Semyon Timoshenko (18 Feb. 1895 - 31 Mar. 1970)
Timoshenko fought in the Soviet-Finnish War, commanding Soviet forces and attaining the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. He led the modernisation of the Red Army, including mechanisation and discipline. He did this as he expected to fight the forces of Nazi Germany, despite their non-aggression treaty.
This preparation paid off when Germany invaded in June 1941. Timoshenko became commander of the central front, and tactically retreated his forces from the border to the Belarusian city of Smolensk. In September of that year he commanded in Ukraine.
He led a Soviet counterattack at the Second Battle of Kharkov. Although initially successful, the Soviet army was weak in its southern flank, and the Germans defeated Timoshenko. Zhukov’s successes meant that Timoshenko was removed from front line command, instead being sent around the Soviet Union from Stalingrad to Leningrad, the Caucasus and Baltic fronts.
For more information on Semyon Timoshenko:
Tucker, Spencer C. A global chronology of conflict: from the ancient world to the modern Middle East (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), 2010.
Ulam, Alan B. Stalin: The Man and His Era (London: Tauris Parke), 2007.
This preparation paid off when Germany invaded in June 1941. Timoshenko became commander of the central front, and tactically retreated his forces from the border to the Belarusian city of Smolensk. In September of that year he commanded in Ukraine.
He led a Soviet counterattack at the Second Battle of Kharkov. Although initially successful, the Soviet army was weak in its southern flank, and the Germans defeated Timoshenko. Zhukov’s successes meant that Timoshenko was removed from front line command, instead being sent around the Soviet Union from Stalingrad to Leningrad, the Caucasus and Baltic fronts.
For more information on Semyon Timoshenko:
Tucker, Spencer C. A global chronology of conflict: from the ancient world to the modern Middle East (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), 2010.
Ulam, Alan B. Stalin: The Man and His Era (London: Tauris Parke), 2007.