Stirlitz’s name is well known to everyone. Who is he? Is this a fictional character or a real person? When did he live? Why are they talking about him now? You will find answers to these questions in the article.
The most famous Soviet intelligence
So who is Stirlitz? This is the most famous Soviet intelligence agent. Any representative of the older generation in the CIS without hesitation will answer that this is a famous character in the novels of Julian Semenov. An experienced and inveterate spy from "17 Moments of Spring", talented in a movie by Vyacheslav Tikhonov. Expressions from this legendary film have long become winged and known to almost everyone. And there are many jokes about the famous SS Standartenfuhrer.
Max Otto von Stirlitz, also known as Maxim Maximovich Isaev, is found in more than one work by Semenov. Gradually, their origin, interests and how the young Vsevolod Vladimirovich Vladimirov first becomes Maxim Isaev, and then Stirlitz, are revealed in them.
Spy biography
The parents of an outstanding intelligence officer met in Transbaikalia, where they were exiled for their political views. Vsevolod was born on October 8, 1900. After 5 years, his mother was unable to cope with consumption and died.
The term of his father’s exile ended, and he and his son went to St. Petersburg. Some time later, they successfully emigrated to Switzerland and returned to Russia only in 1917.
The young intelligence officer begins working under the pseudonym Isaev already in 1920. During this period, he acts as an employee of the press service of Admiral Kolchak. A year later, Vladimirov works as deputy head of the foreign department of the Cheka. Then, in 1921, he was sent to Estonia.
The underground activity of the young Chekist is rapidly gaining momentum, in 1922, rooted in the White Guard troops, he ends up in Manchuria. For the next 30 years, he has been collecting intelligence for the good of the motherland far beyond its borders.
The appearance of Stirlitz
Who is Stirlitz? This is the same young intelligence officer Maxim Isaev. In 1927, he was thrown from Europe to troubled Germany, where the Nazi party was gaining strength. It was then that the representative of the German aristocracy Max Otto von Stirlitz appeared.
During the Second World War, Colonel Isaev works in the General Directorate of Imperial Security. For his numerous and undeniable services to the Fatherland, Vsevolod Vladimirov received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. But despite this, in 1947 Stirlitz ends up in a Soviet prison, where he leads his own game.
Personal life
Unlike his literary and film colleagues in the workshop, Stirlitz is extremely cold and indifferent to the opposite sex. This is not explained by the insensibility and callousness of the scout, but by the fact that there is no free space in his heart. The spy carried his love for Alexander Nikolaevna Gavrilina, who remained at home, through her whole life. Despite a long separation, this woman answered him in the same way and even gave birth to a child from him in 1923, which Maxim Maximovich only found out about in 1941.
Unfortunately, Julian Semenov did not foresee a happy family life for his hero, on the orders of Stalin, Shtirlitsa ’s wife and son will be shot in 1947.
To know everything about Stirlitz, you will have to familiarize yourself with 14 novels about this hero.
The character, interests and passions of Stirlitz
How did Stirlitz's youth go? What was he really like? While with his father in Berne during emigration, young Vsevolod moonlighted in the newspaper. Largely due to this, the future spy gained interest and love for literature.
Vladimirov has all the qualities needed by a scout. He is smart, calculating and cold-blooded. Able to quickly analyze, evaluate and navigate in any situation.
Vsevolod would never have turned into Maxim Isaev, and even more so Shtirlitsa, had he not been a good actor and psychologist. These skills helped him to integrate into any enemy team so skillfully and create the appearance of good relations with forced colleagues.
From alcoholic beverages, Stirlitz prefers noble cognac. Although sometimes he can afford a mug of cold light beer.
Stirlitz prototypes
There are many assumptions who could be the prototype of this famous scout throughout the post-Soviet space. One can only guess whose features Semyonov endowed with his hero.
What did Stirlitz look like? Photos of the prototypes of this person you see in the article. So saw his creator of the image. It is known for certain that the author found inspiration by scrupulously studying the archives of special services. Behind each Stirlitz story are real events and people. Those whose names were hidden by pseudonyms and spy legends, and declassified only after many years.
The author himself admitted that his character incorporated the qualities of several scouts. This collective image reflects the characters of many hidden anti-fascists.
Of course, the literary hero was not without artistic exaggeration. For example, Stirlitz is characterized not just as a good tennis player, but as the champion of Berlin in this sport. In real life, combining hard work in intelligence with constant training and competition would hardly have succeeded.
Who is Stirlitz? The film "17 Moments of Spring"
The famous film by Tatyana Lioznova, which has become legendary in more than 40 years. The premiere of this cult picture was watched by 200 million people.
Today it is simply impossible to imagine Stirlitz performed by another actor. But there were also candidates besides Tikhonov, who, in general, turned out to be involved in the film by accident.
Archil Gomiashvili auditioned for this role, but he did not fit in any parameters presented by Julian Semenov. And Oleg Strizhenov could not leave his native theater for such a long time (filming lasted 3 years).
Before the tests, Vyacheslav Tikhonov was made up, having awarded a magnificent mustache. Such an external image of the scout plunged him into shock. But after some improvements and the actor’s readiness to completely devote himself to this film, in the absence of other work, it was he who was approved for the role.
Screen Maxim Isaev brought the actor, in addition to popular recognition, fame and love of women, also an order.
Tikhonov harmoniously supplemented the picture not only with his play, but also offered the director a scene with his wife, who initially did not exist in the script. This was prompted by the story of a friend about a meeting of his colleagues from the special services with their wives during their work abroad.
Some inconsistencies and facts.
Stirlitz is a person who is entranced with secrets and riddles. Here are some inconsistencies and facts that are perplexing:
- In reality, a surname like that of an illustrious scout does not exist. Although there is a similar sound Stieglitz. In addition, there was a real historical character, the vice admiral of the German fleet, Ernst Stieglitz.
- Despite his outstanding espionage skills, Maxim Isaev could hardly have infiltrated such high ranks. The Nazis too meticulously checked SS officers. He would have to take the place of an existing German with an impeccable reputation for several generations, and not just provide real documents.
- Even colleagues with a lower rank do not use the prefix "von" when contacting Stirlitz. This is allowed, but in those years it was still a rarity. Moreover, according to legend, Stirlitz has a noble origin.
- In all divisions of the NSDAP, smoking was under the strictest ban. Police officers were not allowed to smoke during working hours. Isaev easily breaks this rule.
- The beer house, in which the scout liked to spend time, - "Gruff Gottlieb" is actually the restaurant "Last resort" in Berlin.
- And the restaurant favorite by the hero, where Stirlitz meets with his wife, is not located in Germany at all, but in the Czech Republic.
Who is Stirlitz? This is a mystery man, about whom it is difficult to say something unambiguously. Whether this person really lived or not, it’s difficult to answer. Everyone has their own opinion on this matter. But in any case, the image is quite interesting. Is not it?