ARMY’S ROLE IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27463, 24 September 1954, Page 15

ARMY’S ROLE IN RUSSIA

Rise Seen In Influence (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, September 22. ! The influence of the Soviet Army in i the day-td-day management of the policy of the Soviet Union had greatly increased in the post-Stalin era, Harrison Salisbury, who has just returned to the United States after five years in Moscow, said in the “New York Times” today. This applied particularly to the influence of the dominant group in the Army around Marshal Georgi K. Zhukov. “When all the facts become known—if ever—it may well be established that the dominant role at the time of Stalin’s death, and again at the time of the Beria crisis, was played by the Army,” Salisbury said. Most of the few tangible pieces of evidence that supported the thesis that Stalin’s death was not entirely accidental were linked in one way or another with the Army. Some of this evidence Concerned a rather obscure young general named Sergei Matveevich Shtemenko. Soviet Chief of the General Staff until about 12 days before the announcement of Stalin’s fatal illness, who had not been seen or heard of since. Salisbury recalls that Shtemenko was one of five military figures named as intended victims of the infamous “doctors’ plot”—the anti-Semitic mechanism that was set going in January, 1953. There had been signs that the favour of the military was solicited while a purge was conducted of all other elements in the Soviet ruling circle. The four other supposed “victims” of the plot kept their fobs after Stalin died, but Shtemenko vanished. Whether it was fortuitous or planned, the post of Chief of Staff at the time of Stalin’s death was occupied by Marshal Sokolovsky, who had been more closely associated with Marshal Zhukov than any other Soviet officer. Zhukov’S Return to Power The drama of the return to power of Marshal Zhukov, Second World War hero, was not inconsiderable, Salisbury said. It was believed that his popularity with the masses and, in all probability, his great influence with the ton leadership of the Army, caused Stalin to banish him to the hinterland. The fact that he appeared in the public spotlight within 24 hours of Stalin’s death not only suggested the depth of his hold upon the army leadership and the stability that his associatidn with the new government would suggest to the public. It suggested. also, that Marshal Zhukov seemed to be waiting very close to the wings for this call back into the spotlight. The dominant role of the army in the Beria affair was known to everyone in Moscow, Salisbury said, ’rhe same plenary meeting of the Central Committee that denounced Beria elevated Marshal Zhukov to full membership. “As far as could be judged, the influence of the army and of Marshal Zhukov continues to be conservative and moderate,” Salisbury added.