In June 1945, Marshal Zhukov rode a white Arabian horse and slowly entered Moscow's Red Square to receive the glory of the Victory Day parade.
As one of the most legendary generals in the history of the Soviet Union, he not only made great achievements in the Great Patriotic War, but also experienced ups and downs in the post-war political situation.
The relationship with Stalin is also more complicated, which is not only a comradeship of win-win cooperation, but also a true portrayal of the power struggle. So, what is Zhukov's story? Let's talk about it today.
Preparations before the Victory Parade
As the so-called "cunning rabbit dies and lackeys cook", political rivalries and political suspicions exist at any time, and despite Zhukov's great military achievements, his relationship with Stalin has always been full of complex and subtle tensions.
Stalin, as the supreme commander of the Soviet Union, valued Zhukov's military prowess and loyalty, but he also maintained a certain degree of caution against him, especially after seeing Zhukov's growing popularity.
Stalin did not want anyone to threaten his dominance, not even a general like Zhukov who had made a name for himself in the Soviet Union.
In June 1945, the Soviet Union held a grand victory parade on Red Square to celebrate the great victory in World War II, which was not only a tribute to the heroic fighting of the Soviet army, but also an opportunity for the world to demonstrate the great military power of the Soviet Union.
Preparations for the parade began several months earlier, every detail was carefully arranged, and Marshal Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was chosen as the inspector and will ride a white Arab horse from the Spassky gate on the left side of the Kremlin to Red Square.
The horses were also specially selected not only for their might and beauty, but also because they symbolized the indomitable spirit of the Soviet army.
Preparations for the parade were in full swing, and the phalanx of representatives of the various armed forces of the Soviet Union were lined up on Red Square, waiting to be reviewed by Zhukov.
Marshal Rokossovsky, for his part, commanded the entire parade and rode early in the middle of the square to await Zhukov's arrival. On the day of the parade, the weather suddenly changed and it suddenly began to rain heavily, but this did not affect the grand atmosphere of the parade in the slightest.
Zhukov rode slowly through the rain on his horse, and although the rain soaked his uniform, he maintained a majestic posture and fixed his eyes firmly ahead.
The rain was pouring down the brim of his hat, but Zhukov didn't care, as if it were all just a vignette in the review.
He rode up to Rokossovsky, the two marshals saluted each other, and then began to review the troops. Accompanied by a band of up to 1,400 people playing "Glory", the two shuttled through the rain from square to side, greeting each soldier.
Braving the heavy rain, the soldiers were uniformly reviewed, with a look of pride and determination on their faces...... Behind the seemingly infinite scenery, there is a hidden crisis.
Zhukov's defense
Born in 1896 into a poor peasant family, Zhukov joined the Red Army during World War I and rose to prominence in the Soviet Civil War.
Over time, with his outstanding military talent and strong conviction, he gradually became the top military commander of the Soviet Union.
During World War II, Zhukov commanded several key battles, including the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Kursk.
On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched a large-scale military operation codenamed "Project Barbarossa", and the German army launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union in the form of a blitzkrieg.
The German offensive was divided into three directions, with a total of 190 divisions of 5.5 million men, 4,900 aircraft, 3,700 tanks and 47,000 artillery pieces, and marched mightily towards the Soviet Union.
In this sudden war, the Soviet Union was caught off guard and even had no power to fight back, and in the face of such a critical situation, Stalin quickly took countermeasures.
On October 19, he had a phone call with Zhukov, the commander of the Western Front, and after repeated confirmations, he canceled the evacuation order and returned to the Kremlin.
The news of Stalin's return to Moscow spread throughout the city, greatly boosting the morale of the citizens of Moscow and the Red Army soldiers, and his presence became a spiritual pillar for the people of the city, although the situation at the front was still not optimistic.
November 7 was the anniversary of the October Revolution, and on this day Stalin decided to hold a military parade on Red Square. Despite the fact that the Germans were already approaching Moscow, he was unwilling to back down, knowing full well that the parade on Red Square was not only a challenge to the enemy, but also a great encouragement to the Soviet people.
When the snow was falling in the military parade, Stalin delivered a world-shaking speech on Red Square, and a million Red Army troops were reviewed by him.
"The soldiers, commanders and political workers, partisans of men and women of the Red Army and the Red Navy, the whole world is watching you as the main force capable of destroying the German invaders."
Soon after, the Battle of Moscow was in full swing, and Zhukov and many of the Soviet Red Army put up a difficult resistance, but fortunately finally defeated the German attack.
The Battle of Stalingrad was also one of the decisive battles of the Soviet-German War, which Zhukov planned and commanded in November 1942.
After months of fierce fighting, the Soviets managed to encircle the German 6th Army around Stalingrad, which struggled with cold and hunger.
The final surrender in February 1943 marked a major turning point in World War II, marking the beginning of the defeat of the German army on the Eastern Front.
Zhukov's commanding talent was on full display during the Battle of Stalingrad, not only successfully planning the encirclement, but also gradually weakening the resistance of the German army through clever deployment and decisive command.
The victory in the Battle of Stalingrad greatly boosted Zhukov's prestige and made him a hero of the Soviet army.
In July 1943, Zhukov once again planned the Battle of Kursk, the largest tank battle in world history, through which the German army hoped to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front, but Zhukov was already prepared.
He built strong fortifications near Kursk and deployed a large number of reserves, and after the battle began, the Soviet army relied on a strong defensive line and strong reserves to constantly resist the German attack and gradually launch a counteroffensive.
After the Battle of Kursk, the Germans were no longer capable of launching a large-scale offensive, and the Soviets began to gradually regain lost ground.
In 1944, Zhukov commanded Operation Bagration, which successfully liberated Belarus and drove the German army out of the Soviet Union to win World War II. In general, his strategic vision and decisive command led to the success of the Soviet army on the Eastern Front.
Stalin's suspicions and the twists and turns of fate after the war
A few days before the parade, Stalin summoned Zhukov and asked him if he could ride a horse, and Zhukov modestly replied that "he didn't ride well", but Stalin firmly ordered him to review the troops at the parade, and Rokossovsky commanded the parade.
Zhukov was surprised by this, but considered it not only a trust in him, but also a test.
On the day of the parade, after Zhukov rode a horse to inspect the troops, he returned to the viewing platform and stood beside Stalin, but the rain did not abate, and the rain continued to flow down the brim of Stalin's hat into his clothes.
Stalin remained motionless and stared ahead, like a sculpture, and when Zhukov saw this, he wanted to straighten his collar and wipe the water off the brim of his hat, but after glancing at Stalin, he immediately lowered his hand.
The details of this moment fully reflect the tense atmosphere and complex power relations of the time, and Stalin's indifference shows not only his perseverance and unyieldingness, but also a kind of silent majesty.
At that moment, Zhukov realized that he had to maintain the same posture in order to show loyalty to Stalin and respect for victory.
At the end of the parade, Zhukov's popularity reached its peak, but such a highlight did not last long, and Stalin's suspicion of him gradually deepened.
In 1946, Zhukov was transferred from Moscow to the Odessa Military District as commander, a transfer that was clearly a marginalization of him and a counterweight to his rapid rise.
Despite the fact that Zhukov was transferred from Zhukov and did not sink as a result, he continued to demonstrate military talent and leadership in the Odessa Military District, successfully maintaining the stability and combat readiness of the Military District, but unfortunately all this did not change Stalin's attitude towards him.
In the days of marginalization, Zhukov never gave up his loyalty to the Soviet Union and his insistence on his duty, and he knew that his every move was under Stalin's watch, and he must maintain absolute loyalty and professionalism.
In 1947, Zhukov suffered an even greater blow and was expelled from the Central Committee of the CPSU; In 1948, Zhukov was demoted and transferred to the Ural Military District as commander.
Although his position was constantly reduced, he remained at his post and contributed to the military power of the Soviet Union.
Four years later, in 1952, Zhukov was elected deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, marking the beginning of a revival of his political career.
Soon after Stalin's death, Zhukov's fate ushered in a new turn, Khrushchev came to power and vigorously promoted him, and he was reused as Minister of Defense.
The political situation was unpredictable, and in 1957 Zhukov was transferred again, and since then he has completely withdrawn from the core of power.
Zhukov's military talent made him an immortal legend in the history of the Soviet Union, but in the post-war political struggle, he was deeply trapped in the whirlpool of power, and Stalin's suspicion and use of him caused this outstanding general to experience many twists and turns.
Despite this, Zhukov remained loyal to the Soviet Union and continued to contribute to his country in peacetime.
Life is like that military parade on Red Square, there are both glorious moments and shadows under the glory. What do you think differently about this?
Reference: The mystery of Zhukov's withdrawal after the military parade - CNKI (cnki.net)
Why Stalin was reluctant to parade in person - CNKI (cnki.net)
The Soviet Union's "God of War" Zhukov has a bleak evening - CNKI (cnki.net)