Photo inscribed on the back with the words “Bandage on the move”—Lieutenant-Colonel V. I. Chuikov stands with a battlefield nurse receiving a dressing change in Stalingrad. Chuikov suffered from a painful, burning weeping eczema on his hands brought on by the stresses of constant heavy combat which required regular dressing changes. This photo is from a family archive of General Semyon Tsvigun—the entire photo collection is located here . Women filled numerous roles in the Great Patriotic War, and their contributions to the defense of the Motherland did not go unnoticed. Like their counterparts in the US and other Allied nations, Soviet women worked tirelessly in factories manufacturing weapons, vehicles, and aircraft, and provided support in other ways as well behind the battle lines and at the front. True to his nature in fully acknowledging the warriors of the 62nd (later 8th Guards) Army, Vasily Ivanovich was quick to credit the women soldiers of the Red Army for their tenacity, courage, abilities, effort, and indispensability. Even battlefield nurses knew how to use their weapons and were well-prepared to fight. In his book titled The Battle for Stalingrad , Marshal Chuikov recounts the actions of the brave women who unflinchingly served alongside the men of the Red Army all the way to Berlin: “The deliberate mass entry of women, particularly girls, into active service in the army was not always clearly understood by everyone. There are some who probably still do not understand that they did so as equal builders of socialism and equal defenders of the interests of the workers. This is why, in the war against the Nazi invaders, we saw our Soviet women acting as orderlies, carrying tens and hundreds of wounded from the firing line; as doctors, carrying out operations under air and artillery attack; or as telephonists and radio operators, handling operational conversations and administration in battle. We saw them working at headquarters and in political organizations, where they did army administration work and educated the troops in a spirit of military tenacity. Anyone who visited the front would see women acting as gunners in anti-artillery units, as pilots of aeroplanes doing battle with the German air aces, as captains of armoured boats, in the Volga fleet, for example, carrying cargoes from the left bank to the right and back again in unbelievably difficult conditions. It is no exaggeration to say that women fought alongside men everywhere in the war. It must also be remembered that in the second half of 1942, when our armies had retreated to a line running through Leningrad, Mozhaysk, Voronezh, Stalingrad and Mozdok, leaving densely populated areas of the country in enemy hands, new recruits were needed. Women volunteered for the army en masse , and this made it possible for us to bring our units and establishments back up to full efficiency. We had whole units (such as anti-aircraft batteries and night-flying PO-2 bomber regiments) in which the majority of gun-teams and crews were women. And it must be said that these units did their jobs as well as the units in which men predominated. We can take two types of work involved in defense operations—anti-aircraft defense and signals—as examples. The majority of gun crews in the Stalingrad anti-aircraft defense corps, in both anti-aircraft batteries and on searchlights, consisted of women. But the efficiency of these crews and batteries was not the slightest inferior to the anti-aircraft units we saw on the Don and in other parts of the front, where the majority of the crews were men. In terms of tenacity and self-sacrifice, in the battle with the German dive-bombers, the women anti-aircraft gun crews on the banks of the Volga were models of courage. They would stick to their guns and go on firing when bombs were exploding all round them, when it seemed impossible not merely to fire accurately, but even to stay with the guns. In the fire and smoke, amid bursting bombs, seemingly unaware of the columns of earth exploding into the air all about them, they stood their ground to the last. The Luftwaffe’s raids on the city, therefore, in spite of heavy losses among the anti-aircraft personnel, were always met by concentrated fire, which as a rule took a heavy toll among the attacking aircraft. Our women anti-aircraft gunners shot down dozens of enemy planes over the blazing city” (239-241).

Pictured (a still from archival footage): Soldiers of the 8th Guards Army hoisting Colonel-General Chuikov into the air celebrating the capitulation of Berlin, May 1945. Red Star war correspondent Vasily Grossman was ever-present with the Red Army and recorded his interviews with soldiers and officers alike. He traveled with the advancing army during the Great Patriotic War all the way to Berlin in 1945. Grossman’s notes were later edited and compiled into a book titled A Writer at War. In an excerpt from the book, a conversation with then Colonel-General Chuikov took place outside of Lublin, Poland. The text of focus is provided below, and my commentary follows. “In July 1944, Grossman, once again accompanied by [Oleg] Troyanovsky, rejoined General Chuikov and his Stalingrad Army, now renamed the 8th Guards Army. Troyanovsky described the approach to the city of Lublin in eastern Poland. 'The road to Lublin is literally crammed with troops. There is much air activity on both sides. Writer Vasily Grossman and I take turns to watch the sky. It had been raining. There is water in the ditches and in bomb and shell craters, yet one still often has to hide in them from the enemy's Messerschmitts.' Troyanovsky also recorded their meeting with General Chuikov. Grossman wasted no time in questioning the general, both of whose hands were bandaged [due to painful stress-induced excema]. 'What about Lublin?' Grossman asked. 'Lublin will be liberated. It's a matter of a few hours. It's something else that I am concerned about.' We said nothing. 'Look, one could almost touch Berlin with one's hand now. And it's the dream of every Soviet warrior to take part in capturing Berlin. But I'm afraid that the [Stavka] leadership could change their minds and move my army to another axis. It's happened a few times before. Yet it's perfect logic and common sense. Just think: Stalingradtsy, advancing on Berlin!' While Chuikov fretted over his army's right to glory in the advance Berlin, his soldiers were just about to discover the [concentration] camp of Majdanek on the other side of Lublin (280).” The particular remark I take issue with is the description of Chuikov’s “fretting” over whether the 8th Guards Army would be allowed to storm Berlin in the final days of the war. After all, his troops were transferred to a different front in June 1944, only one month before the above-referenced conversation took place. The 8th Guards transfer from the 3rd Ukrainian Front to the 1st Belorussian Front is described in the first few pages of Chuikov’s book, The Fall of Berlin. From what I have learned and observed about Vasily Ivanovich’s personality, he was not self-seeking in his desire for the 8th Guards Army to take Berlin. Instead, he understood the gravity of the task ahead and wanted his soldiers, the defenders of Stalingrad, to have the honor of advancing into the city, the stronghold of the Nazi forces. In The Fall of Berlin, Chuikov shared his reaction to the news of his Army’s transfer to the 1st Belorussian Front. “Then suddenly the official decision [was announced]: ‘The Army is being transferred to one of the main lines of advance.’ Was I glad? Yes. What military man is not glad when he is accorded honour and trust? He would be worth nothing otherwise. One must want to be where one can do the most for the common cause. But I had no time for rejoicing. There were many current jobs to be dealt with, first of all regrouping the troops on the Dniester bridge-head without losses and without giving anything away to the enemy” (11). After living through the death and destruction of the German onslaught of Stalingrad and other battles since that point, Chuikov thought it was fitting for the 8th Guards to have this honor. As an authentic leader and their champion, he communicated this desire on behalf of his soldiers. Fortunately, Stalin was already thinking the same thing—and Chuikov's troops took Berlin’s Templehof Airport on 26 April 1945. A few days later, Chuikov personally accepted the surrender of the German forces in Berlin from General Weidling.

Photo Caption: Tell the General It’s Funny! Mr. Dean Acheson (left), American Secretary of State, laughs at the interpretation given by a Russian officer (back to camera) of a joke made by General Vasily I. Chuikov (right), Chief of the Soviet Control Commission in Germany, during a reception given by Mr. John McCloy, U.S. High Commissioner in Germany for Mr. Acheson during the latter’s visit to Berlin 14 November 1949. (Photo by Associated Press) Marshal Chuikov was well known internationally throughout his career. His appointments to top posts opened the door to meetings with leading officials from several nations, and his time in post-war Berlin was no exception. In the books titled Present at the Creation: My Years in the State Department and Sketches from Life of Men I Have Known , former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson shared about his encounters with Vasily Ivanovich in Europe. The ‘tough as nails’ authentic leader had a memorable sense of humor that Acheson described in his memoirs. Both of the following excerpts are about Acheson’s 14 November 1949 visit to Berlin. From   the book Present at the Creation: “After a reception given by General Taylor for me to meet the British, French, and Soviet commandants and their staffs, our memorable visit to Berlin ended, but not before the arrival of General Chuikov, Military Governor of the Soviet Zone and Commandant of the Soviet Sector of Berlin, won a bet for me. Taylor told me that no Russian had attended a social function since the blockade had begun more than a year before. However, General Chuikov and I had enlivened a rather dull dinner party at the Soviet Embassy in Paris six months before, and I had bet that he would come” (343).  And from Sketches : “General Maxwell Taylor, then Commandant of our Sector in Berlin, had a reception for me to which the other three Commandants were, of course, invited. General Chuikov, he said, would not come; he had not attended any Western social function for months. I offered a ten-dollar bet that he would. General Taylor took it. The reception had been going for an hour and my chances seemed pretty dim. Then there was a great clatter at the door and in came, not only General Chuikov, but all of his staff. (General Taylor refused to pay a bonus for staff.) While we were exchanging noisy greetings and he was demanding [that I do my Andrei] Vyshinksy [imitation], up came a waiter with a tray of cocktails, a large tray. Chuikov took a solemn appraising look and began to drink them before I realized his mistaken assumption of a challenge. ‘You don't have to drink all of those, General,’ I assured him. ‘They're for everybody.’ He looked immensely relieved. ‘Good Lord,’ I went on. ‘You must have a tin stomach.’... He shook his head. ‘No,’ he said, ‘steel.’”

Pictured: Young Chuikov as Commander of the 43rd Regiment of the 5th Rifle Division of the Red Army, 1919 Today's global business environment features horizontal organizations with flatter structures rather than traditional vertical hierarchies with employee promotions based on seniority. Effective young employees are often promoted to supervisor positions over older employees, but it takes time for the team to accept a younger leader's authority, meaning they often need to prove themselves before their older counterparts will take them seriously. While it can be frustrating to navigate group dynamics, it requires consistent excellence, strong people skills, open communication, and a lot of patience. Before Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov was a Marshal of the Soviet Union, he was a leader who rose swiftly within the ranks of the Red Army due to his natural abilities, knowledge gained from experience and study, and personal attributes of leadership. In an essay published in the book titled Fighters for People's Happiness by Shemyakov, 19-year-old Regimental Commander Chuikov was described as an effective leader who was able to win over his older peers: “[He was a] young commander with clear and confident answers, seriousness beyond his years, and tactical intelligence. It was also valuable that he already had, albeit little, combat experience on the Southern Front [in the Russian Civil War]. Almost all the commanders and soldiers of the regiment were older than him, many were good fathers, and some of the subordinates were at first wary of him. Therefore, sometimes it was not easy in the classroom, but everyone studied diligently. Chuikov knew the weapons perfectly, he shot perfectly, he could show any technique himself. What is incomprehensible—he explained to subordinates patiently, over and over again. But then he checked it meticulously. While teaching the Red Army soldiers, the young commander persistently studied and gained life experience. And gradually the difference in years began to fade—distrust was replaced by respect. Since that time, Chuikov has retained for his whole life a special love for combat training, the desire to be convinced of the preparedness of each fighter for himself. "

Pictured: Newsweek  11 April 1949 article titled “The Rudest Russian” and Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung  German-language newspaper article labeled “Stalin’s Coarsest General” dated 27 May 1949, which mirrored information from the earlier Newsweek  article. Both articles announce General Chuikov’s appointment as Marshal Sokolovsky's replacement as Chief of the Soviet Ground Forces in Germany and include a comparison of the two men’s temperaments. Authenticity inspires loyalty in followers, and Marshal Chuikov was highly regarded, admired, and respected by his soldiers despite any shortcomings he may have possessed. The positive characteristics of effective leaders far outweigh the negative ones, but there are still some weaknesses that can cause problems. To be authentic, one must be aware of weaknesses and possess the emotional intelligence necessary to recognize triggers for negative behavior. Steve Milano described authentic leaders  as being less than perfect, requiring acknowledgment of weak areas and continuously developing strengths and improving skills. In the articles from Newsweek  and from a German newspaper in 1949, Vasily Ivanovich’s temperament was highlighted and described in uncomplimentary terms. One anecdote in particular focused on his physicality—when angered, he “pounded tables until they jumped on the dirt floors of the dugouts” (30). Considering the rivalries during the Cold War were in place at that time of history, Chuikov was portrayed as malevolent by US and German news sources, which identified him as a “professional roughneck.” However, it is my assessment that these descriptions were crafted as short-sighted propaganda and demonstrated bias in journalism which served to perpetuate misinformation. A more balanced approach (which I highly recommend reading) to Chuikov’s traits is provided in Stalingrad: How the Red Army Triumphed . Michael Jones addressed Marshal Chuikov’s temperament as his ‘Achilles’ heel,’ but spent time in his book expounding upon Vasily Ivanovich’s virtues and strengths to provide a more complete picture. Anatoly Mereshko, who served in the 62nd Army’s HQ in Stalingrad, worked closely with Chuikov and shared the following: “In tough situations, Chuikov could be abrasive and harsh. Mereshko noted, ‘He could be rude to people, and this was not always justified, but in general it sprang from an unwillingness to accept cowardice, lies, or failure to take responsibility. He was rude to such people because he simply did not want them around—but if he saw you had fulfilled your order and had genuinely done your best, it was completely different.’” Marshal Chuikov’s son Alexander Vasilievich also served as a source for Michael Jones, and provided the following: “Every commander has a weak point—and Chuikov’s was his explosive temper. ‘I have his personal file as his military career developed,’ said his son Alexander, ‘and amidst the compliments [of being] well-educated, promising, devoted to the party of Lenin and Stalin, is one warning refrain—too explosive.’ […] If Chuikov had not possessed exceptional qualities this character defect would have seriously undermined his command.” Through his natural charisma and his exemplary leadership abilities, Vasily Ivanovich was able to motivate and inspire his soldiers. For instance, famous Red Army sniper Vasily Zaitsev was credited with the maxim, “For us, there is no land beyond the Volga.” Zaitsev responded to Chuikov in this way when asked the rhetorical question of how the defenders of Stalingrad could face their families if they retreated from fighting. Jones included this pronouncement in his text, and continued: “We understand more fully why this soldier’s simple declaration of faith held such resonance for his commander. Chuikov had given everything he had to his army. He created a tactical system of fighting to blunt the German advance and encouraged an atmosphere of equality and pride within the defenders. Above all, he had determined to trust the ordinary soldiers—and to try and restore their sense of hope and self-belief.” It was a truly Herculean effort…

Pictured: A written prayer Marshal V. I. Chuikov carried with him, given to him by his mother before the Battle for Stalingrad. It reads, "O Powerful One, the one who turns night into day and makes rough soil into a garden of flowers, make light work what is hard for me, and help me." As a believer and a person of faith, my worldview is shaped by Christianity. When I encounter others who share this faith, there is an instant connection and understanding. Researching Marshal Chuikov’s life and work has been a fascinating study and learning about his deep personal faith inspires me. His mother Elizaveta Fyodorovna was a devout Christian with a strong influence, and her prayers of protection for him and his brothers did not go unanswered. Before Vasily Ivanovich headed to Stalingrad, his faithful mother met with him and gave him a meaningful gift. In 2008, Marshal Chuikov’s son Alexander Vasilievich shared the following anecdote : “In early 1942, returning from China, my father found himself near Tula not far from his native Silver Ponds. There he formed an army to be sent to the Stalingrad region and visited his parents' house several times. Before leaving for the front, he received a blessing from his mother—a prayer and a pectoral cross. Was the prayer found after his death the one recorded in 1942? Who knows… But when in 2006 a new school was built in Silver Ponds and named after V. I. Chuikov, a bronze monument was erected at the façade. Vasily Ivanovich sits in the uniform of a lieutenant general with the Orders of the Red Banner and Red Star on his chest and an Orthodox cross in hand. The officials saw a discrepancy here, but the fellow countrymen who knew Chuikov unanimously confirmed: ‘It was so!’ And we all believe that the prayer found in his [communist] party card is the one received from his mother before being sent to Stalingrad.” Later during a harrowing experience in the liberation of Ukraine, Vasily Ivanovich recognized God's clear protection as saving him from certain death. His son related the following  in 2012: “At the headquarters of the army, a commotion had already begun: the commander had disappeared! And [my] father gave a clear-text radiogram with his coordinates. The Germans intercepted it and immediately threw three flights of attack aircraft on this house - nine planes! And they wrapped up such a ‘carousel’! There was not a single chance to survive under this shelling. My father told me how he jumped out of the hut, and there was a field around, and there was nowhere to hide! ‘I,’ he recalled, ‘leaned against the wall and did not even bend over.’ So he stood while this raid lasted. ‘When the stormtroopers finally flew away, I turned around: the wall was actually not there - it was all like a sieve. And on me - not a scratch! And I understood that God saved me. I wanted to cross myself, but my hands were cramped from tension - I [could not] unclench my fist. I tried to fold my fingers into the sign of the cross - it didn’t work.’ So he crossed himself with his fist. Since then, it [was] a habit for my father to cross with his fist.”

Pictured: Marshal V. I. Chuikov in attendance at the 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow, February 1981; lapel pin (top) identifying a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet; lapel pin (bottom) signifying a Delegate for the 26th Congress. The 26th Congress was the final one attended by Chuikov, who would suffer from a lengthy illness later that year. Marshal Chuikov enjoyed a distinguished career in the military, in public service, in diplomacy, and as a much-celebrated author and speaker. Vasily Ivanovich lived until the age of 82, and is still remembered and revered for his numerous contributions. One of the joys of being able to investigate his life and work is spending time reviewing the sheer volume of information in existence, meaning that one could spend many years researching and continue to learn new things. In considering his length of tenure and high success in elevated military and government positions, one can glean a wealth of knowledge in effective leadership practices. Even though the focus of this blog is to explore Marshal Chuikov’s life and work through the lens of western leadership and management theories, his is an example that transcends geographical boundaries, cultural confines, and the political realm. Volumes have been written about the specific period of time during which his command of the 62nd Army was crucial to the defense of Stalingrad; however, there is so much more to Chuikov’s biography. In studying the treasure trove of experiences Vasily Ivanovich had during his lifetime, it is intriguing to discover the characteristics which determined his successful leadership over a lengthy period of time. Author and minister John C. Maxwell identified three traits for leadership longevity—character, competence, and consistency. Values, beliefs, and actions define a person's character. A person with character "walks the walk and talks the talk." Competence refers to the ability to perform the task. A leader's ability to produce results is directly related to their quality of work. Integrity, professional behaviors, and temperament also determine consistency. Leaders are held accountable for keeping promises, completing deadlines, and setting high standards of excellence. After conducting much study and research (and only scratching the surface thus far), it is my belief that Marshal Chuikov possessed these fine qualities and many more, and serves as a prime example of what an effective, authentic leader should be…

Pictured: Colonel-General V. I. Chuikov outside of Odessa, Ukraine on 7 April 1944; Marshal Chuikov with Marshal of Aviation V. A. Sudets in Odessa for the 30th anniversary of the liberation, 10 April 1974. Examining social science theories through a historical lens is not a novel undertaking. However, embarking on a comprehensive study of a Soviet Marshal’s life, work, and experience to explore the application of such theories is a unique approach—and one which is personally rewarding. My dream is to publish one day, and this blog serves as a channel to share and organize researched content. One of the first social science concepts I had the opportunity to teach at the college level is Tuckman’s Linear Model of Group Development. There are various stages to team development and cohesion—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. While the forming stage is self-explanatory, the storming stage describes intra-group conflict. If team members can work through the struggle and congeal, they move to the norming stage where everyone is in one accord. Next, a unified group can perform very well, often having a synergistic effect (synergy – the outcome is greater than the sum of the parts). When performance is complete, the members adjourn to take on new tasks. In his book titled From Stalingrad to Berlin, Vasily Ivanovich shared how the numerous armies within the 3rd Ukrainian Front solidified into a unified performing force to triumph over a stubborn enemy. Their combined efforts led to the liberation of Odessa, a city in Ukraine which was subjected to Axis control from 1941 until 1944 by German and Romanian troops. “On 6 April [1944] the troops of the 8th Guards Army, having overcome rivers and estuaries, countless small bays and bays, approached the last Khadzhibey estuary in front of Odessa in the Belka, Staraya Vandalinovka sector. The German command had every reason to expect that it was here that it would be possible to delay the crossing of our troops, gain some time and organize the defense of Odessa. The narrowest part of the estuary was 800 meters, [with a] depth reaching two meters. The enemy could organize a defense on the right bank. [But] the troops of the 8th Guards Army managed to get ahead of the enemy and cross the estuary on the move. The gates to Odessa were open, [and] the mechanized cavalry group of I. A. Pliev came steeply to the right at that time, overhanging Odessa from the northwest. The right-wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front cut off the entire enemy grouping concentrated in the Odessa region. The entire Odessa operation, undoubtedly, went down in history as one of the brilliant ones in terms of the excellent interaction of large military formations of the 3rd Ukrainian Front in it. Several armies acted in the same rhythm, in the same tempo, each in its own sector solving its own problem. The 5th Shock and 6th Armies moved along the Black Sea coast. Their movement in itself - without a flank march covering the enemy by several of our other armies - would have been impossible. The enemy, fearing encirclement, retreated. The 5th Shock and 6th armies pressed on him, not giving him the opportunity to gain a foothold anywhere. So, the troops of the front prepared for the assault on Odessa. Behind there were difficult battles and overcoming water obstacles, behind was the feat of soldiers and officers of several armies. The fighters were inspired to take part in the liberation of the last major city in Ukraine. And they went to a new feat.”

Pictured: Marshal V. I. Chuikov was celebrated as an honorary citizen of the city of Lepel, Belarus in 1979, and a long street in the city is named after him.  As a young regimental commander, he helped liberate Lepel from the White Poles on 14 May 1920. A highly decorated veteran of the Russian Civil War and the Great Patriotic War, Marshal Chuikov was also presented with honorary citizenship awards for the cities of Volgograd, Snezhinsk, Zaporozhye, and Ulan-Ude. In 1979, he was also recognized in a special ceremony as an honorary citizen of Lepel, in northern Belarus. To be the recipient of such an award is considered to be a high honor. A city or other government may confer symbolic, honorary citizenship on a person who is deemed particularly admirable or otherwise deserving of the distinction by the government. In the case of Lepel, Chuikov was involved in the liberation of the city during the Russian Civil War in 1920. In his memoirs titled From Stalingrad to Berlin , Marshal Chuikov recalled a lighthearted anecdote about his soldiers in a fishing expedition before the liberation of the city of Lepel: “Having gathered about 100 Red Army men and commanders, I led them to the banks of the small river Ulla [in northern Belarus]. Having lined up people on the riverbank, I threw a grenade into the water. […] In a word, the effect of the explosion was exceptional. But then something happened that I never expected. The surface of the water was covered with stunned fish. My fighters, without undressing, plunged into the pool and began to catch prey. I was seriously afraid that someone might drown in the excitement. But there were no drowned people, and the regimental kitchens received fresh fish. At that famine time, every piece of meat and fish was worth its weight in gold.” Prior to the liberation of Lepel, Regiment Commander Chuikov gathered as much intelligence as possible. Having captured two enemy soldiers, they shared in detail about the surrounding fortifications which aided in planning the attack: “The prisoners told us in detail about the fortifications and forces defending Lepel, indicated on the map the places where trenches were going, the location of machine-gun nests, observation posts—in a word, they provided extremely valuable information. I breathed a sigh of relief—the start was good. The offensive was scheduled for May 14th. During the night, the regiment turned around to attack, and I contacted my neighbor on the left, the 44th Infantry Regiment of our brigade. From the neighbor on the right—the 6th division—we were separated by the Ulla River. Almost all of the division's artillery was to be concentrated in the sector of the 43rd and 44th regiments in order to support us with fire. But we found only one Matveev battery in position, with which we often interacted in the east. Other gunners were late for their firing positions. I had to be nervous for another reason. Dawn was coming, it was getting lighter every minute, but there was still no connection with the command posts of the brigade and division. I, a 20-year-old regiment commander, faced a difficult problem: to wait for the artillery to approach and communicate with the command, thereby losing the chances of a sudden strike, or to immediately, without fire support, raise the regiment to attack. There was a big risk in both decisions. And the regiment deployed in battle formation was waiting for the order. The enemy had already discovered our battle formations in some places, and a skirmish began. Ivan Katalev, our Commissar, and Adjutant Nesgovorov were next to me. They looked at me expectantly. The situation escalated with every minute. Soon the sun will rise, and we will be in front of the enemy at a glance. This threatened to disrupt the entire operation. And I made up my mind. Through the adjutant, I conveyed the order to the Battery Commander Matveev to immediately open fire on the enemy’s second line of defense, which runs almost near the city, and, turning to the Commissar, I said: “Let's go into the chain—and attack.” With satisfaction, I saw a joyful twinkle in the eyes of Katalev and Nesgovorov. A sigh of relief escaped them both. It became easier in my soul. The Commissar and I stood up to our full height: ‘Follow us, attack!!’”

Pictured: Marshal Chuikov’s obituary; photo of his gravesite and special carnations placed on Chuikov's grave on the 40th anniversary of his funeral, taken 23 March 2022 by Vasily Koshkin. Marshal Chuikov was a leader who was not tied down by a template—both in battle and in life. Even when faced with his own death, this extraordinary soldier and public servant desired to be buried in the place that would forever be etched in his mind—Stalingrad—instead of opting for burial in Moscow. The fiery trials of the Battle of Stalingrad shaped his character and left an indelible mark on his life. Aside from the aftereffects of having survived such an ordeal—weeping eczema, nightmarish dreams, hearing loss, etc.—his time in the city as one of her defenders changed his perspective on life, so much so that he longed to be laid to rest with his soldiers who were buried at Mamaev Kurgan in a mass grave. Breaking with Soviet dignitary burial tradition, he made a final request : “In July 1981, the seriously ill Marshal Chuikov wrote a letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU: Feeling the approach of the end of my life, I am fully conscious of asking: after my death, bury the ashes on Mamayev Kurgan in Stalingrad, where I organized it on 12 September 1942 my command post. ... Thousands of soldiers whom I commanded are buried there…  In the same will, he asked that there be no monument on his grave.” Michael Jones’ account in Stalingrad: How the Red Army Triumph ed, wrote in more detail about Chuikov’s will: "I wish to be buried at the Mamaev Kurgan…where you can hear the roar of the Volga waves, the sound of gunshot and feel the agony of Stalingrad’s ruins. Here lie buried many of the soldiers that I commanded. Warriors of the Soviet Union—follow the example of the defenders of Stalingrad, and victory will be yours." Once the letter was written, Marshal Chuikov called his son to share the news of his decision to break with the tradition of the burial of Soviet Marshals in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis  in Moscow. Alexander Vasilievich shared the following : “’Father called me to his place and said that he wanted me to be one of the first to know that he sent the text of the will to the Central Committee of the CPSU. In it, he asked to be buried on Mamaev Kurgan. He said he wanted to lie with his soldiers.'” After Marshal Chuikov passed in 1982, he made the journey back  to the place to which he had given his heart—Stalingrad. He received a hero's farewell: “After parting in Moscow, the coffin was sent to Volgograd. The whole city came out to say goodbye to Vasily Ivanovich. When he was carried around the city on a gun carriage, people without hats stood along the entire path of the funeral procession—thousands of people came to pay their respects. His grave is decorated with a black granite slab, on which is written: Twice Hero of the Soviet Union . Marshal of the Soviet Union. Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich (12.II.1900-18.III.1982). Eternal glory! The will of the legendary commander was fulfilled. Chuikov is one of only two Marshals of the Soviet Union in history buried outside of Moscow.”

Pictured: Fyodor Fedorovich Shakhmagonov’s book titled Evgeny Vuchetich , published in 1970. The translated inscription—"To Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov – the Stalingrad Commander and sincere person, a fighter for the Russian land. Treptow Park [in Berlin] and Mamaev Kurgan owe their return to you, Vasily Ivanovich. Shakhmagonov” It is always interesting to learn more about Marshal Chuikov’s story and the people whom he encountered. With his natural charisma, warm sense of humor, and his competitive nature, he typically left quite an impression on others. One such person is Fyodor Fedorovich Shakhmagonov, a writer who worked with famed author and screenwriter Mikhail Sholokhov during Soviet times. Fyodor’s son, Nikolai Fedorovich, wrote briefly about his father’s relationship with Marshal Chuikov. I n his memoirs , h e shared a couple of anecdotes about their hunting adventures as well as Vasily Ivanovich’s love for playing chess: “There was such a story that the director of the Tarnovo state farm was a soldier of the 8th Guards Army of General Chuikov when Berlin was taken, and Chuikov promised [him] to bring [some] cars, but he forgot about it. My father wrote an article in the Pravda  newspaper, which was called ‘Marshal Visiting a Soldier,’ where he reminded Chuikov of his promise. Chuikov groaned, and after the harvesting, he sent a battalion of vehicles to Tarnovo, in general, he sent a lot of vehicles. […] In Tarnovo, Fyodor Fedorovich and Chuikov were hunting. Even then, my father said: ‘Now I understand what Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov is like in Stalingrad, who sat there tightly . We played chess with him all night long until dawn and he stood deadly  on this chessboard.’ The man, of course, was unique.”

Pictured: Marshal V.I. Chuikov, 1967. Management and leadership professionals often encounter resistance from other department heads with sharing of resources and collaboration. Within an organization, holding departments, specializations, or locations as separated groups of experts creates silos. The problem arises when employees are physically separated, but their priorities are departmental rather than company-wide. It is easy to see how a siloed approach is not effective nor efficient when it comes to meeting organizational objectives and goals. However, a siloed approach is still utilized in all sectors of industry. According to The New York Times article “Soviet Is Revising Its Civil Defense” appearing 17 March 1965, Marshal Chuikov was assigned as the Chief of the Civil Defense in the Soviet Union in January 1964. He referred to the development of a centralized, comprehensive civil defense structure in an interview with the Novosti Press Agency in 1965, which in turn distributed the information to Soviet media. However, Vasily Ivanovich’s appointment to this position came much earlier—in 1961—during the time when he also served as the Chief of the Soviet Ground Forces. Given Chuikov’s wartime experiences in seeing firsthand the devastation to the civilian population of Stalingrad and beyond, he held a deep sense of patriotism and responsibility to protect and defend Soviet citizens. It was a duty he took very personally and seriously. Having been a veteran of heavy combat on the front lines and having served in leadership positions in Germany and with the Kiev Military District, he understood intimately the need for a coordinated defense effort. Using this approach meant collaboration with other departments, open communication between various stakeholders, and the wise utilization of mass media to distribute information to the public. Instead of each locality being responsible for its own defense (which proved to be non-existent in some cases), a thorough plan incorporating organized defense covering citizens from birth to old age was developed and implemented. Vasily Ivanovich knew that a segmented approach—and a siloed system—would not be effective in the event of an attack by weapons of mass destruction. And, during the Cold War, the threat was real…