Chuikov penned in appreciation of Major General Alexander N. Shcherbakov's review of his landmark memoir, Nachalo Puti (The Beginning of the Path). Dated 21 December 1959, Chuikov acknowledged Shcherbakov, describing him as "the first reader of my manuscript." The brief message offers a glimpse into the collaborative process behind one of the Soviet Union's most important military memoirs and recognizes the man who helped review it for publication.

Nachalo Puti was originally published in Moscow in 1959 by the Soviet Military Publishing House (Voyennoye izdatel'stvo Ministerstva oborony SSSR), better known as Voenizdat. The manuscript was submitted for typesetting on 2 July 1959 and signed for publication on 28 September. By then, Voenizdat had become the Soviet Union's premier military publishing house, producing military history, doctrine, technical manuals, memoirs, educational texts, and reference works for officers, cadets, and civilian readers.

Pictured: Chuikov’s memoir titled Nachalo Puti, 1959 edition.

Military publishing in Russia can be traced to the eighteenth century during the reign of Catherine the Great, but the modern Voenizdat was formally established on 11 May 1936 by Order No. 97 of the People's Commissar of Defense. Its mission was to centralize the publication of military and political literature while preserving the experiences of Soviet commanders and ensuring that lessons learned on the battlefield were available to future generations. Over the following decades, the publishing house became one of the Soviet Union's most influential institutions for military education and professional development.

The recipient of Chuikov's inscription was well suited for such a responsibility. Major General Alexander Nikolayevich Shcherbakov (1905–1980) devoted his career to military education, political leadership, and organizational development. During the Great Patriotic War, he served in several important positions, including with the 51st Army during the Crimean Offensive of 1944. He frequently worked alongside frontline personnel, helping organize logistics, maintain critical crossings under enemy fire, and sustain the morale and effectiveness of Soviet troops. His service earned numerous decorations, including the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class.

Pictured: Major General A. N. Shcherbakov

After the war, Shcherbakov continued shaping the Soviet Armed Forces through education and publishing. He served as deputy editor of Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) before becoming Chief Political Editor of Voenizdat, where he supervised the publication of military history, professional literature, and memoirs that educated generations of Soviet officers. His experience as both a wartime leader and a military editor made him an invaluable reviewer of historical manuscripts written by senior commanders.