tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post8049164740050996212..comments2024-03-27T19:58:01.063+00:00Comments on Wargaming Miscellany: A Winter-ish War: An untold storyRobert (Bob) Corderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-67130603333956909042016-02-10T18:03:37.412+00:002016-02-10T18:03:37.412+00:00Chris,
Zhukov was - in my opinion - one of the gr...Chris,<br /><br />Zhukov was - in my opinion - one of the greatest generals of the Second World War. Not a particularly nice man, but then successful generals often aren't. His post-Stalin career reflects the fact that he was still a good strategic and tactical thinker but not a political animal, and this resulted in his premature retirement at the age of 62 when he was perceived as being too powerful and popular by the leadership of the Communist Party. That said he seemed to be revered in retirement, and his memoirs - of which I have a translation - were a best seller. <br /><br />It is good to hear that your son recognised Zhukov's eminence and thinks of him as a hero, and that he decided to write about him. I suspect that the teacher was not unique in not knowing anything about Zhukov; I suspect that most on my former colleagues would have been similarly baffled.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-64005529115167988242016-02-10T16:48:20.931+00:002016-02-10T16:48:20.931+00:00I feel sorry for what happened to Zuhkov. He did ...I feel sorry for what happened to Zuhkov. He did indeed re-emerge after Stalin died, and was later instrumental in putting down an attempted coup against Khruschev. Unfortunately for Zuhkov, the good Premier decided he did not want someone so competent, and therefore potentially politically powerful, to remain near him, and sent the Marshal back into obscurity. Zuhkov spent his remaining years at a dacha near the Black Sea. Considering his service to his country, he deserved far, far better treatment.<br /><br />So he's been gone these many years, but not forgotten. In 7th grade, my son was given the assignment of writing an essay about his hero. Most of his classmates chose Michael Jackson or some such nonsense, but probably because my son was adopted from Russia, he wrote about Zuhkov! (His teacher had to look up who the guy even was.) I would bet the farm that this was, and is likely ever to be, the ONLY time Zuhkov appeared as the hero in an American essay!<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />ChrisChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05091296131481416326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-27983868005226275012016-02-09T17:12:44.237+00:002016-02-09T17:12:44.237+00:00Chris,
I have heard a similar stories about Stali...Chris,<br /><br />I have heard a similar stories about Stalin, and they do indicate that he could and would back down if the need arose ... but also had a long memory and woebetide anyone who stood up to him too often and/or too publicly.<br /><br />I remember the story about the white horse that Stalin was going to ride at the Victory Parade in Moscow. He tried to ride it before the parade, and found that it was almost wild. He therefore decided to watch the parade ... and made Zuhkov ride the horse in his place. Unfortunately Zuhkov had been a cavalryman, and rode the horse without too much trouble. Stalin never forgave him ... and he was packed off into obscurity until Stalin died,<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-9805949978370245552016-02-09T17:04:04.737+00:002016-02-09T17:04:04.737+00:00Whiskers,
Thanks very much for your kind comment....Whiskers,<br /><br />Thanks very much for your kind comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed my battle reports.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-38837450520871440112016-02-09T15:14:56.601+00:002016-02-09T15:14:56.601+00:00The meeting of the Soviet reminds me of a story I ...The meeting of the Soviet reminds me of a story I read some time ago about a similar meeting held after the end of the Winter War. Stalin was raging at the incompetence of his generals when the CinC of the invasion armies interrupted him, stood up, and loudly objected to what he was saying. It was Stalin's own fault, he went on, by his stupid and unwarranted purge of his officer corps!<br /><br />The others at the dinner held their breath, certain the objector (Timoshenko, IIRC, but it's been awhile since I read this) was about to be given the pistol-or-else choice himself. Stalin, however, possibly thunderstruck by never having had this happen to him before, said nothing. And as we know, Timoshenko (assuming it was he who spoke) went on to serve honorably thereafter.<br /><br />This episode reveals either that Stalin was just a bully, backing down when challenged, or respectful of those who opposed him when he was in the wrong. It's interesting to note that the USSR did not occupy all of Finland, as it probably could have in 1940 and most assuredly could have in 1944, but did not; and that scores of RedArmy officers began to be considered "rehabilitated" later that year.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />ChrisChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05091296131481416326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-16146365134891344952016-02-09T15:02:36.452+00:002016-02-09T15:02:36.452+00:00Thoroughly enjoying reports from your little war.Thoroughly enjoying reports from your little war.Whiskershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12820800369799871532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-76984017571860762272016-02-09T14:45:20.888+00:002016-02-09T14:45:20.888+00:00Don M,
It's nice when a bad guy gets his come...Don M,<br /><br />It's nice when a bad guy gets his comeuppance, and in this case it fitted in very nicely with the story of this mini-campaign.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-13177432265771806322016-02-09T14:43:33.218+00:002016-02-09T14:43:33.218+00:00David Bradley,
This final battle of the mini-camp...David Bradley,<br /><br />This final battle of the mini-campaign did rather tie things up nicely ... and I am sure that this is not the last that you will hear about Opeland.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-27226379602887950582016-02-09T14:40:19.022+00:002016-02-09T14:40:19.022+00:00I do love happy endings, (sorry ex cold warrior he...I do love happy endings, (sorry ex cold warrior here) ;-)Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230631364253238804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-30892850961429116492016-02-09T14:36:44.748+00:002016-02-09T14:36:44.748+00:00A satisfactory ending to the campaign. However, as...A satisfactory ending to the campaign. However, as I've said before. I hope this is not the last we've heard from Opeland.David Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07049301817234820026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-44900526258999278012016-02-09T14:25:09.384+00:002016-02-09T14:25:09.384+00:00Nobby,
Thanks! I thought that people who have bee...Nobby,<br /><br />Thanks! I thought that people who have been following the mini-campaign would find this battle report interesting ... and I wanted to see if the rules would work in heavily forested terrain.<br /><br />I also enjoyed writing this part of the story as it seemed to round matters off quite nicely.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933470253715910366.post-35798461964048896212016-02-09T13:31:06.999+00:002016-02-09T13:31:06.999+00:00Excellent tale.
A final sting in the tail for bot...Excellent tale. <br />A final sting in the tail for both the overall invasion and the Deputy Marshall.nobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02552663142940856622noreply@blogger.com