Stavka

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The Stavka (Ставка Верховного Главнокомандования, Headquarters of the Supreme High Command) was the extraordinary highest military command organ that exercised strategic leadership of the Soviet Armed Forces during the Great Patriotic War. Established on 23 June 1941 by resolution of the Council of People's Commissars and the Party Central Committee, it was initially chaired by Timoshenko until Stalin assumed direct chairmanship on 10 July 1941. The General Staff served as Stavka's planning and executive agent, while Stavka representatives (most notably Zhukov and Vasilevsky) were dispatched to critical fronts for every major operation, bridging Moscow's strategic decisions with field command.