Full member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan
(1923-2019)
Military theorist. Historian. Doctor of Military Sciences (1982), professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences, full member of the Academy of Natural Sciences Russian Federation, President of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Russian Federation. Army General (1989), Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan.
He graduated from the Tashkent Infantry School (1941), graduated from the Military Academy named after. M.V. Frunze (1950), military academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR (1959). The last position in the Armed Forces was Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces.
One of the largest scientists in the field of military science. Region scientific activity- disclosure of essence and content military policy and doctrines of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, study modern problems military art and history of the Second World War. Special attention deserve research in the field of scientific methodology of the knowledge system about war and defense security. The proposals developed on these issues were adopted by the Russian Academy of Sciences and in the Military Encyclopedia.
M.A. Gareev developed and submitted to the Security Council of the Russian Federation proposals for more economical and effective provision of the country's defense security by political, diplomatic, economic, information means in combination with military power.
He studied the geopolitical and economic foundations of the defense security of the Russian Federation, the main directions for improving the system of recruitment of the Armed Forces, forms and methods of officer training, taking into account the prospects for the development of military affairs. The works contain military historical studies of problematic issues of the Great Patriotic War and other wars.
M.A. Gareev is the author of two hundred and twenty scientific works, including five monographs. The main ones, published in Russia and abroad: “Military Science”, “Tactical Exercises and Maneuvers”, “M.V. Frunze - Military Theorist”, “If Tomorrow is War”, “Ambiguous Pages of War”, “Afghan Tragedy” , “Marshal Zhukov - the greatness and uniqueness of military leadership”, “Geopolitical and economic foundations of defense security”. One of the authors of the military defense concept adopted in 1987 by countries Warsaw Pact. Took part in the preparation of the Soviet military encyclopedia, the history of the Great Patriotic War. Under his leadership, six doctoral and four candidate dissertations were prepared and defended.
M.A. Gareev is a laureate of state awards named after. M.V. Frunze and G.K. Zhukov, awarded eighteen orders and twenty-seven medals.
Army General Mahmut Gareev is rightfully considered the elder of the Russian officer corps. His first war was the Great Patriotic War. The second is the Soviet-Japanese one. The third was the War of Attrition between Egypt and Israel, where he served as a military advisor. The fourth is the war in Afghanistan. On the eve of his 95th birthday, the famous military leader found time to give an interview to AiF.
Sergey Osipov, AiF: - Makhmut Akhmetovich, yours military biography started in Uzbekistan. But how did you, a Tatar from the Urals, get there?
Mahmut Gareev: — I was really born in Chelyabinsk in a large Tatar family. There were 8 of us children. Then we moved to Omsk. But in the early 30s there was terrible unemployment in the country. In search of a better life, the father decided to move the family to Central Asia, where, according to rumors, life was more satisfying. But first, my older brother was sent to Tashkent for reconnaissance. He wrote from there: come, here, no matter what stick you stick in the ground, everything will grow. The family packed up and left. Then, by the way, the Council of People's Commissars issued a resolution that Tatar and Bashkir settlers should be sent to Central Asia in a targeted manner. Common Turkic languages and all that. So in almost all Soviet institutions of Uzbekistan and other republics there were many Tatars. One of my sisters, for example, worked for 40 years as a teacher in an Uzbek village.
Before leaving for the front in 1941 with his father. Photo: From personal archive / Makhmut Gareev
The family settled in ancient city Karshi. I studied first in an Uzbek school, then in a Russian one. And the family spoke Tatar, so I was a polyglot from childhood. And I wanted to serve in the army. I read a lot about the great Russian commanders - Suvorov, Kutuzova, wanted to be like them. And life in Uzbekistan was military. The city where we lived was regularly attacked by the Basmachi. They came from Afghanistan, where the British were in charge, who through them sought to destabilize the situation in the USSR. The Basmachi killed communists and co-workers, slaughtered families in which children studied in Russian schools. Looking ahead, I will say that Basmachism ended once and for all after June 22, 1941. The USSR and England became allies - and what a cut!
So, in the city of Karshi, where my family lived, the 82nd Cavalry Regiment was stationed to protect against the Basmachi. I got into the habit of going there and played in a brass band. First on the alto, then on the baritone - that big copper trumpet. The Red Army soldiers fed me for this, but this is some kind of help to the family. Well, I became a student of the regiment along with several boys like me.
A little later, 10 of us wrote a statement to the military registration and enlistment office. At the beginning of 1941 we were sent to the Tashkent Infantry School. He was then commanded General Petrov, who later became famous during the defense of Odessa and Sevastopol. It didn't take long to study. On June 22, we come back from field training, some are carrying a machine gun, some are carrying a machine gun, and instead of having lunch, we are lined up on the parade ground. We listen to Molotov's speech through the loudspeaker. The war has begun...
In November, we were released from school as platoon commanders and sent straight to the front near Moscow. Many of our graduates ended up in the 316th division, which later became the Panfilov division, and I was sent to the 120th separate rifle brigade. How I got to front-line Moscow is a different story. 50-60 kilometers either on foot or hitchhiking. Then I crawled on my belly, since the 3rd battalion assigned to me was fighting surrounded. Got there. Coming towards us is a sergeant-major with a bandaged hand. Not a single officer remained in the ranks, and there were only about 40 fighters out of a staff strength of 400 people. This foreman commanded the battalion, was wounded, handed over his files to me and went to the medical battalion. So my first position in the war was battalion commander. I was one, though not for long, until a more experienced officer arrived, Captain Gubkin. I received the 1st company. But he never commanded a platoon.
With comrades in arms, May 1, 1945. Photo: From personal archive / Makhmut Gareev
—What is the worst thing in war?
“The worst thing is not when they shoot. The worst thing is spring and autumn. During the day the sun will warm up, the earth will thaw and become wet. If we need to go on the attack and the Germans pin us to the ground with fire, then there’s trouble! You will fall into a puddle or a funnel filled with water. And you can’t raise your head for hours. You lie on the muddy ground and slowly freeze.
- And how were you saved?
- They saved themselves with vodka. True, it was issued only in winter and late autumn. Vodka was the only way to escape the cold. In case the foreman did not have time to give out 100 grams, when there was an opportunity before the battle, they stocked up on triple cologne at the military store. It also helped...
“Do you remember the first time you got hurt?”
- But of course! It was in August 1942. He went on the attack near the village of Varganovo, Kaluga region. Now it is no longer on the map. IN right hand grenade, pistol in the left. A German bullet hit my left hand between the thumb and index finger. It went through the palm, the bone was not touched. I thought it would work out, but after 2 days my palm began to swell. I went to the army hospital nearby at night. The surgeons there are angry, they haven’t slept for three days, and they immediately say: he fought back! Now we will cut off the brush so that there is no gangrene. In their hospitals, a large flow of wounded was considered a good indicator. If they had cut off my hand right away, I would have been treated for 15 days - and good-bye. But I refused amputation and ruined the hospital’s performance!
Okay, just kidding, I didn’t spoil it. An old lady, a surgical nurse, helped me out. There is a medical train heading to Ryazan in the morning, he says, go to the station, I’ll sign you up. I was treated for a month and a half, but saved my arm. Then, in 1943, there was a shrapnel in the head, then there was a bullet in the left leg, typhus in Manchuria during the war with Japan, shell shock in Afghanistan in 1990...
Afghanistan, 1989. Photo: From personal archive / Makhmut Gareev
— Well, it seems that the Limited Contingent was withdrawn in 1989.
- The contingent was withdrawn, and I remained - the main military adviser to the president Najibullah. And I was shell-shocked under such circumstances. We left the Soviet embassy in an armored UAZ. Apparently, the Taliban spotted this case. On the outskirts of Kabul, a shell exploded next to a car. Shell shock, I didn’t need any courage this time. But then times came when courage had to be shown in peaceful life. And on our side, and not on the Afghan side.
- In terms of?
— In the sense of saving the Soviet Union from collapse. Under certain conditions this could be done. I’m telling you this as a former deputy chief of the General Staff!
Mahmut Gareev. Photo: / Sergey Osipov
foreign awards
Mahmut Akhmetovich Gareev(born July 23, Chelyabinsk, USSR) - Soviet and Russian military leader, military leader, retired army general, doctor of military sciences and doctor of historical sciences, professor. Military theorist.
Biography
War years
Military service in the USSR
Lecture by M.A. Gareev “Russia in the wars of the 20th century” On March 25, 2004, a project of public lectures was opened for Polit.ru.
Awards
In 1998 M.A. Gareev became the first laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation named after Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov - for the book “Marshal Zhukov. The greatness and uniqueness of military leadership" (1996)
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- / Lyudmila Ternovaya. News Agency "Bashinform"
Excerpt characterizing Gareev, Makhmut Akhmetovich
- Well, to be honest, Marie, I think it’s sometimes hard for you because of your father’s character? - Prince Andrei suddenly asked.Princess Marya was at first surprised, then frightened by this question.
– ME?... Me?!... Is it hard for me?! - she said.
– He has always been cool; and now it’s getting hard, I think,” said Prince Andrei, apparently on purpose to puzzle or test his sister, speaking so easily about his father.
“You are good to everyone, Andre, but you have some kind of pride of thought,” said the princess, more following her own train of thought than the course of the conversation, “and this is a great sin.” Is it possible to judge a father? And even if it were possible, what other feeling than veneration [deep respect] could arouse such a person as mon pere? And I am so satisfied and happy with him. I only wish that you all were as happy as I am.
The brother shook his head in disbelief.
“The one thing that’s hard for me, I’ll tell you the truth, Andre, is my father’s way of thinking in religious terms. I don’t understand how a person with such a huge mind cannot see what is clear as day and can be so mistaken? This is my only misfortune. But even here in Lately I see a shadow of improvement. Lately his ridicule has not been so caustic, and there is one monk whom he received and spoke to him for a long time.
“Well, my friend, I’m afraid that you and the monk are wasting your gunpowder,” said Prince Andrei mockingly but affectionately.
- Ah! mon ami. [A! My friend.] I just pray to God and hope that He will hear me. Andre,” she said timidly after a minute of silence, “I have a big request to ask of you.”
- What, my friend?
- No, promise me that you won’t refuse. It will not cost you any work, and there will be nothing unworthy of you in it. Only you can console me. Promise, Andryusha,” she said, putting her hand into the reticule and holding something in it, but not yet showing it, as if what she was holding was the subject of the request and as if before receiving the promise to fulfill the request, she could not take it out of the reticule It is something.
She looked timidly and pleadingly at her brother.
“Even if it cost me a lot of work...”, answered Prince Andrei, as if guessing what was the matter.
- Think whatever you want! I know you are the same as mon pere. Think what you want, but do it for me. Do it please! My father’s father, our grandfather, wore it in all the wars...” She still didn’t take what she was holding out of the reticule. - So you promise me?
- Of course, what's the matter?
- Andre, I will bless you with the image, and you promise me that you will never take it off. Do you promise?
“If he doesn’t stretch his neck by two pounds... To please you...” said Prince Andrei, but at that very second, noticing the distressed expression that his sister’s face took on at this joke, he repented. “Very glad, really very glad, my friend,” he added.
“Against your will, He will save and have mercy on you and turn you to Himself, because in Him alone there is truth and peace,” she said in a voice trembling with emotion, with a solemn gesture holding in both hands in front of her brother an oval ancient icon of the Savior with a black face in silver chasuble on silver chain small work.
She crossed herself, kissed the icon and handed it to Andrey.
- Please, Andre, for me...
Rays of kind and timid light shone from her large eyes. These eyes illuminated the entire sickly, thin face and made it beautiful. The brother wanted to take the icon, but she stopped him. Andrei understood, crossed himself and kissed the icon. His face was at the same time tender (he was touched) and mocking.
- Merci, mon ami. [Thank you my friend.]
She kissed his forehead and sat down on the sofa again. They were silent.
“So I told you, Andre, be kind and generous, as you always have been.” Don’t judge Lise harshly,” she began. “She is so sweet, so kind, and her situation is very difficult now.”
“It seems that I didn’t tell you anything, Masha, that I should blame my wife for anything or be dissatisfied with her.” Why are you telling me all this?
Princess Marya blushed in spots and fell silent, as if she felt guilty.
“I didn’t tell you anything, but they already told you.” And it makes me sad.
Red spots appeared even more strongly on Princess Marya’s forehead, neck and cheeks. She wanted to say something and could not say it. The brother guessed right: the little princess cried after dinner, said that she foresaw an unhappy birth, was afraid of it, and complained about her fate, about her father-in-law and her husband. After crying, she fell asleep. Prince Andrei felt sorry for his sister.
“Know one thing, Masha, I cannot reproach myself for anything, I have not reproached and will never reproach my wife, and I myself cannot reproach myself for anything in relation to her; and it will always be so, no matter what my circumstances. But if you want to know the truth... do you want to know if I'm happy? No. Is she happy? No. Why is this? Don't know…
Saying this, he stood up, walked up to his sister and, bending down, kissed her on the forehead. His beautiful eyes shone with an intelligent and kind, unusual sparkle, but he looked not at his sister, but into the darkness of the open door, over her head.
- Let's go to her, we need to say goodbye. Or go alone, wake her up, and I’ll be right there. Parsley! - he shouted to the valet, - come here, clean it up. It's in the seat, it's on the right side.
Princess Marya stood up and headed towards the door. She stopped.
– Andre, si vous avez. la foi, vous vous seriez adresse a Dieu, pour qu"il vous donne l"amour, que vous ne sentez pas et votre priere aurait ete exaucee. [If you had faith, you would turn to God with a prayer, so that He would give you the love that you do not feel, and your prayer would be heard.]
- Yes, is that so! - said Prince Andrei. - Go, Masha, I’ll be right there.
On the way to his sister’s room, in the gallery connecting one house to another, Prince Andrei met the sweetly smiling Mlle Bourienne, who for the third time that day had come across him with an enthusiastic and naive smile in secluded passages.
- Ah! “je vous croyais chez vous, [Oh, I thought you were at home,” she said, for some reason blushing and lowering her eyes.
Prince Andrei looked at her sternly. Prince Andrei’s face suddenly expressed anger. He said nothing to her, but looked at her forehead and hair, without looking into her eyes, so contemptuously that the Frenchwoman blushed and left without saying anything.
When he approached his sister’s room, the princess had already woken up, and her cheerful voice, hurrying one word after another, was heard from the open door. She spoke as if, after a long abstinence, she wanted to make up for lost time.
– Non, mais figurez vous, la vieille comtesse Zouboff avec de fausses boucles et la bouche pleine de fausses dents, comme si elle voulait defier les annees... [No, imagine old Countess Zubova, with false curls, with false teeth, like as if mocking the years...] Xa, xa, xa, Marieie!
Prince Andrei had already heard exactly the same phrase about Countess Zubova and the same laugh five times in front of strangers from his wife.
He quietly entered the room. The princess, plump, rosy-cheeked, with work in her hands, sat on an armchair and talked incessantly, going over St. Petersburg memories and even phrases. Prince Andrei came up, stroked her head and asked if she had rested from the road. She answered and continued the same conversation.
Six of the strollers stood at the entrance. It was a dark autumn night outside. The coachman did not see the pole of the carriage. People with lanterns were bustling about on the porch. The huge house was burning with lights through its big windows. The hall was crowded with courtiers who wanted to say goodbye to the young prince; All the household were standing in the hall: Mikhail Ivanovich, m lle Bourienne, Princess Marya and the princess.
Prince Andrei was called into his father’s office, who wanted to say goodbye to him privately. Everyone was waiting for them to come out.
When Prince Andrei entered the office, the old prince, wearing old man's glasses and in his white robe, in which he did not receive anyone except his son, was sitting at the table and writing. He looked back.
-Are you going? - And he began to write again.
- I came to say goodbye.
“Kiss here,” he showed his cheek, “thank you, thank you!”
- What do you thank me for?
“You don’t hold on to a woman’s skirt for not being overdue.” Service comes first. Thank you, thank you! - And he continued to write, so that splashes flew from the crackling pen. - If you need to say something, say it. I can do these two things together,” he added.
- About my wife... I’m already ashamed that I’m leaving her in your arms...
- Why are you lying? Say what you need.
- When it’s time for your wife to give birth, send to Moscow for an obstetrician... So that he is here.
The old prince stopped and, as if not understanding, stared with stern eyes at his son.
“I know that no one can help unless nature helps,” said Prince Andrei, apparently embarrassed. “I agree that out of a million cases, one is unfortunate, but this is her and my imagination.” They told her, she saw it in a dream, and she is afraid.
“Hm... hm...” the old prince said to himself, continuing to write. - I'll do it.
He drew out the signature, suddenly turned quickly to his son and laughed.
- It's bad, huh?
- What's bad, father?
- Wife! – the old prince said briefly and significantly.
“I don’t understand,” said Prince Andrei.
“There’s nothing to do, my friend,” said the prince, “they’re all like that, you won’t get married.” Do not be afraid; I won't tell anyone; and you know it yourself.
He grabbed his hand with his bony little hand, shook it, looked straight into his son’s face with his quick eyes, which seemed to see right through the man, and laughed again with his cold laugh.
The son sighed, admitting with this sigh that his father understood him. The old man, continuing to fold and print letters, with his usual speed, grabbed and threw sealing wax, seal and paper.
- What to do? Beautiful! I'll do everything. “Be at peace,” he said abruptly while typing.
Andrei was silent: he was both pleased and unpleasant that his father understood him. The old man stood up and handed the letter to his son.
“Listen,” he said, “don’t worry about your wife: what can be done will be done.” Now listen: give the letter to Mikhail Ilarionovich. I am writing to tell you to good places used it and did not hold it as an adjutant for a long time: a nasty position! Tell him that I remember him and love him. Yes, write how he will receive you. If you are good, serve. Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky’s son will not serve anyone out of mercy. Well, now come here.
He spoke in such a rapid-fire manner that he did not finish half the words, but his son got used to understanding him. He led his son to the bureau, threw back the lid, pulled out the drawer and took out a notebook covered in his large, long and condensed handwriting.
“I must die before you.” Know that my notes are here, to be handed over to the Emperor after my death. Now here is a pawn ticket and a letter: this is a prize for the one who writes the history of Suvorov’s wars. Send to the academy. Here are my remarks, after me read for yourself, you will find benefit.
Andrei did not tell his father that he would probably live for a long time. He understood that there was no need to say this.
“I will do everything, father,” he said.
- Well, now goodbye! “He let his son kiss his hand and hugged him. “Remember one thing, Prince Andrei: if they kill you, it will hurt my old man...” He suddenly fell silent and suddenly continued in a loud voice: “and if I find out that you did not behave like the son of Nikolai Bolkonsky, I will be ... ashamed!” – he squealed.
Born on July 23, 1923 in the city of Chelyabinsk, in a working-class family. Father, Akhmet Gareev (born 1881), is a worker. Mother, Rakhima Gareeva (born 1892), is a housewife. The son, Timur Makhmutovich Gareev (born in 1961), graduated from the general military school, the Military Academy named after M. V. Frunze. Now a colonel Russian Army. Daughter, Galia Makhmutovna Krainova (born 1952), graduated from Tashkent State University, works as a teacher in English.
A week before the Great Patriotic War, Makhmut Gareev becomes a cadet at the Tashkent Infantry School named after V.I. Lenin. An eighteen-year-old boy was eager to go to the front. He did not have to study for long - five months, and already in November 1941 he was the commander of a rifle platoon, acting as company commander of the 99th separate Tajik rifle brigade of the Central Asian Military District.
Two months later, the young officer is enrolled as a student in the Shot course. And four months later, Makhmut Gareev, as part of the 120th separate rifle brigade, as a company commander, was sent to the Western Front. And immediately falls into the thick of it.
While on the defensive, the brigade repelled fierce enemy attacks. Lieutenant Gareev, who had just arrived at the brigade command post, had to reach the location of the third battalion almost through open terrain, under continuous bombing and artillery shelling. Soon machine-gun and rifle fire pinned him firmly to the ground. He crawled forward, taking advantage of natural cover. After about an hour and a half, Mahmut managed to reach the battalion observation post. It turned out that all the officers were out of action. The arriving lieutenant was met by senior sergeant Shcherbina, who was acting as a battalion commander. Without hesitation, Gareev takes command of the battalion. And the enemy continues to press. Losses are growing. Twice already German tanks broke deep into the defense, but they were destroyed or damaged by anti-tank mines or anti-tank rifles. By order of Gareev, the fighters took the most convenient positions. From the remaining three machine guns, a battalion reserve was created, and the machine gunners were transferred to where there was a danger of enemy infantry breaking through. The battalion, led by an officer who had just arrived at the front, fought for two days. The Germans, having lost a lot of equipment and manpower, were forced to retreat to their original positions. By this time, Captain Gubkin had arrived at the battalion, and Gareev took over the first company.
In August 1942, Gareev, as acting battalion commander, participated in an offensive battle for the first time. Two platoons burst into the first enemy trench on the outskirts of the village of Varganovo. The remaining units lay down under enemy fire. The situation was very difficult. The personal example of Officer Gareev decided the outcome of the battle. As a result of the rapid rush of the attackers and strong mortar fire, the Varganovo stronghold was captured. Mahmut was wounded, but continued to lead the battle. A short stay in the hospital followed. And again the front. Soon there was a new wound and concussion.
Gareev met the victorious year of 1945 as the assistant chief of the operational department of the headquarters of the 45th Rifle Corps of the 5th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front.
The experience gained in battles on the Western and 3rd Belorussian fronts came in handy for Gareev when he arrived as a senior assistant to the head of the department for using the war experience of the operational department of the headquarters of the 5th Army as part of the 1st Far Eastern Front. There, Gareev and his comrades soon celebrated the victory over militaristic Japan. They remembered with a sense of triumph the battles both in the west during the Great Patriotic War and in the east, where the last point of the Second World War was set.
After a relatively short service in the operational department of the headquarters of the 5th Army of the Primorsky Military District, M. A. Gareev was sent to study at the Military Academy named after M. V. Frunze. For him, these were years of hard work and deep understanding of the experience gained during the war. At the end of 1950, Gareev completed his studies at the academy with a gold medal. By this time he felt a “taste” for scientific activity. He wrote the first works summarizing the experience of the past war.
Soon Gareev received a new appointment and left for the Belarusian Military District to serve as chief of staff of the 152nd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 50th Guards Rifle Division. After five months, the experienced officer is transferred to the operational management department of the headquarters of the Belarusian Military District to the position of senior officer. After another four and a half years, Colonel Gareev becomes chief of staff of the 120th Guards Rifle Division.
Since the end of 1957, Makhmut Akhmetovich has been a student at the Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov (since 1958 - Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR), from which he also graduated at the end of 1959 with a gold medal.
And again - goodbye Moscow! Hello, Belarus, where you have already fought and served. From November 1959 to September 1970, Colonel, and later General Gareev, successively held positions: deputy commander of the Guards motorized rifle division, commander of the Guards training motorized rifle regiment, deputy commander of the Guards training tank division, commander of the same tank division, and finally chief of staff - first Deputy Commander of the Combined Arms Army.
Next, General Gareev is appointed chief of staff of the Chief Military Advisor in the armed forces of the United Arab Republic. In 1989 - 1991, Mahmut Akhmetovich was adviser to the President of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan on military issues.
Returning from the DRA, General Gareev became chief of staff - first deputy commander, member of the Military Council of the Ural Military District.
From Sverdlovsk M. A. Gareev returned to Moscow and headed the Military Scientific Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Then he becomes the head of the 7th Directorate - Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, and finally, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces.
Since 1993, Mahmut Akhmetovich Gareev has been the President of the Academy of Military Sciences. He is a Doctor of Military Sciences and a Doctor of Historical Sciences, the author of many books. Among them are such publications as “Combined Arms Exercises”, “Frunze - Military Theorist”, “Military Science”, “Ambiguous Pages of War”, “Contours of the Armed Struggle of the Future”. A special place in his work is occupied by the book "Marshal Zhukov. The greatness and uniqueness of military leadership." She was awarded the State Prize named after G.K. Zhukov. M. A. Gareev is the author of more than 250 scientific works. A number of his works have been published abroad.
Army General Makhmut Akhmetovich Gareev was awarded 19 orders and 30 medals.
The army general's main hobbies are sports, reading and music.
- not only the pretentious parade on Red Square, St. George's ribbons on lapels and veterans as a passing nature. This is the countdown of a new time that we have yet to understand. Our conversation with a military officer and one of the largest domestic military theorists was about this. The editor of the “Society” department, Guzel Agisheva, talks with him.
— Mahmut Akhmetovich, how did the war begin for you?
— In March 1941, I entered the Tashkent Military School. On that very day, June 22, we returned from field training - it was hot, I was carrying a Maxim machine gun machine gun. Usually they washed up and went to dinner, but here they say to build up at the stadium. They built us up and let us listen to Molotov’s speech on tape. My comrade, Morozhnikov, stood next to me, he said: “Everything will end in a month or two, like at Khasan and Khalkhin Gol. We’ll sit here and we won’t end up in war.” We were brought up on heroism, we wanted to go to war! I remember a letter in “Pionerskaya Pravda”: you, people of the older generation, made a revolution, carried out industrialization, Papanin’s people are researching Arctic Ocean- leave at least something to our share!.. Morozhnikov died near Stalingrad in 1942.
In November we were released and arrived near Istra, which was defended by the 5th Army. We got there at night. I walk along the trench and meet a wounded sergeant major. I ask where the third battalion is, he answers: “Well, I’m from the third battalion, I’ve been wounded for three days now. There are no officers there...” So I took command of the battalion, since I was already a lieutenant. From the battalion, which had 500 people, at that time there were no more than 50 left - they had already been subjected to artillery fire, mortar fire, and bombing.
No one else can go through so much in their entire life.
— Was it scary?
- Of course, it’s not easy. One day I was pulling out a seriously wounded man, and we ended up in a minefield. Every movement is like the last. In those few hours we experienced so much that no one else would experience in their entire life. He fought near Moscow, took part in the offensive twice, was wounded for the first time in August 1942, was hospitalized, returned to his unit - it had already become the 50th ski brigade. Fought in Smolensk region, near Vitebsk, liberated Belarus and Lithuania. Belarusian partisans were often seen, but Polish partisans... There was the Home Army and the Army of the People. The Home Army supported the Polish government in exile, and they shot at us too. A Pole is lying down and suddenly shoots at me. I ran up and wanted to shoot him. And he’s trembling like a puppy, he’s probably 17 years old, he’s hunched over and crying. I just took the weapon away from him. There were many of these on the Polish side.