Vasily Arkhipov. The man who saved the world. Vasily Aleksandrovich Arkhipov - secret hero of the Caribbean crisis With a finger on the button

1926 – 1998

Born on January 30, 1926 in the village of Zvorkovo, Kurovsky district, Moscow region. He graduated from 9 classes in the village of Klyazma, Pushkin district, Moscow region. In 1942 entered the 10th grade of the Leningrad Naval Special School, which was evacuated first to the Omsk region, and in December 1942. to the Pacific Higher Naval School for a preparatory course.

In 1945, he took part in the war against Japan on minesweepers of the Pacific Fleet as a backup cadet for the commander of the BC-1. After the end of the war with Japan in 1945, together with the third year of school, he was transferred to the Caspian Higher Naval School in Baku, which he graduated in April 1947. He served in positions from the commander of the BC-1 submarine to the commander of the submarine division in the Black, Northern, and Baltic fleets until December 1975. In 1951 he graduated from the highest special classes of submarine officers - the mine and torpedo department, in 1953 - the command department. In 1968 he graduated from the academic courses for Navy officers.

Summer 1961 participated in the voyage of the first domestic nuclear submarine K-19 (later nicknamed the “floating Hiroshima” for its high accident rate) as a backup commander. On July 4, there was an accident on the boat that threatened an atomic explosion. During its liquidation, a conflict arose on board the boat - several officers opposed the commander, captain 2nd rank Nikolai Zateev, demanding that the boat be scuttled and the crew landed on the island of Jan Mayen. In the current situation, commander Zateev was forced to take decisive measures to prevent a possible riot. So, he “ordered the commander of BC-2, Lieutenant-Commander Mukhin, to drown the small arms on board, leaving pistols for himself, First Officer Enin, Captain 2nd Rank Andreev, backup commander Captain 2nd Rank Arkhipov and Capt. Mukhin, which was immediately carried out " Captain 2nd Rank Arkhipov found himself on the side of the commander in this conflict, advocating the maintenance of military discipline on board. The events that took place at K-19 formed the basis of the American film K-19: The Widowmaker. Like other officers on board, Arkhipov received a dose of radiation as a result of the accident, and 8 sailors died in the hospital from an increased dose of radiation.

Since December 1961 - Chief of Staff of the 69th Submarine Brigade of the Northern Fleet, stationed in Sayda Guba (Polyarny) on October 1, 1962. As part of Operation Anadyr (during the Cuban Missile Crisis), in the strictest secrecy, 4 diesel submarines departed from Polyarny to the Barents Sea. Each was loaded with 22 combat torpedoes, including one with a nuclear charge. The brigade was sent to the shores of Cuba, while its command was not given clear instructions regarding the possibility of using atomic weapons. On the eve of his departure, Arkhipov specifically asked the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral V.A. Fokin: “It is not clear, Comrade Admiral, why we took atomic weapons. When and how should we use it? Admiral Fokin was unable to answer this question, and the Chief of Staff of the Northern Fleet stated that the weapon could be used in the event of an attack on the boat, causing damage to it (“a hole in the hull”) or on a special order from Moscow.

Captain 2nd Rank Arkhipov took part in a cruise on the B-59 submarine of Project 641 (“Foxtrot” according to NATO classification) with nuclear weapons on board, being the senior officer on board. On October 27, 1962, a group of 11 US Navy destroyers, led by the aircraft carrier USS Randolph, encircled a B-59 near Cuba; In addition, the boat was fired upon by an American plane, and, according to the Soviet side, depth charges were also used against the boat. It is alleged that the commander of the submarine, Valentin Grigorievich Savitsky, prepared to launch a retaliatory atomic torpedo. However, Arkhipov showed restraint, paid attention to the signals from the American ships and stopped Savitsky. As a result, the boat responded with the signal “Stop the provocation,” after which the plane was recalled and the situation was somewhat defused.

One of the participants in these events, retired captain of the second rank Vadim Pavlovich Orlov, presents a slightly less dramatic version of events (the commander lost his temper, but two other officers, including Arkhipov, calmed him down; according to other sources, only Arkhipov was against). In any case, Arkhipov's role as the senior on board was key in the decision.

During a conference in Havana on October 13, 2002, marking the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, former US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara said that nuclear war was much more likely than previously thought. One of the conference organizers, Thomas Blanton of George Washington University, said that "a guy named Arkhipov saved the world."

After the end of the Cuban missile crisis, Arkhipov continued to serve in his previous position. In November 1964 he was appointed commander of the 69th Submarine Brigade. Then he commanded the 37th submarine division.

In December 1975, with the rank of rear admiral, V.A. Arkhipov was appointed head of the Caspian Higher Naval School named after S.M. Kirov. He held this position until November 1985. On February 10, 1981, he was awarded the military rank of “vice admiral.”

After retiring, he lived in the city of Kupavna, Moscow Region. He was the chairman of the veterans council of the city of Zheleznodorozhny.

Vice Admiral V.A. Arkhipov buried at the Savvino cemetery in the city of Zheleznodorozhny, Moscow region (a 30-minute train ride from the Kursk station in Moscow).

Monument to Admiral Arkhipov at the Savvino cemetery

In 2003 was posthumously awarded the National Prize of Italy - the Rotondi Prize "Angels of Our Time" for perseverance, courage, and endurance shown in extreme conditions. In January 2005 this award was presented to his widow Olga Grigorievna Arkhipova, who for several years worked as a physics teacher at a specialized boarding school named after. Nakhichevansky in Baku.

Vasily Sergeevich Arkhipov was born on December 16 (29), 1906 in the village of Tyutnyary, Chelyabinsk district, Orenburg province (now Kuznetskoye rural settlement, Argayash district, Chelyabinsk region) into a large (8 children) poor peasant family. Russian.

In 1915-1921 was a shepherd. In 1921 he graduated from the 5th grade of school in the village of Gubernskoye (now Argayash district). In 1921-1924. worked as an apprentice in a harness shop and as a laborer at a mill in Chelyabinsk. In 1924-1927 - a laborer at the Verkhneklimsky coal furnaces near the city of Zlatoust (now the Chelyabinsk region), in 1927-1928 - a loader at a power plant in Chelyabinsk. In 1930 he graduated from the Moscow Automobile College in absentia.

Member of the CPSU (b) since 1931 (p/b No. 0264805, 01224093). Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (03/21/1940, 09/23/1944).

Education. He completed courses at the Odessa Infantry School (1931), Zhitomir KUKS retraining (1932), Leningrad BT KUKS (1938), AKTUS at the VA BTiMV (1943), VVA named after. Voroshilov (1950).

Military service. He was drafted into the Red Army on October 10, 1928 by the Kyshtym RVC of the Chelyabinsk region.

Participation in wars and military conflicts. Soviet-Finnish war. The Great Patriotic War.

Service in the Red Army. Since November 1928 - cadet of the regimental school of the 70th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. Since November 1929 - squad commander of the 70th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. From November 1930 - assistant platoon commander of the 70th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division (Ukrainian Military District; city of Vinnitsa).

From April to August 1931 - student in the training of platoon commanders at the Odessa Infantry School.

Since August 1931 - commander of a machine gun platoon of the 70th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division.

From April to October 1932 - student of the district retraining courses for command personnel (Ukrainian Military District, Zhitomir).

From October 1932 - commander of a tank platoon of a separate tank battalion of the 24th Infantry Division (Vinnitsa). From December 1934 - Secretary of the Party Bureau of a separate tank battalion of the 24th Infantry Division. From February 1937 - assistant to the head of the school for the combat unit of the 24th Infantry Division.

From December 1937 to September 5, 1938 - Leningrad armored training courses for the command staff of the Red Army

From September 5, 1938 - commander of a tank company of the training tank battalion of the 11th light tank brigade of the Leningrad Military District (Peterhof). Since November 1939 - commander of a tank company of the 112th division. tank battalion of the 35th light tank brigade. He distinguished himself during the capture of Tala station and during the breakthrough of the enemy’s fortified zone. In these battles, Captain V.S. Arkhipov showed courage and high military skill and personally destroyed 4 tanks. His company destroyed 10 tanks, two artillery batteries, two separate guns and several Finnish fortified points.

For exemplary performance of command tasks on the front of the fight against the Finnish White Guard, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 21, 1940, Captain Vasily Sergeevich Arkhipov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal (No. 483).

In 1940 - deputy commander of the 115th department. training tank battalion of the 35th tank brigade of the Leningrad Military District

By order of NKO No. 04475 of October 5, 1940, he was appointed commander of the 108th tank battalion of the 35th light tank brigade. In April 1941, the brigade was transferred to the Kyiv Special Military District (Berdichev), and reorganized into the 43rd Tank Division, and Arkhipov was appointed commander of a separate reconnaissance battalion. From June 4, 1941 - commander of the 43rd department. reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd tank division of the 19th mechanized corps.

In the battles of the Great Patriotic War - from June 1941. Participated in the border tank battle near Rovno, in the Kyiv defensive operation in the Novgorod-Volyn and Korosten directions as part of the troops of the Southwestern Front. From September 1941 - commander of the 10th tank regiment of the 10th tank brigade, participated in defensive battles near Poltava and Kharkov.

From December 25, 1941 - deputy commander of the 10th Tank Brigade. On the Southwestern Front, he took part in defensive battles near Volchansk. From April 7, 1942 - commander of the 109th Tank Brigade of the 16th Tank Corps. By order of NKO No. 01138 dated February 16, 1943, he was confirmed in his position. From December 1942, the brigade fought on the Stalingrad and Don fronts, and from January 1943 - on the Central Front. Participant in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Sevsk offensive operation.

From May 17 to September 14, 1943, a student of the Academic Courses of Tactical and Technical Improvement at the Military Academy of BTiMV of the Red Army named after. I.V. Stalin.

From September 14, 1943, commander of the 53rd Guards. tank brigade of the 6th Guards. tank corps of the 3rd Guards. tank army. By order of NKO No. 03552 dated November 4, 1943, he was confirmed in his position. At the head of the brigade he participated in the battle for the Dnieper, Kyiv, Zhitomir-Berdichev, Proskurov-Chernivtsi, Lvov-Sandomierz offensive operations on the 1st Ukrainian Front.

In the last of these operations, brigade commander Arkhipov distinguished himself during the capture of the city of Przemysl and the further breakthrough to the Vistula. He organized a crossing of the Vistula River in the area of ​​​​the settlements of Staszow and Shchedlow, then skillfully held the extremely important Sandomierz bridgehead, repelling powerful counterattacks of the enemy. In these battles, the brigade first encountered the enemy's newest King Tiger tanks and destroyed several of them. At the same time, the first tank in the brigade’s account was destroyed personally by the brigade commander, who shot it from the side. He himself was shell-shocked and burning in the tank; after leaving the vehicle, he fought surrounded by the crew until reinforcements arrived.

For skillful leadership of the combat operations of a tank brigade and personal courage shown in the battles for the liberation of the city of Przemysl (Przemysl, Poland), during the crossing of the Vistula River and maintaining a bridgehead on its western bank, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated September 23, 1944, commander 53- th Guards Guard tank brigade Colonel Vasily Sergeevich Arkhipov was awarded the second Gold Star medal (No. 4642).

Then he took part in the Vistula-Oder, Upper Silesian and Lower Silesian, Berlin and Prague offensive operations.

From August 6, 1945 - deputy commander, and from May 12, 1946 - commander of the 6th Guards. tank division of the 3rd Guards. mechanized army (Group of Soviet occupation forces in Germany). Since November 1946 - commander of the 6th Guards. cropped regiment of the 3rd department. Guards framed tank division of the GSOVG.

From June 15, 1948 to December 29, 1950 - student at the Higher Military Academy named after. K. E. Voroshilova.

Since November 20, 1950 - commander of the BTiMV of the Turkestan Military District. January 9, 1954 - admitted to serve as assistant commander of the Turkestan Military District for tank armament, also head of the tank armament department. By order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0344 dated January 18, 1954, he was confirmed in his position. Since July 27, 1954, head of the combat training department of the Turkestan Military District. Since March 15, 1957 - Deputy Commander of the Turkestan Military District for combat training, also head of the combat training department.

From April 17, 1958 - commander of the 1st Division. army in Romania (since August 1958 - 1st Guards Army of the Kiev Military District). Since May 23, 1960 - First Deputy Commander of the Siberian Military District. Since September 21, 1961 - senior military adviser to the commander of the military district of the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic. Since August 24, 1970 - at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces.

By order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0970 dated July 15, 1971, he was transferred to the reserve under Art. 59b with the right to wear military uniform. Lived in Moscow.

Military ranks: political instructor (NKO Order No. 0323 dated January 24, 1936), captain (NKO Order No. 0686 dated March 28, 1939), major (08/26/1941), lieutenant colonel (NKO Order No. 01213 dated February 20, 1942), colonel (NKO Order No. 05723 dated 07/23/1942), major general of the military unit (Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars No. 813 of April 20, 1945), lieutenant general of the military unit (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1090 of May 31, 1954), colonel general of the military unit ( Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 215 dated February 22, 1963).

Awards: three Orders of Lenin (21.03.1940; 30.12.1956; 31.10.1967), Order of the October Revolution (28.12.1976), five Orders of the Red Banner (15.01.1940, 07.12.1941, 17.01.1945, 06.09.1945, 20 .06.1949 ), Order of Kutuzov, II degree (01/10/1944), Order of the Patriotic War, I degree (03/11/1985), Order of the Red Star (11/03/1944).

foreign orders “For Merit to the Fatherland” in silver (GDR), “Defense of the Fatherland” II degree (Apărarea Patriei, Romania), “Grunwald Cross” III degree (Poland), “Military Cross 1939” (Czechoslovakia) and other foreign awards .

In the village of Gubernskoye, Chelyabinsk region, a bust of the Hero was installed in Victory Square. The streets of Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Saratov, Przemysl (Poland) are named after him.

Essay: Time of tank attacks. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1981.

Born on July 26 of the year in the village of Goretovo, Lukhovitsky district, Ryazan province, in a peasant family. Together with his father, he was engaged in agriculture.

He served as a soldier in the army for a year. After the death of their father in the year, the brothers divided the property. Vasily Maksimovich worked on his farm for up to a year, and then joined the collective farm.

He naturally had a good voice and sang in the church choir. In the year, the rector of the temple invited him to officially take the position of psalm-reader in the Pyatnitskaya Church in his native village. With a note of guarantee, Vasily Maksimovich went to the Moscow Patriarchate for an appointment with the bishop to receive a blessing to take up the full-time position of psalm-reader. The Bishop listened to him, blessed him to work in the temple, promising through the dean to send a special order on his appointment. However, the wave of persecution that began prevented this from happening.

On February 26 of the year, authorities also arrested him and novice Olga Zhiltsova. Head Evdokia Arkhipova was arrested on February 16.

On the day of his arrest, Vasily Maksimovich was interrogated. The investigator, asking him about collecting money for the renovation of the church, said:

– You, as a psalm-reader, campaigned among the population for the involvement of collective farmers in the group of believers, and also told the collective farmers that Soviet power was given to us as punishment. They campaigned against the constitution, saying: there is a constitution, but in reality there is persecution of the Orthodox Church. Do you plead guilty to conducting anti-Soviet agitation?

– No, I was not involved in agitation, I did not agitate collective farmers to join the group of believers, I did not fight against the constitution, and I did not conduct agitation against the Soviet regime, I do not admit myself guilty of this.

After the interrogation, on the day of the arrest of the accused, the investigator completed the case and drew up an indictment.

On February 27, one of the bosses reviewed the case materials and wrote on the cover: “Further investigation. It is necessary for the investigation to establish the counter-revolutionary activities of each accused. It is not clear from the case what Zhiltsova’s anti-Soviet activities consist of. The accused were not interrogated on the issue of the illegal meeting. There is no need to sharpen the questions only to raise money for the renovation of the church. There was no doubt that this group had an organized activity." However, no other witnesses could be found.

On March 8, the NKVD troika in the Moscow region under Art. 58-10 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR sentenced them to death for “participation in a counter-revolutionary group.”

On March 14, the elder Evdokia (Arkhipova), Olga (Zhiltsova) and psalm-reader Vasily Arkhipov were shot at the Butovo training ground near Moscow and buried in an unknown common grave.

ARKHIPOV Vasily Sergeevich

Vasily Sergeevich Arkhipov was born in 1909 in the village of Gubernskoye, Argayash district, Chelyabinsk region, into a peasant family. Russian. He was drafted into the Soviet Army in 1928. Member of the CPSU since 1931. He worked his way up from a private to a colonel-general of tank forces.

The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded on March 23, 1940 - for the courage and courage shown in battles with the White Finns. Participant of the Great Patriotic War from the first to the last day. Guard Colonel, commander of the 53rd Guards Order of Lenin of the Red Banner, Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Fastov Tank Brigade. On September 23, 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the second time. Awarded three Orders of Lenin, five Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Kutuzov 2nd degree, Orders of the Red Star and the October Revolution, and medals.

After studying at the Academy of the General Staff, V. S. Arkhipov held a number of senior positions in the Armed Forces of the USSR. Now a retired colonel general. Lives in Moscow.

In the village of Gubernskoye, a bronze bust was erected to V.S. Arkhipov. The pioneer squad of the local school bears his name.

One September day in 1943, in the city of Piryatin, at the headquarters of the 6th Guards Tank Corps, a meeting of the command staff was held. The commander of the 3rd Guards Tank Army, General P. S. Rybalko, reported on the preparation of army troops to cross the Dnieper. At the end of the meeting, the corps commander, General M. I. Zinkovich, introduced the new commander of the 53rd brigade, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel V. S. Arkhipov, to the commander. The commander warmly congratulated the colonel on his high appointment.

Before leaving for the brigade, Arkhipov assured the corps commander:

I will do my best to ensure that the 53rd becomes one of the best not only in the corps, but also in the army.

The commander had no doubt that this would happen. Arkhipov was an excellent commander. During the defense of Stalingrad and the defeat of the encircled fascist troops, a separate tank regiment of Major Arkhipov inflicted significant damage on the enemy. Since then, the command has repeatedly assigned him important tasks, and he carried them out confidently and creatively.

Arkhipov kept his word. The 53rd, under his skillful command, went through a glorious battle path from the banks of the Dnieper to Berlin and Prague without knowing defeat.

On September 22, 1943, after fierce and bloody battles, the 3rd Guards Army reached the Dnieper on a broad front.

Early in the morning, intelligence reported to Colonel Arkhipov: the bridge in the Kanev area was intact. One of the tank battalions was immediately sent there. The lead tank, despite heavy artillery fire from the other side, rushed onto the bridge at high speed, and... an explosion shook the air. The span collapsed with a roar, and the “thirty-four” was swallowed up by the waters of the Dnieper.

The sudden capture of the crossing failed. But we need to overcome the water line, and as soon as possible. The partisans helped. They indicated the approaches to the river and the parking of rafts, boats, ferries, and a place convenient for crossing. At night we managed to transport a tank company with machine gunners. They captured the bridgehead. Sappers began to establish a ferry crossing and restore the bridge. Enemy bombers appeared in the air every now and then. German artillery fired continuously at the crossing.

And brigade commander Arkhipov was already pulling up tank units to the crossing. In the evening, self-propelled guns, artillery pieces, and armored personnel carriers crossed under aviation cover.

“It’s your turn, Vasily Sergeevich,” the corps commander said, firmly shaking Arkhipov’s hand. - Is the task clear?

Yes, Comrade General.

Use the slightest sign of success for a breakthrough. Let's support! Well, as they say, no fluff or feather...

Combat vehicles go and go. Under their weight the bridge creaks and bends. Shells and mines are exploding all around. The brigade commander's tank was the first to reach the opposite bank. When the entire brigade had crossed, he reported to the corps commander:

Everything is fine! Let's get down to business.

So the 53rd ended up on the Bukrinsky bridgehead. Intense battles began with superior enemy forces. The accomplishment of the main task largely depended on the success of Arkhipov’s tankers.

The Germans failed to stop the Soviet soldiers. Their impulse was so great that, having broken through the enemy’s defenses, they made a swift two-hundred-kilometer rush to the Lyutezh bridgehead and entered into battle for the liberation of Kyiv. For the capture of the city of Fastov, which is west of Kyiv, the 53rd received the honorary name Fastovskaya by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Having repelled fierce and persistent counterattacks in the Zhitomir region, the tank units regrouped and were replenished with personnel, military equipment, and ammunition.

In the summer of 1944, a grandiose offensive began on all fronts. At the end of July, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian reached the Vistula. The 53rd Fastovskaya was one of the first to cross the water barrier. The crossing was carried out on homemade rafts and ferries under heavy artillery and aviation fire. The Nazis fiercely counterattacked, trying to destroy the paratroopers. In these battles they used their new product - tanks with thick frontal armor. The guards bravely entered into battle with the “royal tigers.”

The brigade commander himself had the opportunity to encounter these heavy vehicles in battle. He quickly figured out their weak point - poor maneuverability due to their enormous weight - and came to the conclusion that a frontal attack should be avoided.

We beat simple “tigers” and “panthers,” he instructed his guards. - We’ll beat the “royals” too. We must take advantage of their clumsiness. Try to strike from the flank.

The Nazis threw several dozen tanks into the brigade’s area (it was on the Sandomierz bridgehead). Arkhipov led the battle himself. Skillfully maneuvering his units, he successfully repelled the attack and then heard the driver: “Comrade brigade commander, look! At the edge of the forest!

Arkhipov turned the periscope. Yes, "royal". The brigade commander deftly entered the enemy tank's flank and ordered it to be hit. After the third shot, this colossus froze in place, and after the fourth, it was enveloped in smoke.

Other crews followed the commander's example. In one of the battles, three “tigers” were knocked out, and one was captured unharmed. Soon he was taken to Moscow for an exhibition of captured equipment.

And the combat with enemy tanks continued. During the battle, while leading the brigade, the brave brigade commander often entered the battle himself. So it was this time. His crew began a duel with several tanks at once, they managed to knock out one, but they also opened heavy fire on the brigade commander’s vehicle. Suddenly the tank froze in place, and after the second shell hit the engine part, it caught fire.

We're on fire! - the driver shouted. - Apparently, they fought back.

No! Let's fight again! - the brigade commander answered coolly and commanded: - Open the bottom hatch, take the machine guns!

Shells were exploding all around, machine gun fire was pounding on the armor. Arkhipov rushed into a nearby crater, still warm from the explosion. Behind him are the crew members. They opened fire on the enemy infantry. Soon our tanks came to the rescue and covered the brigade commander and his comrades with armor.

The soldiers and commanders of the 53rd Guards, interacting with other formations, expanded and defended the Sandomierz bridgehead. From there, in January 1945, Soviet troops carried out the Vistula-Oder operation, and then the Berlin one.

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union V.S. Arkhipov, at the head of the 53rd brigade, fought his way to Berlin and Prague.