About Leonid Govorov

[Victor Katz]

LEONID ALEKSANDROVICH GOVOROV
1897.02.22-1955.03.19

Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov was born on Feburary 22^nd, 1897 into a Russian peasant family. He was born in Butyrki in Vyatka Governorate, now in Kirov Oblast. His father, Alexander G. Govorov, was first a peasant then worked as a sailor on river vessels then as a clerk in the city of Yelabuga. Leonid was the eldest of the four sons. He attended a technical high school in Yelabuga then enrolled in the shipbuilding department of Petrograd Polytechnical Institute. He was noted to be the best student while being in high school. In December 1916, however, he was mobilized and sent to the Konstantinovskye Artillery School and was to work in the Tsar's army. In 1917, however, the situation at the front sharply worsened and early graduation from the school took place in June. Leonid Govorov, now a cadet recieves the appointment of Junior Officer in the mortar battery of one of the units of the Tomsk garrison. His brother Nikolai goes to serve with Leonid.

However, the Russian Revolution broke out and the Russian Army disintegrated. Govorov returned home and worked as clerks in the local Consumer Cooperation, helping thier parents and brothers. Leonid never considered military service as a profession. But god had other plans for Leonid.

In 1918, the Civil War broke out in Russia. In October that year, the White Army captured Yelabuga and Leonid and his brother Nikolai, who formerly worked for the imperial army, was forcibly conscripted into the White Army under Aleksadr Kolchak. He served in an artillery battery with the 8^th Karma Rifle Division of the 2^nd Ufa Army Corps in the Western Army. Govorov participated in the Spring Offensive of the Russian Amry, a drive westwards by Eastern White forces. However, he observed the cruelty in how the White Army treated the civilians in conquered territories, and decides to desert. In October 1919, Leonid and his brother Nikolai deserted his army with some of his fellow soldiers of his battery. He fled to Tomsk and in December, the Govorov brothers took part in an uprising against White authorities. Leonid participated as an assistant to the chief of the combat squad.

Govorov later joined the Red Army in January 1920, and served in the 51^st Rifle Division as an artillery battalion commander. He fought in the Siege of perekop in November, and drove out Pyotr Wrangel's White Army at Crimea. Leonid was wounded twice in 1920 and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in 1921. It was his first combat award.

Left=Govorov(right) With His Wife(left), Unknown 1923
Right=Govorov(right) with Pyotr Brikuls(left), Odessa, 1925

After the Civil War, Leonid continued to serve in the 51st Rifle Division. In September 1923, he was appointed chief of artillery of the division, and he became the commander of an artillery regiment in November 1924. He was then transferred to the Chief of Artillery of the Rybnitsky fortified region, then to Chief of Artillery of the 14th and 15th rifle corps, and finally to the head of the Kiev military district's artillery department.

Govorov longed for knowledge all his life, and engaged in self-education. He successfully completed the Artillery Course in 1926, the Artillery Advanced Training Courses for Commanding in Pushkin in 1930, and the Frunze Military Academy in 1933. He also studied and passed the military translator exam for German on his own.

In 1936, Govorov was promoted to the rank of Brigade Commander, and became one of the first set of students of the General Staff Academy. In March 1937, two months before the graduation, Leonid was prematurely released and became appointed a senior teacher of tactics at the Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy. He finished his first publication in 1939. This was during the Great Purge of Stalin, but dispite being close to being arrested, he survived due to the intervention of Mikhail Kalinin.

In January 1940, the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR announced Govorov as a valuable specialist who had fundamental knowledge in the field of combat use of artillery and the breakthrough of fortified areas of the enemy in the army. At that time, war between Finland and USSR had been going on for more than a month. The biggest battles unfolded on the Karelian Isthmus, where the Mannerheim line blocked the Red Army's offensive.

Govorov was appointed chief of artillery of the 7^th Army, and commanded the massive artillery assault that allowed Soviet breakthrough of the Mannerheim Line in Feburary 11, 1940. Govorov chose to destroy the enemy's reinforced concrete pillboxes with the fire of the largest caliber guns with a distance as close as possible. He used up to 135 guns per 1 km of the front, which caused the second line of Finnish defense to break. On March 13, 1940, Vyborg was stormed and the Winter War ended on the same day.He was awarded the Order of the Red Star and was promoted to the rank of division commander. He was then appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Artillery of the Red Army.

In May 1941, he became the head of the Dzerzhinsky military academy, but he had very little time to serve as Nazi Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941. He was appointed to the Chief of Artillery of the Western Front on July, then to Chief of Artillery of the Reserve Front. Under Govorov's leadership, a anti-tank system was quickly created. This was one of the key factors of the Red Army's first successes. On September 6, 1941, Yelnya was liberated and Elninsky ledgewas liberated in the eighth of September.

In October 1941, the threat of Moscow falling began to arise. The Supreme Command orders Govorov, Chief of Artillery of the Reserve Front to organize anti-tank defense. In October 12, the Mozhaisk defense line is created, becomes part of the Western Front and was ready for Zhukov's command. Govorov becomes the Chief of Artillery of the Western Front the same day.

October 15, 1941, whilst fighting for Moscow Major General D. D. Lelyushenko, the commander of the 5^th Army becomes wounded and Govorov becomes a substitute at the request of Georgy Zhukov. At Govorov's command, anti-tank areas and reserves are created and played a huge role in reppelling against panzer attacks of the Germans. Govorov made extensive use of mobile detatchments and tank ambushes to fight against enemy tanks. Govorov proved himself to be a decisive, firm and principled military leader and managed to defend Moscow. Govorov was awarded the Order of Lenin and was promoted to Artillery Lieutenant General on November 9, 1941 for his efforts against the Germans in Moscow. On December 11, Govorov broke through the Nazi defenses in Mozhaisk. Govorov liberated the city in 1942, and destroyed the German garrison remaining. Govorov recieved his second Order of Lenin in January 2, 1942 for his efforts at Mozhaisk.

Govorov(left) with L. General Zhdanov(right), Leningrad, 1943

After the battle of Moscow, Govorov was appointed commander of the Leningrad Group of Forces of the Leningrad Front on the recommendation of Georgy Zhukov in April. In June that year, the Headquarter appointed him commander of the Leningrad Front. For the first time in Soviet history, an artillery general became the front commander. Govorov organized the construction of a sustainable defense system, consisting of 110 large defense units with trenches, communications and other structures.

Govorov mounted local attacks while preparing a much larger offensive. The Leningrad Front planned to break the blockade of the city by eliminating the Germans south of Ladoga lake with Sinyavino Offensive. Meanwhile, Germans were preparing Operation Nordlicht, which was to capture Leningrad and link up with the Finnish army. Heavy reinforcements arrived from Sevastopol, while both sides remained unaware of the other's plans. As a result of both operations, both the Germans and the Russians suffered large casulaties.

Operation Iskra, January 1943

In November 1942, Govorov began planning his next offensive in cooperation with the Volkhov front. Operation Iskra began in 13 January 1943, and the forces linked up blocking the blockade in 18 January. The front stabilized in 22 January, and the operation opened a corridor 8-10 km wide. A railroad wis swiftly built, and the supplies, which used to rely on the "Road of Life" which was frequently blocked by the Germans, were allowed to be brought into the city more safely. Also, it eliminated the possibiility of a German-Finnish linkup and the capture of the city. Govorov was promoted to Colonel General in January 15, whilst the Operation Iskra took place. He was also awarded the Order of Suvorov 1st degree in January 18 for his efforts in Operation Iskra.

Throughout early 1943, Govorov's troops with the troops of the Volkhov Front chained the Army Group North of Nazi Germany. They didn't allow them to close the blockade again or transfer some troops to Kursk, where the largest battle was taking place. By September 1943, Govorov presents Stavka with a plan to completely free Leningrad. In November 17 during preperation of the operation, Govorov is promoted to Army General. 

Leningrad-Novgorod strategic operation began on January 14 of 1944. The formations of the 2nd shock army operating from the Oranienbaum bridgehead and the 42nd army advancing from the Pulkovo heights attacked in convergent directions. After a series of intense battles, the Peterhof-Sterlinsky German group was defeated. By the twenty-second of January, Hitler's troops were driven back 65-100 kilometers from the city, and the blockade of Leningrad was lifted. Govorov was awarded his second order of Suvorov, 1st degree.

By March 1, Leningrad, Volkhov and the Second Baltic Fronts drove the Army Group North back up to 300km on a 400km front, which liberated Southern Leningrad and part of the Kalinin region. In June, the troops of the Leningrad Front began attacking the Karelian Isthmus.  In June 10, the all-out operation began and broke the second and third lines of the enemy defense on June 17 and 19. Govorov was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union on June 18, and the Red Army stormed Vyborg on June 20. 

Leonid Govorov carried out more offensive after the success at Vyborg. Narva and Tallin offensive and Moonsund landing was carried out. The Germans of Estonia was driven out in 10 days, and Govorov plans to march on to Latvia and Riga. In October 16, Army Group North was cut off from Army Group Center and began to withdraw to the Courland Peninsula. This would be called the 'Courland Pocket' later on.

For the success against Army Group North, Govorov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Govorov continued to command the Leningrad Front and continued his offensive. His troops fought against Army Group Courland, which was what was left of the once-great Army Group North, consisting of 32 divisions. Army Group Courland surrendered on May 8, 1945. On May 31, 1945, Govorov was awarded the Order of Victory, the highest military decoration awarded to Soviet troops. 

Govorov's Monument, Stachek Square at St. Petersburg, Installed at Jan. 25, 1999

After the Second World War, he held high posts in the Armed Forces of USSR. From July 1945, he commanded the Leningrad Military District, and he was the Chief Inspector of the Ground Forces from April 1946. He was appointed Commander of National Air Defence Forces in 1948, and also became Deputy Minister of Defence in 1952. Govorov seeked the modernization of Soviet Air Defence system but he could not do much as he suffered of a chronic heart disease. He died in March 19 1955, and was buried in the Red Square near the Kremlin Wall.