Markian Popov Biography

A few days before the start of the offensive actions of his front troops, I had the opportunity to be with G. Zhukov with M. Popov, about whom I had already heard in a very unusual case, Popov knew my troops perfectly, without hesitation, with knowledge of the matter, briefly and clearly answered any questions of Zhukov, who were not unexpected for him. To answer, the commander of the Bryansk Front did not need time and any clarifications, an extremely clear, laconic report went without papers or notes.

All this showed that in front of us remarkable abilities is a person who is not only a perfectly knowing the matter on which he is set, but also militaryly educated. At the same time, Popov wore a report, I would say some somewhat theatrical, ostentatious character. I did not have to see a single commander before, who is so free, I do not say this word disgusting here, although it revolves in the tongue, it cannot be applicable here, but this line is still close somewhere, I would hold in a tone that is unusual in the communication of the subordinate with the senior boss.

Such a tone did not make a positive impression on me, although it was impossible to make any complaints. Present more than once during the reports of various commanders of Zhukov, I, by his behavior and expression, clearly saw the satisfaction with both the report and the answers of Popov. When we were left alone, I told Zhukov about the unusual impression that I have left of acquaintance with Popov.

In fact, this is a disciplined, educated and very capable commander. There are not particularly many of them. You will recognize him closer, and you will have a completely different impression about him. During lunch, for a friendly conversation, I saw in front of me a very simple, good -natured and cheerful interlocutor. Being some time at the headquarters of the Bryansk Front both during the preparation of the operation and during it, I also noted that Markian Mikhailovich Popov was very different from some commanders in his communication with his subordinates.

Even during the offensive, when, meeting stubborn resistance, the troops could not fully fulfill the tasks set before him, despite the pressure from above, Popov did not tolerate some nervousness to his subordinates. He spoke very politely from his command post with the commanders of the armies, supported some of them with the necessary vigor, when not everything turned out as provided.

Such moral support, in my opinion, is sometimes more valuable than any reward. We are somehow used to after many years to see the war not in the light in which it really looked. Sometimes it happened so, but in most cases to overcome the German defense, and even prepared in advance and improved for a long time, was not so simple. More than once during the Great Patriotic War, the Germans showed fierce resistance, and we had to either refuse to achieve the goal and be content with small successes, or change tasks.

We fought with a strong, cruel, militaryly prepared, already having a significant combat experience of the enemy. This enemy kneel down all the countries of Europe, defeated the most military -prepared army of France and England, kept in fear the peoples of those countries that did not take part in the war confident and calm orders, as a rule, inspire faith in subordinates, and they can do what the troops will not make the troops in the manifestation of the imbalance of their commander or commander, although they have more and more positions.

In this case, M. Popov, with his behavior and communication with his subordinates, was very similar to K. to hide a sin, we also had such good commanders, but which during the battle showed unbalanced, nervousness. I knew such armies and other commanders who visited the next world when talking on the phone with the front command, and after conducting a particular operation, they received awards until the title of Hero of the Soviet Union had their own style of work, but in the eyes of subordinates the unconditionally unshakable authority and trust have that commander or commander who do not lose their presence and presence of spirit and the presence Balance, even in the most important circumstances.

For such a commander, the soldiers will go, as they say, to the fire and into the water. In these matters, the authority of Markian Mikhailovich Popov in the troops was on top. And now I want to talk about the case that occurred at the headquarters in connection with the appointment of Popov by the commander of the troops of the Bryansk Front and what I happened to be a direct witness.

Popov called to the bet. The indisputable and well -learned rule was that every disposal of the rate was carried out immediately. Popov's arrival was expected the next day. However, the day passed, but there was no Popov. They called to find out if it was.They received a report that yesterday I flew to Moscow to fly from Stalingrad to Moscow only a few hours, but the day passed, and Popov did not appear.

The next day he was not there either. He appeared only on the third day! As they say, in complete health, but “stuck” somewhere along the road. It was an unprecedented emergency, and I, not yet being a sign with this general, but having heard a lot of good about him, sincerely regretted him. According to the stories of comrades, Markian Mikhailovich was a huge talent and erudition by a man who had brilliant abilities in military affairs.

Being a very young man, even before the war he commanded the military district. However, his weakness for “life -giving moisture” and the beautiful floor all his life, as they say, stood across the road during the war, he commanded the corps and army and was now called to the rate for appointing the front commander. Something will be with him now?! However, against the expectations, Stalin, apparently already informed about where Popov “disappeared”, instead of repaying him according to merits, told us such a case from the civil war.

At that time, Trotsky demanded that one division commander on the Petrograd Front, accusing him of drunkenness. Vladimir Ilyich instructed Stalin when his trip to that area to deal with this division commander and report to him about the results. Stalin, having arrived in the division, called the commanders of units and divisions of the division and directly raised the question: how do they evaluate their division commander?

Everyone unanimously stated that they did not see the best commander that he was in battle in front of all that the fighters follow him, as they say, to the fire and in the water and there was still no case that the division backed back somewhere. Stalin reported in detail to Vladimir Ilyich about the conversation with the command staff of the division, about the combat qualities of the commander.

In conclusion, Stalin supported the comrades with whom he talked. It was decided to leave the division commander on the spot, and Vladimir Ilyich said that it was necessary to take care to load this commander with work so that he had no free time for idleness. So he continued to command his division by the commander, until he died in battle. But this was what Stalin did only when the interests of the case were not affected.

Popov was appointed commander. The troops of the Bryansk Front, under his command, successfully coped with their task in the Battle of Kursk, and Markian Mikhailovich was appointed commander of another front with the rank of Army General. However, here Popov’s personal weaknesses began to influence the interests of the case, as a result, he was released from the command of the front, lowered with the rank of colonel and was appointed to a less responsible position.

No, it did not end. Until the end of the war, he successfully commanded the armies and headquarters, and after the victory he was the commander of a number of military districts. In the year in Ukraine, large staff exercises were held with the participation of a number of districts, where M. Popov, heading the “blue”, did not give the opportunity “red”, despite their significant superiority, to win victories, again flashing his general talent.

How would the fate of this talented person, who are no longer alive now? .. One thing is undoubted that, despite his personal weaknesses, he made a worthy contribution to the defeat of the enemy. Of course, not everyone can make out and use in a person, of course. For Stalin, the essence of the issue was always important, so to speak, without a wrapper. I remember how General F.

Paying a monthly party, he referred to the fact that he had forgotten the party party at home. A few months later, this reached A. Shcherbakov, who was part of the Politburo. They established the truth, and Shcherbakov, reporting this to Stalin, raised the question of Astakhov’s stay in the party and as the head of the GVF. Stalin walked for a long time, smoking the phone, and was in no hurry to answer.

Finally, going to Shcherbakov, he asked: “And what would you do in the place of Astakhov?! This is the point. " Astakhov continued to work, but a few years later he was removed from his post, and, despite the large number of Codeataev, he did not receive more work.