You’ve heard plenty of myths about the “cult of Stalin” - many of them shaped after his death by Khrushchev. One of the usual examples: “Stalin even made himself Generalissimo!” True, he accepted the title. But the story is more complicated.
"On 26 June 1945, the Soviet Union officially introduced the highest military rank, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union. The very next day, it was awarded to Joseph Stalin for leading the country and army during the Great Patriotic War. In Russia's entire history, there were only five Generalissimos. The word came from Europe and means the highest commander. In Russia, the title first appeared under Peter the Great. The first to receive it was Voivode Alexei Shane, who distinguished himself in the The Azov Campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. Later, Alexander Menshikov was granted the rank, though the decision was driven more by court politics than military merit. The most famous pre-revolutionary Russian Generalissimo is Alexander Suvorov. He received the title in 1799 after the Swiss campaign. Suvorov never lost a major battle. He successfully fought the Turks, Poles and French, and his book, The Science of Victory, became one of the most famous military manuals. After this, the rank disappeared for almost 150 years. Even after defeating Napoleon's army, Mikhail Kutuzov was only made a field marshal, and after the 1917 revolution, the old rank system was abolished. The idea of restoring the rank of Generalissimo returned after the end of the Great Patriotic War. On 26 June 1945, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR officially approved it, and on 27 June, Joseph Stalin became the only Generalissimo in Soviet history. According to contemporaries, Stalin reportedly refused the new title several times, considering it unnecessary. During discussions, he noted that Chiang Kai-shek and Franco already held the title, and the idea did not appeal to him, but the marshals kept insisting. According to legend, the decisive argument came from Konstantin Rokossovsky, who allegedly said, Comrade Stalin, you are a marshal and I am a marshal. You won't be able to punish me. After that, Stalin agreed to accept the rank, though he later regretted the decision. After Stalin's death, the rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was never awarded again. Formally, it remained in Soviet military regulations until 1993, when it disappeared along with the rank of marshal of the Soviet Union."
💬 Discussion
You’ve heard plenty of myths about the “cult of Stalin” - many of them shaped after his death by Khrushchev. One of the usual examples: “Stalin even made himself Generalissimo!” True, he accepted the title. But the story is more complicated.
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