95 years of Makhmut Gareev: the legendary military theorist spoke about future conflicts

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

July 23 is the birthday of the outstanding Soviet and Russian military leader, doctor of military and doctor of historical sciences, professor, famous military theorist, president of the Academy of Military Sciences, retired Army General Makhmut Gareev.

Makhmut Akhmetovich is a man of unique destiny. He was a participant in six wars. His combat path began in December 1942 on the Western Front, then continued on the 3rd Belorussian. He was the deputy commander of a rifle battalion, served in the headquarters of the rifle brigade and corps. In 1942, in the battles near Rzhev, he was seriously wounded. He returned to duty. He received another serious injury in 1944. In February 1945, after the hospital, he was sent to the Far East, where he fought with Japan as part of the 1st Far Eastern Front.

In 1950, Makhmut Gareev graduated from the Frunze Military Academy, and in 1959 - from the General Staff Academy. In 1970-1971 he was the chief military adviser in the United Arab Republic (as Egypt and Syria were called for some time). Since 1971 - Chief of Staff of the Ural Military District. From 1974 - Chief of the Military Scientific Directorate of the General Staff, Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, from 1984 - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR.

Since 1989, after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, he remained the main military adviser there. He played an important role in planning the military operations of the government forces of President Najibullah. The Mujahideen hunted for Mahmut Gareev. In Afghanistan he was again seriously wounded.

Since 1990 - military adviser - inspector of the group of general inspectors of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Back in the 60s and 70s, he began to actively engage in military scientific work. Author of more than 100 scientific papers and more than 300 articles and publications in collections, magazines, newspapers. General Gareev was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree, as well as the Order of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, two Orders of the Patriotic War, I degree, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, three Orders of the Red Star, orders for Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces of the USSR II and III degrees, medals, foreign orders and medals.

Makhmut Gareev is a legendary man. Before his eyes and with his direct participation, the power of the Soviet, and then the Russian army was strengthened. Despite his advanced age, he still has a bright mind and an enviable memory. On the eve of his 95th birthday, Makhmut Gareev answered questions from MK.

You are a participant in the Great Patriotic War. Many of your works and articles are devoted to the analysis of those events. But it is no secret that the military is sometimes reproached for always "preparing for past wars." Is it possible to say so about our generals and our army today?

- Armies and generals are different. But as for the Russian army, I think that we now basically correctly imagine the possible development of armed conflicts in the future. And the most dangerous thing here is the use of nuclear weapons. This is fraught with the most dire consequences, which I would not even want to talk about. But the country's army must be ready to repel such threats.

Numerous wars of another kind are developing now: local or so-called hybrid ones. The variety of wars also requires various forms of combat training. It is necessary not to prepare for any one long-familiar form of war, but to work out the hostilities, taking into account everything that may happen in the future.

In one of your interviews you talked about your conversation with the King of Jordan. You asked why, in his opinion, a strong Iraqi army fell so quickly under the pressure of NATO forces. And you quote his answer: "If there is no universal military service in a country, if mercenaries are fighting for its interests, then the fighting spirit among the people is gradually being etched away." And how, in this case, do you yourself feel about the fact that the Russian army is moving along the path of increasing the proportion of contract soldiers? Should the conscription service stay?

- I think that the contract army has many advantages. This must be taken into account. Therefore, this method of recruiting the Armed Forces cannot be canceled. But in the event of a major war, contract soldiers alone will not be enough. Therefore, universal conscription is needed. The contract should not cancel the readiness of the country's citizens to defend their Fatherland.

When in 1941 I entered a military school, there was one guy from Belarus with me. He wrote a letter to his mother, where he asked: "Mom, should I go to the military school?" And this illiterate woman from the Belarusian hinterland answered in a letter written on brown paper: “Sonny, of course, go to a military school. Well, it's not for us to hire foreigners to defend our Motherland. " The head of the school then ordered that this letter be read in all companies at the evening check.

In Soviet times, the main advantage - and it helped us win the Second World War - is that the whole country was preparing to defend its Fatherland. And above all the youth. There were such organizations as DOSAAF; they taught military affairs very seriously in schools. And today we must take this experience into account.

You were a military adviser in Afghanistan. From the standpoint of a soldier-internationalist, assess today's participation of our forces in the hostilities in Syria

- Much has been said about the fact that the experience of previous wars should be taken into account. But in fact, both the experience of the Great Patriotic War and the Afghan one, as well as other wars, are already beginning to be forgotten. It shouldn't be like that.

As for the assessment of the hostilities of our Aerospace Forces in Syria, it can only be the highest. They still show excellent training, skill and courage there.

Do you think that we, as a country that plays an important role in international politics, should participate in such conflicts? Or is it still better to sit at home and not meddle?

- It is impossible not to meddle, if we are pissed off. And provoke from all sides. There are conflicts that are being imposed on us. They demand that we renounce some state interests. And in such cases, we should never make any concessions. We are obliged to defend our interests.

Do we defend our interests in Syria?

- Yes. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to do this in full, but it is necessary to strive for it.