Briketny dead end and Budyonny street. This was a great man

City and town, village, village and district, streets, squares and avenues, hippodrome, military academy and circus, oil ore tanker and armored train, military march and Red Army headdress, finally, a unique breed of riding horses and even a cemetery... Surely, there is something else... something forgotten and not mentioned by us, named by the inhabitants of the country in honor of Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny.

A special - warm - attitude towards him developed in the Don and Kuban, which is not surprising! After all, Semyon Mikhailovich is a native Rostov region. And, although he was born into a family of immigrants from middle zone Russia, with his hot character and love of risk, excellent qualities as a rider and practicality, was very close to the Cossacks.

The Budyonny family had difficulty making ends meet on the Kozyurin farm, which is not far from the village of Platovskaya. It's no joke, to feed, clothe and put on shoes for eight children! The winter of 1892 turned out to be especially severe: there was not enough food or firewood. To survive, the head of the family borrowed money from a local merchant, but was unable to repay the debt on time. Then the creditor offered to pay in kind - to let nine-year-old Semyon go to work for him.

The parents didn’t want to part with the boy, but they had to. In a merchant's house, the teenager mastered literacy and arithmetic, and at night he often sat in front of a splinter reading books. Looking ahead, it is worth saying that Budyonny carried his love of reading throughout his life; in addition, he spoke English, German, French and Turkish. Even as a child, he mastered playing the accordion. Later, among Budyonny’s grateful listeners was Stalin himself, who loved “The Lady” performed by the red commander.

Semyon Budyonny. Photo hystory.mediasole.ru

As he grew older, the future army commander began working on a threshing machine. Semyon Budyonny's real passion, enduring throughout his life, was horses. Few people knew how to love them so much, understand them as much as he did. At the age of 17, competing at a horse race for non-residents, Semyon won a beautiful victory, for which he received a silver ruble and the surprise of everyone present, including the Minister of War.

At the age of twenty, the young man was drafted into military service, which continued practically for the rest of his life. After serving his emergency duty, he remained on Far East in the Primorsky Dragoon Regiment. Later he participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Having established himself as the best rider of the unit, he was sent to St. Petersburg for rider courses.

By the beginning of the First World War, Semyon Mikhailovich had already risen to the rank of senior non-commissioned officer, but was often as ardent and reckless as in his youth. He received the first St. George Cross after carrying out an operation unprecedented in courage and bravery. Ignoring the order of a superior captain to conduct covert surveillance of the enemy, Budyonny disarmed an entire German convoy. Having lost only two soldiers, the platoon of the future hero Civil War took about two hundred prisoners and captured about forty carts with valuable cargo. But soon Semyon Mikhailovich also famously lost “George” for fighting back the sergeant who hit him.

The German, Caucasian, and Turkish fronts replaced each other, and the brave warrior had every chance to become famous again. As a result of the First World War - a complete St. George's bow. The uniform of the fearless rider from the Don was decorated with St. George's crosses of all four degrees and St. George's medals of four degrees!

Being a typical representative of the Russian poor, Semyon Budyonny accepted the revolutionary events immediately and unconditionally. In the summer of 1917 he became chairman of the regimental committee. In tandem with Mikhail Frunze, he spoke out against the Kornilovites, and upon returning to the Don he worked in the executive committee of the District Council.

Photo w.litfund.ru

In the second half of 1919, a large Cavalry Corps was created for the first time in the Red Army, headed by Budyonny. By that time, his name for many had become a symbol of selfless service to the revolution. The Budennovites steadfastly resisted the troops of generals Wrangel and Denikin, smashing the Cossack corps of generals Mamontov and Shkuro. It was the soldiers of Semyon Mikhailovich who made a huge contribution to the defeat of the White Guard units of the Kuban and Don armies.

At the end of the Civil War, Budyonny became deputy commander of the North Caucasus District. He was entrusted with the mission to declare Chechnya an autonomous region in 1923. In the early 30s, his knowledge and experience were in demand in the suppression of anti-Soviet Kazakh uprisings. The army commander himself is well aware of the need for further vocational education and in 1932 he graduated from the military academy. Three years later he was awarded the rank of marshal.

But neither high positions nor peaceful city life compensated the noble cavalryman for communication with horses. He oversees the opening and work of the Moscow Zootechnical Institute of Horse Breeding and Horse Breeding, and is the editor of an industry magazine. Thanks to his enthusiasm, two new ones appear in the Soviet Union promising breeds horses - Budennovskaya and Terek.

Before the Great Patriotic War, Semyon Mikhailovich received subordination to the troops of the Moscow Military District, and later became first deputy people's commissar of defense. In those years, the leadership of the country's armed forces pursued a policy of reducing cavalry, but Budyonny did not share this point of view. He believes that it is necessary to create horse-drawn motorized units. As shown further events, it was in vain that the country’s leadership did not listen to Budyonny on this issue.

Photo topwar.ru

During the Great Patriotic War Semyon Mikhailovich was appointed commander-in-chief and commander of various fronts and directions. And from January 1943 he was commander of the cavalry of the Red Army. According to the recollections of colleagues, it was Budyonny who took the initiative to restore the cavalry units, which began in 1941. Semyon Mikhailovich was also a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. Personally commanded troops during the defense of Moscow.

Despite retirement age Budyonny continued to work actively in the post-war years. Until 1953, he worked as Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Horse Breeding, was a cavalry inspector, and headed the Soviet-Mongolian Friendship Society. Eight times Marshal Budyonny became a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, was a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and a member of the Central Committee of the party. Listing all the hero’s awards would take too much space, but it’s worth saying that he was a hero three times Soviet Union and had eight Orders of Lenin.

The personal life of Marshal Budyonny was also eventful and stormy. Semyon Mikhailovich was married three times, had three children from last wife, who was 33 years younger than him. By the way, the granddaughter of Marshal Anastasia was the wife in the first marriage of Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the current president of Russia.

The legendary army commander died at the age of 91 from a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried near the Kremlin wall in Moscow. But his biography, personality and characteristic appearance features have long become public property. It is no coincidence that historians give the following example: when Budyonny came up with the idea of ​​shaving his famous mustache, Stalin playfully forbade him to do so, remarking: “This, Semyon, is no longer your mustache, but the people’s!”

Hero of the Civil War, one of the first Marshals of the USSR, Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny is a legendary figure for his contemporaries. Today, his figure is shrouded in myths and rumors, and the events that took place in his life have received scandalous interpretations from pseudo-historians thirsting for fame in any way. Even Budyonny’s mustache “was awarded” a separate myth.

The roots of the Budyonny family are buried in the Voronezh region (once a province). It was from here, after the abolition of serfdom, that the grandfather of the future army commander escaped in search of a better fate. At that time, the former serf already had three small children growing up. He was unable to pay taxes for the land he had acquired. Taking his simple belongings and family, Ivan Budyonny moved to the Don.

In the spring of 1875, one of Ivan Budyonny’s sons, Mikhail, married the peasant woman Melania Yemchenko. The young family settled on the Kozyurin farm, located next to the village of Platovskaya (today the village of Budennovskaya). Here in April 1883, the future army commander Semyon Budyonny, the second son in the family, was born. After him, 6 more children were born.

An unbearably hard life forced the head of the family to uproot and move to the Stavropol region. But, as once his father, Mikhail Budyonny, it soon became clear that it would not be better in the new place. He returned to the Don and settled in the Litvinovka farmstead not far from the same village of Platovskaya.

The hungry winter of 1892 forced Mikhail Budyonny to borrow money from the local merchant Yatskin. It was not possible to repay the debt on time. Yatzkin first wanted to take away the horse from the debtor, but this was tantamount to murder. The merchant invited Mikhail to give him the smart little Semyon as a farm laborer, pledging to return his son in a year. Despite his wife's tears and protests, the unhappy father agreed. 9-year-old Semyon Budyonny, who wanted to help his family, was not against it either.

A year later the boy did not return home. He remained at Yatskin’s beck and call, carrying out his small errands. When the guy grew up, he was sent to work as an assistant at a forge. He soon became a hammerman. And the smart teenager quickly realized that without literacy and any education, he would remain a servant of the rich. Therefore, the boy agreed with Yatskin’s clerk that he would teach him to read and write. For this, Semyon obliged to clean his room, wash the dishes and shine his shoes.

After a grueling day of work, the boy did his homework by the light of a torch. And in order not to fall asleep, he doused himself with ice water or stood on sharp coals. This is how the future army commander developed a strong masculine character.

Semyon Budyonny tried to visit his relatives in the village

It was a real holiday for Semyon to be home for weekends or holidays. His family was friendly and cheerful, despite the hardships and need. Father Ivan was respected on the farm, considered reasonable and fair. He was elected headman of non-residents, and Budyonny more than once stood up for his poor fellow countrymen before the Cossack ataman.

There was also music often played in the elder’s house. The head of the family masterfully played the balalaika, and Semyon learned to play the harmonica. Looking ahead, let’s say that I’ve heard Budyonny play more than once. At his request, the army commander played “The Lady” on the accordion.

Young Semyon Budyonny's favorite pastime was horse racing. In 1900, a 17-year-old boy competed on behalf of nonresidents at a competition organized in honor of the arrival of the Minister of War in the village and won. The minister was surprised that the victory went not to a local Cossack, but to a “newcomer.” For this the young man was awarded a silver ruble.

From the forge the guy moved to the locomotive threshing machine of the same merchant Yatskin. At first he performed the duties of an oiler and fireman, and then became a machinist. Young Cossack women looked at the handsome and smart guy. Semyon got married to one of them, Nadezhda, in January 1903. And in the fall of the same year, Budyonny was called up for service.

Military career

From that moment it began military biography Semyon Budyonny. Its first pages were written in the Imperial Army, in the Far East. There, in the Primorsky Dragoon Regiment, the future marshal immediately felt in his element. And he stayed for long-term service. He took part in the Russian-Japanese War as part of the Don Cossack Regiment, where he distinguished himself. For this, in 1907 he was sent to St. Petersburg.

For a year, the young military man was trained at the Officer Cavalry School, in equestrian courses. After completing his studies, Semyon Budyonny returned to serve in the Primorsky Dragoon Regiment.

In 1914 the First World War broke out World War, in which he also took part. Served as a senior non-commissioned officer in the 18th Seversk Dragoon Regiment. He fought on three fronts - German, Austrian and Caucasian. How young Budyonny fought can be judged by his awards: he received the so-called “full St. George’s bow.” These are St. George's crosses of four degrees and St. George's medals of the same four degrees.

History has preserved information about how the brave non-commissioned officer earned his first cross of the 4th degree. He managed to capture a large German convoy with provisions, medicines and warm uniforms. At the same time, under the leadership of Semyon Budyonny there was only a platoon of soldiers, and the enemy convoy was accompanied by a well-armed company with heavy machine guns. Budyonny's platoon consisted of 33 people. Two were killed during the battle. But the number of prisoners was 200 Germans. The tsarist military press then reported that the Germans were defeated, capturing considerable trophies, by the Caucasian Cavalry Division. No one could believe that a small platoon could cope with the task.

But crosses not only easily came to the brave military man, but were also easily taken away. For example, Budyonny was deprived of his first St. George Cross for assault. As it turned out, he “fought back” to a senior in rank, who insulted and hit him in the face. In the same 1914, Semyon Mikhailovich returned the award. On the Turkish front, in the battle for the city of Van, a reconnaissance platoon under his leadership managed to penetrate deep into the rear and capture an enemy battery and 3 cannons.

In the summer of 1917, Budyonny arrived in Minsk along with the Caucasian Cavalry Division. Here he was elected chairman of the regimental committee. In August of the same year, he, together with Orsha, supervised the disarmament of the echelons of Lavr Kornilov’s troops.

After the end of the October Revolution, Semyon Mikhailovich returned to his native village, on the Don. He was elected head of the district land department. But peaceful life did not last long. The outbreak of the Civil War again called him on the road.

In February 1918, Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny created a cavalry detachment that fought with the White Guards. Soon he joined the 1st Peasant Cavalry Regiment, commanded by B.M. Dumenko.

Very little time passed, and Budyonny was appointed deputy commander of the regiment, which grew to a brigade, and then a division. This division successfully fought near Tsaritsyn until the beginning of 1919. And in the second half of the year, the Cavalry Corps was created in the Red Army, which fought with the troops and reached Voronezh. The corps was led by Semyon Budyonny.

The victories of the Cavalry Corps led by him over the general's troops accelerated the defeat of enemy forces on the Don.

In November 1919, the Cavalry Corps was renamed the First Cavalry Army, the commander of which was again appointed Semyon Mikhailovich. He led it until 1923. The cavalry played a major role in a number of major operations. With its help, the troops of Denikin and Wrangel were finally defeated, first in Northern Tavria, and then in the Crimea.

Kliment Voroshilov, Semyon Budyonny and Efim Shchadenko in 1920

After the end of the Civil War, Semyon Mikhailovich, although he was appointed deputy commander of the North Caucasus Military District, managed to do the job he dreamed of all the years of the war: he organized and created stud farms in which new breeds of horses were bred - “Budennovskaya” and “Terskaya” .

It is not for nothing that Semyon Budyonny is called the “godfather” of the Chechen Autonomous Region. In 1923, it was he who, having placed the cap of the Bukhara emir on his head, arrived in Urus-Martan by decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and declared autonomy. In the same year, the outstanding military man was appointed assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Red Army for cavalry.

In 1932, Semyon Mikhailovich graduated Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze. After 3 years, Budyonny and 4 other commanders were awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

These were difficult times, which are difficult to judge today, after many decades. Some historians accuse Budyonny of easily betraying his former comrades. For example, in 1937, he advocated the expulsion from the party, and then the execution of N.I. Bukharin and A.I. Rykov. In the spring of the same year, he supported the expulsion of M. N. Tukhachevsky and Ya. E. Rudzutak from the party. When asked whether former comrades should be executed, he wrote: “Of course, in favor. These scoundrels need to be executed."

Since 1940, Semyon Budyonny was appointed first deputy people's commissar of defense of the Soviet Union. He remained loyal to cavalry, insisting on its importance in maneuver warfare. Some historians like to joke about this topic, forgetting to note that the marshal also advocated the technical re-equipment of the army, as well as the formation of cavalry-mechanized formations. Having hastened to modernize, by 1938, out of 32 cavalry divisions, 13 remained. Later, a number of historians who analyzed military events agreed that the military leaders had not listened to Budyonny in vain and hastened to liquidate the cavalry.

During the Great Patriotic War, Marshal Semyon Budyonny became part of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. On his recommendation, the command in the summer of 1941 began the formation of new cavalry divisions. By the end of 1941, more than 80 cavalry divisions had appeared. Some historians mistakenly attribute this initiative to .

At the beginning of the autumn of the first year of the war, Semyon Mikhailovich was appointed commander-in-chief of the troops of the Southwestern and Southern Fronts, which stood in the way of the German invasion of Ukraine. In August, on his orders, sappers from one of the NKVD regiments blew up the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station in Zaporozhye. Streams of gushing water led to the death of many Wehrmacht soldiers. But Red Army soldiers also died. An avalanche of water covered the coastal area along with refugees and civilians. Industrial equipment in the lower part of Zaporozhye was destroyed.

Later, some historians cited huge death tolls as a result of Budyonny’s operation, but there were also those who objected, arguing that the death toll was several times lower and the operation was justified.

The fact that Semyon Mikhailovich did not at all strive for victory by any means is evidenced by the fact that in September 1941 he sent a telegram to the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters in which he proposed to withdraw the troops entrusted to him in order to avoid encirclement. For this, Stalin removed him from command and replaced him with S.K. Timoshenko. On the third day after the replacement, the troops still had to be withdrawn and left Kyiv.

After his removal, Semyon Budyonny was appointed commander of the Reserve Front. And although he led the Reserve for only 27 days, it is difficult to overestimate his contribution to the defense of Moscow. After all, the Reserve Front, together with the Bryansk and Western Fronts, managed to defend the capital, although the superiority of enemy forces was enormous.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the legendary marshal turned 62 years old. But he remained full of strength and energy. Semyon Mikhailovich long years I didn’t even think about rest. He raised and developed agriculture and livestock farming in the country, most of all patronizing stud farms. He carried his love for horses throughout his life. Looking ahead, let's say that the army commander's favorite horse, named Sophist, was so attached to his owner that he could distinguish his approach by the noise of the machine engine. And when Budyonny died, he cried like a man.

Sculptor N.V. Tomsky immortalized the Sophist in the monument to M.I. Kutuzov, which today stands in Moscow in front of the Battle of Borodino panorama museum.

Not only the breed of horses was named after Budyonny, but also the famous headdress - Budenovka. There is a version that it was tailored according to a sketch by Apollinary Vasnetsov, the brother of the famous artist. Its prototype was allegedly the helmet of an ancient Russian warrior.

Of interest is either the story or the fictional legend about the legendary luxurious mustache of the marshal. Rumor has it that in his youth one of Budyonny’s mustaches turned gray due to the outbreak of gunpowder. Allegedly, Semyon Mikhailovich during the Crimean War decided to check captured cartridges to see if they were smokeless. He brought a cigarette and made sure that they reacted well to the smoke. Later, the owner of the “multi-colored” mustache first tinted it, and then decided to get rid of it altogether. Joseph Vissarionovich stopped him, noting that it was no longer his mustache, but the people’s.

In 1979, Budyonny’s relatives donated his headset to the Museum of the First Cavalry Army.

Many contemporaries, including the youngest generation, know Budyonny’s name from the name of a comfortable 4-deck motor ship built in Czechoslovakia. The length of this wonderful ship reaches 136 meters, and its cabins accommodate more than 300 people.

The motor ship "Semyon Budyonny" is classified as "comfort" and makes sea and river cruises.

Motor ship "Semyon Budyonny"

It is known that many of Semyon Mikhailovich’s associates fell into the repressive “meat grinder” and were shot. Budyonny managed to survive. There are either myths or legends about this. According to one version, the “black funnel” also came to the marshal with a singed mustache. But he met the uninvited guests with a saber drawn and the exclamation “Who’s first?!” They retreated. When I reported to Stalin about the incident in the morning, he grinned and praised Budyonny. They didn't touch him anymore.

According to another version, Semyon Mikhailovich fired a machine gun at the security officers, and then rushed to call Stalin: “Joseph, counter-revolution! I won’t surrender alive!” Allegedly, after this, the Generalissimo gave the command to leave him alone, saying that “the old fool is not dangerous.”

Personal life

Not only the military biography, but also the personal life of Semyon Budyonny was eventful. There were also tragic pages in it. The marshal's first wife, the same Cossack Nadya from the neighboring village with whom he married in 1903, accompanied her husband during the Civil War. She was responsible for supplying the medical unit. Nadezhda died in 1924. According to one version, it was an accident. The woman allegedly accidentally pulled the trigger of a loaded gun. But there is another version. They say that her angry husband shot her after learning about her infidelity. According to the third version, Nadya was shot during a scandal that she caused to her unfaithful husband.

Historians are inclined to believe the first version, because the fatal shot was fired in front of many witnesses who saw that it was Nadezhda who pulled the trigger.

It seems that the army commander did not grieve for long. Some say that he married the beauty and opera singer Olga Budnitskaya almost on the second day after his wife’s death. Others say that the wedding took place six months later. The woman was 20 years younger than her husband. And since Budyonny loved her incredibly and at the same time had incredible capabilities, his beloved Olenka got everything she wanted: she entered the conservatory and became a soloist Bolshoi Theater. But Mikhailova (that’s the stage name she chose for herself) stubbornly ignored her husband’s only request - to give birth to children - arguing that she did not want to spoil her figure. Allegedly, she could not imagine her life without the theater.

As it turned out, she couldn’t imagine it without tenor Alekseev, which, of course, the omnipresent NKVD knew about. But when Mikhailova often attended receptions at foreign embassies, Stalin informed Budyonny. Rumor has it that after the conversation he personally took his wife to Lubyanka. The marshal's wife was arrested and accused of espionage.

During the life of the Generalissimo, Semyon Mikhailovich did not even try to alleviate her fate. They say he was sure that Olga was dead. But in 1956, having learned that the woman was alive, ex-husband made every effort to get Mikhailova out. Subsequently, he took care of her, and the woman even visited the Budyonny family.

For the third time, Semyon Budyonny’s personal life turned out happily. After his wife’s arrest, he married Mikhailova’s cousin, Maria, who was more than 30 years younger than him and whom he subsequently loved and spoiled incredibly. Masha gave birth to her husband three children: in 1938, a son, Sergei, in 1939, a daughter, Nina, and in 1944, a second son, Misha.

Daughter Nina became the second wife of the famous artist and gave birth to her father two grandchildren.

Death

Marshal Budyonny died at the age of 91, having lived a long and rich life. He died on October 26, 1973. Death was quick - from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Semyon Mikhailovich was buried with full honors at the Kremlin wall on Red Square.

I remember the old story: Budyonny wanted to completely shave off his mustache, but Stalin did not allow it: “This, Semyon, is not your mustache, but the people’s...”. When I arrived today at the opening of a new interchange at the intersection of Budyonny Ave. and the North-Eastern Expressway and saw this interweaving of complex interchanges, I immediately remembered Budyonny’s famous mustache.

For almost 10 years, the construction of a complex interchange with the North-Eastern Expressway and Budyonny Avenue has been underway on Entuziastov Highway. In total, it was planned to build 15 overpasses with a total length of almost 10 km.
Doesn't it look like a mustache?

Let me remind you that the North-Eastern Expressway, with a total length of about 35 km, will pass from new route M11 "Moscow-St. Petersburg" to the Kosinskaya overpass (interchange at the intersection of the Moscow Ring Road with the Veshnyaki-Lyubertsy highway). The route will connect the major highways of the city - the Moscow Ring Road, Entuziastov Highway, Izmailovskoye, Shchelkovskoye, Otkrytoye, Yaroslavskoye, Altufevskoye and Dmitrovskoye Highways.
Thus, the North-Eastern Expressway will provide a diagonal connection between the north, east and south-east of the capital, reducing the traffic load on the center, the Third Transport Ring, the Moscow Ring Road and outbound highways.
And here on the diagram you can see what it looks like from a bird's eye view.

For now, only part of the overpass will be accessible to motorists, and after completion of the section from Veshnyakov to Lyubertsy Right side The overpass will accommodate transport from Nekrasovka and the Moscow region.

Today you can update your navigator

The local dog, quite friendly, still feels like a master here

They decided to open the junction ahead of schedule, along the way they will complete the area around

Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny - legendary marshal, Red Army soldier, commander of the Cavalry. In culture and history he is known not only as a talented military leader, but also as the owner of a monumental mustache, which became the center of his image.

The main detail of the image

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Over time, Budyonny’s mustache became a national treasure - jokes and funny ditties were invented about them, and legends were composed. This detail became the main one in the whole image: people first of all paid attention to the lush vegetation above the upper lip, which the people strongly associated with the marshal, three times Hero of the Soviet Union.

Semyon Mikhailovich preferred a sloppy mustache - that was his highlight. They were thick, long, covered almost the entire upper lip and did not have clear contours. A contrast was created with the neat “chevron” of Joseph Stalin: the generalissimo wore only well-groomed vegetation.

In appearance, Budyonny’s mustache resembles a Hungarian one. This is a heavily overgrown walrus shape that does not have clear boundaries or shape. The hairs stick out and do not need to be styled with special products or combed regularly.

Semyon Mikhailovich appeared with a mustache in early photographs, but before the Civil War it was not so thick, had pointed tips and was reminiscent of the English ones in shape. But with the manifestation of the commander’s talent and remarkable courage, the mustache became thicker.

There is no exact reason in history as to why Budyonny grew lush hair above his lip, but there are folk legends.

The marshal was naturally distinguished by kind eyes and a soft expression on his face - with such an appearance it would not have been easy to become commander-in-chief. To command respect from his fellow soldiers, the man grew a bushy mustache, which he wore only when going out. The tips extended beyond the cheeks, which is why the image turned out to be so recognizable.

Semyon Mikhailovich is a charismatic and straightforward person. He was ready to defend his ideals with his sword drawn: he could argue fiercely with Joseph Stalin, for which he was never even threatened with a reprimand.

There was an opinion among the people that Budyonny grew a mustache because he was a Don Cossack, and this was an obligatory feature of representatives of the Cossacks. But this version remains only a legend: although Budyonny was from the Rostov region, his family was never counted among the Cossacks. He went back to poor peasants from other cities.

Also, his supposed kinship with the Cossacks was indicated by the marshal’s incredible ability to ride and fight. However, the legendary commander was able to develop all these skills directly during his military service.

Despite his not very wealthy childhood, Semyon Mikhailovich was able to achieve success in the mainstream of military affairs. The mustache became his calling card and the most recognizable part of his image.

There were legends about them

The phenomenon of Budenov's mustache is an interesting moment from the history of the twentieth century, which throughout the marshal's life and after his death remained a hero of folk legends. This detail of the image was very much loved by the citizens - it was difficult to find such an original and charismatic commander.

The luxurious hair above his upper lip suited Budyonny - it became an integral feature of his tough character and reflected determination not only in battle, but also in life.

Budyonnovsky's style became the hero of jokes, and his mustache became a national treasure.

1. Vegetation that Stalin respected.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, Budyonny began to get tired of his mustache - he no longer participated in battles, he no longer needed to be respected among his fellow soldiers. Understanding and realizing his authority, Semyon Mikhailovich knew that even without his Hungarian mustache he would remain a legend.

Budyonny decides to shave off his hair, but at the last moment he is repelled by Stalin’s decisive ban. Joseph Vissarionovich said that this mustache no longer belongs to the marshal, it is the people’s. So the red commander was left with his calling card.

1. Gray mustache

During the battles on the Crimean Peninsula, the Marshal of the Cavalry needed to check captured cartridges. He brought a cigarette to one of them, the gunpowder flared up and singed the tip of his mustache. Because of this, he remained gray forever. To hide this flaw, the marshal regularly tinted them.

1. I shaved my brother myself.

At the height of the Civil War, he served in the First Cavalry Army under the leadership of Semyon Budyonny brother. He also decided to grow luxurious hair, like the marshal’s, which he really didn’t like. Semyon himself cut off the ends of his sleeping brother's mustache - There should only be one Budyonny, no doubles.

1. I argued with a portrait artist.

Nikolai Meshkov, a famous artist, had the honorable mission to paint a portrait of Budyonny. But in the process, he and the marshal had disagreements due to the fact that he could not depict the mustache as the red commander saw it. After much debate, Meshkov still managed to draw them in such a way that they suited Semyon Mikhailovich.

1. Museum exhibit.

Budyonny’s mustache also found its place in the museum of the First Cavalry Army. The earpiece that the marshal personally gave them in 1979 is still kept there.

Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny is a legendary historical figure whose influence on national history difficult to overestimate. His Hungarian mustache is a calling card, which has become an important detail of his courageous image and, according to Stalin, a national treasure.