Pictured: General of the Army V.I. Chuikov with Soviet Foreign Minister A.Ya. Vyshinsky in East Germany, early 1950s. During my research on Marshal Chuikov’s time of service in post-war Germany, I discovered an interesting article in a British newspaper which described a book titled Close Contact . In this book, which was published in 1954, British Brigadier C.H. Dewhurst described his experiences as Chief of the British Mission to the Soviet Forces of Occupation in Eastern Germany, a position which he held from 1951 to 1953. Dewhurst’s writing, which included various interactions with Chuikov and other Soviet officials, referred to an incident related to entertainer Gracie Fields’ Berlin concert for British personnel stationed in Germany held on Friday evening, 11 January 1952. Following her concert, Fields flew out of Berlin to West Germany; however, some of her staff members traveled by Jeep and became lost in the unfamiliar territory. In the Monday 14 January 1952 edition of The Liverpool Echo , an account appeared that named Fields’ concert director, BBC producer Gordon Crier, as one of three individuals arrested by the Russians after their Jeep was intercepted by the East German police the previous Friday night. Two more British men were also arrested—recording producer Peter Wilson and driver Lance-Corporal Levy. From an article found in the Birmingham Gazette  dated 23 January 1952, Gordon Crier apparently spent a week in Russian custody until he was allowed to return to Northolt Airport in West London. In Army General Chuikov’s recorded conversation with Dewhurst, he refers to this incident: General Chuikov: ‘This [news]paper says you came to interview me yesterday about some British persons who deviated from the official autobahn. You did not come about that.' (He was referring to some members of Gracie Fields' Concert Party who had unaccountably got lost on the return journey from Berlin to Helmstedt. They ended up almost at Leipzig-God knows how! But I knew the Russians would think it all very Machiavellian.) Self: 'No, General, I did not.' Chuikov: 'But the paper says you did.’ Self: "That is so.’ Chuikov: [growing incensed] ‘Then how do you account for it?' Self: 'I don't account for it. I came to see you about another matter, and the papers guessed the subject wrongly.' Chuikov: 'How did the Press know you came?' Self: 'Because they probably saw my car on the way. Our reporters are allowed to see and guess what they like.' Chuikov: 'But the report is not true. It's a lie. It seriously embarrasses our relations.' Self: 'I agree it's not true; but I'm sorry if that should embarrass our relations.' Chuikov: 'But the paper precisely says it's true.' Self: 'Yes, it does.' Chuikov: [exasperated] "Then you must have told them.' Self: 'On the contrary. No one in my office, except my adjutant and secretary, knew the subject-matter. And, of course, my High Commissioner, to whom I report. Chuikov: [unbelievingly] 'I think there must have been a crow on your shoulder when you wrote in your office.' Self: 'In that case he would have seen the truth, and known exactly what our conversation was, in fact, about.' Chuikov: 'Anyway, the paper says you came here to speak to me about a certain subject—which was not why you came. That is a very bad thing.' Self: 'I do not see why it's a bad thing to have a free Press. I regret their mistakes, but there is nothing I, my High Commissioner or my Foreign Office can do to muzzle them. We don't believe in that.' Chuikov: 'You should stop such reports.' Self: 'But I have just said, General, we have a free Press. Why should they listen to me?' Chuikov: [provoked] 'We have a free Press, too, but [as an after-thought] they listen to me. They don't print lies. Anyway, I see you do not wish to do anything. You may go.’ He would never believe that I had not invented a story and given it to the Press. It was, to his mind, a purposely misleading one, and what aggravated him was that neither he, nor his advisers, could make out exactly why I had contrived the whole affair. Hence my summons to his Headquarters. I, incidentally, regretted such meetings as this, for we normally got on well together, and it was an unwritten rule that we kept from the Press what most of our discussions were about.” (64-65). Without understanding the full context of such a conversation against the backdrop of post-war geopolitics in West and East Germany, one might assume Vasily Ivanovich was being a hard-nosed, demanding leader who purposely challenged the Western Allies during his tenure as the Chief of the Soviet Control Commission. However, it is important to gain an understanding of the strained nature of relations between the Soviets and the West during the Cold War. In a situation where the Western Allies were perceived as contemptuous and untrustworthy, it is no wonder that Chuikov held to strict policies and standards to keep others ‘in check.’ To outsiders, he could very well have been perceived as being difficult. However, Dewhurst wrote that on balance, he and Vasily Ivanovich maintained good relations overall—and this conversation was not characteristic of the whole of their interactions. (64)

Pictured: Marshal V. I. Chuikov reviewing the troops during his time as the Commander of the Kiev Military District, 8 May 1955 (right); cover the Kiev Red Banner Military District book, 1919 - 1972. A previous blog entry featured Marshal Chuikov’s service in the Kiev Military District focusing on the social aspects of his tenure, including his work with the Supreme Soviet and local party activities. During his leadership in this military post, he also spent much time training troops with new technology and preparing them for the possibility of a nuclear war—a very real threat during the height of the Cold War. An excerpt from the Kiev Red Banner Military District  historical resource provides an overview of various military exercises during Chuikov’s time of leadership, giving the reader a broad understanding of the various tasks he had to oversee: “The soldiers of the district had to master new equipment in a short time—to study atomic weapons and methods of combat operations in the conditions of their use. On 18 March 1954. […] Commander of the District Troops Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the Army V. I. Chuikov, a member of the Military Council Lieutenant General N. M. Aleksandrov, and other [leaders] spoke at [a] conference analyz[ing] the course of combat training, determining its improvement at a new stage in the development of the Soviet Armed Forces. […] In the first half of 1954, the officer corps began to study atomic weapons. […] Unlike previous years, one day a week was allocated for command training with all categories of officers. […] Officers and generals thoroughly studied the results of a major military exercise held in September 1954, at which an atomic bomb was detonated, and got acquainted with the engineering equipment of combat positions of units in anti-nuclear respect. The officers were given assignments to prepare lectures and reports for reading in the troops. […] Consultations, exhibitions, showcases are organized in the houses of officers and officers' clubs, classes for military-technical training are equipped. Military-technical films were shown at least twice a month. […] Results of the exercises [in 1954] were discussed in detail at the district military scientific conference. Speaking with a report, General of the Army V. I. Chuikov said that under the new conditions, the main way to break through the enemy defenses is an offensive on the move, and the preservation of the stability of defense against nuclear missile strikes should be sought, first of all, in a more decisive dispersal of combat order, the presence of forces reserves, [and] equipping positions with engineering shelters and structures. The use of nuclear missile weapons requires a sharp increase in the rate of advance and the rapid forcing of water barriers. Marshal V. I. Chuikov reviewing the troops as the Commander of the Kiev Military District, 8 May 1955 Particular attention was paid to conducting classes at night. In May 1955, an educational and methodological meeting of the leadership was held. […] Officers and generals were present at the exercise with live firing. The issues of breaking through the prepared enemy defenses to the entire depth of the mainline of defense at night with the use of artificial lighting and night vision devices in case of a threat of an atomic and chemical attack were worked out. In July 1956, a demonstrative bilateral tactical exercise forcing a large water barrier on the move while developing an offensive in-depth under the conditions of the use of atomic weapons was organized. […] Within 12 minutes they had to fire over 400 shells. Each soldier had to lift up to 30 pounds of cargo. All projectiles hit the target. […] The year 1957 was especially fruitful in mastering the methods of combat operations of troops under the conditions of the use of nuclear missile weapons. […] Equipping the troops with modern military equipment and weapons made higher demands on the training of military personnel. They needed solid knowledge of nuclear physics, radio engineering, electronics, higher mathematics and other sciences, and the basics of modern combat.”

Text: XXI Congress of the Communist Party of Ukraine Delegates from Kharkiv region 16 – 19 February 1960; Marshal V. I. Chuikov attended the Congress of the Communist Party of Ukraine as a delegate from the Kharkiv region during his final months of his tenure in the Kiev Military District (he is on the front row, 6th from the left). Exploring the rich life experiences of Marshal Chuikov has been a fascinating study of the factors that influenced his personal leadership style. Moreover, following his career path and learning more about the places where he served and the world events at the time has been very rewarding. In considering the various times of service during his career, it was interesting to learn more about what took place during his time at Kiev as the Military District Commander. His transition to this post occurred after his service in Germany and lasted from May 1953 until April 1960, when he was recalled to Moscow. (More specifics on this military leadership position will be provided in a future blog post.) In Marshal N. I. Krylov’s biography written by Ilya G. Dragan, Marshal Malinovsky shared that the duties of the commanders of the military districts included not only the required military functions of troop training and commanding, but also work and social life within the surrounding communities to help support the local Communist Party and Soviet bodies (157). Leadership in the military districts also meant visiting all the garrisons forming a part of the district, which involved extensive travel as well. Considering that Marshal Chuikov also served as a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet (and was later elected as a full member of the Central Committee), wrote memoirs, crafted articles for journals and newspapers, spoke at special commemorative events for the Great Patriotic War, was actively involved in the 62nd (8th Guards) Army Veterans Council, engaged with Komsomol groups (the youth of the Communist Party) and spent time with his family among other activities, one must wonder at the tireless energy he exuded. Vasily Ivanovich was truly a force of nature, an indefatigable  charismatic leader who was a living legend and national treasure. When many working professionals look forward to reaching their senior years with the expectation of full retirement, it was not the case with Marshals of the Soviet Union, especially Chuikov. Even after an official retirement in 1972 from his position overseeing the civil defense, he still maintained an active lifestyle, continuing to write, speak, and engage with public life. He served as a General Inspector  of the Soviet Union Ministry of Defense and continued his work with the Communist Party as a Central Committee member, a Deputy, and a delegate in the 26th Congress (February-March 1981, one year before his passing).

Pictured: Colonel-General V.I. Chuikov (left) talking with Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky, 1945. General Chuikov’s brother Nikolai Ivanovich is also shown in the photograph (in between Vasily Ivanovich and Rokossovsky, facing forward); Marshal Chuikov’s desk items in the   Museum of the Cadet Corps of the Investigative Committee of Russia in Volgograd (Rokossovsky’s book inscribed to Chuikov is circled in yellow); an autographed edition of The Great Victory on the Volga, signed by Marshal Rokossovsky on 15 May 1965. In earlier posts, I examined photos of items on Marshal Chuikov’s desk to offer insights into his life and work (see Part 1  and Part 2  of this series). This latest entry explores a book inscribed to him from editor Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky—a volume which covers the entire Battle for Stalingrad in two parts. It was published with a separate album which contains a collection of 29 maps depicting the positions of the German and Soviet armies. Marshal Chuikov's inscribed book from Marshal Rokossovsky Often referred to as the Red Army’s “gentleman commander,” Marshal Rokossovsky was a pivotal figure in major battles of the Eastern Front, including the Battle of Moscow, the Battle for Stalingrad (in command of the Don Front during Operation Uranus ), the Battle of Kursk, and the liberation of Belarus during Operation Bagration. Rokossovsky was known for his calm, disciplined leadership and ability to orchestrate complex operations, earning him respect from both his peers and subordinates. Regarding his comrade, Rokossovsky wrote the following in his memoir titled A Soldier’s Duty : "It was especially hard for the troops holding the Magnushevsky bridgehead [ in Poland – MK ]. I must say frankly that we managed to defend it to a large extent because the defense was led by the commander of the 8th Guards Army, Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov. He was there the whole time, in the thick of it." (290-291) Another view of Marshal Chuikov's desk with Rokossovsky's signed book. In his memoir titled The Fall of Berlin,  Marshal Chuikov shared about a time when Marshal Rokossovsky  deflected undue critique on his behalf. Before the Lublin-Brest Offensive beginning 18 July 1944, armies of the 1st Belorussian Front had been preparing for this segment of Operation Bagration in a push to cross the Bug River and drive back German forces. Crossing the Bug, the river flowing along the borders of Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland, was necessary to reach another objective, the eastern bank of the Vistula River in Poland. Chuikov  wrote the following account of this event: “A rehearsal of the forthcoming operation was held twenty-four hours before it was due to start in fact, in order to check that coordination had been properly worked out. […] The course of this exercise assured me that those in command of our corps, divisions, and branches of the service had a correct understanding of what was new in the organization of this advance. They did not accept ready-made, textbook answers either in attack or in defense and looked for themselves for the tactical techniques. Regrettably, some of the visitors from higher commands did not comprehend the new features of the operation then due to commence. ‘Why is your Army making its advance faster than the Front command planned for?’ one of the guests asked me. I replied correctly but thought to myself that our idea did not please the vanity of this higher staff officer, who tried to make ‘improvements’ without having the new knowledge which the troops had won in battle. Fortunately, K. K. Rokossovsky, the Front commander, came to my aid; he announced, loudly enough for all to hear, ‘You’re in command of the Army, you decide—and you will answer for all that is good or bad.’ That suited me very nicely.” The connection between Marshals Chuikov and Rokossovsky is one of mutual respect and shared battlefield experiences, as reflected in the personal items and memoirs they left behind. Rokossovsky’s gift to Chuikov, a book of maps from the Battle of Stalingrad, symbolizes not only their roles in that pivotal conflict but also the enduring bond between two of the Red Army’s most influential commanders. Their shared leadership during key battles like Stalingrad and the Lublin-Brest Offensive reveals the deep trust and admiration they had for one another. Through these personal anecdotes and historical artifacts, we gain a deeper understanding of the men behind the military titles, their strategies, and the profound impact they had on the course of World War II.

Pictured: Personal effects from Marshal V. I. Chuikov's office gifted by his family to the Museum of the Cadet Corps of the Investigative Committee of Russia in Volgograd. A few items of note: Chuikov's Stalingrad citation, a commemoration for his 80th birthday, personalized stationery notepad, and tea pair. The tea pair was a gift from his granddaughter Ekaterina Chuikova, daughter of Alexander Vasilievich. Having the opportunity to examine the personal effects of a distinguished leader allows the researcher to gain insight into the cherished moments in the person's life. In an earlier blog post , I shared a photo of Marshal Chuikov sitting at his desk in 1968 where I examined a particular journal Oгонёк  ( Ogonyek ) containing contents from Chichkov’s book  В погоне за Мексикой (Chasing Mexico) . In the photo above, the observer gains yet another view of Chuikov's professional and personal life. The museum display features a large wooden desk which he used during his service in the German Democratic Republic. The teacup in the inset is identical to the teacup given to Vasily Ivanovich from one of his beloved grandchildren, Ekaterina. The saucer and spoon are variations from the original items photographed on Marshal Chuikov's desk; however, the tea pair commemorates the 1980 Olympiad held in Moscow. The inset reveals the Olympic emblem on the cup, which is fine porcelain from the Lomonosov company, and the spoon included here features the 1980 Olympic mascot, Misha the Bear. Journalist Irina Artemova shared anecdotes about Chuikov's office items in a piece featured on the Аргументы и факты  (Arguments and Facts) website. She wrote: "Remembering Chuikov, contemporaries usually talk about his military talent and strong-willed character, thanks to which the most terrible battle of the Great Patriotic War was broken. But with people close to him, Vasily Ivanovich was a sincere person and valued his family very much. Before the war, he had two daughters. And in 1946, his wife gave birth to his son [Alexander Vasilievich]--a gift for the victory, as Valentina Petrovna herself said. When grandchildren appeared, the stern marshal became a loving grandfather. In the museum, on a table in Chuikov's office, there is a pair of tea with a silver spoon--a gift from Katya, [his] granddaughter. Passing them to the cadets [for the museum], she admitted that she somehow dropped the cup and left a small chip on it. But Vasily Ivanovich still liked to drink tea from this cup. In a metal pencil case, which is kept next to the tea pair, Chuikov, according to Katya's memories, always kept sweets. As soon as she looked, he opened the treasured lid and handed over a sweet treat."

Pictured: Marshal Chuikov at his desk in Moscow, 19 June 1968, with thumbnails of the journal Oгонёк and Chichkov’s book В погоне за Мексикой (Chasing Mexico). In a diversion from the topic of authentic leadership, this blog post focuses on the Marshal’s reading material. To share a bit of the story behind the entry, there exists a photo of Marshal Chuikov at his desk in 1968 taken by TASS photographer Vladimir Savostyanov. When I first saw this photo, I focused on the magazine in front of him. After examining the black and white photograph, I immediately recognized the images on the journal’s cover—a stone head crafted by Olmec artisans and a step pyramid located at Chichen Itza on the Yucatan Peninsula. These photos were taken in Mexico, and I was immediately intrigued. I was compelled to discover the magazine contents, as I have been interested in the ancient civilizations of Mexico, including the Mayans and Olmecs, since my youth. After conducting a Google search using various combinations of terms, I was finally able to locate the journal. It is the May 1968 No. 22 issue of Oгонёк  ( Ogonyek , which means “spark”), and the photos were taken by Pravda  Latin America Correspondent Vasily Chichkov for his book titled Chasing Mexico . In an article titled “Mexican Olympus,” Chichkov recalled his travels, including his conversation with his colleagues about filming a documentary (titled “Difficult Starts Mexico City,” which was released in 1970). After driving through the jungle, he described climbing the steps of the grand pyramid of Chichen Itza in awe of the sheer size of the structure. Later in the article, Chichkov wrote about the 1968 Olympics taking place in Mexico City, pondering the fortune spent on the construction of facilities and hotels to accommodate athletes and supporters. I enjoy this type of research because such study provides insight into the quiet moments of a person’s daily life. In 1968, Marshal Chuikov served in the strategic position of Chief of the USSR’s Civil Defense  and was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. He also continued writing, as he was a prolific author. However, he found time to do some “light” reading as is evidenced by the journal placed prominently on his desk. Within issues of Oгонёк , there were articles covering a variety of topics, and each publication included a crossword puzzle. No doubt Marshal Chuikov enjoyed solving the clues and filling in the answers as he found a moment or two of respite during his busy days.

Pictured: Marshal V. I. Chuikov signing his book Battle of the Century  ( Srazheniye Vyeka ); Autographed copy of Battle of the Century  addressed to Colonel Doroshenko V. A., signed by the author V. Chuikov, 26 March 1976; Book recipient Colonel Vladimir Akimovich Doroshenko, who served in Chuikov’s 62nd (8th Guards) Army in the 39th Guards Rifle Division under the leadership of Colonel E. T. Marchenko (who took command in 1944). Marshal Chuikov enjoyed spending time with his former soldiers after the end of the Great Patriotic War, serving as the chairman for the Council of Veterans for the 62nd (8th Guards) Army. Having written several volumes regarding his experiences from Stalingrad through the capitulation of Berlin, Chuikov would often present his personally autographed books as gifts. One of the veterans of the 39th Guards Rifle Division, Colonel Doroshenko, was the recipient of a personalized book in 1976. Vladimir Akimovich is featured on the polksmoskva.ru website focusing on veterans of the Great Patriotic War: “ Doroshenko  fought in the Battle of Stalingrad, the Korsun-Shevchenko operation, the battles for the liberation of the city and fortress of Poznan, the crossing of the Dnieper, the Bug, the Vistula, and all other battles in which the 62nd (8th Guards) Army of Chuikov took part.” Marshal Chuikov wrote about the role of 39th Guards Rifle Division in the defeat of the Nazis in his book titled The Battle for Stalingrad : “The 39th Guards Division distinguished itself in fighting elsewhere than on the Volga too. It played an active part right through to the end of the war in the defeat of the Germans, and ended its military road in Berlin. There are five military honours on its guards’ banner. […] The 39th Guards Division defended the Krasny Oktyabr (Red October) factory for many long days. His men did not know the meaning of the word retreat. Guriev himself did not leave his command post even when the grenades of German tommy-gunners were bursting at the entrance. This happened on more than one occasion. Following the example of the Divisional Commander, the Regimental Commanders fought equally stubbornly and courageously. […] On 24 December 1942 units of [the] 39th Guards Division, operating in the grounds of the Krasny Oktyabr factory, began to storm the workshops where the Germans were ensconced. At nightfall storm groups had cleared the Germans out of the calibration, central sorting, and machine shops, then reached the western outskirts of the factory, thereby surrounding the Germans left in the factory. The enemy put up exceptional resistance, not wishing to retreat eastward from the factory to the destroyed houses and into the open. […] During the night of the 24th, after a short breathing-space, the Guardsmen continued to storm the factory. Hand-to-hand fighting and close fighting with hand grenades continued till morning. In close fighting the Germans could not stand up against the quick-acting resourcefulness and pressure of our storm groups, and by morning the factory was completely cleared.”

Pictured: A group of generals with Marshal of the Soviet Union V.D. Sokolovsky. From left to right: N.E. Chuvakov, M.Kh . Kaleshnik, V.I. Kazakov, V.I. Chuikov, D.V. Semenov, V.D. Sokolovsky, I.P. Petrov, M.E. Katukov , A.I. Shebunin. Potsdam, 1949. When I embarked on my exploration of the life and contributions of Marshal Chuikov, I came across various sources detailing his temperament. It amused me to find discussions about his temper spanning at least three continents! However, my amusement evolved into a deeper understanding as I uncovered layers of the man, discovering that beyond his mercurial disposition, he possessed a profound capacity for warmth and compassion. It became evident that these qualities endeared him to his soldiers, creating a connection that extended far beyond the surface impressions of his temperament.  One of his colleagues, Marshal of the Armored Forces M.E. Katukov, wrote this characterization about Vasily Ivanovich in his memoir titled  At the Forefront of the Main Blow, which echoes this discovery: “The army commander himself is the embodiment of energy. Before the start of the offensive, he rushes around the bridgehead in his all-terrain vehicle and God forbid, if he notices a disorder: the negligent person will be in trouble. Everyone is well aware of the demanding, sometimes even tough temperament of the army commander. But behind V.I. Chuikov’s external rudeness hides his love for the common soldier, for his military craft. The general values ​​​​the reputation of the army, and his exactingness and ardor are explained primarily by the desire to complete the assigned task as best as possible.” (341) The motivation for conducting an in-depth analysis of Marshal Chuikov's personality stems from the recognition that beneath his exterior, there resided a genuinely warm heart. His passion for the military was not solely driven by a sense of duty but also by a genuine affection for those under his command. He understood that the success of the army was intricately linked to the welfare and morale of individual soldiers. Chuikov’s external rudeness, when viewed in context, was a manifestation of his deep-seated desire to see his troops succeed and return home safely. The general's strict adherence to discipline and exacting standards was not a display of arrogance but rather a reflection of his determination to uphold the reputation of the army. In Chuikov's eyes, the reputation of the military was not merely a matter of pride; it was a reflection of the collective efforts and sacrifices made by each soldier under his command. The ardor with which Chuikov approached his responsibilities was driven by a genuine desire to see his troops excel in their military endeavors. Every demand, every critique, and every seemingly tough decision was underpinned by a commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for the mission and, ultimately, for the soldiers who trusted him with their lives.

Pictured: from the publication Pioneerskaya Pravda of 1 February 1963. The text says the following: “The Beginning of the Path—the favorite book of war of pupil of the Moscow Suvorov School of Yuri Kashcheev. This book was written by commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, General of the 62nd Army defending Volgograd. Yura dreamed of meeting the marshal, hearing from him the story of the battle on the Volga. And so this meeting took place. The best pupil of the school, Yuri Kashcheev, was invited to the Military-Political Academy named after Lenin, where Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov shared memories of the unforgettable days of 1942-1943. And then the illustrious Marshal approached the Suvorovite, asked how he studied and handed him his book with a commemorative inscription.” Chuikov’s autograph in Yuri’s book is dated 24 January 1963. Authentic leaders understand their role of ‘passing the torch’ in generational leadership. Investing in future generations demonstrates established leaders’ gratitude for the influential people who invested in their lives. Creating a network of leaders is an effective way to sustain an organization’s culture instead of being dependent on one effective leader. To shed light on best practices for conveying leadership lessons, sports and life leadership coach Mark Van Hoozer  wrote the following: “Great leaders pass the torch. In other words, they hand off the role of leadership to future generations. What separates great leaders from ordinary leaders is the timing of when this process begins. It is not at the end of their career or when the board votes them out. The passing of the torch is an ongoing process as they identify and develop the talent around them.” Marshal Chuikov spent much time in his career investing not only in his soldiers, but also in Pioneer and Komsomol (Communist Youth) groups throughout the USSR, encouraging others to do likewise. A previous blog entry  includes a letter to the editor of Smena  in 1979 where Vasily Ivanovich admonished Soviet citizens to share the stories of heroism from the Great Patriotic War. Film footage from the Soviet era captured the legendary Marshal sharing stories from the front with young people who were eager to hear from such a distinguished leader. A recorded 1-hour long session from 1977 (tap the link on the photo to view) featured Marshal Chuikov interacting with cadets from Moscow School No. 284. The warmth Chuikov exuded as he shared stories from the Civil War and from the Great Patriotic War is evident in his connection with his young listeners. No doubt these children who transitioned into adulthood long ago remember their conversation with this authentic leader for the rest of their lives…

Pictured: Marshal Chuikov speaking during a memorial service for veterans of the Great Patriotic War at Nikopol, Ukraine, 1970s (Marshal of Aviation Sudets is behind, to the left) From Smena , № 11, 1979: “In the fourth and fifth issues of the Smena  magazine for this year, chapters were published in the documentary book by Ivan Paderin Burns of War . The story, written at the call of memory and heart about the writer's fighting friends of Stalingrad, caused a wide flow of readers' letters. The relatives of the victims, servicemen, war veterans write to us. Today we publish several responses from our mail… ‘With great pleasure I read the essays by the front-line writer Ivan Paderin Burns of War  published in the Smena  magazine. From beginning to end, these essays are permeated with the author's feelings for the fate of people in whose hearts the pain from the "burns of war" has not yet faded away. It is precisely for this reason that they make every effort to ensure that future generations will be delivered from those difficult trials, fell on the fate of their fathers. Talking about the exploits of his fighting friends in the days of the war, about their lives in peacetime, the writer does not hide his anxious thoughts caused by, softly speaking, cold-bloodedness and lack of respectful attention to war veterans on the part of some young people working in the service sector. Indeed, how bitter and insulted a veteran is when they say to him: Wait, wait in line ... Everyone fought... Yes, millions of people fought, and the memory of them cannot fade away, but must grow in the minds of young people, whose welfare and happiness would be unthinkable without the efforts of those millions of ordinary soldiers who won victory and lasting peace on earth. Keeping loyalty to his father's courage, the young man does not lose, but acquires the right to be a worthy citizen of the Soviet country. The call of memory is loyalty to the traditions of older generations. Oblivion is a pain in the hearts of veterans. I think the conversation on this topic should be continued not only on the pages of magazines, but also at the Komsomol meetings. These conversations will be invaluable to the new generation.’ Marshal of the Soviet Union V. I. Chuikov Translated by Igor Musienko

Pictured: (far left) A. A. Grechko, L. I. Brezhnev, E. Honecker, Commander-in-Chief of the GSVG E. F. Ivanovsky, and V. I. Chuikov  (far right) at a parade commemorating the 25th anniversary of the birth of the GDR. Berlin, 1974. Recently, I started reading further into Vasily Pavlovich Bryukhov’s memoir titled T rue Tank Ace: Armour-piercing, Fire!  He began service with Chuikov as his aide-de-camp in mid-1952. They worked together for only a few months—when Vasily Ivanovich transitioned to the Kyiv Military District in 1953, Bryukhov remained in Germany to aid Marshal Grechko (then ranked a Colonel General) as he settled into the leadership position. From Bryukhov’s description, the contrast between Chuikov’s and Grechko’s leadership styles is almost jarring. Upon meeting his new staff in Germany, Grechko was aloof and unapproachable, and he practically ignored them. However, in saying his farewells to his former team, the personable leader Chuikov spent two days connecting with them one final time. “Chuikov gathered and said goodbye to the leadership of the GDR, his deputy and army commanders for two days. I accompanied him to the airfield, where a mail plane was waiting for him, flying straight to Kyiv. On the morning of the third day, I reported to the new Commander-in-Chief that General Chuikov had left and I was awaiting his instructions. ‘We’re going to headquarters,’ Grechko said dryly and, as it seemed to me, with hostility. We drive up to the headquarters and get out of the car. All the deputies, whom I warned that I was going after the new Commander-in-Chief, lined up in one line. Grechko looked at everyone arrogantly and contemptuously and, without shaking his hand with anyone, said: ‘Bryukhov, take me to the office.’ I'm leading the way. The new Commander-in-Chief walks majestically behind me with his head held high, and his deputies trail behind him in complete silence, like mischievous boys. Even the member of the Military Council did not say a word - apparently he felt guilty for not meeting him at the airfield.” A meticulous Chuikov, who remained closely in touch with the daily workings of events in the GDR, took time to carefully review correspondence addressed to him. Grechko could not be bothered with such mundane tasks, as is evidenced in Bryukhov’s memoirs. In essence, Grechko dodged some of his responsibilities, relying upon others to handle those matters instead. When Grechko entered his office for the first day of his new position, the following exchange took place with Bryukhov: “[Grechko asked,] ‘What kind of pile is this?’ ‘This is mail to your address. General Chuikov always analyzed it, made decisions, wrote resolutions, and I sorted it out according to the executors.’ ‘What kind of fool is doing this?! Why the hell do I need this pile of dung?’ He hit it with his hand, either on purpose or mechanically, and the papers fell to the floor. Grechko looked and silently went into the restroom, returning when I had collected everything. ‘Give all these documents to the secretary of the Military Council, let him deal with it, and just prepare for me a folder with encrypted messages from the minister and from the army commanders. So that nothing else would happen. There should always be fresh newspapers and magazines in the restroom. Clear?’ ‘Yes, exactly, clearly.’ I took this huge folder to the secretary of the Military Council: ‘Well, that’s it, your heavenly life is over. Find out, report to the head of the Military Council, and what decisions he will make is his business.’ It must be said that Grechko was infuriated by everything connected with Chuikov. Just a couple of weeks before his departure, Chuikov ordered the chairs in the Officers' House to be upholstered with red velvet. Grechko came: ‘What color is this?! Bright, unpleasant!’ ‘Two weeks ago Chuikov ordered the upholstery to be changed.’ ‘What fool came up with this color?! In two weeks to be filled with blue!’ It should be noted that after the death of Stalin, and especially during the time of Brezhnev, who declared that ‘we will spend as much money on the army as necessary,’ high-ranking military leaders, from the Minister of Defense to the commander of the district troops, stopped counting money.”

Pictured: Lieutenant-General V. I. Chuikov and Major-General K. A. Gurov, Stalingrad. There are times when leaders must face precarious circumstances with direct, decisive leadership. The directing leadership style  was first described by Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard in the late 1960s. A directing leader supplies specific instructions to team members, ensuring roles and tasks are clearly defined while providing close supervision. It is largely a one-way communication style since decisions are made by the leader and communicated to the followers. As a professional military leader, Marshal Chuikov often had to take a direct stance on situations with the expectation that others would follow his orders. One such scenario is shared in Steven Zaloga’s publication titled T-62 Main Battle Tank 1965-2005, which contains the following anecdote:   “In December 1960, the new American M60 tank was issued to US troops in Europe for the first time. The initial Soviet evaluation of the design was made available to senior army officers in January 1961, recognizing that it had better glacis armor than the previous M48 and that its new 105mm gun was superior to the 100mm gun on the T-54/-55. The Commander of the Soviet Ground Forces, Marshal V. I. Chuikov, was infuriated to learn that NATO was receiving a 105mm tank gun. Chuikov, the victor of Stalingrad, was a coarse and profane soldier of the old school, with no subtle understanding of tank technology. When informed that the next-generation Obiekt 430 tank would still be armed with a 100mm gun even though NATO now had a 105mm gun, he made it abundantly clear that he wanted the next Soviet tank to have a bigger gun than NATO's. Chuikov did not want to hear any technical arguments about the advantages of the T-54 100mm gun, and since Khrushchev had already demanded that heavy-tank production cease in favor of missile tanks, this meant that a larger gun would have to be mounted on the medium tanks. He called the head of the GBTU Main Armor Directorate, Marshal Pavel P. Poluboyarov, into his office in Moscow for a severe dressing down. Poluboyarov admitted that Uralvagon had developed a tank with a 115mm gun, but that there had been problems with the stabilizer. Chuikov screamed at Poluboyarov, ‘Why are you jerking me around over this stabilizer? I don't care if it's mounted on a pig! Just come up with this gun!’ Chuikov demanded that a more powerful gun be fielded immediately and he didn't care whether it was mounted on the preferred Obiekt 430 modified with the 115mm gun or the Obiekt 166. Since the Obiekt 166 had already been designed around the 115mm gun, it was ready for production. On the other hand, the Obiekt 430 would have to be redesigned as the Obiekt 432, and the U-STS gun would have to be modified to accept split-case ammunition because the small internal volume of the tank needed an autoloader that could only handle two-part ammunition. This would take years to develop, and Chuikov made it very clear he wanted a more powerful tank now. To placate the tank bureaucracy as well as Chuikov, in July 1961 the head of the defense industry-recommended adopting both the Obiekt 166 with the U-STS Molot 115mm gun as well as the related Obiekt 165 with the rifled D-54 100mm gun. Government approval took place on August 12, 1961, with the Obiekt 166 being designated as T-62. On January 8, 1962, Obiekt 165 was accepted for Soviet Army use as the T-62A” (13-14). When I read this account, I chuckled at Marshal Chuikov’s response— I don’t care if it’s mounted on a pig!  True—Vasily Ivanovich did not mince words when a situation needed to be handled expeditiously. One must understand the time period and international political context of Chuikov’s passionate demand for a larger gun to counter the American M60’s 105mm. In his position as the Commander of the Soviet Ground Forces, he was entrusted with national security, and the arrival of a new US tank in Europe was perceived as a direct threat from the West. So yes—his argument of ‘bigger is better’ was true from a psychological/ideological standpoint. The Soviet Union’s administration had no desire to appear weak in the eyes of an enemy, and pushing forward a larger caliber gun to ‘outdo’ the M60’s 105mm was necessary to accomplish this. One other item to address… Marshal Chuikov possessed a technical background. After completing academic courses  at the Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of the Red Army, he graduated in 1936 and became commander of a mechanized brigade, the 5th Rifle Corps. It was his job as a Red Army Commander to understand how weapon systems functioned, as he often performed training exercises with his soldiers to maintain combat readiness. This scenario demonstrates the seriousness of the perceived threat by the West, not Chuikov’s lack of knowledge of weapon systems technology per se . He knew that producing the 115mm gun was essential to national security, and that Soviet engineers had the expertise to address the situation with tank design. While Marshal Chuikov’s heated exchange with Marshal Poluboyarov exhibits his strong personality traits, he needed to impress upon his colleague about the time-sensitive nature of the 115mm gun to counter what the West developed.