If Marshal I. S. Konev was called a "genius of surprise" by his colleagues, and Marshal L. A. Govorov was known as a master of artillery offensive, then Kirill Afanasyevich Meretskov was respectfully called "marshal of the northern directions". Svir and Volkhov. Sinyavino and Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Kirkenes-these geographical names have forever entered the military history of the Fatherland thanks to the victories of its fronts. It was here that the marshal experienced the moments of the supreme triumph of the winner. However, he was the only commander to receive the Order of Victory for his skill in commanding troops during the war with Japan. By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Meretskov had already fought his share of battles. Few people had such a remarkable experience. After returning from Spain with the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner, he was immediately appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army. He later commanded the troops of the Volga and Leningrad Military Districts. During the Finnish War of 1939-1940, Meretskov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, promoted to the rank of General of the Army, and eventually became the Chief of the General Staff. And then his fate took a turn that would haunt him for the rest of his life: just ten days after the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Army General was arrested on a false charge of participating in a "military-fascist conspiracy." As Meretskov later recalled, he was "beat up" in the NKVD's dungeons to the point where he "felt like I was losing my mind." According to some reports, he was saved only by the intercession of the former People's Commissar of Defense, Marshal S.K. Timoshenko, before the Supreme Commander. Since the Soviet-Finnish War, Meretskov had been known as a master of offensive operations in wooded and swampy terrain. This was the reason for his selection as commander of the Northern Front. From December 1941 to February 1944, he ... Read more