The architect of communications at Stalingrad and Kursk: first Marshal of the Signal Troops
On the night of 22 July 1941, Stalin dismissed General Gapich on the spot, then told Peresypkin: 'You are appointed chief of communications. You will keep the post of People's Commissar for Communications.' Without asking, Stalin made him Deputy People's Commissar for Defence as well.
Born to a mercury miner in the Donbass, he joined the Red Army at fifteen and fought on the Southern Front during the Civil War. After graduating from the Kiev Military-Political School and the Red Army Electrical Engineering Academy, he rose through the signal troops and was abruptly appointed People's Commissar for Communications in 1939 at just 35. One month into the war, on 22 July 1941, Stalin added the posts of Deputy People's Commissar for Defence and Chief of Red Army Communications, placing wartime civilian and military communications under one man. He visited the front 24 times personally, ensuring stable contact between the Stavka and the field armies at Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk. In 1944, at age 39, he became the first Marshal of the Signal Troops, the youngest service-branch marshal rank in Soviet history.
Career Timeline
- 1919–1920Joined the Red Army, fought on the Southern Front in the Civil War
- 1923–1925Re-enlisted; graduated Kiev Military-Political School; served in 1st Cavalry Division signals squadron
- 1937Graduated Red Army Electrical Engineering Academy; military commissar of the Communications Research Institute
- 1938–1939Military commissar then deputy chief of Red Army Communications Directorate (Colonel)
- 1939–1944People's Commissar for Communications of the USSR
- 1941–1944Deputy People's Commissar for Defence & Chief of Red Army Main Communications Directorate
- 1944–1946Marshal of the Signal Troops; Chief of the Main Communications Directorate
- 1946–1957Chief of Signal Troops, Ground Forces
- 1957–1978Scientific consultant to Deputy Defence Minister; Group of Inspectors General