Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich is one of the most famous heroes of World War II. His strategic and tactical decisions played an important role in the victory over Nazi Germany.
Mikhail Stepanovich devoted his whole life to military affairs; he went through five wars, in each of which he distinguished himself by personal courage and ingenuity. Until now, he is being put as an example to the younger generation.
Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich: a brief biography
The personality of Shumilov has been of interest to military historians of different countries for many years. Information about it can be found in any language. Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich was born on the fifth of November 1895. He grew up in a family of ordinary peasants. From an early age he worked and helped adults in everyday affairs. He also devoted a lot of time to studying. In a rural school, he was an excellent student. Thanks to this, after graduation he received a state scholarship, which allowed him to continue his studies for free.
At the age of 21, Shumilov was mobilized to participate in the First World War. He is studying in Chuguev. After graduation, he receives the rank of ensign. And in the spring of next year, there is a baptism of fire on the Western Front. Battles unfold in difficult conditions. Command often makes decisions that are not consistent with neighboring units.
Due to poor industrialization, soldiers lack shells and even uniforms. And letters come from the rear in which relatives describe poverty and misery.
Revolutionary activity
News from home and the state of affairs at the front instill in the young officer hatred of the existing regime of inequality and social oppression. Upon returning to his homeland, Mikhail Shumilov volunteered for the Red Guard. The Civil War begins. Mikhail joins the Bolsheviks and joins the Russian Communist Party. After that, he goes east to fight with the White Guard units. Also takes part in battles against foreign invaders. For the year of the war, he was promoted to the rank of brigade commander. His fighters take part in the famous assault on Perekop when he was held by Wrangel’s troops.
Post-war activities
After winning the war, Mikhail Shumilov decides to pursue a career and attends courses of the highest command and political staff. He reads and studies tactics of warfare a lot. He works at headquarters. He contributed to the development and improvement of the Red Army in accordance with the standards of that time. Chief of Staff since the twenty-ninth year. Then he is transferred to the headquarters of the Central South Zone Group of Forces. At this time, a civil war erupted in Spain. Communist rebels fight for power against the fascist minions of General Franco. Mikhail Shumilov goes there to help the Spanish volunteers.
New wars
Upon returning from Spain, Shumilov was appointed corps commander in Belarus. In the spring of the thirty-ninth, he participated in the Polish campaign of the Red Army, when Soviet units occupied the territory of modern Western Belarus and Ukraine. There were practically no military operations during this operation, however, it was rather difficult for the commanders to maneuver, being several hours away from the Wehrmacht troops.
In the same year, another conflict begins. In an effort to push their borders and secure the north of the country, Soviet troops enter the war with Finland.
The fighting takes place in the most difficult conditions of the northern winter and the lack of ammunition and food. Mikhail Shumilov went through almost the entire Winter War.
The beginning of World War II
The beginning of a new war on the territory of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Shumilov met in the Baltic states. The Wehrmacht's iron fist struck the north of the USSR with all its might. The Shumilov corps fought heavy defensive battles near Riga. Despite the plight of the Red Army on all fronts, he even managed to launch a counterattack on the German tank group in the Šiauliai region. But because of the superiority of the enemy had to retreat. In mid-summer, the forty-first, the Germans managed to close the encirclement around the grouping of Soviet troops, including the Shumilov corps. Under heavy fire, his fighters broke through the ring and took up defensive positions at Narva Highway.
The retreat of the Soviet troops
After the Baltic states, Mikhail Stepanovich is appointed to the post of deputy army commander in the Leningrad region. But then he is recalled to the capital. From there they are sent to the problem area of the South-Western Front, where the Red Army is engaged in bloody battles near the Don River. At the end of summer, the forty-second army of Shumilov had to restrain one of the most powerful German attacks under the command of General Goth in the region of Stalingrad.
The soldiers of the 64th Army made a huge contribution to the Battle of Stalingrad. Interrogate the captured General Paulus entrusted to their commander. It was Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich. The awards he received for the battle of Stalingrad, he valued most. And his army received the honorary title "Guards."
In the forty-third year, the Red Army goes on the offensive. Shumilov’s fighters take part in the battle of Kursk - the largest tank battle in the history of mankind.
After the victory in it, the Nazis crowded, freeing the territory of the USSR. A new frontier of Nazi defense runs along the Dnieper River. In some areas, the distance between the two banks reaches several kilometers. Under continuous fire, Soviet units force the river and liberate the capital of the Ukrainian SSR - Kiev. For skillful actions during this operation, Shumilov is awarded the highest state award - the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
Offensive
After that, the seventh guard army is sent under Kirovograd. In early January, the Second Ukrainian Front goes on the offensive towards the Southern Bug River. Under the command of Marshal Konev, more than half a million people gathered. As a result of the successful operations of the Red Army, five German divisions were defeated, which lost more than half of the personnel. The liberation of Kirovograd made it possible to develop the Dnieper-Carpathian strategic offensive operation.
Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich - Commander of the 64th Army, Hero of the Soviet Union - acted along with another famous general - Zhdanov. Georgy Zhukov himself noted their skill.
After the war, Shumilov continued his military career and served in various positions in the USSR Ministry of Security. He lived in the capital. His son Igor worked as a designer, was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor.
On June 28, 1975, Shumilov Mikhail Stepanovich died in Moscow. A photo of a veteran of the five wars was printed in almost all Soviet newspapers.