The Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov
Dan Snow's History Hit
History Hit
4.7 • 13.7K Ratings
🗓️ 30 March 2026
⏱️ 66 minutes
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Summary
Marshal Georgy Zhukov was undoubtedly one of the Second World War's most formidable figures. Rising from humble peasant origins, Zhukov became the archetype of the Soviet warrior. He commanded vast armies of millions in some of the biggest, bloodiest and most pivotal battles not just of the Second World War but, in all human history. He was celebrated as the saviour of Moscow and the commander who captured the capital of the Third Reich, and is believed by many to be one of history’s greatest military leaders. But his immense popularity and success may also have sown the seeds of his political vulnerability at home in the paranoid Soviet system.
In this episode of Dan Snow's History Hit, part five of The Commanders series, we go beyond the legend to explore the man behind the myth. What made Zhukov the leader he became? How did he not only survive the tumultuous world of Soviet politics but thrive? And, does he truly deserve his towering reputation or were his victories at the expense of the men who served under him?
Our guide to explore Zhukov's life is the renowned historian Geoffrey Roberts. He is an emeritus professor of modern history at University College Cork and a leading expert on Soviet military history. He is also the author of Stalin's general: the life of Georgy Zhukov, so there is no one better to unpack the life, decisions, and legacy of the man who helped shape the outcome of the Second World War, and examine the fine line between glory and danger in Stalin’s Soviet Union.
If you would like to read more of Geoffrey's work, his latest book is Wartime Letters – Kathleen Harriman
Produced and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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Transcript
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| 0:33.7 | Moscow, June 1945. |
| 0:42.3 | 40,000 Soviet soldiers parade through Red Square. Despite the rain, their heads are held high. |
| 0:46.3 | Their chests are puffed out. |
| 0:48.3 | Their uniforms are clean and crisp, their boots polished. |
| 0:52.3 | The metal and the barrel of their rifles is buffed to a high sheen. |
| 0:58.3 | They bask in the glow of victory. |
| 1:02.9 | It is a moment to reflect upon their historic achievement |
| 1:05.9 | in the face of almost overwhelming suffering |
| 1:09.2 | inflicted upon the Soviet Union during the Second World War, |
| 1:13.0 | they have put behind them the bloody humiliation and chaos of 1941 and 1942. |
| 1:20.2 | They have come through costly victories involving the sacrifice of millions. |
| 1:26.5 | But the Soviet Union is victorious, |
| 1:29.3 | and now one of the most powerful states in the world. |
| 1:34.3 | At the head of this mighty display of military power |
... |
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