Heroic battles of the Great Patriotic War. The heroic battle of "drunk" Americans with peaceful Indians - or the "Sand Creek Massacre" - history in photographs

Tornan the Barbarian and the Rod of Tiamat

Vladimir Leshchenko Heroic fantasy Absent

He is Tornan, although sometimes he is simply called the barbarian. Dangerous for enemies and loyal to friends. Brave and strong, like a bear from the forests of his distant northern homeland. Magnanimous as the thunder god he worships. This time, in the company of a warlike Amazon and a shaman from distant ocean islands, he goes in search of the greatest relic of this world - the rod of the goddess Tiamat, necessary to repel the onslaught of the forces of Darkness.

He will have to overcome wild forests and inaccessible mountain ranges, stormy seas and deserts. Battles with robbers and monsters, prison cellars and the dungeons of the Inquisition await him. Will he be able to obtain the sacred treasure? And are the intentions of those who send him on this dangerous journey so pure?

To do this, the author makes extensive use of drawings and diagrams illustrating the course of the battles for our capital, as well as numerous bibliographical references to reputable sources on this topic. Big things are seen from a distance, and this book- this is another attempt to bring closer and carefully examine the great event associated with the feat of the people committed by them in that already distant tragic and heroic time.

It's a small world

Evgeny Voiskunsky Books about war Absent

Not every one of the many fans of science fiction writer Evgeniy Voiskunsky is familiar with the other side of his work, based on the life impressions of a captain of the 3rd rank, a holder of two Orders of the Red Banner, and a participant in the heroic defense of Hanko.

“It’s a Small World” is a novel-memoir, a kind of group portrait of a generation that grew up just in time for the war itself and took on a terrible burden Leningrad blockade and battles in the Baltic. The action ends in victorious May 1945, but the fate of the heroes in the epilogue stretches until the 80s.

The entire book runs through the story of the struggle to restore the good name of one of the bravest Baltic fighters who found himself in trouble.

Devil's Bridge

Mark Aldanov Russian classics Thinker

The novel “Devil's Bridge,” created by the outstanding Russian writer and philosopher Mark Aldanov, tells about the heroic transition of the Russian army through the Alps. Russia's allies in the anti-French campaign, alarmed by the successes of the Russian army, demanded its withdrawal from Northern Italy, in addition depriving them of the promised support and indicating the wrong direction of the campaign.

However, under the leadership of the brilliant commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, Russian soldiers not only carried out this unprecedented raid, managing to defeat the superior forces of the French in several battles, but also actually contributed to the emergence of a new state in Europe - the Swiss Confederation.

This novel is part of the “Thinker” tetralogy, covering a huge panorama of world history from the French Revolution and the reign of Paul I to the decline of the Napoleonic Empire.

Roslavlev, or Russians in 1812

Mikhail Zagoskin Russian classics Absent

An unprecedented star walked in the heavens for a long time, cities and forests burned, and in many places the earth burned out. This is all not good, not good... “There will be a great war!” This is what old people used to say a year before the terrible figure of 1812. But life in Russia went on as usual: the rich had fun, the poor worked, Russian folk songs thundered along the Neva, “French vaudevilles were sung” in the theaters, Parisian milliners continued to rob Russian ladies.

In a word, everything went on as before until thunder struck. Before War and Peace appeared, the novel about the fate of the proud Russian officer Vladimir Roslavlev was the most popular book about the War of 1812. Its author, the wonderful Russian writer Mikhail Zagoskin, was an eyewitness to the Napoleonic invasion of Moscow, was wounded in the battle of Polotsk, and was awarded the Order of St. Anne, IV degree, for his heroic participation in hostilities.

Order of the Swordsmen against Rus'. The first German campaign in the East

Mikhail Bredis Story Wars of Ancient Rus'

In the very early XIII century, German knights landed in the Baltic states, ready to plunder and seize new lands. It was the Order of the Swordsmen, which became the first wave of the military “onset to the East” of the German invaders. The name of the Order comes from the image on their cloaks of a red sword with a Maltese cross.

The book by modern Russian historians Mikhail Bredis and Elena Tyanina is dedicated to the heroic resistance of Rus' and the Baltic peoples to the military and religious expansion of these “dog knights”. In it, the authors fascinatingly tell the reader about unknown heroic pages national history, when the interests of Catholic Rome and the Russian state collided on the Baltic coast.

Fascinating details of the most unknown Russian-German war of the Middle Ages! Bloody battles, political intrigues. Mister Veliky Novgorod and the Principality of Polotsk against the Pope and the brothers of the sword! The book was also published under a different title: “Crusade against Rus'.”

“Sevastopol will remain Russian!” Defense and liberation of Crimea 1941-1944

Andrey Shaglanov Biographies and Memoirs Crimea - an outpost of Russian glory

“Sevastopol will remain Russian!” - this song by A. Gorodnitsky, written 10 years ago, became prophetic, like the phrase from the film “Brother-2”: “You will answer for Sevastopol!” This is not the first time for Russia to defend the City Military Glory and liberate Crimea from the occupiers - the three-year battle for this peninsula became one of the longest, fiercest and bloodiest battles of the Great Patriotic War.

This book restores the Crimean epic in every detail - from the disaster of 1941 and the fall of Sevastopol to the heroic landings of the Marine Corps, the defeat of the Nazis in May 44 and the return Black Sea Fleet to your main base. 70 years ago, when the Soviet Union was again raised over it naval ensign, and Moscow saluted the valiant troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front who liberated Sevastopol, the whole country repeated after the Liberators: “CRIMEA IS OUR!”

Iron Franks

Maria Schönbrunn-Amor Historical literature Absent

What depends on the person? Does he have a choice? Can he change the fate of himself and his people? The past intertwines with the present, love fights with duty, passion borders on hatred, the few oppose the many, and one opposes all. While East and West measure their strength, people make a choice between good and evil.

Only suffering makes you human, only heroic death turns defeat into victory. The author comprehends the origins of discord between the world of Islam and the Judeo-Christian world, the reasons for the defeat of the crusaders, the “salt of the earth” of the 12th century. The historical basis of the events taking place in the Levant is strung together with the fascinating misadventures of the heroes, filled with intrigue, love and battles.

The lively, witty narrative gracefully links the twists and turns of the distant past with the brutal present of the Middle East.

Traitor

Stories Absent

Gangut. First victory Russian fleet

Vladimir Shigin Sea adventures Marine Chronicle

The book by the famous Russian marine painter V. Shigin describes the events associated with the famous Battle of Gangut, which brought the first brilliant victory to the young Russian fleet in the Baltic. The author captivatingly talks about the heroic achievements of Russian sailors in early XVIII century and the brilliant victories of Peter the Great's fleet in the Baltic.

The book contains interesting details of the life of Russian officers and sailors of that time. The publication is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Gangut victory.

Fire roads of Geon

Igor Chuzhin Misfits Wanderer

The world of Geon, into which Igor Stolyarov was transported by the mockery of fate, is harsh and unpredictable. Heroic deeds and the love of a beautiful girl turned out to be just a beautiful package for the cruel prose of life. Ingar, who in his dreams had risen to the pinnacle of power and decided that he had become a fairy-tale prince, was thrown from heaven into a gutter by a rotting corpse.

He was betrayed by his best friend, and the authorities of the Meran Empire are looking for the alien killer based on a false denunciation. Burnt like a brand and disfigured by terrible scars, he became a “man without a face” who faces an irreconcilable battle for his place in the sun of Geon.

In this battle, he is driven only by love and the thirst for revenge.

Alexey Novikov-Priboy Historical literature Missing No data

The events of the military-historical chronicle "Tsushima" unfold against the backdrop of one of the world's greatest naval battles. For about 30 years, A. S. Novikov-Priboy (1877-1944) collected materials for his epic - during the campaign and the Battle of Tsushima on the battleship "Eagle", in Japanese captivity, and upon returning to his homeland - underground, in exile, having studied many archives, talked with participants in the events.

The writer managed to recreate vivid, memorable pictures of the battle, and most importantly, talk about the unprecedented feat of Russian sailors heroically fighting and dying in an unequal battle.

Absent Myths. Legends. Epic Absent

What is an epic and how does it differ from a fairy tale? In dictionaries, the concept of epic is defined as “Russian folk epic songs about the exploits of heroes.” The basis of the plot of the epic is some heroic event, or a remarkable episode of Russian history.

As in a fairy tale, in an epic good is opposed to evil, and evil must be destroyed. Only here, unlike the heroes of fairy tales epic heroes do not have any magical means to help them. Only heroic strength, the one that is given to him from birth and makes him a warrior - a defender of the state.

Avdotya Ryazanochka Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin Snake Anika warrior Bogatyr's word Fight Ilya Muromets with his son Vavilo and buffoons Vanka Udovkin son Vasily Buslaev and the Novgorod men Volga and Mikula Danilo Ignatievich and his son Mikhailo Dobrynya Nikitich Ilya Muromets, Ermak and Kalin Tsar Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar Sadko Svyatogor and Ilya Muromets Forty Kalik with Kalika.

Magazine “Knowledge is power” No. 07/2016

Absent Journalism: other Magazine “Knowledge is Power” 2016

The magazine “Knowledge is Power”, founded in 1926, is a well-known popular science publication that publishes materials about achievements in various fields of knowledge - physics, astronomy, cosmology, biology, history, economics, philosophy, psychology, sociology.

The magazine's credo over the past 50 years has been a serious conversation with the reader about the problems of science, economics, society, and the ways of developing scientific thought. The magazine contributes to the development of schoolchildren's horizons. The journal will undoubtedly be useful to students, scientists and technical workers, managers - anyone interested in the state of modern science who perceives science and scientific knowledge as an effective tool to overcome economic and social problems in the era of globalization.

In the issue: Over the past half century, the amount of dust in the atmosphere has been steadily increasing. How does this affect our health? Six battles of Russian armies with Austro-German troops near Kovel became one of the most heroic and tragic episodes of the Brusilov breakthrough.

How it was? What does human imagination sometimes transform paintings of famous artists on the Internet into? What happens on Earth every 23 thousand years, every 41 thousand years and every 100 thousand years? The underwater chronicle told about this... and much more.

Heroes of the Baltic

Vladimir Shigin Biographies and Memoirs The life of wonderful sailors

The book by the famous writer-marinist Captain 1st Rank Vladimir Shigin presents literary and documentary essays about the life and exploits of Russian sailors of the Baltic Fleet of the 18th–20th centuries. Among them, the hero of Chesma and the Krasnogorsk battle with the Swedish fleet in 1790, Admiral Cruz.

Commander of the heroic tender "Experience", which withstood a multi-hour battle with an English frigate in 1808, Lieutenant Commander Nevelskoy. The head of the first, never completed, round-the-world expedition of the Russian fleet and a participant in many battles of the Russian-Swedish war of 1788–1790, captain 1st rank Mulovsky, and the most successful submariner in the history of the Russian fleet, captain 1st rank Grishchenko.

In battles with enemies, Rus' survived and increased its territory by annexing North Caucasus, Nogai Horde and the Siberian Kingdom. And the first Tsar Ivan IV, for his victory over his enemies, received from the people the nickname “Terrible” - for the enemies of the Fatherland. About the glorious and heroic pages of Russian history XVI century new book famous modern writer Valeria Shambarova.

Generals of the First World War. Pavel Pleve, Alexey Brusilov, Dmitry Shcherbachev, Mikhail Alekseev, Vasily

Absent Biographies and Memoirs Stories Absent

A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky is a contemporary of A. S. Pushkin. He was brought up in the Mountain Corps, with the rank of staff captain he transferred to the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment. He was exiled to Yakutsk for participating in the Decembrist uprising. Then transferred to the Caucasus. Received for bravery in battles St. George's cross and the rank of non-commissioned officer, and then was promoted to warrant officer.

He died heroically in a skirmish with the highlanders, his body was not found. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky is a bright adherent of the romantic style in literature. In fascinating tales and stories about the times of knights and princesses, passions and feelings boil to the limit of human capabilities; his works captivate you into the world of love, fights and adventures.

Notes from a cavalry maiden. Incident in Russia

Nadezhda Andreevna Durova Biographies and Memoirs Absent

Nadezhda Andreevna Durova, married to Chernova (1783 – 1866) – participant in the Patriotic War. She served in the cavalry for 10 years, first as a private, later as a cornet; since 1816 retired captain of headquarters. Nadezhda Andreevna is an exceptional woman in Russian history, a person of heroic biography, the first female officer.

Her life is reproduced in a number of works of Russian pre-revolutionary and Soviet literature. And Nadezhda Andreevna herself was a talented writer, whose work was highly appreciated by A. S. Pushkin and V. G. Belinsky. According to A. S. Pushkin, N. Durova mastered a “fast, picturesque and fiery” pen.

Pushkin’s personal acquaintance with Durova was preceded by correspondence with her and her brother V. A. Durov regarding the publication of “Notes”. In 1836, A. S. Pushkin published excerpts from the notes of Nadezhda Andreevna Durova, kept by her in 1812-1813, in his journal Sovremennik.

Warmly received by the genius of Russian literature, “Notes of a Cavalry Maiden” was soon released as a separate edition and was a resounding success. And although on title page The book did not have the name of the author, the heroine of the Patriotic War and the talented writer Nadezhda Andreevna Durova became known throughout Russia.

IN early XIX century, a mysterious person appeared in the ranks of the Russian troops fighting in Prussia - a cavalry maiden, a Russian Amazon, who performed under the male name Sokolov, then, with the highest permission, Alexandrov. Later, this amazing, brave woman took part in the war with Napoleon, accomplished a heroic feat and was awarded the highest military decoration - the St. George Cross.

The extraordinary nature of this “incident in Russia” worried not only the army, but also all layers of society for a long time. However, its true meaning was not in a romantic riddle, but in that patriotic feat, which later became an example of love for one’s fatherland.

What made a young girl from a good noble family leave her father's house, renounce her sex and appear on the battlefield? On the disc you will hear the extraordinary story of “Notes of a Cavalry Maiden,” which Nadezhda Andreevna Durova told in her memoirs, and which later became one of the most famous books about the Patriotic War of 1812.

Bogatyrs of the Russian land. Epics

Collection Myths. Legends. Epic Absent

As in a fairy tale, in an epic good is opposed to evil and evil must be destroyed. Only now, unlike the heroes of fairy tales, the epic heroes do not have any magical means. Only heroic strength, that which is given from birth, makes a person a warrior - a defender of the state.

The main quality of a hero is military valor. His merits are tested in battle, in an unequal battle. The composition of the epic is also connected with this, the culminating event of which will be the battle. You can easily verify this by listening to the audio version of the epics included in this collection.

“The Battle on Kalinov Bridge” “Nikita Kozhemyak” “The First Battle of Ilya Muromets” “Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber” “About Dobrynya Nikitich and the Serpent Gorynych” “Alyosha Popovich” “Three Trips of Ilya Muromets” “How Ilya Quarreled with Prince Vladimir » “Ilya Muromets and Tsar Kalin” “Ilya delivers Tsargrad from Idolishch” “Volga Vseslavyevich” “Mikula Selyaninovich” “About the beautiful Vasilisa Mikulishna” ©&℗ IP Vorobiev V.

A. ©&℗ ID SOYUZ.

Roman and Olga

Alexander Alexandrovich Bestuzhev-Marlinsky Stories Absent

A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky is a contemporary of A. S. Pushkin. He was brought up in the Mountain Corps, with the rank of staff captain he transferred to the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment. He was exiled to Yakutsk for participating in the Decembrist uprising. Then transferred to the Caucasus. For courage in battles he received the St. George Cross and the rank of non-commissioned officer, and was then promoted to ensign.

Evening at the bivouac

Alexander Alexandrovich Bestuzhev-Marlinsky Stories Absent

A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky is a contemporary of A. S. Pushkin. He was brought up in the Mountain Corps, with the rank of staff captain he transferred to the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment. He was exiled to Yakutsk for participating in the Decembrist uprising. Then transferred to the Caucasus. For courage in battles he received the St. George Cross and the rank of non-commissioned officer, and was then promoted to ensign.

He died heroically in a skirmish with the highlanders, his body was not found. A strong supporter of the romantic style in literature. Fascinating tales and stories about secular society accurately convey the lifestyle of people in the mid-18th century.

No one was truly in control of the battle. It seemed that none of the commanders properly thought about the fact that a living warrior wins, and not a dead one. On the way to the army commander’s command post, an unconditional rule developed for me: to protect the life of a soldier in every possible way - our main strength and hope, to do everything possible to ensure that victory over the enemy is achieved with the least amount of bloodshed.”

Petr Koshevoy Koshevoy Petr Kirillovich – Marshal Soviet Union, twice Hero of the Soviet Union - during the harsh war years he commanded the 65th and 24th Guards Rifle Divisions and the 63rd Rifle Corps. In his memoirs, he talks with great warmth about the heroism of his fellow soldiers, their remarkable military deeds in the battles of Leningrad and Stalingrad, and during the liberation of Crimea.

The terrible facts of the Great Patriotic War are presented in such simple language that they read like fiction novel. But every word in this book is true, this is the fate of the Russian people, this is a great feat of Russia. Interesting are his memories of ordinary soldiers, and about other heroic military leaders of the Second World War - A.

M. Vasilevsky, K. A. Meretskov, F. I. Tolbukhin, about Generalissimo I. V. Stalin.

M. Nikolaeva Military affairs, intelligence services Absent

By June 22, 1941, France, Poland, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Greece and Yugoslavia had already fallen to Hitler. England defended her island alone for a whole year, not knowing whether anyone would eventually come to her aid or not. Battles took place in Africa and Asia, dozens of countries were involved in the war... But this book, of course, is not about whose contribution to the Victory was more significant.

But just an attempt to tell about another tragic and heroic page of the Second World War. That war, which we still know too little about.

Chronicle of Colchis

Vakeli Humorous fiction Missing No data

Told by the offspring of the mighty Typhon and the serpent maiden Echidna, the chronicle of his misadventures: pursued by the sworn Hercules, leaves the crafty Peloponnese and finds refuge in the abundant Colchis, where he sets up a family nest with the charming dragon Pirtszkhli, enters the service of the noble king of the Colchians Aetus, finds himself drawn into the intertwining of the Cretan despot Minos oh harmful an intrigue involving a fake fugitive - the Boeotian Frixus and the golden-fleeced ram, acts as a skilled commander in a series of fateful battles, and finally averts the threat to the peaceful existence of the land that sheltered him, by cunningly involving his comrades in the action of the Thessalian prince Jason: the real Argonautica, or the true story " golden" rune.

The texture of the text lures the reader into the hitherto little-known world of ancient Colchis, to the gods and heroes of the Colchians, to their temples and customs, and, in parallel, into the Aegean of the heroic era, which is relatively familiar to history buffs, into the very thick of the adventurous deeds of the Achaean leaders who coveted the wealth of the arrogant East .

According to the author, it is suitable for all classes and is suitable for any mentality: a simpleton will read it as a fantasy novel, which is so fashionable today; A savvy reader may develop an interest in ancient events - his hand will suddenly reach out to the chronicles and notes of learned men; an admirer of ancient literature will have fun looking through stylizations and travesties; connoisseur Greek history will spend his leisure time guessing the charades, riddles, metagrams scattered throughout the text... When writing, the author was guided by the instructions of the well-known master, Senor Umberto Eco: “educate while entertaining”...

In search of the Holy Grail in Crimea

Vladlen Avinda Contemporary Russian literature Absent

The author of two stories and a novel in short stories talks about the historical time of Crimea. In the first story, events of the ancient world are revealed, where the feat of Dew and Honey from the siege of the barrier wall is revealed through excavated graves in our days. Second story about heroic defense Sudak citadel from the Turkish invaders, when the unfortunate ones sought salvation in a Christian church, but were burned alive.

The action of the novel is also based on the true story of the six-month defense of the capital of the Principality of Theodoro Mangup-kale from Muslim conquerors. The prince's love for the White Rose and the life of the Goths are intertwined with our days. The bloody sun of the burning fortress casts a glare on our days.

The amazing description of nature on the pages of the book, the desperate battle of the Goths with hated enemies, the tragedy of love and the adventures of the heroes recreate true pictures of the past and modern Crimea. “The Descendant of Mithridates of Pontus” is a romantic story about our contemporary who sailed on a single kayak in memory of famous king Bosporus.

Storms, storms, calms, the sun, the moon and the wind test the brave and strong crippled man, and witness the voyage of a disabled hero. The author is a Crimean, a participant in many archaeological expeditions, a student of the famous archaeologist O. I. Dombrovsky wrote a large number of books on the artistic history of the peninsula, where the sun has been shining since ancient times.

Farewell of a Slav

Alexander Ushakov Documental literature Missing No data

Could it have been possible to avoid Russia's entry into the war, and why did Germany start it? Why was Russia left without an army by the end of the war and who was to blame for this? Was there a first World War The Patriotic War and what role did it play in the Fate of Russia? It is these and many other questions that we will try to answer in our book.

Therefore, we will not analyze military operations in detail, but will trace how their successes and failures affected the life of our country. We will try to understand these as best we can. complex issues, how the philosophical, social and economic aspects of the war and how this very war was prepared in Germany in the light of all these aspects.

And, of course, talk about those people who gave their lives for our country. They gave it away not because they were ordered to give it away, but because they could not do otherwise. About two million of our compatriots laid down their lives on the battlefields of the First World War.

Neither gas attacks, neither the multiple superiority of the enemy nor the lack of ammunition could break the Russian soldier. In the most difficult conditions, he performed heroic deeds and once again saved Europe, fighting in the most critical areas.

And this book is a call to remember and honor their Blessed Memory...

course History of Russia

on topic: Heroic battles of the Great Patriotic War

1. Battle for Moscow

The battle of Moscow lasted more than six months and was fought on a front stretching about 2 thousand kilometers. More than 2.8 million people, up to 2 thousand tanks, 21 thousand guns and mortars, and over 1.6 thousand aircraft took part in the battle on both sides. The German command associated the decisive success in the war with the capture of the capital of the USSR. The plan for the offensive of German troops on Moscow - Operation Typhoon - provided for attacks by three groups from the areas of Dukhovshchina, Roslavl and Shostka in the eastern and north-eastern directions to dismember, encircle and destroy the main forces of the Western, Reserve and Bryansk fronts, tank and motorized formations to cover Moscow from the north and south and simultaneously capture it with a frontal offensive. In September 1941, preparations for Operation Typhoon began.

By the end of September, Army Group Center consisted of about 75 divisions, including 14 tank and 8 motorized (about 38 percent infantry and 64 percent tank and motorized divisions operating on the Soviet-German front). This is 1,800 thousand people, 1,700 tanks, over 14 thousand guns and mortars, about 1,390 aircraft. On the distant approaches to Moscow, troops of three fronts took up defensive positions - Western (Colonel General I. Konev), Reserve (Marshal S. Budyonny) and Bryansk (Colonel General A. Eremenko). These three fronts numbered about 1,250 thousand people, almost 1 thousand tanks, 7,600 guns and mortars, 677 aircraft. On September 30, Guderian's tank group and Weichs's 2nd Field Army launched an offensive in the Oryol direction, delivering a strong blow to the left flank of the Bryansk Front. On October 2, the forces of Army Group Center went on the offensive. Our troops fought heavy defensive battles. By October 7, units of the 19th, 20th, 24th and 32nd were surrounded near Vyazma, and units of the 3rd, 13th and 50th near Bryansk Soviet armies. Tens of thousands of soldiers and volunteer divisions people's militia died the death of the brave. 663 thousand Red Army soldiers and commanders were taken prisoner. The main line of resistance on the approaches to Moscow was the Mozhaisk line of defense. In total, on this 230-kilometer line from the “Moscow Sea” to the confluence of the river. The Ugrians and Oka in the four Soviet armies numbered about 90 thousand people. On October 10, the Western and Reserve Fronts were united into Western Front under the command of Army General G. Zhukov. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov managed to build the defense in such a way that it covered the most threatening directions, leaving only weak cover in other areas. The enemy did not have time to take countermeasures. Army Group Center was unable to break through to Moscow on any sector of the front. From November 16 to December 5, during the second stage of the attack on Moscow, the Germans lost over 153 thousand people killed, wounded and frostbitten. During the battles on the approaches to the capital, the conditions were prepared for the Soviet troops to launch a counteroffensive and defeat the enemy near Moscow. But this was achieved at the cost of great blood. From September 30 to December 5, irrecoverable losses alone amounted to 514,338 people. During the German offensive on Moscow, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command under the leadership of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin began preparing a counteroffensive. The main task was assigned to the Western Front, to which the Headquarters transferred the 1st Shock, 10th and 20th Armies from its reserves. To the north and south, troops of the Kalinin and South-Western (Marshal S. Timoshenko, from December 18, 1941, Lieutenant General F. Kostenko) fronts struck. Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive in conditions where the numerical superiority in men, artillery and tanks was still on the enemy’s side. The counteroffensive near Moscow began on December 5-6, 1941, developing as a continuation of the counterattacks of the armies of the Western, Kalinin and Bryansk fronts. On December 16, Hitler issued an order to “hold the front to the last soldier.” The Wehrmacht troops tried to resist, but were overthrown by the advancing units of the Red Army. In ten days of fighting they were driven back to the original positions of the November offensive.

The first stage of the counteroffensive near Moscow (Moscow Strategic Offensive Operation) was successfully completed by the beginning of January 1942. Army Group Center was pushed back 100 - 250 km from the capital. Moscow and Tula region, the cities of Kalinin and Kaluga, a number of districts of other regions. In January-March 1942, the Red Army launched a general offensive in the most important strategic directions. During the counter-offensive of the Soviet troops, 38 German divisions were defeated, thousands of guns, hundreds of tanks, and much other equipment were taken as trophies. The victory near Moscow made “ lightning war"protracted, disastrous for Germany, and meant the beginning of a radical turn in the Great Patriotic War Soviet people against the Nazi invaders.

Tons of industrial equipment. A significant part of the participants in the defense of Odessa was transferred to Sevastopol. Defense of Sevastopol The defense of Sevastopol constitutes one of the most heroic pages of the Great Patriotic War. Since October 30, 1941, the defenders of Sevastopol are soldiers of the Primorsky Army (commander - Major General I.E. Petrov) and sailors of the Black Sea Fleet (commander - ...

The 2nd and 1st Belorussian Fronts dealt a powerful blow to Army Group Center. On June 23, on a huge front from the Western Dvina to the Pripyat River, one of largest battles Great Patriotic War. The regular Soviet troops were greatly assisted by an army of thousands of Belarusian partisans. Having launched a decisive offensive, Soviet troops broke through the enemy front on several...

30 tanks. There was a huge force against a handful of fighters. And at this critical moment, political instructor Klochkov uttered inspired words that were destined to enter the military chronicle of the Patriotic War: “Russia is great, but there is nowhere to retreat: behind is Moscow!” The legendary battle lasted four hours. The enemy lost 18 tanks and many soldiers, but was never able to break through.* Courageously, steadfastly, skillfully...

course History of Russia

on topic: Heroic battles of the Great Patriotic War

1. Battle for Moscow

The battle of Moscow lasted more than six months and was fought on a front stretching about 2 thousand kilometers. More than 2.8 million people, up to 2 thousand tanks, 21 thousand guns and mortars, and over 1.6 thousand aircraft took part in the battle on both sides. The German command associated the decisive success in the war with the capture of the capital of the USSR. The plan for the offensive of German troops on Moscow - Operation Typhoon - envisaged the attacks of three groups from the areas of Dukhovshchina, Roslavl and Shostka in the eastern and north-eastern directions to dismember, encircle and destroy the main forces of the Western, Reserve and Bryansk fronts, tank and motorized formations to envelop Moscow from the north and south and simultaneously take it over with a frontal offensive. In September 1941, preparations for Operation Typhoon began.

By the end of September, Army Group Center consisted of about 75 divisions, including 14 tank and 8 motorized (about 38 percent infantry and 64 percent tank and motorized divisions operating on the Soviet-German front). This is 1,800 thousand people, 1,700 tanks, over 14 thousand guns and mortars, about 1,390 aircraft. On the distant approaches to Moscow, troops of three fronts took up defensive positions - Western (Colonel General I. Konev), Reserve (Marshal S. Budyonny) and Bryansk (Colonel General A. Eremenko). These three fronts numbered about 1,250 thousand people, almost 1 thousand tanks, 7,600 guns and mortars, 677 aircraft. On September 30, Guderian's tank group and Weichs's 2nd Field Army launched an offensive in the Oryol direction, delivering a strong blow to the left flank of the Bryansk Front. On October 2, the forces of Army Group Center went on the offensive. Our troops fought heavy defensive battles. By October 7, units of the 19th, 20th, 24th and 32nd were surrounded near Vyazma, and units of the 3rd, 13th and 50th Soviet armies were surrounded near Bryansk. Tens of thousands of soldiers and volunteers of the people's militia divisions died the death of the brave. 663 thousand Red Army soldiers and commanders were taken prisoner. The main line of resistance on the approaches to Moscow was the Mozhaisk line of defense. In total, on this 230-kilometer line from the “Moscow Sea” to the confluence of the river. The Ugrians and Oka in the four Soviet armies numbered about 90 thousand people. On October 10, the Western and Reserve Fronts were united into the Western Front under the command of Army General G. Zhukov. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov managed to build the defense in such a way that it covered the most threatening directions, leaving only weak cover in other areas. The enemy did not have time to take countermeasures. Army Group Center was unable to break through to Moscow on any sector of the front. From November 16 to December 5, during the second stage of the attack on Moscow, the Germans lost over 153 thousand people killed, wounded and frostbitten. During the battles on the approaches to the capital, the conditions were prepared for the Soviet troops to launch a counteroffensive and defeat the enemy near Moscow. But this was achieved at the cost of great blood. From September 30 to December 5, irrecoverable losses alone amounted to 514,338 people. During the German offensive on Moscow, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command under the leadership of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin began preparing a counteroffensive. The main task was assigned to the Western Front, to which the Headquarters transferred the 1st Shock, 10th and 20th Armies from its reserves. To the north and south, troops of the Kalinin and South-Western (Marshal S. Timoshenko, from December 18, 1941, Lieutenant General F. Kostenko) fronts struck. Soviet troops launched a counteroffensive in conditions where the numerical superiority in men, artillery and tanks was still on the enemy’s side. The counteroffensive near Moscow began on December 5-6, 1941, developing as a continuation of the counterattacks of the armies of the Western, Kalinin and Bryansk fronts. On December 16, Hitler issued an order to “hold the front to the last soldier.” The Wehrmacht troops tried to resist, but were overthrown by the advancing units of the Red Army. In ten days of fighting they were driven back to the original positions of the November offensive.

The first stage of the counteroffensive near Moscow (Moscow Strategic Offensive Operation) was successfully completed by the beginning of January 1942. Army Group Center was pushed back 100 - 250 km from the capital. The Moscow and Tula regions, the cities of Kalinin and Kaluga, and a number of districts in other regions were liberated. In January-March 1942, the Red Army launched a general offensive in the most important strategic directions. During the counter-offensive of the Soviet troops, 38 German divisions were defeated, thousands of guns, hundreds of tanks, and much other equipment were taken as trophies. The victory near Moscow turned the “lightning war” into a protracted one, disastrous for Germany, and meant the beginning of a radical turn in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people against the Nazi invaders.

2. Battle for Leningrad

The Battle of Leningrad covered almost the entire northwestern part of the Soviet Union. It lasted over three years and was attended by troops of the Northern (later Leningrad), Northwestern, Volkhov, Karelian and 2nd Baltic fronts, the Baltic Fleet, the Ladoga and Onega flotillas, and aviation units long range. The capture of Leningrad and the capture of the Baltic Sea coast was considered as the most important goal the offensive of the Wehrmacht, which was enshrined in the Barbarossa plan. In total, the German group consisted of 42 divisions (about 725 thousand soldiers and officers, more than 13 thousand guns and mortars, at least 1,500 tanks). Finland also took part in the war: 21 divisions and 3 brigades were deployed (more than 325 thousand people, about 4 thousand guns and mortars of all calibers). They were supported by the Luftwaffe's 5th Air Fleet (240 aircraft) and the Finnish Air Force (307 aircraft).

On July 4, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command (I. Stalin) decided to involve troops in the defense of the southwestern approaches to Leningrad Northern Front(former Leningrad Military District). The front commander, Lieutenant General M. Popov, was given the task of occupying the Luga lines with troops and preventing the enemy from breaking through from this direction. The task of the front (21 divisions and brigades) included the defense of the Karelian Isthmus, Petrozavodsk, Kandalaksha, and Murmansk. The length of the front was 1275 km.

On July 10, the Main Command of the North-Western Direction was formed (Marshal K. Voroshilov), to which the troops of the Northern and North-Western Fronts, the Baltic and Northern Fleet. On this day, German and Finnish troops went on the offensive on the southwestern and northern approaches to Leningrad. Almost simultaneously, the enemy launched strikes in the Luga, Novgorod and Staraya Russian directions, in Estonia, in the Petrozavodsk and Olonets directions. On August 29, the High Command of the Northwestern Direction was abolished, and Marshal Voroshilov took command of the Leningrad Front on September 5. Having captured the Mga station, the enemy cut the last railway connecting the city on the Neva with the country. Shlisselburg (Petrokrepost) fell. On September 8, near Lake Ladoga, German troops closed the blockade ring around Leningrad. Two days after this, Army General G. Zhukov took command of the Leningrad Front. He took measures to mobilize forces to repel the formations of Army Group North. On September 25, for the first time in World War II, the largest group of German troops was stopped. Army Group North went on the defensive. This was a failure of the "blitzkrieg" strategy.

On the distant and near approaches to Leningrad, our troops lost almost 345 thousand people (214 thousand were irretrievable losses). During the battle, about 150 thousand shells were fired at the city, over 100 thousand incendiary and about 5 thousand high-explosive bombs were dropped, 16,467 people were killed and 33,782 were wounded. More than a million people died of starvation. The troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts in January - April 1942 fought fierce battles in the Lyuban and in August - October - in the Sinyavinsk directions in order to break the blockade, but did not achieve success.. On December 8, 1942, the Supreme Command Headquarters, by a special directive, determined the tasks of the Leningrad troops (General Lieutenant L. Govorov) and Volkhov (Army General K. Meretskov) fronts to break the blockade of Leningrad. The idea of Operation Iskra: with counter strikes from two fronts - Leningrad from the west and Volkhov from the east, with the support of the Baltic Fleet and the Ladoga Flotilla, defeat the enemy troops defending the Shlisselburg-Sinyavinsky ledge, which separated the troops of the two fronts.

On January 12, 1943, after powerful artillery preparation, the 67th (Major General M. Dukhanov) and 2nd Shock (Lieutenant General V. Romanovsky) armies rushed towards each other and already on the first day broke through the main German defense line between Shlisselburg and Sinyavin. On January 18, the troops of the fronts united, clearing the enemy from a corridor 8-11 km wide between Lake Ladoga and the front line, through which the railroad (“Victory Road”) was built. Breaking the blockade was a turning point in the battle for Leningrad. The final defeat of German troops near Leningrad and the complete lifting of the blockade occurred in January 1944. Forces of the troops of the 2nd shock, 42nd and 67th armies of the Leningrad Front, 8th, 54th and 59th armies of the Volkhov Front, 1st shock and 22nd armies of the 2nd Baltic Front (Army General M. Popov) in collaboration with Baltic Fleet, the Ladoga and Onega military flotillas carried out the Leningrad-Novgorod operation, in which long-range aviation was involved (air marshal A. Golovanov). Soviet troops on three fronts outnumbered the enemy in number of troops by 1.7 times, the number of guns and mortars by 2, tanks and self-propelled artillery by 4.1, and combat aircraft by 3.7. The final operation of the battle for Leningrad was carried out in the summer of 1944 by troops of the left wing of the Leningrad and left wing of the Karelian fronts (Army General K. Meretskov) with the assistance of the forces of the Baltic Front, Ladoga and Onega military flotillas. Soviet troops were defeated Finnish army, which predetermined Finland’s exit from the war, liberated the northern regions of the Leningrad region and the territory of the Karelo-Finnish Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

The Allied forces lost a huge number of people, mortal wound received by the chief military adviser to Alexander I, Marshal Moreau, the Russian autocrat himself almost died. Napoleon did not allow the enemy to capture the key city of Dresden, but at the same time failed to build on the success of the Dresden operation. He found himself shackled by an illness that struck him at the most crucial moments, and could not quickly respond to the situation. " My chess game is confused"“, he said, referring to the defeats of his marshals, acting alone. Oudinot was unable to take Berlin, Vandamm lost the battle of Kulm.

But after Dresden, the Corsican had a real chance of defeating the allied Prussian-Austrian-Russian army and capturing the Prussian king and the Russian emperor. Even before entering Dresden, Napoleon sent General Dominique Vandamme's 35,000-strong army to cut off one of the three ways retreat through the Ore Mountains to Bohemia, the French captured the other two roads even earlier. The allied army could be trapped in the narrow throat of the mountain road and be crushed.

Vandam, having exaggerated information about the enemy's strength, was in no hurry to take decisive action. Based on the data provided by Russian prisoners of war, he believed that the Allied army numbered 70 thousand people, while under the command of Lieutenant General Alexander Ivanovich Osterman-Tolstoy there were 17 thousand people: 1st Guards Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Alexei Ermolov and the Life Guards Hussar Regiment.

Napoleon, through messengers, called on Vandamme to take more active action. “His Majesty desires that you, with all your forces, attack the Prince of Wirtemberg and enter Bohemia through Peterswalde,”- he sent such a dispatch to the general on August 16 (28). Already on this day, small but fierce skirmishes took place between the advanced detachments of opponents. Prince Eugene of Württemberg rightly believed that the Russians should also occupy Peterswalde; Osterman-Tolstoy agreed with his arguments. A false attack by Prince Eugene and Ermolov distracted the French and allowed a 16,000-strong detachment to approach Peterswalde, but the very next day, August 17 (29), from the very early morning, Vandam attempted to dislodge the Russians from an important position that covered the rear of the retreating Allied army.

In these very hours, when the French were trying to crush the Russian defense, Osterman received a note from the Prussian king Frederick William III with a request to save Alexander I and the entire army. The positions were moved to the village of Pristen (there was a rearguard at Kulm), the French forces outnumbered the Russian forces by approximately 2 times, but the brave guards repelled all attacks. Even non-combatants took part in the battle; when the battle became critical, clerks, drummers and musicians took up guns. By five in the evening, help from the main army arrived at Osterman’s detachment, who immediately formed ranks.

George Dow. Portrait of Count A. I. Osterman-Tolstoy, 1825

The historian Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky will rightly note that success in this battle depended not on the size of the army, but on its moral state. The commanders showed examples of the rarest courage to the soldiers, so a cannonball fragment practically cut off Osterman’s left hand, but right on the battlefield, encouraging the doctor, he ordered it to be cut off completely. Later he will say: “Being wounded for the Fatherland is very pleasant, and as for my left hand, I still have my right hand, which I need for the sign of the cross, a sign of faith in God, in Whom I place all my hope.”

On this day, the guards of the Semenovsky regiment even launched a counterattack and recaptured the guns captured by the French. In the evening and at night, part of the main forces approached Kulm, the next day, together with the 35,000-strong Prussian corps of General Kleist, which followed Ostermann’s detachment, and thus ended up in the rear of the French, the allied army struck Vandam at 11 am with three sides. After a 2-hour battle, the enemy capitulated. 12 thousand people surrendered, including the wounded General Vandam. The French lost 5 thousand killed, losses allied forces amounted to about 10 thousand people. 6 thousand Russian soldiers were killed on the battlefield in Kulm.

The participants in the battle received generous rewards; Alexander I, who watched its progress on the second day, will subsequently remember it with great pleasure. This battle, along with the Battle of Katzbach, allowed the Allies to achieve a turning point in the 1813 campaign and maintain the existing coalition. There will be a famous battle of nations ahead.

A hundred years ago, not far from the coast of Denmark, the Battle of Jutland took place - the last naval battle of the “old world”, in which gentlemanliness was combined with thousands of dead, and mass heroism with sad hopelessness.

The Jutland naval battle on June 1, 1916 took place off the coast of Denmark, the British fought against the Germans, and the result of the battle did not turn the tide of the First World War (of which it was a part) in anyone’s favor. But in terms of its significance, this is one of the most unique not only naval, but generally any battles in the history of mankind. The two-day battle between giant iron monsters included ingenious decisions, the most absurd accidents and amazing heroism. But the main thing is that it became the crown and at the same time a dead end in the development of artillery ships, the end of their centuries-long evolution.
The First World War, in which the Battle of Jutland took place, is itself “the last war of the old world.” On the one hand, she was the same age as the start technical revolution, absorbed into herself (and initiated) Newest technologies that time. In 4 years, everything changed - cavalry and empires entered the war, and tanks, planes and “ new world" On the other hand, this was the last large-scale war in which the armies sought to win, but not destroy each other to the last man, and did not carry the ideology of “enslaving subhumans.”

And if the First World War itself was special, then the First World War at sea was doubly special. Sailors have always considered themselves a unique caste; this tradition has developed over many centuries. If the ground armies had already used chemical weapons, then at sea the opponents still tried to emphasize their “gentlemanly attitude” (if possible, of course) towards each other. They respected the enemy even while pointing guns at him.
At the same time, uniqueness naval war is its complexity and extreme high cost. Naval officers and sailors undergo long and complex training, their skills are very specific, and it is simply impossible to replace them with newly mobilized people who have completed a crash course. Warships, on the other hand, cost crazy amounts of money, took several years to build, putting a serious strain on the entire state economy, and required a gigantic and complex infrastructure. As a result, the fleets, along with coal, devoured the budgets of the warring countries. But it was impossible to do without them - sea routes communications were the “trade arteries” of countries; their blocking by the enemy during the war was equivalent to a death sentence. This was especially important for island England and Germany, sandwiched in the center of Europe by land fronts.

Great Britain would not have become a powerful empire (and indeed might not have been able to defend itself) without having a large and strong fleet. In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century, she was one of the “trendsetters” in warships, did not spare money and effort on them, and was naturally famous for the most powerful power at sea. That part of the British Navy that operated near Britain itself was immodestly (but absolutely to the point) called the “Grand Fleet,” that is, the “Great Fleet.”

Preparing for war, the Kaiser's Germany understood the main trump cards of future opponents. With the most serious efforts of the economy and industry, the country was able to build the "Hochseeflotte" (Fleet open sea), which was almost equal in power to English. Two heavyweight boxers, who had trained for a long time before the fight with each other, sat in their corners and began to wait for the whistle.

However, a paradoxical situation has developed. The fleets that were preparing for the fight became too powerful for it, so they carefully avoided it. The risk that in one single engagement the fleet will suffer too much big losses, was extremely large. It won’t be possible to restore it quickly (even in times of peace this would have required staggering costs), but even without it it’s really bad. Everything was so serious that the Chancellor generally prohibited large ships from going to sea without his personal approval. Continuing the boxing analogy, we can say that the heavyweights walked cautiously in circles, hoping for gross mistake enemy. A single blow could be the last. This is due to the fact that neither Germany nor England during the first two years of the war came to an open battle of the main naval forces.
Meanwhile on the shore

But the hour "X" came in 1916. Starting the war, Germany hoped to quickly win the campaign on land, then the fleet would play the role of a “counterweight”, simply paralyzing the British Navy with its presence. The plan didn't work. The war dragged on, and it became clear that if there was no turning point, the one with more resources would win. And, of course, we are not talking about Germany and Austria-Hungary, surrounded on the continent by a ring of enemies. The resources of Berlin and Vienna were quickly depleted. In an attempt to achieve decisive success, the Germans launched a powerful offensive in France, but were stuck in a months-long “meat grinder at Verdun.” Meanwhile, British ships, not approaching the German shores, blocked the exit from North Sea- deliveries in this direction to Germany were disrupted. The British deliberately played “attrition” - the Germans faced an urgent need to solve the problem of supplying the country by sea. The only way to “solve the issue” was with the help of the High Seas Fleet. On the night of May 31, he went to sea.

Comparing the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the fleets before the Battle of Jutland, experts gave the overall advantage to the British ships. The Germans were in conditions where the only way to victory was to inflict much more damage on the British than their own losses. Therefore, in fact, the only chance for the German fleet was to defeat the Grand Fleet piece by piece.

The First World War fleet is a gigantic complex system consisting of ships of various classes. At the top of it all are the huge dreadnought battleships, armed with powerful long-range artillery. “Steps below” in descending order - battle cruisers, then fast light cruisers - their task was primarily reconnaissance and attack on weak (for example, merchant) enemy ships. And the smallest destroyer ships were intended for massive torpedo attacks, often at night or aimed at finishing off already damaged enemy ships. The outcome of the battle depended on direct combat between the dreadnoughts.
The German tactics were simple, but logical and justified. They were supposed to lure part of the English forces into a trap with the help of a feigned retreat. It was planned that a squadron of battlecruisers would approach the shores of Britain and bombard coastal cities. In turn, English battlecruisers, accompanied by several battleships (to ensure a numerical superiority), will come out to intercept. Then the Germans had to go to in the right direction, thus leading the English pursuit to the entire Hochseeflotte, which was on guard at sea.

The effect of surprise was not achieved. Thanks to radio interceptions and observations of German activity, the British realized that the enemy was planning a major operation. The Grand Fleet prepared to go to sea. The Germans were unable to conduct detailed reconnaissance. They hoped to do this using airships, but the weather did not allow them to be used effectively. As a result, having already gone to sea, the German sailors did not know that there would be no resistance to them. separate detachment, and all the main forces of the British.

German fleet under the command of Admiral Reinhard Scheer headed for the Skagerrak Strait (between Denmark and Norway). The British under the command of Admiral John Jellicoe went there to intercept. The British had numerical and technical superiority. They put 149 ships of all types into the sea versus 99 from the Germans. But the main superiority is in dreadnoughts. The Germans could counter the 28 English battleships with only 16.

Two huge flotillas met on May 31 off the coast of the Jutland Peninsula. First, formations of high-speed reconnaissance units discovered each other (contact at that time was only visual). At about 14:00, a British light cruiser opened fire on a spotted German destroyer. Thus sounded the first salvos of the largest naval battle in history.

In the first phase of the battle, battle cruisers fought with each other. It was a competition in speed and accuracy of fire - two squadrons, each stretched out in a line, moved in parallel and fired at each other. The British were the first to suffer significant losses. After several accurate hits from German shells, two British battle cruisers exploded within half an hour and instantly sank. The German ships also received a large amount of damage, but remained on the move. They began to retreat to their battleships. Soon the English cruisers pursuing them discovered the formation of German dreadnoughts and, in turn, decided to retreat. The long phase of the battle consisted of periodic battles between cruisers and destroyers, but the most important task was maneuvering - now the British were luring the Hochseeflotte onto their dreadnoughts. The British lost another cruiser and several destroyers, but then the German battleships pursuing them entered the formation of the English dreadnoughts. To the same “Grand Fleet”, the Germans had not previously known about the departure to sea of almost its entire complement. The long-awaited “Day X” came unexpectedly for many German sailors.

Scheer ordered a retreat, as his ships found themselves in a difficult situation. They were able to get out of the battle by superbly performing a complex maneuver. Formation for artillery ships is of absolute importance; acting at odds, they are vulnerable. Under fire from the British, the Hochseeflotte was able to turn around without breaking the formation. The British responded in kind to the training of the sailors and the talent of the German officers. After a series of maneuvers, the squadrons came together again - and again to fire furiously at each other. The Germans once again found themselves in a difficult situation. It was decided to leave in order to save the dreadnoughts. Battlecruisers and destroyers were supposed to detain the enemy, even if this had to be done at the cost of death. The goal was achieved - the cruisers received heavy damage, but the battleships Hochseeflotee managed to escape. German ships were looking for an opportunity to escape to their bases. The British tried their best to prevent this.

The night phase of the battle consisted of maneuvers, when the British battleships almost groped to find the Hochseeflotte. The night was moonless, at some point the German dreadnoughts passed in close proximity to the Grand Fleet. The smaller ships suffered losses in skirmishes with each other, but the German battleships were able to escape from the British. Pursuing the Germans off their coasts was deadly - the coastal waters were mined and only the Germans knew safe passages in the minefields. The Grand Fleet, which had failed to destroy the German battleships, turned around and headed for its bases. The German ships reached their anchorages.

Formally, Germany could be considered the winning side after the battle, since the British losses were almost twice as large. The Grand Fleet lost 6 cruisers (three of which were powerful battlecruisers) and 8 smaller ships. The Germans lost 9 ships, one of which was battle cruiser. The main heavyweights - the dreadnoughts of both fleets - returned to their bases in full force, despite the fact that they twice engaged each other.

However, the strategic victory went to Great Britain. The High Seas Fleet was unable to inflict significant damage on the British battleships and, therefore, was unable to break the naval blockade.

Hell, heroism, absurdity

Heroism, fortitude and genius were combined in this battle with absurdity, chance and luck. Let's list just a few facts from this story.

The German and English fleets might never have met if it had not been for the small Danish steamer between them. Both the Germans and the British sent small ships to reconnoiter what kind of ship it was in the distance, not far from it and saw each other.

Due to the difficulty in identifying enemy ships and determining the direction of their movement, fleets many times practically circled in the same area, believing that they had outwitted the enemy.

By mistake, in the initial stage of the battle, the British did not fire at all at the powerful German ship Derflinger, which in turn fired on and sank the powerful English cruiser"Queen Mary".

On the first day of the battle the group British destroyers in the midst of the battle and in the smoke, she did not see the signal given with the command to return, attacked the German formation and suffered heavy losses.

At night, one of the British cruisers, using a signal searchlight, asked the other for “call signs for today,” since its book with codes had been destroyed. The second cruiser answered her comrades in arms - in the darkness, these signals were observed and carefully recorded by German sailors.

The British intercepted many radio messages from German ships, thanks to which they often understood the enemy's intentions. One of the few messages, almost directly speaking about the course the Germans would take, could not be intercepted.

German cruiser"Seydlitz" was returning from battle with huge holes - in the flooded cold water On the ship, the sailors pumped water non-stop. Twice they ran their cruiser aground so that it would not sink completely, pumped out the water and went to the shore again. This went on for 57 hours. The team finally brought their half-submerged ship to the base.

Until the end of the war, the Germans no longer attempted a sea breakthrough - they began to widely use submarines. The blockade, draining German industry, lasted until Germany surrendered.

The battle marked the end of the evolution of gunships. Submarines were already being developed, which made it possible to disrupt maritime trade in a much cheaper way for the country. Although the sailors of the “old school” believed submarine warfare"ungentlemanly and vile." The very next war made it clear that submarines and aircraft carriers would rule the seas.
The Grand Fleet was disbanded after the war; the remaining ships in service became part of Britain's Atlantic Fleet. This clearly showed how the military vector had changed - England was no longer expecting an attack from Europe.

The Hochseeflotte remained in Germany until the very end of the war. Scheer's attempt to lead him into an almost suicidal attack in 1918 led to the Kiel Uprising and the overthrow of the monarchy in Germany. After the defeat, the British brought the now captured and disarmed High Seas Fleet to their base. The German sailors left on it managed to secretly agree and, under the noses of the British, sink 52 of their 74 ships. The Hochseeflotte ended its heroic journey at the bottom of the enemy’s main base.