Of all the legendary generals of just the 20th century, I'm amazed Zhukov doesn't get more praise. The guy was quite literally just a common man that found his calling. Ended up decorated like a Christmas tree. Won the largest land war humanity has ever seen. Loved to fish. Was super down to Earth but if you threatened what he cared about he wouldn't hesitate to kill you. And he had NO desire for power. He just flat out didn't want it. Didn't care for it. Just a true, honest soldier that outside his uniform would fit right in at a bar, a bbq or as just the guy sitting on his couch with the family. In all of human history you can count the number of men like that on one hand.
Even less well known is his ultimate failure during the war at Rzhev. Known as the Rzhev meat Grinder, over a million Russians were lost in a WW1 type battle in WW2. It’s just something both sides do not wanna remember
@@kraigisboss Rzhev was during WW2, just fought similar to WW1. Trenches everywhere, suicidal frontal attacks not properly supported, artillery doing most of the killing, and little to no gain of territory. But I will agree no one wants to remember this battle, not the Germans or Russians.
The guy was unbreakable. Stalin hated his guts, he despised how Zhukov literally rode on a white horse on The Victory Day, but was too scared to even attempt an assassination on him. Yes, Stalin himself, the orchestrator of the great purge, had no balls to try and kill Zhukov. Stalin knew what renown Zhukov had among the officers and the regular troops, and he was very much aware that had something gone wrong with an attempted murder of Zhukov, he, and perhaps the entire Soviet Union, would be finished.
Little theory: Zhukov jokes with Krushev to suss out whether he's being tested. Once he sees that Krushev is upset he knows he's telling the truth and complies.
Zhukov knew sómeone would try a coup. It'd better not be Beria, he hated that dude with his 'dirt on everyone'. Chrusjtchev on the other hand, he knew from WW-II's battles for Stalingrad and Kursk, he'd trust and respect him over 1000 Beria's. From all the people that could have approached the powerful F.M. Georgy Zhukov, it was his 'friend' Nikita Chrusjtchev that came to him. 'Couldnt have been better'. He pulled the ultimate joke on 'Niki':P
@@thegreenreaper6660 Zhukov had an axe to grind with Beria. When Stalin needed some dirt to demote Zhukov after WWII Beria searched Zhukovs apt and gave Stalin some "liberated" war trophies that he had brough t back from Germany. Giving Stalin the ammo to demote him without pushback from the red army.
@@gearjammergamer8560 Yeah, Beria was probably one of the msot corrupt and hated people in the entire regime. But he got desperate after Stalin's death, as 'the Big man himself' wasnt there anymore to protect him as his important asset, he became taarget no1 by the rest in the top-staff. Beria'd dug his own grave, a long time ago by working himself up, at the expense of others.
@@thegreenreaper6660 Beria was an honest-to-God serial killer, too. And not just in the 'I had the NKVD shoot lots of people for no reason' sort of way. After his death, they bulldozed his house and found a bunch of skeletons belonging to young missing women buried underneath it.
Two fun facts: 1. The movie had to reduce the number of medals on Zhukov’s uniform to make it more believable. He actually had far more. 2. Unlike many military leaders in dictatorships, Zhukov earned every damn medal on his chest.
I love how Zhukov goes from being offered a spot in a potential coup to planning a better way to do it in a matter of seconds. Either he knew someone would do something like this and was just waiting to be given the go-ahead, or he's just that much smarter than everyone else, despite his demeanour.
Zhukov knew that someone would come to him eventually. After Stalin died, he was the only person not looking over his shoulder because whoever wanted to replace Stalin needed the Red Army, and therefore needed him. Beria tried to replace them with the NKVD, which Zhukov really didn't like, so it was just a question of waiting until someone made him an offer. He was definitely surprised that it was Khrushchev who instigated the coup. No one saw that coming.
I love this scene too. It's totally exaggerated of course, but it does show nicely how an aggressive achiever and a true military man meets a cunning, scheming politician. Politician: "OK, I'll get the general on board, then we'll discuss the matter, then we'll contact the others, then we'll do a bit of plotting, then we'll make arrangements, then we'll discuss some more, then we'll choose the right date..." Military Man: "Great idea! Do we have the bits and pieces, the logistics and the troops in place for this? As it happens, we fooking do! Let's go right now! Attack is the best defence and he who dares, wins!" (Of course, the military man needs a planning phase too, but in this case Zhukov had done it already)
Stalin actually wanted Zhukov killed because he became so popular. He was on one of the lists. But he was too much of a hero in the eyes of the Russian public to make him disappear
Fun fact: The number of comments on every single The Death of Stalin clip pointing out that the movie had to reduce the number of medals on Zhukov’s uniform to make it more believable, has in fact been reduced by RU-vid to a more believable number. There were actually far more.
I love how even though they give him moments of humour, the writers never forget that Zhukov was a goddamn military genius with a tactician's instincts and awareness. He instantly chooses the day of the funeral as the perfect moment to seize Beria and knows exactly what needs to go down in order for the coup to be successful.
It also makes sense because the Soviet Union would have countless accents, so having the actors just use a English accent instead of a singular Russian accent is a better ft.
No such thing as a British accent fuck sake!! Fuck me we have over 6 native languages spoken uncluding Scots like me and many many dialects! Including Glaswegian/Strathclyde like me! You can walk a few miles to the next town from any part of Britain and the dialect can be impossible to understand
Khrushchev had been in the thick of the war, seen a lot of shit, and had balls of steel. This was so dangerous it scared even him, and was still 10 levels below what it would take to make Zhukov nervous.
“Motherf***er thinks he can take on the Red Army? I f***ed Germany, I think I can take on a flesh lump in a f***ing waistcoat.” The best Soviet comment I’ve ever heard
@@beback_ Technically Geobbles was Hitler's immediate successor and remained in the same bunker, and after him Doniz who moved to the Flensburg rump-state government.
I love this scene, I've been told Zhukov was actually quite a badass in WWII, The US had Patton, Germany had Rommel, Japan had Yamamoto, and Russia had Zhukov and Issacs was perfect for this role. I also hear that Khrushchev also served in the war as a Political Officer and was at the battle of Kursk if that's true, it's kind of funny to think of Buchemi doing that given how we see him here.
Correct about all of that and to add that Zhukov commanded armies, ran entire offensives and held Stalin in check - none of the Western commanders endured those challenges - imho :)
Zhukov was probably closer in importance and role to people like Dwight D. Eisenhower or George C. Marshall in importance. He was the second in command of the Red Army, the CnC was of course, Stalin. He oversaw the brutal defense of Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad, in the direst hours. From an outsiders' POV, he might be a marshal who sacrifice his troops for victory, though people like David Glantz commented that he was more like Ulysses Grant: someone who understood exactly what his army was good at, and what his enemy's weak point was, and hit the enemy relentlessly. Khrushchev was the political officer to Marshal Semyon Timoshenko and both proposed a counterattack into the city of Kharkov in May 1942, which was disastrous since it attack right into the German troops preparing for their 1942 summer offensive (the one that eventually culminated at Stalingrad). Timoshenko was demoted and Khrushchev was recalled to Moscow, narrowly escaped being purged and sent to ... Stalingrad. There Khrushchev served as political officer to Stalingrad Front commander, A.I. Yeryomenko. Yeryomenko and Khrushchev were forbidden by the STAVKA to cross the river and go to Stalingrad proper since the STAVKA feared that they would empathize with the suffering of the Stalingrad defenders and abandon the city. In his memoir, Khrushchev stated that: "Every Friday, I was never so glad to see Stalingrad in my rear view mirror and every Sunday, I was never so glad to see the Kremlin in my rear view mirror to go back". He had to report to Stalin every weekend what was going on in Stalingrad.
@@JiTiAr35 I'm surprised that was a major factor, Issacs makes him look like a total badass who was loyal to the nation as a whole and not to just one man.
"It's gotta be tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Sorry, you busy washing your hair, or what?" "Tomorrow's the funeral." *"Yeah, the day the entire fucking army's in town with their guns."*
It’s almost as if Zhukov had a contingency plan if every any of the Top Russian leaders tried to screw him over. The guy was really smart and determined in real life
Only one man, ever, that being Georgy Zhukov, could kiss another man on lips, grab his balls, and come out more heterosexual, and more heroic as a result. 1 Man only.
The Critical Drinker described the Jason Issac's performance as he was playing the character as if he was going to fuck every single person in the room.
@@SportDawgs Brezhnev was brain damaged, and Carter was misguided. Both were fools, so that kiss does not count. Like an airkiss between two 'darlings' women tha hate each other, but must present outward appearance.
"Im gonna have to report this conversation, Threatening to do harm, and Obstruct any member of presidium in the process of *lookin on your fookin face!* " **wheeze** "Nikita Kruschev! MUAH! your balls like Kremlin Domes!" I died in this lines🤣
I like how some random guy address Zhukov with "Comrade General..." and Zhukov's response, without even missing a beat, is "Fuck off! I'll punch you into a sticky pulp!" And Kruschev just gives a nervous "Uh... thank you."
Zhukov always feels like the only person in this film who knows that nobody's going to have him executed, it makes him really fun to watch because of just how confident he is all of the time
Zhukov must have had some serious respect for Khrushchev because unlike most other of the political big wigs Khrushchev served on the frontline and also in Stalingrad of all places. If you were in that city it didn't matter who you where, your life was at risk every for second of it.
Yeah, survival rates in Stalingrad were low, weren't they? Until this film, I had no idea that Kruschev served there. I'm currently reading Grossman's "Life and Fate" and my god, it's an amazing and tough book. The Germans should consider themselves lucky that the Russians didn't turn their country into an agricultural backwater.
@@Mango62uk That was one of the ideas on the table, dismantle all german factories, split it up into tree seperate states and turn the whole country into a giant wheat field, it was called "The Morgenthau Plan" XD Tip: Watch "Thirteen Days", it's a movie about the cuban missile crisis :)
@@VollificationThe Morgenthau Plan came from the US, correct? If I recall my history, it was Churchll who saw/promoted that Germany not be made into an pastoral society due the percievved threat from the USSR.
Well, he did let Kruschev drag him around in this scene, and trusted him enough to sponsor the pseudo-coup. IRL Zhukov was also apparently a stabilizing influence for Kruschev's career, keeping the Army cheerfully neutral and preventing full-on armed power struggles.
@@JoshSweetvale From what I have read, Zhukov wasn't a politician, he was a military man. He did the maths, political infighting and a scum like Beria wouldn't do the Red Army any good. Guessing he had also seen his fair share of NKVDs running up and down the frontline telling everyone how to wage war but not doing any fighting themselves -_- Besides the practical aspects I'd say there was some personal affairs too in the equation. It was "payback time". - You want something done, you call the Army.
0:53 Isaacs n Buscemi deserve an Oscar for that one! "That f*cker thinks he can take on the Red Army? I f*cked Germany, i think i can take that fleshlump in a f*ckin waistcoat! Now, its gotta be tomorrow! -tomorrow?'- Sorry, you busy washin your hair or what? -tomorrow's the funeral....- Yeah the day that the entire f*ckin army's in town, wíth their guns!" Just awesome!
It's only mentioned in passing, but when Zhukov was at Stalingrad Khruschev was his Political Officer, and was a major reason that Stalin didn't have him killed.
@UCo2Ppl4UkG1bFXn9BYUgw8A I feel you man, I had one lady literally see me turn my light off. So I told her "I'm sorry ma'am I'm closed". She had the nerve to mumble something but I hear her say "but I was in line". God I wanted to tell her to f*ck off so bad
This was one of the best scenes in cinema history. I didn't know the history behind this film and obviously I hated that rapist beriya, and my face must have had the same expression when zhurkov threatened to report him. This is a great RU-vid video as I missed a bit of the dialogue after "you should see the look on your face" from laughing so hard
@@Mango62uk I meant I saw the entire film, and my reaction was based off that watching - I came here because I thought I had missed bits of this from laughing
@@drdiscostu Great. It's just that I always encourage people to watch the entire film, rather than just bits and pieces on RU-vid. In this clip ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bygG3_Cl5KA.html an extra who was in the film commented and gave some great inside info about the filming. And he hadn't seen the entire film - until we all recommended that he *has to* see the film he was a part of :):) It's this clip ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bygG3_Cl5KA.html
Just love the way they sound like they’re planning a lads’ weekend away without their other halves finding out. Jason Issacs’ dialogue is priceless, like that mate you’ve got who is ALWAYS up for getting shiters 👍
"I'm going to have to report this conversation. Threatening to do harm, or obstruct any member of the Presidium, in the process of look at your fookin' face...." 🤣🤣🤣
"- Tomorrow's the funeral - Yeah, the day all the army is gonna be here with all their guns... - That's perfect" Always gets me that Khrushev haven't realized it was his best chance until Zhukov says it
I'd like to believe if Zhukov was alive. He'd take one of his Hero of the Soviet Union awards of his chest and pin it on the bloke for this superb performance.
Zhukov’s daughter hated the film & said it was disrespectful of his real character. A Russian reviewer who loved it explained her reaction, saying that Russians are terrible at self- irony. But it left me wondering what Zhukov really would have thought, given his generation & life experience. I imagine it would have been a harder role to pull off were Zhukov still around. My spouse, former Czech officer who came up under the Soviet system, loved the film. He also believed that Zhukov must have harbored resentment regarding his treatment by Stalin. Such a complex time.
Because Stalin won't let him. He was immediately taken out of authority over the Red Army by Beria in 1946. He didn't become Supreme CO of the Red Army again until shortly before Stalin's death and again was removed from power permanently after that for the same reason as the first...
@@strixaluco9369 Yeah, as if putting a bullet in Stalin's head is easy. You really kept forgetting the Politburo has its own security detachment along with Stalin's. Popping on Stalin is a Civil War...
@@Mango62uk Because technically speaking, there is no "military". The Peasants and Workers Red Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party, strictly under their control. You already see how even looking at Stalin 'funny" can get you executed. How can the Red Army wrest control from a guy who ordered their purge in the first place? The Great Purge was exactly what it meant to do: purge "rivals", making them unable to (potentially) challenge him...
For historical context Khrushchev was high ranking political commissar and was part of the general staff in the battle of Stalingrad, which Zhukov famously broke in Operation Uranus. Zhukov fucking with Khrushchev in such a life death situation is 100% in character. I can't imagine too many situations seem "serious" after Stalingrad, Kursk, or half the shit they went through in WW2.
I like how Khrushchev initially hesitates with Zhukov but when pressured he immediately caves and is on board 100%. When Zhukov is giving you a golden opportunity and all you have to do is sway one man, well it's an easy choice.
Love the look on Buscemi's face when Zhukov starts going off about reporting him. "Wait what?? B-but this guy hates Beria, why would he- oh son of a bitch!"
Marshall Zhukov line about Barrier was my favorite thing in this movie I just loved how he said it. That was when I just started visible cracking up with laughter
After hearing so much about Zhukov through plenty of videos and the enlightening comments of the good people of RU-vid, this guy has got to be one of my fav military figures of all time--up there with Erwin Rommel.
Marshal Zhukov was a military genious he knew the names of all of his frontline commanders by sectors of action and would plannhis actions on the spot. He was an unpredictable military strategist and germans had very hard time reading his moves which were unorthodox and daring. Not only did he outthink greatest german generals but he also messed up japanese on the eastern front, where he came up with an idea to disperse fake "orderly withdrawal" from the positions soviet army held in the east knowing fully that japanese would eventually get a whiff of this and attack thinking soviet army was evacuating wherebin fact they were staging a full blown frontal assault on the japanese forces...Japanese thought it was an excellent time to attack and catch Russians mid retreat....it was a complete massacre on the japanese forces who attacked and encountered well prepared soviet lines with massive air and altillery support.....he ended japanese in the east with one swoop...Stalin seeing this immidiatky gave him command in the west and the rest is history...Zhukov was an ultimate general that is born once in few hundered years. His ability to read the situation on the field and immidiately posture his forces to counteract was unbelievable...and ofcourse his charisma and leadership skills...true gem.
Jason Isaac once did the voice for Superman Red Son as the titular character, imagine him playing that titular character in the death of Stalin with that British accent rather than Zhukov or as Zhukov as his alias. That would have been incredibly hilarious 🤣.
Isaacs is a very underrated actor. In this film he stole the show in every scene he was in. He's shown to be a béast of a Lead-Actor! Now we need a producer to cast him in a Triple-A-list blockbuster.
Props for including the other parts in the downthere. I wish more 'tubers would adopt doing that. RU-vid showed 2 and 3 in the suggestions but not 4......for reasons.....I guess.....and they expected people to give them money when they cant be bothered to field a decent UI experience.....
Whatever else he may have been, Zhukov was a man who loved his country and was brave in the face of everything. Every country should have more men like them. Instead, in the USA and Canada, we have draft-dodgers and their sons running things.
There’s a lot of great writing in this film but that line might be my favorite. Really shows off why Zhukov was so revered as a military leader to where even Stalin didn’t want to mess with him.
I know it’s a comedy and that but like to think Jeremy Isaacs caught a bit of Zhukov in this portrayal. “I f***ed Germany, I can take a flesh lump in a waistcoat…”
![Best of Marshal Zhukov (Jason Issacs) in The Death of Stalin (2017) 3/4 [Eng/Magyar/Esp subs]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
