>Brusilovsky breakthrough seriously spoiled the plans of the German troops and their commanders, as one of their strongest allies was destroyed in the face of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She never managed to restore her former military greatness.

Brusilov did not accept Bolshevik power and waited for the haze that had entangled Russia to subside. But when the Poles occupied Kyiv in 1920, he said: “I obey the will of the people - they have the right to have the government they want. I may not agree with certain provisions, the tactics of the Soviet government, but ... I willingly give my strength for the good of my dearly beloved Motherland.

The beginning of the battle

One of the brightest and most original military leaders of the First World War, Brusilov was an officer - hereditary. His father, Alexei Nikolaevich, took part in the Battle of Borodino as a major, was wounded, reached Paris, and then rose to the rank of general.

The future hero of the First World War, Alexei Alekseevich, was born in August 1853 in Tiflis, lost his parents early, but received a good primary education, and then graduated from a privileged military educational institution - the Corps of Pages.

Lieutenant gained combat experience during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Being an adjutant of the dragoon regiment, which was responsible for staff and economic affairs, he successfully coped not only with his direct duties. Brusilov repeatedly took part in military sorties, the command noted his initiative and personal courage. For military distinctions, he was awarded three military orders and early promotion to staff captain.

In 1881, Aleksey Alekseevich entered the Cavalry Officer School, which had just opened in St. Petersburg, where he graduated brilliantly, for exemplary studies he was promoted to captain and left as a permanent member of the school. He served in the school in various positions, and from 1902 became its head.

offensive general

By the beginning of the First World War, Aleksey Alekseevich Brusilov had the rank of cavalry general and served as commander of the 12th Army Corps in the Kiev Military District. With the beginning of the mobilization deployment of Russian troops, General Brusilov took command of the 8th Army of the Southwestern Front.

Already in August 1914, his army distinguished itself in battles in the Galich region. The skillful actions of the commander were awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th degree, and less than a month later he was awarded the same order, but already the 3rd degree - for the skillfully carried out Gorodok operation. Since then, in the military circles of Russia, the opinion of Brusilov has strengthened as a talented military leader who is able to correctly assess the situation, unravel the enemy’s plan and forestall his actions.

In less than a year and a half of the war, Alexey Alekseevich mastered the skills of commanding an army in various types of combat activities. The offensive and defensive operations he developed and carried out were alien to the pattern characteristic of many top military leaders of the Russian army of that period. He strove for initiative, decisive action, imposing his will on the enemy, using everything possible to achieve at least partial success. The troops, in turn, strove to conscientiously carry out their assigned tasks, believing in the military talent of their commander. October 27, 1915 Brusilov was awarded the St. George weapon.

It should be noted that Aleksey Alekseevich was a man of high moral principles; court flattery and sycophancy, which were widespread at that time among the top military leadership, were alien to him. This, however, did not prevent Alexei Alekseevich from soon getting a promotion. On March 17, 1916, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Front, in this position he remained for more than a year, more precisely, 430 days.

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“I am not ambitious, I did not seek anything personally for myself, but, having devoted my whole life to military affairs and studying this difficult matter continuously throughout my life, putting my whole soul into preparing troops for war, I wanted to test myself, my knowledge, their dreams and aspirations on a larger scale.”

Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov

During this time, under his leadership, offensive operations were prepared and carried out, which played a significant role and had a great influence on the strategic situation on the entire Russian-German front. The offensive of the troops of the Southwestern Front in the summer of 1916 went down in history as the Brusilov breakthrough and became one of the most striking events of the First World War. Alexei Brusilov became, perhaps, the only commander of that war who was able to find a way out of the so-called positional impasse. The troops of the front under his leadership achieved great success, but the passivity of the high command and the commanders of the troops of neighboring fronts did not allow him to complete the work he had begun.

Nevertheless, in the summer of 1916, Alexey Alekseevich became essentially a national hero of Russia, his name was on everyone's lips.

Revolutionary Intertime

He enjoyed exceptionally great prestige among the troops even after the February Revolution of 1917. For 59 days, Brusilov acted as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, replacing General Mikhail Alekseev in this post. General Brusilov did his best to restore discipline and order in the army, which was rapidly losing its combat capability. It was painful for him to watch how the Russian army, in which Aleksey Alekseevich was proud to serve and to which he devoted his whole life, was falling apart before his eyes. However, the leaders of the Provisional Government did not allow Brusilov to restore order in the army, the fate of the country was now decided not in military headquarters, but on the sidelines of political parties. On July 19, 1917, the combat general was dismissed.

Alexei Alekseevich and his wife left Moscow, where his brother's family lived. Here the general was caught by the October Revolution. Brusilov tried to stay away from politics, but he failed to stay away from political battles. The revolution literally flew into his house.

“My first gunshot wound in my life, it was received from a Russian shell,” he says. Indeed, on November 2, 1917, during the shelling of the headquarters of the Moscow Military District, an accidental artillery shell hit the building where the general lived. Brusilov was seriously wounded, his right leg was broken in several places by shrapnel. For all his many years of military service, Alexei Alekseevich had no injuries, but here he was struck in his own apartment ...

After a serious operation, he had to be treated for several more months. In the hospital, he was repeatedly visited by representatives of various anti-Bolshevik organizations, trying to win Brusilov over to their side. The former subordinates of the general who stood at the origins of the White movement, in particular, Lavr Kornilov and Anton Denikin, would like to see such an authoritative military leader as Brusilov in their ranks. But Aleksey Alekseevich did not consider it possible for himself to take part in the fratricidal Civil War.

By the way, the head of the British special mission under the Soviet government, Robert Lockhart, tried to have the same effect on Brusilov (the British were always engaged in double-dealing), but also received a categorical refusal. Meanwhile, the Cheka intercepted a letter from Lockhart, in which an English diplomat announced plans to make Brusilov a white leader. As a result, the general was immediately arrested and taken into custody. After the intervention of Felix Dzerzhinsky, he was released and placed under house arrest, which was lifted in December 1918.

But the position of the honored military general turned out to be unenviable: he was left without a livelihood, his family was starving, worried about the wound, and in December 1919 the news came that his only son had been shot in Kyiv. Brusilov Jr. served in the Red Army and was captured by the Whites. Aleksey Alekseevich took this terrible loss extremely hard...

Appeal and punishment

On April 20, 1920, the Polish army went on the offensive in Ukraine. On May 7, the Poles occupied Kyiv. From that moment on, Brusilov's attitude to the armed struggle that took place on the territory of Russia changed radically. The armed confrontation of Russians against Russians was replaced by a confrontation with the army of a neighboring state, although it was part of the Russian Empire before the revolutionary upheavals. In addition, generals Vladislav Klembovsky and Nikolai Rattel, who went to serve in the Red Army, who in World War I were the closest associates of Alexei Alekseevich in preparing an offensive on the Southwestern Front in the summer of 1916, strongly recommended Brusilov to contact the chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council, Lev Trotsky.

General Brusilov categorically refused to enter into any kind of correspondence with Trotsky, but he expressed his opinion on the advisability of creating a special meeting under the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic, which would develop a plan for a war with Poland, in a letter to Rattel, who at that time held high position of chief of the All-Russian General Staff.

This letter was enough for the Soviet leadership for the Revolutionary Military Council to issue a resolution the very next day on the formation of a Special Meeting under the Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Republic, chaired by Brusilov. The structure of this body included the generals of the old army Akimov, Baluev, Verkhovsky, Gutor, Zayonchkovsky, Klembovsky, Parsky, Polivanov, Tsurikov. On May 30, 1920, the members of the Special Meeting prepared an appeal to the former officers of the Russian army, in which they called on them, forgetting old grievances, to join the Red Army - to protect Russia.

Approximately 14,000 generals and officers of the old army responded to the appeal, who voluntarily joined the Red Army and helped it solve problems in the armed struggle on the Polish front. However, the activity of the Special Conference was limited to this, it was dissolved. Moreover, some of its members were arrested, and some officers and generals who responded to the appeal ended up in the dungeons. Alexey Alekseevich took this as a personal grief and a personal mistake. All his attempts to improve the case were in vain.

After that, General Brusilov held a secondary position as chief military inspector of horse breeding and horse breeding. In 1925, citing health reasons, he submitted a letter of resignation. Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov passed away on March 17, 1926. The cavalry general, the hero of the First World War was buried with military honors on the territory of the Novodevichy Convent.

Brusilov

Alexey Alekseevich

Battles and victories

Russian and Soviet military leader, World War I hero, cavalry general. After the revolution, he went over to the side of the Soviet government.

It was this person who was most often remembered in Soviet times and is remembered now when it comes to the history of the First World War. One of the brightest operations of this period, the Brusilovsky Breakthrough of 1916, was named after the general.

The biography of Alexei Alekseevich Brusilov is quite typical for the military people of his generation. He was born immediately after the tragic for Russia Crimean War (1853-1856), received a military education during the reforms of the Minister of War D.I. Milyutin (1874), distinguished himself on the fields of the Russian-Turkish war (1877-1878), which became his only combat experience, and with this baggage he came to the First World War. In the lists of the Russian generals of the early twentieth century, A.A. Brusilov was distinguished by the fact that he was one of the few generals who reached a high rank without having a higher military education.

Brusilov was born on August 19, 1853 in Tiflis in the family of a general. In his memoirs, he describes his parents and childhood as follows:

“My father was a lieutenant general and was recently the chairman of the field audience of the Caucasian army. He came from the nobility of the Oryol province. When I was born, he was 66 years old, while my mother was only 27-28 years old. I was the eldest of the children. After me, my brother Boris was born, followed by Alexander, who soon died, and the last brother Lev. My father died in 1859 from lobar pneumonia. I was six at the time, Boris was four, and Lev was two. A few months later, after my father, my mother also died of consumption, and we, all three brothers, were taken in by our aunt, Henrietta Antonovna Gagemeister, who had no children. Her husband, Karl Maksimovich, loved us very much, and they both replaced our father and mother in the full sense of the word.

Uncle and aunt spared no expense to educate us. In the beginning, their main focus was on teaching us various foreign languages. At first we had governesses, and then, when we grew up, tutors. The last of them, a certain Beckman, had a tremendous influence on us. He was a man with a good education, graduated from the university; Beckmann was fluent in French, German and English and was an excellent pianist. Unfortunately, all three of us showed no talent for music and did not make much use of his musical lessons. But French was like a mother tongue to us; I also spoke German quite firmly, but soon, from a young age, I forgot the English language due to lack of practice.

The son of a hereditary military man was predetermined by the typical fate of young people of his circle - an officer's career. For a hereditary nobleman, the doors of any military school were open. Having received a good education at home, Brusilov was enrolled in the elite Corps of Pages for senior courses, and in 1872 he was released as an ensign in the 15th Tver Dragoon Regiment, stationed in the Caucasus. This regiment had special traditions. Founded in 1798 as the Tver cuirassier, it was soon reorganized into a dragoon and took part in the Napoleonic wars. The regiment distinguished itself in the battle of Austerlitz and in the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812, for excellent actions in the Crimean War (the case of Kyuryuk-Dara in 1854) was awarded the St. George standard. Since 1849, the chief of the regiment was the brother of Emperor Nicholas I, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich Sr., and the officers of the regiment constantly experienced the highest attention, which often affected their promotion.

Brusilov participates in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, distinguished himself during the assault on the Ardagan fortress and the capture of Kars, having earned three military orders. From 1881 he continued to serve in the officer cavalry school in St. Petersburg, rising in the ranks to colonel, and was appointed deputy head of the school. Under the patronage of the commander of the guard, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Jr. (son of the chief of the Tver Dragoon Regiment), Brusilov was promoted to major general in 1901, and a year later became the head of the school. During the years of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Aleksey Alekseevich successfully led the educational process and in 1906 was promoted to lieutenant general.

His comrades-in-arms in the generals' society, who graduated from the Nikolaev General Staff Academy and gained combat experience in the fields of Manchuria, were extremely negative about such a quick career. It was whispered that Brusilov owed his general rank to being close to the highest circles of society and called him behind his back a “bereytor”, although at that time rarely anyone reached heights without patronage.

It was hard for Alexei Alekseevich to experience such an obstruction, and he sought to move to a military position in order to be able to prove his ability to command not only the school, but also the regular troops. In 1906, under the patronage of the Commander of the Guards, Lieutenant General Brusilov was given command of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division. From that moment on, he returns to military service.

However, the command of the guards division, which was an exemplary military unit, cannot suit Alexei Alekseevich, he wants to be assigned to the field troops. In 1909, V.A., who became Minister of War, Sukhomlinov recalls his former deputy at the Officers' School, and Brusilov is given command of the 14th Army Corps stationed in the Warsaw Military District.

Despite the good command of the corps, Brusilov's service in Warsaw did not work out. The reason for this was the scandal that broke out among the high district command and reached the walls of the General Staff and personally the sovereign. Here is how Lieutenant-General A.A., a direct participant in the events, tells about this. Brusilov:

“I was surrounded by the following individuals. My closest superior, Commander of the Warsaw Military District, Adjutant General Skalon. He was a kind and relatively honest man, more of a courtier than a military man, a German to the marrow of his bones. All his sympathies were corresponding. He believed that Russia should be inseparable friendship with Germany, and he was convinced that Germany should command Russia. Accordingly, he was on great friendship with the Germans, and especially with the Consul General in Warsaw, Baron Bruck, from whom, as many told me, he had no secrets. Baron Bruck was a great patriot of his country and a very subtle and intelligent diplomat.

I considered this friendship inconvenient in relation to Russia, especially since Skalon openly said that Germany should command Russia, but we should obey her. I thought it was completely inappropriate, to say the least. I knew that our war with Germany was not far off, and I found the situation in Warsaw threatening, about which I considered it necessary to inform Minister of War Sukhomlinov in a private letter. My letter, sent by post, fell into the hands of General Utgof (head of the Warsaw Gendarmerie Administration). Their perlustration acted intensely, and I naively believed that it could not touch the big Russian generals. Utgof, also a German, having read my letter, communicated it to Skalon for information.

In this letter, I wrote to Sukhomlinov that, bearing in mind the threatening situation in which Russia and Germany are, I consider such a situation to be very abnormal and I do not find it possible to remain an assistant to the commander of the troops, which is why I ask you to demote me and appoint me back as the commander of any corps, but in another district, if possible - in Kiev.

Sukhomlinov replied to me that he completely shared my opinion regarding Skalon and would ask for my appointment as commander of the 12th Army Corps, located in the Kiev Military District, which a few time later was carried out.

I cannot fail to note the strange impression that the entire Warsaw higher administration made on me at that time. Everywhere the Germans were at the head: Governor-General Skalon, married to Baroness Korf, the governor - her relative Baron Korf, assistant to the governor-general Essen, chief of gendarmes Utgof, manager of the state bank office Baron Tizenhausen, head of the palace department Tizdel, chief police chief Meyer, city ​​president Miller, prosecutor of the Hesse chamber, von Minzlow, manager of the control chamber, vice-governor Gresser, court prosecutor Leyvin, headquarters officers under the governor Egelstrom and Fechtner, head of the Privislinskaya railway Gesket, etc. A bouquet for selection! I was appointed after Gerschelman's departure and was some kind of sharp dissonance: "Brusilov." But after me, Baron Rausch von Traubenberg got this position. Skalon's love for German surnames was amazing.

The chief of staff, however, was the Russian General Nikolai Alekseevich Klyuev, very smart, knowledgeable, but who wanted to make his personal career, which he put above the interests of Russia. Then, in wartime, it turned out that Klyuev did not have military courage. But at that time, of course, I could not know.

In the winter of 1912, I was sent to the Minister of War with a report on the need to keep reserve soldiers from being discharged from active service. In Petersburg, I reported to the Minister of War on the state of affairs in the Warsaw district, and he found it necessary that I report this personally to the Tsar. I told Sukhomlinov that I found this inconvenient for me. But when he began to insist on this, I told him that if the tsar himself asks me about it, I, on duty and a Russian person, will tell him what I think, but I will not speak myself. Sukhomlinov assured me that the tsar would definitely ask me about the situation in the Warsaw district. But when I came to Nicholas II, he did not ask me anything, but only instructed me to bow to Skalon. This surprised and offended me greatly. I couldn't figure out what was going on here."

Through the efforts of the Minister of War, Aleksey Alekseevich was transferred in 1913 to the Kyiv Military District to the post of commander of the 12th Army Corps with promotion to cavalry general. In this position, Brusilov met the events of the summer of 1914, which turned out to be the tragedy of the First World War for the Russian Empire. This period will be the take-off of his military career.

On June 15 (28), 1914, the world was shocked by the news: during the maneuvers of the Austrian army in the city of Sarajevo, a member of the Bosnian nationalist organization "Mlada Bosna" Gavrila Princip killed the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This event briefly drew attention to the problems of the ruling Austrian house of Habsburg, but after a quick funeral, the unfortunate heir was forgotten. No one could have guessed that the Sarajevo shots would turn out to be the prologue of a world war.

15 (28) July, Tuesday. In the evening, the telegraph spread the news: Serbia rejected the ultimatum (with the obviously unacceptable demands of Austria-Hungary violating Serbian sovereignty), and the Austrians bombarded Belgrade. War has been declared. No one believed in the possibility of Russia's non-intervention in the conflict and peaceful mediation by Great Britain. The diplomatic confrontation turned into a war. Russia's reaction was not long in coming. Serbia was immediately given a loan of 20 million francs for three months. In the future, Russia provided the Serbs with the most active financial assistance.

At midnight from 18 (31) to 19 (1), the German Ambassador Pourtales handed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia S.D. Sazonov ultimatum. Germany demanded that all military preparations be suspended. It was no longer possible to stop the running mobilization machine. On the evening of Saturday, August 19 (1), 1914, Germany declared war on Russia. Two days later, the Kaiser declared war on France, and on August 22 (4) German troops invaded Belgium. Austria-Hungary followed the example of its ally, and on August 24 (6) declared a state of war with Russia. The First World War has begun.

Across the boundless expanses of the Russian Empire, telegraph wires carried urgent orders from the authorities to put the troops on alert. Dispatches were sent from St. Petersburg to the headquarters of the military districts with orders from the head of the mobilization department of the GUGSH, from there commands were sent to division headquarters, and soon regimental commanders were handed packets with the same content: “Secret. The regiment has been mobilized." In an instant, the usual flow of time was disrupted. The world seemed to be divided into two halves: now and “before the war”.

The entire huge war machine of the Russian Empire was set in motion. The railroads were packed with trains moving in all directions. Those called up for the tsarist service were transported from the reserve, mobilized horses and supplies of fodder were transported. Ammunition, ammunition and equipment were urgently issued from warehouses.

In the course of mobilization measures, the cavalry general Brusilov is appointed to the post of commander of the 8th army. The army enters the Southwestern Front and is sent to the theater of operations in Galicia.

According to plan "A", the Austrian front was chosen as the main direction of attack of the Russian armies. The operation in East Prussia was supposed to divert the attention of the ally of Austria-Hungary and provide an opportunity to concentrate the main forces to deliver a crushing blow to the armed forces of the Dual Empire. The Austrians could only put up three field armies against the Russians: the 1st, 3rd and 4th (the 2nd army was transferred from the Serbian front to Galicia already during the fighting). The Austro-Hungarian troops were led by the former inspector general of the Austrian armed forces, Archduke Friedrich. According to contemporaries, he was a man of rather mediocre talents, therefore, as in the Russian army, the entire burden of operational planning fell on the shoulders of the chief of staff, Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf.

In accordance with the offensive plan, four Russian armies were to defeat the Austro-Hungarian troops, preventing them from retreating south beyond the Dniester and west to Krakow. As in East Prussia, it was supposed to defeat the enemy with an enveloping blow, which was supposed to end with the encirclement of the Austrian group in Eastern Galicia. However, the Austrian headquarters also developed offensive actions with the aim of defeating the Russian armies. As a result, the Battle of Galicia turned into a series of oncoming battles, which, although they took place independently of each other, formed a single background for general hostilities.

Taking advantage of the stretched position of the corps of the Russian 5th Army, which were supposed to close on one flank with the troops of the 4th Army of Evert, and on the other - with the 3rd Army of General Ruzsky, the Austrians managed to hold back the first Russian attacks and push back the XXV Corps of General D. P. Zuev and the XIX Corps of General V.N. Gorbatovsky. At the same time, the Austrian 15th Division, which had pulled ahead, came under attack from the V Corps, commanded by General A.I. Litvinov. With a counterattack, his corps completely defeated the Austrian division, but, unfortunately, the retreat of the flank corps forced P.A. Plehve to pull back all the troops of the 5th Army to their original positions. In this situation, the chief of staff of the Southwestern Front issued a directive on the start of the offensive of the 3rd and 8th armies with a general direction to Lvov.

Army commanders - Generals N.V. Ruzsky and A.A. Brusilov - sought to get ahead of each other in capturing this operationally important city. The generals, familiar from pre-war service in the Kiev military district, were the complete opposite of each other. N.V. Ruzsky, who had academic knowledge and combat experience behind him, successfully combining these qualities while working as a member of the Military Council, adhered to the methodology of a consistent offensive, ensured by the presence of reserves in the rear, while A.A. Brusilov held opposing views. Considering the weakness of the opposing Austrian grouping (the enemy held only one army on a wide front), Commander-8 wanted active offensive operations.

On August 6 (19) and 8 (21) August, both armies, having a double superiority in strength, launched an offensive in a vast area from Lutsk to Kamenetz-Podolsk. The direction of the main attack was determined for the army of Ruzsky, who considered it his main task to capture Lvov. In contrast to the wooded northern regions, where the 4th and 5th armies operated, flat terrain prevailed on the right flank of the Southwestern Front, which became the scene of fierce cavalry battles. The initial stage of the Battle of Galicia can be called the swan song of the Russian imperial cavalry. Here, in the vastness of Galicia, for the last time large masses of cavalry converged chest to chest, as if resurrecting the famous horse attacks of the Napoleonic wars.

8 (21) August 1914, near the village of Yaroslavitsy, the 10th Cavalry Division of Lieutenant General Count F.A. Keller, being on a reconnaissance search, discovered a cluster of Austrian troops threatening their neighbor, the 9th Cavalry Division. Count Keller decided to attack the enemy in cavalry formation with the forces of 16 squadrons and hundreds. The enemy - the 4th Cavalry Division under the command of Major General Edmund Zaremba - had no choice but to accept the oncoming battle. Although the Austrians had a numerical advantage, the more flexible formation of the Russian squadrons quickly made it possible to reduce this factor to nothing. A head-on collision of cavalry masses, built in deployed and closed formations, passed.

General Brusilov, meeting almost no resistance - the main Austro-Hungarian forces were thrown against Ruzsky - advanced in the direction of Galich. Having broken the enemy's barrier on the Rotten Lipa River, the 8th Army, together with the right wing of the 3rd, forced the Austrians to retreat along the entire front. Ruzsky, after a day's rest, abandoned on September 19 (1) parts of the IX Corps of Infantry General D.G. Shcherbachev in the direction of the northern outskirts of Lviv. At the same time, A.A. Brusilov, on the one hand, fulfilling the directive of the front headquarters to help Ruzsky, and on the other hand, carried away by the pursuit of the retreating Austrians, moves southwest of the corps of the 3rd Army and captures Galich.

At the headquarters of Konrad von Hötzendorf, the situation around Lvov was assessed as critical. The Chief of the Field Staff of the Austro-Hungarian Army gave the order to hold back the onslaught of the 3rd and 8th Russian armies and at the same time begin the transfer of the 2nd Austrian army under the command of General Böhm-Ermoli from the Serbian front to Galicia. But this could no longer have a great influence on the course of battles in the southern sector of the Southwestern Front.

The two Austrian divisions left to cover Lvov were defeated by the troops of the XXI Corps of General Ya.F. Shkinsky and left the city in a panic. September 21 (3) IX Corps D.G. Shcherbacheva entered Lvov, abandoned by the enemy.

As a result, the front rolled back to the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The military strength of Austria-Hungary - Germany's main ally on the Eastern Front - was undermined. The losses of the Austrians during the Battle of Galicia ranged from 336 thousand to 400 thousand people, of which 100 thousand were prisoners, and up to 400 guns. The southwestern front lost about 233 thousand soldiers and officers, and 44 thousand people fell to the share of prisoners.

During the Battle of Galicia, Brusilov showed himself as a master of mobile warfare. It was the troops of his army that achieved maximum success in the ongoing operation due to skillful maneuvering and timely deployment of reserves into battle. For the successful leadership of the troops of the 8th Army in the Battle of Galicia, A.A. Brusilov was awarded the Order of St. George of the 4th and 3rd degrees, and at the beginning of 1915 he was assigned to the imperial retinue with the rank of adjutant general. The military merits and the ability of the general to lead a large number of troops forced the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Emperor Nicholas II to pay the highest attention to the personality of Brusilov when looking for a candidate for the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Front in March 1916.

Just at that time, the conference of representatives of the High Command of the Entente countries in Chantilly ended, at which it was decided to crush the military power of Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1916 by joint strikes. According to the plan of the Russian command for the summer, a grand offensive of the fronts was planned. At a meeting at Headquarters, in April 1916, Brusilov insisted that his Southwestern Front strike the first blow against the enemy.

In his memoirs, he dwells in detail on the events that preceded the offensive: “On May 11, I received a telegram from the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in which he informed me that the Italian troops had suffered such a severe defeat that the Italian high command did not hope to keep the enemy on its front and urged us to go on the offensive in order to withdraw part of the forces from the Italian front to ours; therefore, by order of the sovereign, he asks me if I can go on the offensive and when. I immediately answered him that the armies of the front entrusted to me were ready and that, as I said earlier, they could go on the offensive a week after the notification. On this basis, I report that I gave the order on May 19 to go on the offensive with all the armies, but on one condition, on which I especially insist that the Western Front also move forward at the same time in order to pin down the troops located against it. After that, Alekseev invited me to talk over a direct wire. He told me that he was asking me to start the attack not on May 19, but on May 22, since Evert can only start his offensive on June 1. I replied that such a gap is somewhat large, but it can be put up with on the condition that there will be no further delays. To this Alekseev answered me that he guarantees me that there will be no further delays. And he immediately sent orders by telegrams to the commanders of the armies that the start of the attack should be on May 22 at dawn, and not on the 19th.

On the evening of May 21, Alekseev again invited me to a direct wire. He told me that he had some doubts about the success of my active actions due to the unusual way in which I undertake it, that is, the enemy attacks simultaneously in many places instead of one blow with all the assembled forces and all the artillery that I have distributed among the armies. Alekseev expressed the opinion whether it would not be better to postpone my attack for several days in order to arrange only one shock section, as has already been worked out by the practice of a real war. The tsar himself desires such a change in the plan of action, and on his behalf he proposes this modification to me. To this, I objected to him that I flatly refuse to change my plan of attack, and in this case I ask you to change me. I do not find it possible to postpone the day and hour of the offensive a second time, because all the troops are in their initial position for the attack, and until my orders to cancel reach the front, artillery preparation will begin. Troops with frequent cancellations of orders inevitably lose confidence in their leaders, and therefore I urge you to change me. Alekseev answered me that the supreme commander had already gone to bed and it was inconvenient for him to wake him, and he asked me to think. I became so angry that I answered sharply: “The dream of the supreme does not concern me, and there is nothing more for me to think about. I'm asking for an answer now." To this, General Alekseev said: “Well, God bless you, do as you know, and I will report on our conversation to the Sovereign Emperor tomorrow.” This is where our conversation ended. I must explain that all such interfering conversations by telegraph, letters, etc., which I do not quote here, made me very tired and irritated me. I knew very well that in the event of my acquiescence in organizing one blow, this blow would undoubtedly end in failure, since the enemy would certainly detect it and concentrate strong reserves for a counterattack, as in all previous cases. Of course, the tsar had nothing to do with it, but it was the Headquarters system with Alekseev at the head - to take a step forward, and then immediately step back.

In total, by the beginning of the offensive in the 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th armies of the Southwestern Front, there were 603,184 bayonets, 62,836 checkers, 223,000 trained reserve fighters and 115,000 unarmed fighters (there were not enough rifles ). There were 2,480 machine guns, 2,017 field and heavy artillery pieces in service. The troops of the front had 2 armored trains, 1 division and 13 platoons of armored vehicles, 20 aviation detachments and 2 Ilya Muromets bombers. The enemy had 592,330 infantry fighters and 29,764 cavalry fighters, 757 mortars, 107 flamethrowers, 2,731 field and heavy artillery pieces, 8 armored trains, 11 aviation battalions and companies. Thus, the offensive began in the conditions of superiority of the enemy in artillery (although the Austro-Hungarian troops did not have enough shells). The surprise of the attack, its scale, superiority in manpower, especially pronounced on the front of the 8th Army, became the main trump cards. Russian intelligence was able to reveal the location of the enemy, but was mistaken in calculating his forces. Despite the fact that the Austro-Hungarian command intercepted Brusilov's order to go on the offensive, they could not take any countermeasures.

On May 22-23 (June 4-5), 1916, after a long artillery preparation (two days in the 7th Army), Russian troops attacked the enemy. On May 23-24 (June 5-6), the 8th Army broke through the positions of the Austro-Hungarian armies: the 1st - at Sapanov, and the 4th - at Olyka. Artillery bombardment was of exceptional importance for success, forcing the enemy to remain in hiding for hours. In a number of places, enemy artillery and shelters were effectively hit by Russian chemical shells. By the evening of the fourth day of the offensive, Lutsk was liberated. The commander of the 4th Army, Archduke Joseph Ferdinand, was removed.

The 11th Russian Army was unable to break through the Austro-Hungarian positions and resist the transfer of troops from this sector to Lutsk. However, to the south, success accompanied the 7th Army at Yazlovets, and the 9th - at Okna. The troops of the general from infantry P.A. Lechitsky split the 7th army of the Austro-Hungarians in two and forced it to retreat to Stanislavov and the Carpathians.

The losses of the 8th Army in the first three days of the offensive reached 33.5 thousand people, the 9th Army lost more than 10 thousand people in the first day of the breakthrough, the 7th in the first week - 20.2 thousand, the 11th also for the first week - 22.2 thousand people. The huge losses of the attackers and the lack of reserves (the reserve of the front was brought into battle on the third day of the operation, and the four corps sent from the Northern and Western fronts had not yet been brought up) made it impossible to develop success in the south.

Meanwhile, the enemy received the first reinforcements and launched counterattacks on the river. Stokhod. June 3 (16), 1916 decided the fate of the further development of the breakthrough of the Southwestern Front. If at a meeting in Teschen, the Chief of the General Staff of Austria-Hungary, Colonel-General F. Konrad von Hötzendorf, urged the Germans to transfer everything they could to the front from Brest to the Dniester in order to avoid the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army, then the new directive of the Russian Headquarters confirmed the offensive of the South Western front to Kovel and Brest, and Western - to Kobrin and Slonim. On the same day, the cessation of the offensive of the Austro-Hungarian troops in South Tyrol was announced.

As a result of the successful actions of the armies of the Southwestern Front under the command of General of the Cavalry A.A. Brusilov, the Austrian troops were forced to leave a significant territory. Germany had to provide military assistance to the ally, abandoning active operations on the Western and Eastern fronts. As for the Austrians, after the defeat in the summer of 1916, they no longer took active actions against the Russian troops until the end of the campaign.

The breakthrough of the troops of the Southwestern Front was the last striking strategic operation of the Russian imperial army in the First World War. For the successful leadership of the troops of the front, General A.A. Brusilov was awarded the golden St. George's weapon with diamonds, and his name was included in the lists of the best commanders of the world war of 1914-1918.

With the beginning of the February Revolution, A.A. Brusilov, along with other commanders-in-chief of the fronts, supported the abdication of Nicholas II, sincerely believing that a change in the leadership of the state would allow Russia to end the war victoriously. Having accepted the revolution, Brusilov tried to combine military affairs with the new reality. He was one of the first generals to accept the existence of the Soldiers' Committees and tried to establish a working relationship with them. Despite the revolutionary whirlwind that shook the country, Brusilov continued to prepare his troops for military operations.

In May 1917, General of the Cavalry Brusilov was appointed Supreme Commander of the Russian armies. Prior to him, during the war years, this post was occupied by representatives of the reigning house (Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich and Emperor Nicholas II himself), and from February to May 1917 - General of Infantry M.V. Alekseev. Now the revolutionary Provisional Government set the task of carrying out a front-line operation to break through the enemy front before the new commander-in-chief.

However, the offensive of the Southwestern Front, which began in June 1917, turned into a disaster for the Russian armies. The decomposed troops refused to go on the offensive and replace their comrades in battle lines. Initially successful actions turned into a wholesale flight. Even had to return to the front of the death penalty, abolished immediately after the overthrow of the autocracy.

Seeing the defeat of his troops and realizing the impossibility of further leadership of completely incompetent armies, Brusilov resigns. However, the head of the Provisional Government A.F. Kerensky had his own vision of a talented general. Brusilov was appointed military adviser to the government. In Petrograd, Alexei Alekseevich found himself in a whirlpool of revolutionary crises. Having no interest in politics and not wanting to be involved in party intrigues, Brusilov resigns and moves to Moscow.

There he indifferently endures the news of the October Revolution. During the days of the armed struggle in Moscow, Brusilov rejected the offer to head the garrison units loyal to the Provisional Government and remained an outside observer. During an artillery attack, he was wounded in his home by shrapnel. Recovering from a wound for a long time, Alexei Alekseevich led the life of a recluse, rarely meeting with old colleagues.

Reflections of those days are reflected in his memoirs: “I have been serving the Russian people and Russia for more than 50 years, I know the Russian soldier well and do not blame him for the devastation in the army. I affirm that the Russian soldier is an excellent warrior, and as soon as the reasonable principles of military discipline and the laws governing the troops are restored, this same soldier will again be at the height of his military duty, especially if he is inspired by slogans that are understandable and dear to him. But this takes time.

Returning mentally to the past, I often now think that our references to Order No. 1, to the declaration of the rights of the soldier, as if mainly ruining the army, are not quite correct. Well, if these two documents would not have been published, would the army not have collapsed? Of course, in the course of historical events and in view of the mood of the masses, it would have collapsed anyway, only at a slower pace. Hindenburg was right when he said that the one whose nerves are stronger will win the war. With us, they turned out to be the weakest, because we had to make up for the lack of equipment with excessively spilled blood. It is impossible to fight with impunity almost with bare hands against an enemy well-armed with modern technology and inspired by patriotism. Yes, and all the government confusion and blunders helped the general collapse. It must also be remembered that the revolution of 1905-1906 was only the first act of this great drama. How did the government take advantage of these warnings? Yes, in essence, in no way: the old slogan was only put forward again: "Hold and do not let go," but everything remained as before. What they sow, they reap!

... Of all the former commanders-in-chief, I alone survived on the territory of the former Russia. I consider it my sacred duty to write the truth for the history of this great era. Staying in Russia, despite the fact that I had endured a lot of grief and hardship, I tried to impartially observe everything that was happening, remaining, as before, non-partisan. All the good and bad sides were more noticeable to me. At the very beginning of the revolution, I firmly resolved not to separate from the soldiers and to remain in the army as long as it existed or until I was relieved. Later, I told everyone that I consider it the duty of every citizen not to abandon his people and live with them, no matter what the cost. At one time, under the influence of great family experiences and the persuasion of friends, I was inclined to leave for the Ukraine and then abroad, but these hesitation were short-lived. I quickly returned to my deep-rooted beliefs. After all, not every people is going through such a great and difficult revolution, which Russia had to go through. It is hard, of course, but I could not do otherwise, even if it cost my life. I did not consider and do not consider it possible and worthy to wander abroad in the role of an emigrant.

The general's past was the reason for the arrest of Brusilov by the Cheka in August 1918. Thanks to the petition of the general's colleagues who already served in the Red Army, Brusilov was soon released, but until December 1918 he was under house arrest. At this time, his son, a former cavalry officer, was drafted into the ranks of the Red Army. Having honestly fought on the fronts of the Civil War, in 1919, during the offensive of General Denikin's troops on Moscow, he was captured and hanged.

Apparently, the death of his son forced Brusilov to take a decisive step, and he voluntarily joined the Red Army. Given the great strategic and teaching experience of the former general, he was appointed chairman of the "Military Historical Commission for the Study and Use of the Experience of the War of 1914-1918." In this post, Brusilov contributed to the publication of a number of textbooks and analytical works for the commanders of the young army of the Republic of Soviets. In 1920, striving with all his might to put an end to the fratricidal civil war, he issued an appeal to the officers of the army of Baron Wrangel, and then to all the officers of the former Russian army with an appeal to fight together against the common enemy of the Russian people - Pan Poland. In 1922 A.A. Brusilov is appointed to the post of chief cavalry inspector of the Red Army and is intensively engaged in the revival of the Russian cavalry. He held this position until his death in 1926.

An outstanding commander of the First World War, the Supreme Commander of the Russian Army and a brilliant military teacher and theorist A.A. Brusilov was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow next to the grave of the chief of staff of his Southwestern Front, General V.N. Klembovsky.

KOPYLOV N.A.

Literature

Memories. M., 1963

Zalessky K.A. Who was who in the First World War. M., 2003

Bazanov S.N. Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov. Zeikhgauz, 2006

Sokolov Yu.V. Red star or cross? The life and fate of General Brusilov. M., 1994

Internet

Vladimir Svyatoslavich

981 - the conquest of Cherven and Przemysl. 983 - the conquest of the Yatvags. 984 - the conquest of the natives. 985 - successful campaigns against the Bulgars, the taxation of the Khazar Khaganate. 988 - the conquest of the Taman Peninsula. 991 - the subjugation of the White Croats. 992 - successfully defended Cherven Rus in the war against Poland. in addition, the saint is equal to the apostles.

Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich

Well, who else if not him - the only Russian commander who did not lose, who did not lose more than one battle !!!

Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich

During the outbreak of the war with England and France, he actually commanded the Black Sea Fleet, until his heroic death he was the immediate superior of P.S. Nakhimov and V.I. Istomin. After the landing of the Anglo-French troops in Evpatoria and the defeat of the Russian troops on the Alma, Kornilov received an order from the commander-in-chief in the Crimea, Prince Menshikov, to flood the ships of the fleet in the roadstead in order to use sailors to defend Sevastopol from land.

Kappel Vladimir Oskarovich

Perhaps the most talented commander of the entire Civil War, even if compared with the commanders of all its sides. A man of powerful military talent, fighting spirit and Christian noble qualities is a real White Knight. Kappel's talent and personal qualities were noticed and respected even by his opponents. The author of many military operations and exploits - including the capture of Kazan, the Great Siberian Ice Campaign, etc. Many of his calculations, which were not evaluated in time and missed through no fault of his own, later turned out to be the most correct, which was shown by the course of the Civil War.

Saltykov Pyotr Semyonovich

The most important successes of the Russian army in the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763 are associated with his name. Winner in the battles of Palzig,
In the battle of Kunersdorf, having defeated the Prussian king Frederick II the Great, Berlin was taken by the troops of Totleben and Chernyshev.

Chichagov Vasily Yakovlevich

He excellently commanded the Baltic Fleet in the campaigns of 1789 and 1790. He won victories in the battle of Eland (15/07/1789), in Revel (02/05/1790) and Vyborg (06/22/1790) battles. After the last two defeats, which were of strategic importance, the dominance of the Baltic Fleet became unconditional, and this forced the Swedes to make peace. There are few such examples in the history of Russia when victories at sea led to victory in the war. And by the way, the battle of Vyborg was one of the largest in world history in terms of the number of ships and people.

Chernyakhovsky Ivan Danilovich

To a person to whom this name does not say anything - there is no need to explain and it is useless. To the one to whom it says something - and so everything is clear.
Twice Hero of the Soviet Union. Commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front. The youngest front commander. Counts,. that of the army general - but before his death (February 18, 1945) he received the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.
He liberated three of the six capitals of the Union Republics captured by the Nazis: Kyiv, Minsk. Vilnius. Decided the fate of Keniksberg.
One of the few who pushed back the Germans on June 23, 1941.
He held the front in Valdai. In many ways, he determined the fate of repelling the German offensive on Leningrad. He kept Voronezh. Freed Kursk.
He successfully advanced until the summer of 1943. Having formed the top of the Kursk Bulge with his army. Liberated the Left Bank of Ukraine. Take Kyiv. Repelled Manstein's counterattack. Liberated Western Ukraine.
Carried out the operation Bagration. Surrounded and captured by his offensive in the summer of 1944, the Germans then humiliatedly marched through the streets of Moscow. Belarus. Lithuania. Neman. East Prussia.

Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich

"There is a city in vast Russia to which my heart is given, it went down in history as STALINGRAD ..." V.I. Chuikov

Vasilevsky Alexander Mikhailovich

Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky (September 18 (30), 1895 - December 5, 1977) - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943), chief of the General Staff, member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. During the Great Patriotic War, as Chief of the General Staff (1942-1945), he took an active part in the development and implementation of almost all major operations on the Soviet-German front. From February 1945 he commanded the 3rd Belorussian Front, led the assault on Königsberg. In 1945, he was commander-in-chief of the Soviet troops in the Far East in the war with Japan. One of the greatest commanders of World War II.
In 1949-1953 - Minister of the Armed Forces and Minister of War of the USSR. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), holder of two Orders of Victory (1944, 1945).

Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich

"As a military leader, I.V. Stalin, I studied thoroughly, since I went through the whole war with him. I.V. Stalin mastered the organization of front-line operations and operations of groups of fronts and led them with complete knowledge of the matter, well versed in large strategic questions...
In leading the armed struggle as a whole, JV Stalin was assisted by his natural mind and rich intuition. He knew how to find the main link in a strategic situation and, seizing on it, to counteract the enemy, to conduct one or another major offensive operation. Undoubtedly, he was a worthy Supreme Commander"

(Zhukov G.K. Memoirs and reflections.)

Platov Matvei Ivanovich

Ataman of the Great Don Army (since 1801), cavalry general (1809), who took part in all the wars of the Russian Empire in the late 18th - early 19th centuries.
In 1771 he distinguished himself in the attack and capture of the Perekop line and Kinburn. From 1772 he began to command a Cossack regiment. During the 2nd Turkish war, he distinguished himself during the assault on Ochakov and Ishmael. Participated in the battle of Preussisch-Eylau.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, he first commanded all the Cossack regiments on the border, and then, covering the retreat of the army, he defeated the enemy near the town of Mir and Romanovo. In the battle near the village of Semlevo, Platov's army defeated the French and captured a colonel from the army of Marshal Murat. During the retreat of the French army, Platov, pursuing her, defeated her at Gorodnya, the Kolotsk Monastery, Gzhatsk, Tsarevo-Zaimishcha, near Dukhovshchina and while crossing the Vop River. For merit he was elevated to the dignity of a count. In November, Platov occupied Smolensk from battle and defeated the troops of Marshal Ney near Dubrovna. At the beginning of January 1813 he entered the borders of Prussia and overlaid Danzig; in September, he received command of a special corps, with which he participated in the battle of Leipzig and, pursuing the enemy, captured about 15 thousand people. In 1814 he fought at the head of his regiments in the capture of Nemur, at Arcy-sur-Aube, Cezanne, Villeneuve. He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.

Rurikovich (Grozny) Ivan Vasilyevich

In the variety of perceptions of Ivan the Terrible, they often forget about his unconditional talent and achievements as a commander. He personally led the capture of Kazan and organized military reform, leading the country, which simultaneously waged 2-3 wars on different fronts.

Rurik Svyatoslav Igorevich

Year of birth 942 date of death 972 Expansion of the borders of the state. 965 the conquest of the Khazars, 963 the campaign to the south to the Kuban region the capture of Tmutarakan, 969 the conquest of the Volga Bulgars, 971 the conquest of the Bulgarian kingdom, 968 the foundation of Pereyaslavets on the Danube (the new capital of Russia), 969 the defeat of the Pechenegs in the defense of Kyiv.

Skobelev Mikhail Dmitrievich

A man of great courage, a great tactician, organizer. M.D. Skobelev possessed strategic thinking, saw the situation, both in real time and in perspective

Benigsen Leonty

An unfairly forgotten commander. Having won several battles against Napoleon and his marshals, he drew two battles with Napoleon, losing one battle. Participated in the battle of Borodino. One of the contenders for the post of commander-in-chief of the Russian army during the Patriotic War of 1812!

Peter I the Great

Emperor of All Russia (1721-1725), before that, Tsar of All Russia. He won the Great Northern War (1700-1721). This victory finally opened free access to the Baltic Sea. Under his rule, Russia (the Russian Empire) became a Great Power.

Linevich Nikolai Petrovich

Nikolai Petrovich Linevich (December 24, 1838 - April 10, 1908) - a prominent Russian military leader, infantry general (1903), adjutant general (1905); general who stormed Beijing.

Stalin (Dzhugashvili) Joseph Vissarionovich

Comrade Stalin, in addition to the atomic and missile projects, together with General of the Army Antonov Alexei Innokentievich, participated in the development and implementation of almost all significant operations of the Soviet troops in the Second World War, brilliantly organized the work of the rear, even in the first difficult years of the war.

Suvorov, Count Rymniksky, Prince of Italy Alexander Vasilyevich

The greatest commander, a genius strategist, tactician and military theorist. Author of the book "The Science of Victory", Generalissimo of the Russian Army. The only one in the history of Russia that did not suffer a single defeat.

Marshal of the Soviet Union, an outstanding Soviet military leader, military theorist.
B. M. Shaposhnikov made a significant contribution to the theory and practice of organizational development of the Armed Forces of the USSR, to their strengthening and improvement, and to the training of military personnel.
He was a consistent champion of strict discipline, but an enemy of shouting. Rudeness in general was organically alien to him. True military intellectual, b. colonel in the imperial army.

Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko (1828-1901)

General, hero of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. The Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, which marked the liberation of the Balkan peoples from the centuries-old Ottoman rule, brought forward a number of talented military leaders. Among them should be mentioned M.D. Skobeleva, M.I. Dragomirova, N.G. Stoletova, F.F. Radetsky, P.P. Kartseva and others. Among these famous names there is one more - Iosif Vladimirovich Gurko, whose name is associated with the victory at Plevna, the heroic transition through the winter Balkans and victories near the banks of the Maritsa River.

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich (1853-1926) - cavalry general (1912), adjutant general (1915). He studied at the Corps of Pages. Served in the 15th Tver Dragoon Regiment. Member of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. From 1883 he served in the Officer Cavalry School, assistant to its chief (1898) and chief (1902). Commander of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division (1906) and 14th Army Corps (1909), assistant commander of the Warsaw Military District (1912), commander of the 12th Army Corps (1913). During World War I, Commander of the 8th Army of the Southwestern Front (1914), Commander-in-Chief of the Southwestern Front (1916), Supreme Commander-in-Chief (May-July 1917), then military adviser to the Provisional Government. From 1919 he collaborated with the Red Army.

The name index of the book was used: V.B. Lopukhin. Notes of the former director of the department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. St. Petersburg, 2008.

Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov (1853-1926) was born in the family of a general. Graduated from the Corps of Pages. A participant in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, he served for more than 15 years in an officer cavalry school, starting as a riding instructor and ending as its chief. In 1906 - 1912. commanded various military formations. In 1912 he received the rank of general from the cavalry. From the beginning of the First World War, he was appointed commander of the 8th Army, from March 1916 - commander-in-chief of the Southwestern Front. Promoted to the ranks of the best commanders of the First World War, gained particular fame for developing and conducting the offensive of the Russian army in the summer of 1916. After February Revolution - a supporter of the continuation of the war to a victorious end. In May 1917 he was appointed Supreme Commander of the Russian Army. After being removed from this post in July 1917, he remained at the disposal of the Provisional Government. In 1920 he joined the Red Army.

One of the military operations he developed during the First World War, the Brussilovsky breakthrough, was named after Brusilov: on May 22, 1916, after a massive artillery strike, Russian troops went on the offensive and in a number of places immediately broke through the Austrian positions. On May 25, Russian troops occupied Lutsk, and on June 5 they captured Chernivtsi. The front was broken through for 340 km, the depth of the breakthrough reached 120 km. In these battles, the Austrians suffered heavy losses - about 1.5 million killed, wounded and captured.

The Brusilov breakthrough put Austria-Hungary on the brink of a military and political disaster. To save the Austrian front from complete collapse, Germany transferred large forces from the west, stopping the offensive at Verdun.

However, the success of the Southwestern Front did not produce decisive strategic results, since it was not supported by the offensive operations of other fronts. And after the approach of large enemy reserves, the war here again acquired a positional character.

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich (1853, Tiflis - 1926, Moscow) - military leader. Genus. in the noble family of a lieutenant general. He lost his parents early and was brought up by relatives. He received a good education at home. In 1867 he was sent to St. Petersburg, a page corps, and in 1872 he was hired as an ensign in the 15th Tver Dragoon Regiment. Participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, having earned three military orders. He distinguished himself during the assault on the fortress of Ardagan and the capture of Kars. In 1881-1906 Brusilov continued to serve in the officer cavalry school of St. Petersburg, which he completed with the rank of lieutenant general. In 1908 he became a corps commander. In 1912 he was appointed assistant commander of the Warsaw Military District and promoted to general of the cavalry for service distinction. From the beginning of the First World War he commanded the 8th Army. On the very first day of the offensive, his troops utterly defeated the Austrian cavalry division and, moving west, took a large number of prisoners. Brusilov's tactics consisted of active defense and a swift offensive. In Brusilov was appointed commander of the South-West. front, which allowed him to act relatively independently. "We have every chance of success, in which I am strongly convinced," he argued. Nicholas II . Brusilov marked Lutsk as the place of the main blow. On May 22, 1916, thanks to careful preparation, relatively small forces made a breakthrough in the defense of the Austro-German troops (later called the "Brusilovsky breakthrough"), which became one of the largest operations on the Russian-German front, inflicting enormous losses on the enemy (up to 1.5 million killed , wounded and prisoners) and forcing the Germans to transfer from the West. front to the east 17 divisions. But this brilliant maneuver was not developed strategically. The headquarters of Nicholas II was unable to fulfill its purpose. After the February Revolution of 1917, Brusilov, as a supporter of continuing the war to a victorious end, was appointed Supreme Commander, but due to the untimeliness of his demand for the introduction of the death penalty at the front and the failure of the June offensive, he was replaced by Kornilov. In the early years of the civil war, he was out of work: " At the very beginning of the revolution, I firmly resolved not to separate from the soldiers and to remain in the army as long as it existed or until I was relieved. Later, I told everyone that I consider it the duty of every citizen not to abandon his people and live by them, no matter what the cost.". During the fighting in Moscow, Brusilov was wounded in the leg by a shell fragment that hit his washing apartment. Brusilov refused to go to the Don and join M.V. Alekseev , A.I. Dutov , A.M. Kaledin . The brief arrest of the Cheka in 1918 did not turn Brusilov away from the Bolsheviks. It was not easy for him, a monarchist and a believer, to accept the new government, but he was convinced of the necessity of everything that had happened. Brusilov's only son Alexei, who served in the Red Cavalry, was taken prisoner by the Whites and shot. In 1920, Brusilov began to serve in the Red Army: he led the cavalry pre-conscription training, was an inspector of the cavalry; since 1924, he carried out especially important assignments at the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR. Died of pneumonia. Author of valuable memoirs.

Used materials of the book: Shikman A.P. Figures of national history. Biographical guide. Moscow, 1997

During the years of the revolution

Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich (August 19, 1853, Tiflis - March 17, 1926, Moscow). From nobles. In 1872 he graduated from the junior special, class of the Corps of Pages: to be transferred to the senior, special. class based on academic results is not admitted. Member of the Russian tour. wars 1877-78. After graduating from the Officer Cavalry. school (1883), taught there (in 1902-06, head of the school). In 1906-1912 commander of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division, commander of the 14th Army Corps; gene. from the cavalry (1912). During the 1st world. war in 1914-1916 commands, 8th army; adjutant general (1915). Since March 17, 1916 the commanders-in-chief. the armies of the South-West, the front; in May - Aug. led the offensive, later called. " Brusilov breakthrough "- one of the largest operations on the Russian-German front. He believed in the inevitable predestination of events (he was fond of occultism and mysticism; he was strongly influenced by the ideas of the founder of Theosophical Society E.L. Blavatsky).

Compositions:

Brusilov A.A. My memories. [Ch. 1] / Foreword. P.A. Zhilina. - M.: Military Publishing, 1983. - 256 p.

Brusilov A.A. My memories, M.. 1963;

Brusilov A.A. My memories. [Ch. 2] // Military-ist. magazine - 1989. - No. 10.12; - 1990. - No. 2; - 1991. - No. 2.

Literature:

Cavalry General A.A. Brusilov // Portuguese R.M., Alekseev P.D., Runov V.A. The First World War in the biographies of Russian military leaders / Ed. ed. V.P. Mayatsky. - M.: Elakos, 1994. - S. 113-158.

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Kuznetsov F.E. Brusilov breakthrough. - M.: Gospolitizdat, 1944. - 38 p.

World War I: Sat. / Compiled, foreword, comments. S.N. Semanov. - M.: Mol. guard, 1989. - 606 p. - (History of the Fatherland in novels, stories, documents. XX century).

Rostunov I.I. General Brusilov. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1964. - 245 p.: ill.

Semanov S.N. Brusilov / Foreword. K.S. Moskalenko. - M.: Mol. guard, 1980. - 318 p.: ill.- (Life of remarkable people. Ser. biogr.; Issue 8 (604)).

Sokolov Yu.V. Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov // Vopr. stories. - 1988.- No. 11.- S. 80-97.

Shabanov V.M. A.A. Brusilov: [The fate of Gen. Russian army, later owls. commander A.A. Brusilova] // Military-ist. magazine - 1989. - No. 10. - S. 63-65.

D.L., Brusilov about himself and his judges, "The Will of Russia", 1924, No. 18/19;