Pavel Rybalko was born on November 4, 1894 in the village of Maly Vystorop, Kharkov province (today it is part of the Sumy region of Ukraine). The father of the future marshal was a worker. In addition to Paul, six more children grew up in the family.

“When Pavel was still a teenager, his father suffered a serious industrial injury - a vat with hot syrup fell over him. After that, the boy became the main breadwinner of the family, ”said Academician of the Academy of Military Sciences, reserve colonel Andrei Koshkin in an interview with RT.

According to the expert, Pavel went to work first at the sugar plant, and then at the Kharkov Steam Locomotive Plant, where he mastered the profession of turner.

The beginning of a military career

“Pavel Rybalko was determined by fate to take part in most of the military conflicts of the first half of the twentieth century, which somehow affected Russia,” military historian Yury Knutov told RT.

According to him, in the fall of 1914 Rybalko was drafted into the army and took part in the battles of the First World War as part of the 82nd Infantry Division. He personally participated in the siege of Przemysl, the Brusilovsky breakthrough and a number of other well-known operations of the Russian army.

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At the end of 1917, Rybalko was inspired by the ideas of the October Revolution and joined the ranks of the Red Guard. As an assistant commander of a red partisan detachment, he fought with the Germans, Petliurists and supporters of the hetman Pavel Skoropadsky. In the summer of 1918 he was captured by the German troops, but was released due to revolutionary events in Berlin and returned to duty again. Pavel led the Cheka battle group and fought with the gangs of ataman Nikifor Grigoriev.

In 1919, Rybalko joined the ranks of the RCP (b) and became an officer in the Red Army. In the fall of the same year, he headed the Lebedinsky Rifle Regiment, and then served in commissar positions in the cavalry, in particular, in units of the 1st Cavalry Army. He participated in the Soviet-Polish war, and also fought with the troops of Denikin, Wrangel and Makhno.

White spots

After the Civil War, Rybalko decided to connect his future life with military service. Due to the massive reductions associated with the transition to the states of peacetime, he was appointed to the post of deputy commissar of the cavalry regiment, and then - commissioner. In 1925, Rybalko was transferred to Moscow and enrolled in advanced training courses for the higher command at the Military Academy of the Red Army. M.V. Frunze. After successfully completing his studies, Rybalko was a squadron and cavalry division commander, and at the end of 1928 he became commander and commissar of a cavalry regiment in the Ukrainian military district.

In 1930, the leadership of the Red Army drew attention to a capable officer. He graduated from the rifle tactical improvement courses of the Red Army command staff "Shot", and then until 1934 he was educated at the cavalry department of the main faculty of the Red Army Military Academy. M.V. Frunze.

“While studying at the academy, Rybalko’s analytical mind was noticed in military intelligence. Therefore, having completed the course, he did not return to the cavalry, but was seconded to the Reconnaissance Headquarters of the Red Army, and from there he was sent to China, ”said Andrei Koshkin.

According to Yuri Knutov, a number of legends go about this “Chinese” period of Rybalko’s service. However, as far as they correspond to the truth, one cannot say for sure.

“They write that he was a military adviser, and that he worked undercover. But in general, the second half of the 1930s was a blank spot in the biography of the future marshal. I think this period in his life will be declassified only in the future, ”the military expert noted.

In 1935, Pavel Rybalko was awarded the rank of colonel. From 1937 to 1939, he served as the USSR military attache in Poland.

“Rybalko has become one of the key eyewitnesses to the dramatic events associated with the outbreak of World War II,” said Yuri Knutov.

In 1940, Pavel Rybalko was awarded the rank of brigade commander, and after a few months - major general. For some time he held the post of military attache in China, and then returned to the USSR at the disposal of the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff.

Deep courage

“In Moscow, Rybalko was appreciated, but at the same time regretted due to a poor state of health - even during the Civil War, he fell from his horse and was seriously injured. In 1941, despite desperate requests, they refused to send him to the front. Instead, he was sent for almost a year to lead the intelligence department at the Higher Special School of the General Staff of the Red Army, which in itself was a sign of great trust and recognition. But General Rybalko still wanted to dispose of his fate differently, ”said Yuri Knutov.

According to Knutov, only in May 1942, after the general’s insistent requests, did he agree to appoint the deputy commander of the 3rd tank army, which was in the process of formation. In August he was appointed commander of the 5th Panzer Army undergoing reorganization, and in September he was returned to the 3rd Panzer Army to a similar position.

“The appointment of an officer who previously had nothing to do with the armored units, commander of the tank army was a sign of tremendous confidence. He was considered one of the best commanders, ”Knutov said.

Pavel Rybalko received baptism of fire on the battlefields of World War II at the beginning of 1943. His army played an important role in the defeat of the Nazi forces during the Ostrogozh-Rossoshansk offensive operation, and then participated in complex battles near Kharkov. The army suffered heavy losses in battles in the east of the Ukrainian SSR and was reorganized into the 57th combined arms. However, in May 1943, Joseph Stalin ordered the restoration of the 3rd Panzer Army, this time as the Guards Army, and again transferred it under the command of Pavel Rybalko, who had already become Lieutenant General.

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“Pavel Rybalko was well versed in the latest armored technologies. In addition, everyone who saw the general in the case noted his courage. And it was not ostentatious, but deep courage, true. For health reasons, he moved with his wand, his legs were swollen, and he could not ride in a tank. Therefore, he calmly led the battle, being in the tank ranks on an ordinary passenger car, ”said Andrei Koshkin.

According to experts, the military leader, who until recently had nothing to do with heavy equipment, was now developing entire sections of military art for tank units and formations. And what he was offering worked brilliantly.

As noted by Andrey Koshkin, Pavel Rybalko became famous for his ability to organize the crossing of tank units. Contrary to all previous theoretical calculations, the tanks of the 3rd Guards crossed the river quickly and immediately. This played a huge role during the battle of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kiev. Parts under the command of General Rybalko in a short time were transferred from Bukrinsky bridgehead to Lutezhsky and dealt an unexpected blow to the enemy. Moreover, the Nazis could not even suspect anything, since the Soviet troops left masterfully made mock-ups of military equipment in the abandoned positions.

“Rybalko has developed an innovative way to free captured cities. Instead of engaging in street battles in obviously losing conditions of narrow streets, tanks bypassed cities, cut through enemy communications and demoralized him. And the mopping up of settlements was completed by infantry. This allowed saving the lives of civilians and preserving buildings. One of the most famous examples of the cities rescued by Rybalko is Lviv, ”said Yuri Knutov.

  • Lviv-Sandomierz operation. July 13 - August 29, 1944 Battle on the outskirts of Lviv
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  • © Max Alpert

However, according to him, the communities of many European settlements should also thank the saved lives and historical buildings of the Soviet military leader. The 3rd Guards Tank Army distinguished itself during the liberation of Poland and near Berlin. And when the capital of the Third Reich fell, the Rybalko tankers, having not even received a few days to rest, were transferred to Czechoslovakia, where a large group of Nazi troops fought resistance until May 9-10.

Unique personality

The war brought Pavel Rybalko recognition of the country's leadership and many awards, including two stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union. However, she took away his only son. From the very first days of the war, his father refused to patronize him and keep him near him, saying that he did not want him to serve as a “general's son”. In the summer of 1942, Lieutenant Wil Rybalko went missing during the battles near Kharkov. Later it became known that he burned out in a tank.

But the tragedy did not break the commander. He brought his units to Berlin and Prague, and then set about restoring a war-torn Europe. June 1, 1945 Pavel Rybalko was awarded the title of Marshal of the armored forces.

In 1946, he was appointed deputy commander of the armored and mechanized forces of the Soviet Army, and in 1947 - the commander. In addition, he was elected to the USSR Supreme Council.

“Pavel Rybalko won the trust of Joseph Stalin. There is information that his candidacy was considered for the post of Minister of Defense of the USSR, and for this there were all the prerequisites, ”said Andrei Koshkin.

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However, the diseases that haunted him from his youth made his corrections to the fate of the marshal - on August 28, 1948 Pavel Rybalko died. He was only 53 years old.

According to Andrei Koshkin, “Rybalko, in contrast to the Hitlerite accomplices revered today in Kiev, is the real hero of Ukraine.” The Ukrainian authorities are trying to bring the name of the marshal to oblivion - so, in 2001, the street bearing the name of the marshal in Lviv was renamed Simon Petlyura Street.

“Kiev politicians quickly realized that it was impossible to find fault with the figure of Pavel Rybalko - he did not list any ambiguous actions. Therefore, the history of his exploits was simply hushed up. The publications devoted to him in the Ukrainian media are of a single character today. This, given his colossal merits, is very disappointing and unfair, because Marshal Rybalko was a unique person, ”Andrei Koshkin summed up.