19 Facts About Alexander Novikov

Alexander Novikov was then imprisoned until the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, whereupon he became an avionics teacher and writer until his death.

Alexander Novikov was born in Kryukovo, a village in Nerekhta, in Kostroma Oblast.

Alexander Novikov served in the 384th regiment of the Russian 7th Army, helped put down the Kronstadt uprising in March 1921, and he served as a platoon commander during anti-guerrilla fighting in the Caucasus in 1922.

Frunze Military Academy in 1930, Alexander Novikov moved to the air force in 1933, and served as chief of operations until 1935, when he took command of a light bomber squadron.

Alexander Novikov served as chief of the air force staff of the Leningrad Military District prior to serving in the Winter War during 1939 and 1940.

Alexander Novikov continued to command the Air Forces of the Leningrad Military District until the outbreak of World War II.

In July 1941, Alexander Novikov expanded his command from Leningrad to include air forces of the Northern Front, Northwestern Front and the Baltic Fleet, and as the Germans approached Leningrad, Alexander Novikov and his forces flew 16,567 sorties.

Alexander Novikov briefly held the position of first deputy to the air force commander from February until 11 April 1942.

Alexander Novikov worked specifically for the creation of separate divisions and air corps, as well as the improvement of front line coordination.

At the Battle of Kursk, Alexander Novikov introduced new innovations such as shaped-charge bombs, night fighters and ground-attack aircraft.

The Battle of Konigsberg saw 2,500 combat aircraft under Alexander Novikov being made available to the besieging armies, with the Soviet air marshal recommending low-level heavy night bombers being used.

Alexander Novikov then transferred to the Pacific Theatre to fight against Japan, where he was made Hero of the Soviet Union a second time for his Far Eastern efforts.

On 16 January 1946 Alexander Novikov submitted to Stalin plans that would lay the groundwork for the modern Soviet air force and the industry that would supply it.

On 22 April 1946 before these could be enacted, Alexander Novikov was stripped of his rank and titles and arrested.

Alexander Novikov was interrogated and tortured the next day, and again between 4 and 8 May 1946 by Lavrentiy Beria before being forced to read a confession to the Politburo implicating Zhukov.

Alexander Novikov was tried by the Military Collegium and sentenced to fifteen years in a labour camp.

Alexander Novikov was released on 29 June 1953, six years into his sentence following Stalin's death, and reinstated as chief marshal of aviation, where he was able to put his ideas into practice.

Alexander Novikov became a professor and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1961.

In retirement, Alexander Novikov wrote a number of works on aviation and warfare, which were used to educate new Soviet air force pilots.