Marshal Vasilevsky was born into a family of village priests, and his background caused him so many problems in his career that for a time he had to cut off all contact with his parents.
Marshal Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky's father worked in the countryside with his father (Hua's grandfather) since childhood, and when his father died of illness at the age of 17, his mother remarried, and his minor father had to fend for himself. Relying on his own hard work, in 1896 he was finally sent by the higher Church to become a village priest in the village of Novoborovsk, near his hometown.
Vasilevsky obeyed his father's arrangement from an early age, attended primary school at the church school in his hometown at the age of 8, and after graduation, he was sent to the county town of Kinesma to study theology. In 1909, when all his possessions and house were burned down after a fire in his home, Vasilevsky's father managed to pay enough money to send him to the Kostroma Theological School in the provincial capital. Perhaps it was an accidental mistake, or perhaps it was the call of historical fate in the dark, Vasilevsky did not become a clergy as his father wished, nor did he become an agronomist as he liked, but chose to join the army due to the outbreak of the First World War, thus beginning his legendary military career.
Although Vasilevsky did not like theology and did not want to hold the priesthood, the immutable fact that he came from a clerical family caused him many problems later. Moreover, Vasilevsky's father's firm belief in God made it so that until the thirties of the twentieth century, he did not break away from the church organization and was still engaged in his clergy. Even if it will make him an "enemy of the people", it will not change.
Vasilevsky is a very emotional person, and he has always respected his parents since he was a child, who has been liked and pampered by his parents since he was a child. But when he had to choose between his parents and the party, he chose the latter. This is very easy for Chinese to understand.
Orthodox village churches.
So after 1926, Vasilevsky had to cut off all contact with his parents. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to be used in the Red Army, and even more difficult to become one of the Bolsheviks he wholeheartedly wanted to join, and perhaps he would be forced to take off his uniform and leave the Red Army.
If it weren't for Stalin's affection and care for him, this would have become a dead knot that would never have been resolved.
Around the spring of 1940, Vasilevsky was already the first deputy head of the General Staff Operations Department, a position that required him to report to Stalin frequently, so he became familiar with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. And Stalin also appreciated this shrewd and capable major general, he would chat and joke with familiar people, he liked to call Vasilevsky "Shaposhnikov's man", first, because Vasilevsky was a subordinate of Shaposhnikov, the chief of staff of the ministry, and second, Stalin knew that Shaposhnikov had a special appreciation for Vasilevsky and cultivated him as his own **person.
Once, after a lengthy meeting, Stalin again invited the participants to dinner in the Kremlin, during which Stalin suddenly came to Vasilevsky and raised a glass and said: "I propose, a toast to the health of Shaposhnikov's people!" Vasilevsky quickly stood up and said thank you. After putting down the glass, Vasilevsky did not expect Stalin to ask him an unexpected question: "Mikhailovich, I would like to ask you a question, may I ask you why you did not become a priest after graduating from seminary?" Stunned, Vasilevsky stammered: "I have never had such an idea, and besides, none of my father's four sons became priests." ”
Stalin. Listening to Vasilevsky's answer, Stalin smiled and said: "It is understandable that you have this condition, but you do not have the desire." But Mikoyan and I wanted to become priests but couldn't, but we don't know why the church didn't take us in, and we still don't know why. Stalin's words lightened everyone. (It is true that Stalin's greatest wish in his youth before joining the revolution was to become a priest in the future).
The conversation did not end there, and Stalin suddenly said to Vasilevsky in a serious manner: "Why don't you and your brothers help your father financially." It just so happens that I know a little about the situation in your family, and in addition to you, the commander of the Red Army, one of your four brothers is a doctor, one is an agronomist, and the other is a pilot, and they all have very good incomes. Your father only needed church to make ends meet! ”
Vasilevsky listened to Stalin's humane words, and his heart was still grateful, but he had his unspeakable secrets. After thinking about it for a while, he decided to say it as well: "Yes, since 1926 I have severed all ties with my parents. If I do not, then it is clear that not only will I not be able to join the ranks of the Party, but I may not be able to join our army, let alone enter the General Staff Station and talk to you in the position I am in now. “
Without saying a word, Vasilevsky paused for a moment and continued: "A few weeks ago, I suddenly received a letter from my father. This is the first time I have received a letter from him in more than a decade. However, since all the resumes I have filled out so far have always said that I have no contact with my parents, I immediately reported the contents of this letter to my party branch secretary. He told me that you should continue to do the same thing in your relationship with your parents in the future. “
What the? Stalin suddenly cried out, "You should immediately restore contact with your parents and be sure to give them some financial help." Because, they are your biological parents! This cannot be changed at any time or under any conditions. We Communists are not cold-blooded animals! It is not recommended to recognize the six relatives! “
Stalin paused for a moment and continued to say to Vasilevsky: "By the way, please inform the Party organization of your General Staff directly about the fact that this has been approved. This is my opinion, and it is also the opinion of all the Politburo members here. The members of the Politburo present expressed their support.
Later, in Vasilevsky's memoirs, he wrote: "I am indeed sincerely grateful to the Supreme Commander for his care for me, and even more so for his sincere affection for my parents. Through this incident, I have seen the other side of our leaders up close and deepest: cordial, respectful of other people's feelings, and humane. “
A few years later, on another occasion, Stalin asked Vasilevsky about his parents for some reason.
Stalin asked: "Your parents now live in **?" How's life going? “
Vasilevsky said: "My mother has died, my father is 80 years old. Now lives with the eldest daughter of Kineshma. She used to be a village teacher, and both her husband and son died in the Great Patriotic War. “
Stalin asked, "Then why didn't you bring your father, or your sister, to you?" It wouldn't be worse if they lived with you. "
Vasilevsky explained: "Now they are living well, they do not want to leave their homeland and land. It's really not my fault this time, so be sure to believe it! “
Stalin smiled when he heard the answer, apparently he cared deeply about the subordinate whom he admired.