It is well known that Stalin possessed such a noble rank (title) of generalissimo. However, have you ever asked yourself how did it become one? Everyone probably thinks that a self-righteous dictator has promoted himself. In fact, things were a bit more complicated.
The whole story began on June 24, 1945, when the great victory parade took place on Red Square. Two hundred veterans threw Nazi banners at the feet of the father of the Soviet people. It was without doubt the greatest moment of his life. After the parade was over, a ceremonial banquet was held, during which one of the marshals - most likely Konev - suggested that Stalin should be given the highest possible rank:generalissimo.
Generalissimo "involuntarily"
How did the dictator react? Completely different than we would expect. He just waved his hand dismissively and said that he was approaching seventy and was already tired.
The idea of giving Stalin the title of generalissimo was born on June 24, 1945 at a banquet after a great parade in part of the victory over the Third Reich.
The courtiers of the "Red Tsar" had no intention of giving up so easily. Konev argued that Stalin must distinguish himself from among his marshals. It was not a completely original idea, it suffices to recall that Suvorov was also a generalissimo. By the way, he was to be awarded both the Order of Victory and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Stalin, seemingly offended, stated that he had sufficient authority even without it, and that joining the group of people such as Franco or Chiang Kai-shek (also generalissimo) did not suit him at all. Undeterred by this, Lazar Kaganovich - the "inventor" of Stalinism - went even further, proposing to rename Moscow as Stalinodar .
If the accounts are to be believed, Stalin did not like him at all. But maybe it was just mock modesty?
It was too much. The pragmatic twentieth-century satrap cut the discussion off with a sacramental question: what do I need this for?
Often, however, in life, what we say does not necessarily coincide with what we think. This was the assumption made by Malenkov and Beria, who went to Kalinin (Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR) to have him sign the relevant decree. Three days later (June 27), Pravda announced the new title and decorations of Stalin.
The newly appointed generalissimo was furious . He called for Molotov, Malenkov, Beria, Zhdanov and Kalinin to "rug". He categorically refused to accept the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union, arguing that he did not command the regiments in the field, so he did not deserve it. However, he did not mention the title of generalissimo, so the courtiers sensed his master's intentions well.
The new garments of the generalissimo
Now there is a problem, what should the generalissimo uniform look like? It had to be unique. Especially that Stalin should somehow distinguish himself from the marshals' decorations decorated like Christmas trees.
A tailor sewing for the Kremlin elite, Abram Lerner, created an outfit just perfect for… Göring. The uniform was gold-plated and additionally had a golden cap which clearly disliked the leader of the Soviet Union, who demanded something more modest.
Maybe the "Red Tsar" thought the generalissimo uniform was kitschy, but he did not hesitate to wear it at the Potsdam Conference.
Finally, he agreed to a white jacket with gold buttons and a high collar, and black pants with red stripes. Simon S. Montefiore in his excellent book, Stalin. The Court of the Red Tsar ", stated that he looked like a bandmaster, if not a Park Avenue porter .
Besides, the interested person must have had a similar opinion, because after inserting it, he supposedly said to Molotov: Why did I agree? It is in this uniform that we can see smiling Stalin posing for a photo with Harry Truman and Clement Attlee at the Potsdam conference.
There were more problems with handing him the Golden Star of the Hero of the Soviet Union. Many tricks were resorted to, even attempts were made to take Stalin by surprise as he rested among his beloved roses and lemon trees.
The difficult task was placed on Orłowo - commander of Kuntsev (Stalin's dacha near Moscow). Once, when the dictator was working in the garden and asked Orlov for the secateurs, he handed it to him, but he was holding the decoration behind his back, wondering what to do with it. Curious, Stalin asked him what was hiding there? Orlov reluctantly showed him the star.
The leader of the Soviet Union expressed his thoughts about all this in a few blunt words and ordered that the trinket be sent back to those who invented this nonsense . Finally, it was only in 1950 that he agreed to accept the decoration, which he never wore.
Source:
Trivia is the essence of our website. Short materials devoted to interesting anecdotes, surprising details from the past, strange news from the old press. Reading that will take you no more than 3 minutes, based on single sources. This particular material is based on:
- Simon S. Montefiore, Stalin. The Court of the Red Tsar , Warsaw 2010.