SEMYON MIKHAILOVICH BUDENNY
THIS CAVALRYMAN WAS OF THE ‘CHARGE AND BE DAMNED’ SCHOOL, WHO ROSE FROM TROOPER UNDER THE TSAR TO MARSHAL OF THE SOVIET UNION UNDER STALIN
Budenny was born into a non-cossack family near Rostov-on-don in the heartland of the Don Cossacks. Conscripted in 1903, it was obvious he was a born cavalryman. Following service in the Russo-japanese War he was steadily promoted, reaching the rank of senior NCO by 1917. His bravery on the German/austrian and Caucasian fronts was rewarded with four St George Crosses and four St George Medals. Following the revolution of March 1917 he became involved in revolutionary politics, joining the Red Army in early 1918. His rise was meteoric, and by the end of the year he was commanding a cavalry division near Tsaritsyn, where he developed a close and lasting relationship with Stalin. Under Budenny’s leadership the legendary First Cavalry Army participated in the defeat of both Denikin and Wrangel but fared poorly against the Poles.
His support for and by Stalin led to his advancement during the inter-war years and his participation in the military purges of the late 1930s led to his being appointed commander of the South Western Front in the summer of 1941. However, his poor command decisions led to his replacement and a sinecure post as cavalry inspector. When Budenny retired in 1954 he led a quiet life and died peacefully.