Military officer.
The most controversial Soviet military leader. He was a war hero of the Civil War, a great theorist and reformer of the Red Army. His conflict with Stalin resulted in his prosecution and death sentence on fabricated charges.
Background
Lived: 1893-1937.
Tukhachevsky was born in an aristocratic family. He received an excellent military education in finest military schools.
He was imprisoned by the Germans in World War I, but he escaped. Mikhail then joined the Bolsheviks and made career in the Red Army.
Russian Ciliv War
In the Civil War Tuchachevsky was entrusted the Fifth Army to defend Moscow. He then recaptured Siberia from Admiral Kolchak and helped defeat Anton Denikin in 1920.
In the Polish-Soviet war of 1920 Tuchachevsky had a conflict with Stalin over the invasion of Warshaw. Both of them accused the other of preventive activity. In 1921, Tukhachevsky helped put down the Kronstadt Rebellion of sailors and the Tambov Rebellion (1920-21) of peasants, where he used extremely cold-blooded measures, like poison gas, against civilians.
Red Army reform
Tukhachevsky was a great reformer and tactical theorist. In his “Future War” (1928) Tukhachevsky introduced his theory of deep battle concept. That formed the military basis of the Red Army strategy. He advocated the use of tanks in combination with air force and took interest in chemical weapons. In 1935 he was elevated Field Marshal.
Purge Trial 1937
Stalin ordered Tukhachevsky to be arrested in 1937. His interrogation and torture was personally overlooked by Yezhov. Stalin expected him to confess to be a German spy who plotted to kill the members of the Politburo. He confessed. Even his interrogation report in the archives today is covered with drips of blood. Tukhachevsky was convicted and shot together with six other highest Red Army commanders on rediculous charges.
Personal
Tukhachevsky was a friend of Shostakovich and occasionally played violin.
Mikhail Tukhachevsky
Military officer.
The most controversial Soviet military leader. He was a war hero of the Civil War, a great theorist and reformer of the Red Army. His conflict with Stalin resulted in his prosecution and death sentence on fabricated charges.
Background
Lived: 1893-1937.
Tukhachevsky was born in an aristocratic family. He received an excellent military education in finest military schools.
He was imprisoned by the Germans in World War I, but he escaped. Mikhail then joined the Bolsheviks and made career in the Red Army.
Russian Ciliv War
In the Civil War Tuchachevsky was entrusted the Fifth Army to defend Moscow. He then recaptured Siberia from Admiral Kolchak and helped defeat Anton Denikin in 1920.
In the Polish-Soviet war of 1920 Tuchachevsky had a conflict with Stalin over the invasion of Warshaw. Both of them accused the other of preventive activity. In 1921, Tukhachevsky helped put down the Kronstadt Rebellion of sailors and the Tambov Rebellion (1920-21) of peasants, where he used extremely cold-blooded measures, like poison gas, against civilians.
Red Army reform
Tukhachevsky was a great reformer and tactical theorist. In his “Future War” (1928) Tukhachevsky introduced his theory of deep battle concept. That formed the military basis of the Red Army strategy. He advocated the use of tanks in combination with air force and took interest in chemical weapons. In 1935 he was elevated Field Marshal.
Purge Trial 1937
Stalin ordered Tukhachevsky to be arrested in 1937. His interrogation and torture was personally overlooked by Yezhov. Stalin expected him to confess to be a German spy who plotted to kill the members of the Politburo. He confessed. Even his interrogation report in the archives today is covered with drips of blood. Tukhachevsky was convicted and shot together with six other highest Red Army commanders on rediculous charges.
Personal
Tukhachevsky was a friend of Shostakovich and occasionally played violin.
Semyon Budyonny