Ivan S. Isakov was born in August 22nd, 1894, in Hadjikend, Kars Oblast, Russian Empire. In 1914 he began naval service. In the years of the World War I he served as a midshipman on the destroyer “Izyaslav”. In the summer of 1917 he participated in the revolutionary demonstrations in Petrograd. From the earliest days of the revolution he was in the ranks of the Red Fleet, took part in the legendary Ice Cruise of the ships of the Baltic Fleet from Helsingfors to Kronstadt. During the Civil War Isakov actively participated in hostilities in the Baltic Sea, on the Volga and in the Caspian Sea.
In 1938 he was made Deputy People’s Commissar of the Soviet Red Banner Naval Fleet. He coordinated not only the movement of naval warships in the Baltic Sea but also the ground forces of the Red Army in the Soviet war against Finland.
In 1940 I.S. Isakov was awarded a military rank of Admiral.
In July, 1941, when the difficult situation for our troops and navy took place in the Baltic, I.S. Isakov was appointed Deputy Commander of the North-Western direction of the Sea. He took part in helping blockaded Leningrad, was one of the most active organizers of transportation across Lake Ladoga.
With the formation of the North Caucasus Front I.S. Isakov was appointed Deputy Commander and the member of the Military Council of this Directive in April 1942. In October 1942, Isakov was seriously injured on another visit to the front lines in the area of Goythsky pass, near Tuapse.
On May 31, 1944, Isakov was promoted to the service rank of Admiral of the Fleet by the Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR.
In the postwar period, I.S. Isakov worked as Head of the Chief of Naval Staff and Deputy Chief of the Navy; he held several other responsible positions in the central office of the Ministry of Defence.
In May, 1965, I.S. Isakov was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
One of the important aspects of Isakov’s life was a scientific work. His researches on the battle experience of the World War II were published in marine magazines and as separate editions. Many of his scientific works (just over sixty) were used to create regulations and manuals, operating in Navy nowadays. Under the leadership of I.S. Isakov, two volumes of the Atlas of the Sea were prepared and published.
Admiral I.S. Isakov had:
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6 Orders of Lenin,
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3 Orders of the Red Banner,
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2 Orders of Ushakov (the 1st Class),
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The Order of the Patriotic War (the 1st Class),
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The Order of the Red Star,
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A number of foreign Orders.
Nikolay Kuznetsov was born in the village of Medvedki in the Kotlas district of Arkhangelsk Region (Vologda Region till 1937) in a peasant family. In 1919 he joined the Fleet. In 1926 he graduated with honors from the Frunze Higher Naval School. Participated in the Civil War. Since 1926 he served on the ships of the Naval Forces of the Black Sea. Kuznetsov served on the cruiser “Chervona Ukraina”, first as watch officer and then as First Lieutenant.
In 1936 Kuznetsov was sent to Spain where he was the naval attaché and chief naval advisor to the Republican Government. Since August, 1937, he was Deputy Commander, in 1938 he was promoted to the rank of flag officer, 2nd rank, and given command of the Pacific Fleet.
Kuznetsov supported ground forces in battles near Lake Hassan. In 1939 he was appointed People’s Commissar of the Soviet Navy: he was the youngest commissar in the Soviet Union and the first sailor in that position. He has pioneered the discovery of new marine schools and maritime special schools (later the naval schools). In 1940 he was promoted to Admiral.
During the Great Patriotic War he led the fleet by coordinating its actions with operations of the other Armed Forces. He was a member of Stavka of the Supreme Command, constantly went to the ships and the front.
Thanks to the established and worked out system of operational readiness under the leadership of Kuznetsov in the Navy before the War, on the day of the attack of Nazi Germany the fleet didn’t allow to catch itself by surprise and met the enemy’s air strikes with organized fire.
A special page of Kuznetsov’s life during the war was his involvement in negotiations with the naval missions of allies in 1941-1945, and as a member of the Soviet delegation – in the Conference of Heads of State in Yalta and Potsdam. In February, 1944 Kuznetsov was awarded the title of Admiral of the Fleet (equaled to General of the Army). In 1945 N.G. Kuznetsov became the Hero of the Soviet Union. After abolition of People’s Commissariat of the Navy in 1946 Kuznetsov remained Commander of the Navy and deputy minister of the Armed Forces, but was removed from the post in January of 1947.
Since February, 1950 Kuznetsov commanded the Pacific Fleet. In 1951-1953 he was placed in command of the Navy (as the Minister of the Navy of the USSR).
In 1953 – 1955 Kuznetsov was Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces and Deputy Minister of Defence of the USSR.
On May, 3, 1955 his rank was raised to Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and he was awarded the Marshal’s Star.
In 1953 – 1956 Kuznetsov was the First Deputy Minister of Defence of the USSR – Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
In 1956 Kuznetsov was demoted to the rank of vice-admiral and was sent into retirement. In 1988 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR reinstated posthumously Kuznetsov to his former rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. He is the author of following books: “Heading to Victory”, “On the Eve”, “Fleets’ Battle Alarm”.
Admiral Kuznetsov had:
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4 Orders of Lenin,
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3 Orders of the Red Banner,
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2 Orders of Ushakov (the 1st Class),
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The Order of the Red Star,
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The Order of the Badge of Honour,
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8 Medals,
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A number of foreign awards.
Ivan Isakov
Nikolay Kuznetsov