What award did Kalashnikov receive in 1949? Biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov: a brilliant designer

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Gunsmith's Day (To the 95th anniversary of the birth of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov)

Lieutenant General M. T. Kalashnikov

For reference:

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich - an outstanding Soviet and Russian designer of automatic small arms, chief designer - head of the small arms bureau of Izhmash Concern OJSC, lieutenant general. In service with the Soviet and Russian army weapon M.T. Kalashnikov has been a member for more than 60 years.

M.T. Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Barnaul district, Altai province (now Kurya district, Altai Territory) in a large peasant family Timofey Alexandrovich and Alexandra Frolovna Kalashnikov. He was the seventeenth child in a family in which out of nineteen children born, only eight survived. In 1930, Timofey Kalashnikov, declared a kulak, was expelled from the Altai Territory to Siberia, to the village of Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya (Tomsk Region). In the same year, Timofey Alexandrovich died in exile, unable to withstand the shock that happened. Mother, Alexandra Frolovna, remarried Kosach Efrem Nikitich. Despite the difficult living conditions, she and her stepfather tried to give their children an education. However, there was no school of its own in Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya, and Mikhail had to go to school in the neighboring village of Voronikha, traveling a long distance of 15 km every day.

At school, M. Kalashnikov was drawn to knowledge, and even then he tried to invent a “perpetual motion machine.” In addition to his passion for physics, geometry, and various mechanisms, he played in amateur performances, wrote poems and epigrams for his school friends.

After graduating from 7 classes high school, Mikhail returned back to Altai to earn money. He was unable to get a job in his native village and after some time returned home to Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya, where he studied for another year at school.

In 1936, having corrected the date of birth in the documents, Kalashnikov received a passport and returned to Kurya. There he got a job at a machine and tractor station and joined the Komsomol.

In 1937, Mikhail moved to Kazakhstan and became an apprentice at the railway depot of the Matai Turkestan-Siberian station railway. Communication with machinists, turners and mechanics at the depot strengthened his interest in technology and aroused his desire to do something himself. After some time, he was transferred to Alma-Ata (now Almaty) as the technical secretary of the political department of the 3rd railway department of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway.

In September 1938 M.T. Kalashnikov was drafted into the Red Army. After graduating from the divisional school for junior commanders and mastering the specialty of a tank driver, he continued further service in a tank regiment stationed in the city of Stryi, Western Ukraine, Kyiv Special Military District. The commander of the company in which Kalashnikov served saw the makings of a designer in him. Mikhail Timofeevich recalled: “They carved out “windows” for us in the daily routine, gave us an additional opportunity to work magic in the workshop, so that we could translate our ideas into practical deeds.” The young tanker made a special device for the TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing through slits in the tank turret, developed an inertial counter to record the actual number of shots from a tank gun, and created a device for measuring the service life of a tank engine.

Tankman Mikhail Kalashnikov during shooting practice. 1940

The last invention turned out to be very important, and at the end of 1940, junior sergeant Kalashnikov was called to report to the district commander, army general. After the conversation, having become familiar with the design of the device, Zhukov sent the inventor to the Kiev Tank Technical School to manufacture two prototypes of the device and conduct their comprehensive tests on combat vehicles. Upon completion of testing the device, the district commander awarded Kalashnikov a personalized watch and ordered his secondment to Moscow - to one of military units, on the basis of which further comparative tests of the device were carried out.

After comparative tests, by order of the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Red Army, Lieutenant General Ya. N. Fedorenko, in the spring of 1941, Kalashnikov was sent to Leningrad to plant No. 174 named after. K. E. Voroshilova, for finalizing the design of the device and setting it up mass production. A prototype of the device successfully passed laboratory tests in the factory, and on June 24, 1941, a report was sent to the Main Armored Directorate, signed by the chief designer of the plant S.A. Ginzburg, which stated: “Based on the simplicity of the design of the device proposed by Comrade Kalashnikov and on positive results laboratory tests, plant in July. g. will work out the working drawings and produce a sample for final, comprehensive testing with the aim of introducing it into special vehicles.” However, it was not possible to conduct comprehensive tests, and the war began.

Tank commander Senior Sergeant Kalashnikov met the Great Patriotic War in August 1941 as part of the 108th tank division Bryansk Front. In September of the same year, in battles with the Nazi invaders near Bryansk, his tank company came under artillery fire. Kalashnikov's tank was hit, and he himself was seriously wounded in the shoulder and seriously concussed. For two weeks he and his comrades escaped the encirclement, after which he was sent to the front-line hospital in Trubchevsk, and then to evacuation hospital No. 1133 in Yelets. While in the hospital, Mikhail Timofeevich began working on a project for a submachine gun to equip the Red Army. By creatively using technical literature available in the hospital library, by the time of discharge he had completed working drawings of a new weapon. Having received a six-month leave for health reasons before returning to the front, Kalashnikov returned to Kurya, and then to the Matai station, in the railway workshops of which, with the permission of the head of the depot, he made a prototype of a submachine gun.

With a ready-made sample of his weapon, Kalashnikov headed to Alma-Ata, where at that time the Moscow Aviation Institute was evacuated. Sergo Ordzhonikidze. In the training workshops of the small arms and cannon weapons department of this institute, he refined the design of his submachine gun and assembled a more advanced model of it.

In June 1942, a sample of the Kalashnikov submachine gun was sent for review to the Artillery Academy named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky, which was evacuated to Samarkand. The first of the gunsmith specialists to evaluate the prototype of the new submachine gun was the head of this academy, the largest scientist in the field of ballistics and small arms, future twice Hero of Socialist Labor, Major General of Artillery A. A. Blagonravov. Despite the identified design flaws in the presented weapon, he noted the talent of the novice developer and recommended sending Senior Sergeant Kalashnikov to technical training. Later, the Kalashnikov submachine gun was examined by specialists of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army, who, having appreciated the successful design of the presented weapon, nevertheless rejected its introduction into production due to the technological complexity of manufacturing. They decided to involve the most talented young weapons designer in design work, sending him in July 1942 for further service at the Research Range of Small Arms and Mortar Weapons of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army (NIPSMVO).

Senior Sergeant M. Kalashnikov during work at the NIPSMVO test site

At NIPSMVO, in addition to refining the design of his prototype submachine gun, Mikhail Timofeevich developed in 1944 light machine gun and a self-loading carbine, the main components of which served as the basis for the creation of a future machine gun.

In 1945, Kalashnikov took part in a competition for the development of automatic weapons chambered for the 7.62´39 intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model. The design of his assault rifle was approved by the competition commission, which decided to manufacture prototypes in 1946 and conduct subsequent comparative field tests .

Many famous gunsmith designers, including V. A. Degtyarev and G. S. Shpagin, became Kalashnikov’s rivals in field tests. The Shpagin assault rifle was the first to leave the tests, then the Degtyarev assault rifle began to malfunction. At the end of the tests, only 3 assault rifles remained, which were recommended for further development, and among them was the M. T. Kalashnikov sample.

By the end of 1946, Kalashnikov improved his assault rifle, and its prototypes (with permanent wooden and folding metal butts) were sent to the test site to continue comparative tests, which took place in May - June 1947. In addition to the Kalashnikov assault rifle, people took part in these tests assault rifles by A. A. Dementyev and A. A. Bulkin, also made in versions with wooden and metal folding stocks. Despite the fact that the winners at this stage of testing were the Bulkin and Dementiev assault rifles, Kalashnikov managed to remain among the competitors, since his assault rifle had a bolt design that ensured the reliable operation of the moving parts of the automation, practically eliminating delays in firing due to contamination of the weapon.

To complete the competitive tests, all participants had to modify their weapons in order to bring the accuracy of combat and the practical rate of fire into compliance with the standards of tactical and technical requirements, achieve a reduction in the weight and size characteristics of the assault rifles, increase the reliability of their operation and improve survivability. Kalashnikov was recommended to redesign the receiver and trigger mechanism, Dementyev - to modify the design of the bolt, increasing wear resistance, achieving reliable operation of the automation and increasing the efficiency of the muzzle brake. Bulkin was required to improve the reliability of the mobile automation system, redesign the casing while simultaneously reducing its length, and introduce changes to the design of the reflector.

To refine his assault rifle, Kalashnikov was sent to the city of Kovrov, Vladimir Region. In the course of finalizing the design of the machine gun, the team of the chief designer of Kovrov Plant No. 2 used all the best ideas of competitors, completely redesigned the bolt frame, making it a single unit together with the gas piston rod. The drawings of the receiver, gas tube with receiver guard, fore-end, butt, pistol grip and magazine were worked out in a new way.

Also in 1947, a new version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle again entered testing. And, despite the fact that, with the best reliability characteristics, it showed the worst results in terms of fire accuracy, the machine gun still surpassed its competitors and was recommended for adoption by the Soviet army with the subsequent refinement of its characteristics during military testing.

At the beginning of 1948, on the orders of Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, the young designer was sent to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant to participate in the creation of technical documentation and organize the production of a pilot batch of machine guns for military testing. Until the end of 1948, a pilot batch of 1,500 machine guns was produced. successfully passed military tests. After final revision in January 1949, the assault rifle was adopted by the Soviet Army under the name “7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 (AK).” In February of the same year, for its development, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded the Order of the Red Star and was awarded the Stalin Prize, 1st degree.

M.T. Kalashnikov reports to officers of the invention department of the Main Artillery Directorate of the USSR Ministry of the Armed Forces about the new layout of the machine gun. 1949

AK assault rifle, adopted for service in 1949.

M.T. Kalashnikov with his wife and children. 1959

During these years, the plant's design team, headed by Kalashnikov, created the first unified system of automatic small arms based on the AK. The following were adopted for service: a 7.62-mm modernized assault rifle (AKM), a 7.62-mm light machine gun (RPK), which replaced the Degtyarev light machine gun and the Simonov self-loading carbine in the troops. Later, their modifications were supplied to the army - AKMS and RPKS with folding stocks and night vision sights - AKMN, AKMSN and RPKSN (1963).

A modernized example of an AKM assault rifle with a wooden
and folding metal (bottom) butts

RPK light machine gun on a bipod with a disk and a box magazine (below)

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 20, 1958, for the modernization of the machine gun and the creation of a light machine gun, the head of the design bureau of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant M.T. Kalashnikov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

In the early 60s. last century, the Kalashnikov design bureau created the design of a single machine gun chambered for a 7.62´54 mm rifle cartridge. The Soviet Army adopted 7.62-mm Kalashnikov machine guns - PK (1961), PKS (1961), a tank version - PKT, for installation on armored personnel carriers - PKB (1962) and their modernized versions PKTM and PKMB , as well as PKM and its easel version PKMS (1969).

PKMT tank machine gun with electric trigger

For the first time in world practice, a series of unified models of small arms were created, identical in operating principle and unified automation scheme.

The automatic small arms developed by Kalashnikov were distinguished by their high reliability, efficiency, and ease of use. For the first time in the history of the creation of small arms, he managed to achieve an optimal combination of a number of qualities that ensured highly effective use and exceptional reliability of the machine gun in combat, namely: a short locking unit, a suspended bolt, preliminary release of the cartridge case after the shot, eliminating failure when removing the spent cartridge case, low sensitivity to contamination and the possibility of trouble-free use in any climatic conditions.

Kalashnikov not only created the best assault rifle in the world, but also for the first time developed and introduced into the troops a number of standardized models of automatic small arms. In 1964, for the creation of a complex of unified machine guns PK, PKT, PKB M.T. Kalashnikov and his assistants A.D. Kryakushin and V.V. Krupin were awarded the Lenin Prize.

From August 1967 to April 1975, Kalashnikov was deputy chief designer of the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (since April 1975 - Izhmash Production Association). In 1969, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary, the designer was awarded military rank"Colonel Engineer"

At the end of the 60s. In the twentieth century, the design bureau under the leadership of M. T. Kalashnikov begins to carry out important research and experimental work to create new small-caliber automatic weapons. In accordance with the instructions of the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate, it was necessary to create military weapon not only of a reduced caliber (5.45 mm), but also of increased combat qualities.

According to the results of the first round of field competitive tests, of the seven presented assault rifles from different design teams, only Kalashnikov and A.S. samples were allowed to be tested in the military. Konstantinov (Kovrov).

Competitions among the troops ended with the adoption of 5.45-mm AK-74 and AKS-74 assault rifles into service in 1974 by the Soviet Army and the Warsaw Pact countries, and a little later, on their basis, it was developed and adopted for service new complex small arms: shortened assault rifle AKS-74U (1979) and its modifications with night sight AKS-74SN, AKS-74UB with a silent firing device (SBS) and a silent under-barrel grenade launcher, as well as light machine guns - RPK-74 (based on AK -47), RPKS-74 with a folding stock, RPK-74M and a modification with a night sight RPK-74N.

AK-74 assault rifle with bayonet

AKS-74 assault rifle with a folded metal butt (below)

Based on the totality of research and development work and inventions without defending a doctoral dissertation in 1971, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. In April 1975, Colonel-Engineer Kalashnikov was appointed deputy chief designer of the Izhmash production association. And on January 15, 1976, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council for outstanding services in the creation new technology he was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

In May 1979, Mikhail Timofeevich became the chief designer - head of the small arms design bureau of the Izhmash research and production association (in the early 90s of the last century it was transformed into Izhmash JSC, later into Izhmash Concern OJSC , and in 2013 - to OJSC Concern Kalashnikov).

In 1980, in his native village of Kurya, a bronze bust of the twice Hero of Socialist Labor was installed to the famous gunsmith.

Bust of twice Hero of Socialist Labor M. T. Kalashnikov, installed in his homeland in the village of Kurya

In 1991, the AK-74M 5.45 mm caliber and its modifications with optical and night sights (AK-74MP, AK-74MN) entered service and into mass production. All Kalashnikov assault rifles could be equipped with bayonets, PBS and under-barrel grenade launchers.

In the early 90s. last century, based on the AK-74M, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant began developing a new, “hundredth” series of Kalashnikov assault rifles for the most common cartridges in the world (7.62´39, 5.56´45 NATO, as well as Russian 5.45´39 mm ). This is how machine guns appeared: AK-101, AK-102 (both 5.56 mm), AK-103, AK-104 (both 7.62 mm), AK-105 (5.45 mm), as well as completely new ones - AK -107 (5.45 mm) and AK-108 (5.56 mm), developed on the basis of the AK-74M and AK-101, respectively, designed with a balanced automatic system.

To the question often asked to the designer about whether his conscience was tormenting him for creating a “killing machine,” Kalashnikov replied: “It’s not my fault that today these weapons are used in the wrong places. This is the fault of politicians, not designers. I created weapons to protect the borders of the Fatherland."

In addition to small arms for Armed Forces The design bureau under the leadership of Kalashnikov developed a large number of weapons for athletes and hunters, which not only met its intended purpose, but also had high technical characteristics and beauty. The Saiga self-loading hunting carbines, designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, have gained enormous popularity among hunting enthusiasts in our country and abroad. Among them: the smooth-bore model “Saiga”, the self-loading carbine “Saiga-410”, “Saiga-20S”. More than a dozen modifications of carbines are still produced today.

After the collapse of the USSR, the merits of the now legendary gunsmith designer were highly appreciated in Russian Federation. By decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 5, 1994, for outstanding services in the field of creating automatic small arms and significant contributions to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree. In the same year, he was awarded the next military rank of “Major General”.

By decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated June 6, 1998, a group of seven designers, among whom was the famous gunsmith M. T. Kalashnikov, was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of literature and art in 1997 (in the field of design - for a collection of sports and hunting weapons). And on October 7, 1998, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, for his outstanding contribution to the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the country's highest award - the revived Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

In 1999, M. T. Kalashnikov was awarded the rank of “Lieutenant General”. In 2001, he joined the ranks of the United Russia party.

Kalashnikov was the only person awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation and twice the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with a special distinction - the Gold Star medal for outstanding services in strengthening the country's defense capability on November 10, 2009 (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1258).

Thanks to Kalashnikov, Russia has been celebrating a new professional holiday since 2010 - Gunsmith's Day. This is a holiday for all workers of the military-industrial complex (DIC), creators domestic weapons, specialists involved in the history of the development of weapons and the study of the traditions of Russian weapons. Mikhail Timofeevich headed the editorial board of the monthly magazine "Kalashnikov", published since 1999 by the Federation of Practical Shooting of Russia and the Union of Russian Gunsmiths, which publishes materials about weapons, ammunition, equipment, history, hunting, shooting sports and combat experience.

The legendary designer of automatic small arms lived in Izhevsk, which became his hometown of gunsmiths, and continued his fruitful work at Kalashnikov Concern OJSC until last days own life. M. T. Kalashnikov died on December 23, 2013 after a serious, long illness. He was buried with military honors on December 27, 2013 on the Central Alley of the Pantheon of Heroes of the Federal War Memorial Cemetery in the Mytishchi district of the Moscow region.

Mikhail Timofeevich was an Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Honorary Member (Academician) Russian Academy Sciences, Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, Russian Academy of Engineering; full member - academician of the Petrovsky Academy of Arts and Arts, the International Academy of Sciences, Industry, Education and Art of the USA, the International Academy of Informatization, the Union of Designers of Russia, the Engineering Academy of the Udmurt Republic; honorary professor of Izhevsk State technical university, a number of other large scientific institutions. He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 3rd (1950 - 1954) and 7th - 10th (1966 - 1984) convocations.

He was also awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city of Izhevsk (1988), the Udmurt Republic (1995), the Altai Territory (1997) and the village of Kurya, Altai Territory.

Among other awards of M. T Kalashnikov, the Russian Order: “For Military Merit” (2004), Soviet: three Orders of Lenin (1958, 1969, 1976), October revolution(1974), Patriotic War 1st degree (1985), Red Banner of Labor (1957), Friendship of Peoples (1982), Honorary personalized weapon from the President of the Russian Federation (1997), medals, as well as orders and medals of foreign countries.

Laureate of the Presidential Prize of the Russian Federation (2003), All-Russian Literary Prize "Stalingrad" (1997), All-Russian Literary Prize named after. A. V. Suvorova (2009). Member of the Russian Writers' Union.

The name of the designer is immortalized on a stele for gunsmith designers on the territory of the Degtyarev plant in the city of Kovrov. In November 2004, a museum and exhibition complex dedicated to the legendary gunsmith designer opened in Izhevsk. The event was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of M. T. Kalashnikov. The central place in the exhibition was occupied by a monument to the designer.

Lifetime monument to M. T. Kalashnikov in Izhevsk.
Sculptor V. Kurochkin

In Egypt, on the Sinai Peninsula, a monument to the Kalashnikov assault rifle was erected.

The Kalashnikov assault rifle is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most common weapon in the world (according to some sources, there are about 100 million assault rifles in the world). Various modifications of the Kalashnikov assault rifle are in service with the armies and special forces of 106 countries.

In April 2014, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Mikhail Kalashnikov Medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was established. It is awarded to military personnel and civilian personnel Armed Forces, workers of the defense industry and research organizations for “differences in the introduction of innovations in the development, production and commissioning of modern weapons and military equipment.”

The words of M. T. Kalashnikov sound like a testament to descendants: “Sometimes I want to shout so that many, many boys in our Russia, and not only in it, can hear me: “Men!.. My dears! Good ones... Don’t think that everything in the world has already been invented, everything was not done by you. Go for it, boys!.. The old designer, the gray-haired general, calls you to this...”

Mikhail Pavlov,
Senior Researcher, Research Institute
military history of the Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Technical Sciences

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich was born on November 10, 1919 in the village. Kurya, Altai Territory, in the family of a large peasant. In 1936, he graduated from a ten-year school and went to work at a local machine and tractor station, then went to Kazakhstan, where he worked at the depot of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway station.

The military biography of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov began in 1938, when he was drafted into the Red Army (Kiev Special Military District) as a tank driver mechanic. Kalashnikov’s extraordinary inventive abilities manifested themselves there, in the army, when he made a special attachment for the TT pistol, thereby increasing the efficiency of firing through slits in a tank turret. Around the same time, the young soldier also invented a device for measuring the motor life of a tank engine, for which he received a personalized watch from G. Zhukov himself as a reward and was sent to Leningrad to implement his developments into production.

When the Great Patriotic War began, Mikhail Kalashnikov was elevated to the position of tank commander. In the battle near Bryansk (1941) he was seriously wounded and sent on six-month leave. An inventive and tenacious mind did not allow the tester to sit idle; during this time, Kalashnikov invented his first model of a submachine gun. The new product was highly appreciated by the head of the Artillery Academy, Major General A. Blagonravov, and it was thanks to his recommendation that the inventor was sent to study at the scientific testing ground for small arms and mortar weapons of the Moscow Military District.

In 1945, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov took part in the development of a machine gun chambered for. As a result of further tests, this development was approved for armament of the Soviet Army.

In 1948, M. Kalashnikov was sent to Izhevsk to a military plant to manufacture a batch of machine guns, where he invented the famous “Kalashnikov assault rifle,” which immortalized his name.

The production of new weapons of the 1947 model (AK) began at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. For this development, Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich received the Stalin Prize and the Order of the Red Star. From 1949 until his death, he was listed in the department of the chief designer of IMZ (in 2012, after the reorganization of the plant, he was on the staff of NPO Izhmash as the head of the design bureau of the Design and Technology Center of the enterprise).

In addition to AK-47 work history M.T. Kalashnikov includes a modernized 7.62-caliber AKM assault rifle and a similar weapon with an AKMS folding stock. He also invented the AK-74, AK-74M and AKS-74U models.

The RPKS machine guns he developed, as well as the RPK 7.62 caliber and RPKS-74 and RPK-74 5.45 caliber, brought great fame to the hero. In the early 1970s. Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov created the Saiga self-loading hunting carbine. In total, throughout its existence, the Kalashnikov design bureau has created more than a hundred samples of military weapons.

In 1971, Mikhail Kalashnikov was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. Also Lieutenant General M.T. Kalashnikov was twice Hero of Socialist Labor and laureate of the Lenin and Stalin Prizes. In 2009, Russian President D. Medvedev awarded him the title of Hero of Russia.

In his scientific biography There is also an honorary membership in the Russian Academy of Sciences, the International Academy of Sciences, Industry, Education and Arts of the USA, and a number of other major scientific institutions.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was a member of the Writers' Union of the Russian Federation. During his life he wrote several books, including those that included facts from his biography.

M.T. died Kalashnikov on December 23, 2013 after a long illness.

Biographies and exploits of Heroes Soviet Union and holders of Soviet orders:

Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich (born in 1919)

Born on November 10, 1919 in the village of Kurya, Altai Territory, in a large peasant family. Father - Kalashnikov Timofey Alexandrovich (1883-1930). Mother - Kalashnikova Alexandra Frolovna (1884-1957). Wife, Ekaterina Viktorovna Kalashnikova (1921-1977) - design technician, performed drawing work for Mikhail Timofeevich. Daughters: Nellie Mikhailovna (born 1942), Elena Mikhailovna (born 1948), Natalya Mikhailovna (1953-1983). Son - Viktor Mikhailovich (born 1942).

Until 1936, Mikhail Kalashnikov studied at school. After graduating from the 9th grade, he went to work as a technical secretary of the political department of the 3rd branch of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway.
In 1938, Mikhail's army life began. His emergency service took place in the Kiev Special Military District. First, he took a course as a tank driver, then he was sent to a tank regiment stationed in the city of Stryi.
And here the creative nature of Mikhail Kalashnikov already manifested itself. In particular, he created a recorder of the number of shots fired from a tank gun. It was then that I first met G.K. Zhukov. The commander of the troops of the Kyiv Special Military District presented the young inventor with a personalized watch.
A large opening opened up before Kalashnikov. creative path. But soon the Great Patriotic War began. And of course, he, a young tanker, could not help but end up at the front. However, in October 1941, his tank was hit by a fascist shell. Mikhail Kalashnikov was seriously wounded and seriously concussed.
But lying in a hospital bed for a long time, doing nothing, was not in his character. Kalashnikov was tormented by one thought: how to help the front? This thought brought him to the library and forced him to sit down at the drawing table. And as soon as he was granted recovery leave, he immediately went to Matai station, where he worked for some time before the war. There, with the help of friends, he made his first submachine gun.
Kalashnikov felt that something needed to be adjusted in his weapon, to achieve a higher accuracy of fire. However, when he presented his sample to the outstanding weapons scientist A. A. Blagonravov, he heard praise from him. A new stage has begun in the life of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, an as yet unrecognized designer.
Its first samples were never put into service. But they enriched him with considerable experience. And this experience, when the victorious 1945 year was already underway, inspired confidence in success. Kalashnikov began work on the creation of automatic weapons chambered for the 1943 model. He did not even imagine that he would be able to solve the problem relatively quickly: the new machine passed the very first tests.
In 1948 he was sent to Izhevsk. Then the young designer did not even think that he would “settle” in this city, which was still little known to him, that it would become dear to him. It is from here that, after a short time, the first batches of machine guns will go to the troops.
But he was attracted by another idea: how to create a self-loading carbine. He worked with unprecedented passion. I changed a lot along the way. In the end, the Kalashnikov self-loading carbine turned out to be both lighter in weight and more reliable in operation. In some ways it was even superior to the Simonov version of the same carbine.
During this period, military tests of the machine gun created by Mikhail Timofeevich were successfully completed. And then the decision was made to take it into service with the Soviet Army. A new era was beginning in the history of world small arms - the era of automatic weapons. He, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov, was the first to open this era. The AK-47 gave him a start in the weapons world and brought him fame such as no other designer on the planet had ever known. With the advent of such a powerful machine gun, the need for a self-loading carbine itself disappeared.
On September 1, 1949, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov joined the staff of the department of the chief designer of Izhmash. He still works there today. First of all, he is engaged in the further development of the AK-47. To this brainchild of Kalashnikov are added a 7.62-mm modernized AKM assault rifle and a modernized assault rifle with a folding stock - AKMS.
After the transition to a caliber of 5.45 millimeters, a large family of Kalashnikov assault rifles appeared - the shortened AKS-74U, AK-74 and AK-74M.
Mikhail Timofeevich is also known as a designer of machine guns. Among its designs are 7.62 mm Kalashnikov RPK light machine guns and - with a folding stock; 5.45-mm Kalashnikov light machine guns RPK-74 and RPKS-74 - with a folding stock. In total, the Kalashnikov design bureau created more than a hundred samples of military weapons.
Kalashnikov also has another hobby - creating hunting weapons. His Saiga self-loading hunting carbines, designed on the basis of an assault rifle, have gained enormous popularity among hunting enthusiasts in our country and abroad. Among them are the smooth-bore model "Saiga", the self-loading carbine "Saiga-410", "Saiga-20S". More than a dozen modifications of carbines are still produced today.
M. T. Kalashnikov is a world-famous designer. The famous Israeli designer Uzi Gal stated very accurately when he once told Mikhail Timofeevich: “You are the most unrivaled and authoritative designer among us.”
The popularity of M. T. Kalashnikov is limitless. Once, the American philosopher and weapons specialist Edward Clinton Ezel sent a letter with the following address: “USSR. Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov.” Just like “to grandpa’s village.” And this message, of course, came through carefully, although there are thousands of Kalashnikovs in our country.
As for the main brainchild of the designer - the Kalashnikov assault rifle - it is recognized as the invention of the century. This assessment was given by the French newspaper Libération, which compiled a list of outstanding inventions of the 20th century - from aspirin to the atomic bomb. According to foreign experts, by the beginning of 1996, from 70 to 100 million machine guns had been manufactured in the world. It is used in 55 countries around the world. It is depicted on the banners and coats of arms of some countries.
For the creation of the AK-47 assault rifle, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin (State) Prize of the first degree. Later, the AKM assault rifle and the RGS light machine gun were adopted. For this work, the designer was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. In 1964 he was awarded the Lenin Prize. After 34 years, M. T. Kalashnikov again became a laureate of the State Prize.
In 1976, Mikhail Timofeevich was awarded the second Gold Medal "Hammer and Sickle". Among his awards are three Orders of Lenin, "For Services to the Fatherland" II degree, the Order of the October Revolution, the Red Banner of Labor, Friendship of Peoples, the Patriotic War I degree, the Red Star, and many medals. M. T. Kalashnikov is a holder of the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov - Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honored Worker of Industry of the USSR, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Republic of Udmurtia. He is an honorary member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, the Russian Academy of Engineering, a full member of the Petrovsky Academy of Arts and Arts, the International Academy of Sciences, Industry, Education and Art of the USA, the International Academy of Informatization, the Union of Designers of Russia, and a number of other major scientific institutions; Honorary citizen of the Udmurt Republic, the city of Izhevsk, the village of Kurya, Altai Territory.
M. T. Kalashnikov published three books of memoirs: “Notes of a gunsmith designer” (1992), “From someone else’s threshold to the Spassky Gate” (1997), “I walked the same road with you” (1999). Member of the Russian Writers' Union.
Mikhail Timofeevich is passionate about classical music. He is a regular participant in the traditional days of music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Loves poetry. Even at school I was interested in writing poetry. His pre-war poems were published in the newspaper of the Kyiv Special Military District "Red Army".

AWARDS AND TITLES OF M.T.KALASHNIKOV

ORDERS:

Order of the Red Star, 1949 Order of the Red Banner of Labor, 1957 Hero of Socialist Labor, Order of Lenin, 1958 Gold Medal "Hammer and Sickle" Order of Lenin, 1969 Order of the October Revolution, 1974 Hero of Socialist Labor, Order Lenin, 1976 Gold Medal "Hammer and Sickle" Order of Friendship of Peoples, 1982 Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, 1985 Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree, 1994

Patriotic War

HONORABLE TITLES:

Honorary Member

Lives and works in Izhevsk.

Automatic weapons of the M.T. Kalashnikov system are widely
widespread in the world. Since the beginning of 1990, taking into account the collapse of the USSR and the SFRY,
samples of Kalashnikov weapons are in service and used
special groups or produced for sale for export in the following
countries of the world:

Albania, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Angola, Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Hungary, Vietnam, Gabon, Ghana,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Gambia, Guyana,
Honduras, Georgia, Djibouti, Egypt, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Yemen (northern), Yemen (south), Israel, India, Indonesia,
Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kampuchea, Cape/Verde,
Qatar, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, North Korea, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Mauritania,
Madagascar, Macedonia, Mali, Maldives, Malta, Morocco,
Mozambique, Moldova, Mongolia, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherlands,
Nicaragua, United United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Swaziland, Sao Tome,
Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname,
Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Philippines,
Finland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea,
Estonia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Yugoslavia.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919, in the village of Kurya, Altai Territory, into a large “kulak” family.

Interest in technology appeared in childhood. Mikhail enthusiastically researched the principles of functioning of various mechanisms. At school he excelled in the exact sciences.

The first acquaintance with the design of weapons occurred after graduating from the seventh grade, when the young man independently disassembled a Browning pistol.

At the age of eighteen, Kalashnikov moved to Kazakhstan and got a job at a depot on Turksib.

The beginning of the way

In the fall of 1938, Kalashnikov was drafted into the army. There his outstanding abilities manifested themselves - he managed to develop an inertial counter for shots from a tank gun, as well as a counter for tank engine life and an adaptation for a TT pistol.

In 1942, G.K. Zhukov was reported on the achievements of Mikhail Timofeevich. Under the patronage of the commander, he was sent to a tank technical school in Kyiv. After that, he was sent to the Leningrad plant named after. Voroshilov.

A prototype of the first model of a submachine gun was created by Kalashnikov in three months. This sample was presented to A. A. Blagonravov.

Creating a legendary slot machine

The most significant moment in Kalashnikov’s biography was the creation of an assault rifle, which was destined to become a symbol of the Russian army.

In 1949, 1.5 thousand machine guns were manufactured at the Izhevsk Motor Plant. After successfully passing military tests, they were adopted by the Soviet Army. For the creation of this weapon, Kalashnikov was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the Stalin Prize of the first degree.

Other achievements

Mikhail Timofeevich contributed to the development of machine guns, hunting carbines and pistols.

In 1959, the first RPK was adopted. Four years later - an RPKS with a folding stock and a night vision sight.

In 1970, the first industrial batch of self-loading hunting carbines based on AK was produced. In 1992, production of the Saiga, a self-loading hunting carbine, began.

Studying short biography Kalashnikov Mikhail Timofeevich , you should know that in the early 50s he tried to create an automatic pistol chambered for 9/18 PM. But the weapon did not become a competitor to the Stechkin pistol, and did not reach field testing.

Illness and death

Kalashnikov’s health began to deteriorate in March 2012. Against this background, the gunsmith, already in old age, ceased his activities.

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov passed away on December 23, 2013, in Izhevsk. He was diagnosed with stomach bleeding.

The farewell ceremony for the legendary gunsmith took place on December 25-26. The funeral service was held on December 26, in Izhevsk St. Michael's Cathedral.

Mikhail Timofeevich was buried at the Pantheon of Heroes of the Federal War Memorial Cemetery.

Other biography options

The Kalashnikov family lived in extreme poverty. There was no money to buy school supplies. That's why school assignments the future gunsmith decided on birch bark.
Mikhail Kalashnikov received his doctorate without having either a complete secondary or higher education.
He is the author of five books, laureate of the Stalingrad literary prize in 1997. Since that time, he has been a member of the Writers' Union of the Russian Federation.
He is the holder of the title “Legend Man” and an honorary member educational institutions in the Russian Federation, USA and China. All members of his family are somehow related to small arms.

Born November 10, 1919, Kurya, Altai province, died December 23, 2013, an outstanding designer of small arms in the USSR and Russia, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Lieutenant General.

Twice Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of the Stalin and Lenin Prizes, Hero of the Russian Federation, holder of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, member of the Union of Writers of Russia. Member of the CPSU since 1952, deputy of the Supreme Council of the USSR (1950-1954).

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov is the only person awarded the title of Hero of Russia and twice the title of Hero of Socialist Labor at the same time.

Biography

Born in the village of Kurya, Altai Territory. He was the seventeenth child in a large peasant family, in which nineteen children were born and eight survived. In 1930, the family of his father, Timofey Aleksandrovich Kalashnikov, recognized as a kulak, was exiled from the Altai Territory to the Tomsk region, the village of Nizhnyaya Mokhovaya. From childhood he was interested in technology, studying with interest the structure and principles of operation of various mechanisms. At school I was interested in physics, geometry and literature. After finishing the seventh grade, with the permission of his parents, he returned to Altai, to Kurya, but was unable to get a job. After studying there for another year, he decided to return to his mother and stepfather in Siberia, where, having corrected the date of birth in the documents, he received a passport. A few months later, after returning to Kurya again, he became acquainted with the design of a weapon for the first time, disassembling a Browning pistol with his own hands. At the age of 18, he left his native village and moved to Kazakhstan, where he began working as an accountant at the depot of the Matai station of the Turkestan-Siberian Railway. Communication with machinists, turners, and depot mechanics strengthened Mikhail’s interest in technology and aroused the desire to do something himself.

In the fall of 1938, he was drafted into the Red Army in the Kiev Special Military District. After the course for junior commanders, he received the specialty of a tank driver and served in a tank regiment in Stryi (Western Ukraine). Already there he showed his inventive abilities - he developed an inertial counter for shots from a tank cannon, an adaptation for a TT pistol to increase the efficiency of firing through slots in the tank turret, and a counter for the service life of a tank. The last invention was quite significant, as evidenced by the fact that Kalashnikov was summoned to report about it to the commander of the Kyiv Special Military District, Army General Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov. After a conversation with the commander, it is sent to the Kiev Tank Technical School for the production of prototypes, and after completion of the tests, to Moscow for comparative tests and then to the Leningrad Voroshilov Plant, for modification and launch into series.

He began the Great Patriotic War in August 1941 as a tank commander with the rank of senior sergeant, and in October he was seriously wounded near Bryansk. In the hospital, I really got excited about the idea of creating my own model of automatic weapons. He began to make sketches and drawings, comparing and analyzing his own impressions of the battles, the opinions of his comrades in arms, and the contents of the books in the hospital library. The advice of one paratrooper lieutenant, who had worked at some research institute before the war and had a good knowledge of small arms systems and the history of their creation, was also useful.

At the direction of the doctors, he was sent for further treatment on a six-month leave.

Returning to Matai, with the help of depot specialists, three months later he created a prototype of his first model of a submachine gun. From Matai he was sent to Alma-Ata, where he produced a more advanced model in the training workshops of the Moscow aviation institute evacuated to the capital of Kazakhstan. Later, the sample was presented to the head of the Military Engineering Academy named after. F. E. Dzerzhinsky to A. A. Blagonravov - an outstanding scientist in the field of small arms. Although Blagonravov's review was generally negative, he noted the originality and interestingness of the development and recommended that Senior Sergeant Kalashnikov be sent for further training. Later, the Kalashnikov submachine gun was presented to the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army. Noting some shortcomings and a generally successful design, GAU specialists did not recommend adopting the Kalashnikov SMG for service for technological reasons. The conclusion read:
“The Kalashnikov submachine gun is more difficult and expensive to manufacture than PPSh-41 and PPS, and requires the use of scarce and slow milling work. Therefore, despite many attractive aspects (light weight, short length, the presence of a single fire, successful combination of translator and fuse, compact cleaning rod, etc.), in its present form it is not of industrial interest.”

Since 1942, Kalashnikov has been working at the Central Small Arms Research Site (NIPSMVO) of the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army. Here, in 1944, he created a prototype of a self-loading carbine, which, although it did not go into production, partially served as a prototype for the creation of an assault rifle. Since 1945, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov began developing automatic weapons chambered for the 7.62×39 intermediate cartridge of the 1943 model. The Kalashnikov assault rifle won the 1947 competition and was adopted for service. During development, he meets his future wife, Ekaterina Moiseeva, a draftsman at the Degtyarev Design Bureau.

In 1948, by order of the Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was sent to the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant for his author’s participation in the creation of technical documentation and organization of the production of the first experimental batch of his AK-47 assault rifle. By May 20, 1949, the task was completed: 1,500 machine guns manufactured at Izhmash successfully passed military tests and were adopted by the Soviet Army.

Subsequently, at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant, on the basis of the AK47 design, under the personal supervision of Kalashnikov, dozens of prototypes of automatic small arms were developed, but Kalashnikov himself, due to frequent visits to the shooting range and range shooting, received hearing impairment, which could not be restored later even with the help of modern medicine.

In 1971, based on the totality of research and design work and inventions, Kalashnikov was awarded the academic degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. He is an academician of 16 different Russian and foreign academies.

In 1989, Mikhail Timofeevich decided to meet with Eugene Stoner, the creator of the main competitor of the AK, the M16 assault rifle; in the USA, Kalashnikov was greeted as a movie star, even though almost no one in the world knew his face. In 1994, Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the rank of major general, and in 1999 the rank of lieutenant general.

Family

Father - Kalashnikov Timofey Alexandrovich (1883-1930).
Mother - Kalashnikova Alexandra Frolovna (1884-1957).
Wife - Kalashnikova Ekaterina Viktorovna (1921-1977) - design technician by profession.
Son - Victor (1942).
Daughters: Nellie (1942), Elena (1948) and the tragically deceased Natalya (1953-1983).

Recognition and awards

A lifetime monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov was erected in Izhevsk, author - sculptor Vladimir Kurochkin

Orders

1958, 1969, 1976 - Order of Lenin (three times)
1974 - Order of the October Revolution
1982 - Order of Friendship of Peoples
1985 - Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree
1994 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree - for outstanding services in the field of creating automatic small arms and significant contribution to the defense of the Fatherland
1998 - Order of St. Andrew the First-Called - for outstanding contribution to the defense of the Fatherland
1999 - Order of Honor, (Belarus) - for outstanding services in the development of unique types of small arms, great personal contribution to strengthening the defense potential of the Union of Belarus and Russia and in connection with the 80th anniversary
2003 - Order of Dostyk, 1st degree (Kazakhstan)
2004 - Order of Military Merit - for great personal contribution to the development of new types of weapons and strengthening the country's defense capability
2005 - Order of the Ruby Cross (International Charitable Foundation “Patrons of the Century”)
2006 - Order of the Star of Carabobo (Venezuela)
2007 - Order of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Dimitry Donskoy, II degree (ROC)
2009 - Order of Merit for the Altai Territory, 1st degree.

Medals

2009 - Gold Star Medal
1958, 1976 - Hammer and Sickle Medal (twice)
Medal "For victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin"
Jubilee medal "Thirty years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Jubilee medal "Forty years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945"
Jubilee medal "50 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Zhukov Medal
Medal "For Distinction in Protecting the State Border of the USSR"
Medal "Veteran of Labor" on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR
Jubilee medal "30 years of the Soviet Army and Navy"
Anniversary medal "40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Anniversary medal "50 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Anniversary medal "60 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Jubilee medal "70 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
Medal "In memory of the 800th anniversary of Moscow"
2007 - Medal “Symbol of Science”
Gold medal named after V. G. Shukhov

Awards

1948 - Stalin Prize
1949 - Stalin Prize
1964 - Lenin Prize
1997 - State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of design
2003 - Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education
2009 - Laureate of the All-Russian Literary Prize named after A.V. Suvorov.

Acknowledgments

1997 - Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation
1999 - Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation
2002 - Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation
2007 - Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation

Certificates

1997 - Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation
1999 - Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation
2004 - “Honorary Engineer of Kazakhstan” (Kazakhstan)

Other honors

1980 - in the homeland of M. T. Kalashnikov in the village of Kurye, a lifetime bronze bust was erected to him.
1997 - Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded the title “Honorary Citizen of the Altai Territory.”
1997 - the award of the Ministry of Economy of Russia was established - the Badge “Small Arms Designer M. T. Kalashnikov”
1999 - The Union of Scientific and Engineering Organizations and the Government of Udmurtia established the M. T. Kalashnikov Prize
1999 - the Alrosa diamond company assigned the name “Constructor Mikhail Kalashnikov” to a jewelry diamond weighing 50.74 carats mined on December 29, 1995 (size 14.5x15.0x15.5 mm, quality Stones Black)
2002 - The cadet school in Votkinsk was named after M. T. Kalashnikov
2002 - a prize named after him was established at the School of Weaponry in Izhevsk
2004 - opened in Izhevsk Government agency culture "Museum of M. T. Kalashnikov"
2009 - Mikhail Kalashnikov received as a gift from President Hugo Chavez the highest award of the republic - a copy of the famous Simon Bolivar sword, which is a relic of Venezuela and the presentation of a copy is equivalent to the country's highest award.
The name of Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was awarded to the audience at the military department of the Mining Institute of St. Petersburg.

Bibliography

Kalashnikov M.T. Notes of a gunsmith designer. - M.: Voenizdat, 1992. - 304 p. - ISBN 5-203-01290-3
Kalashnikov M.T. From someone else's threshold to the Spassky Gate / author. literature Records of Nemchenko G. L.; total ed. Nedelin A.V.. - M.: Military Parade, 1997. - 496 p.
Kalashnikov M.T. I walked the same road with you: Memoirs. / ed. advice: I. Krasnovsky [and others]. - M.: House “All Russia”, 1999. - 239 p.
Kalashnikov M.T. Kalashnikov: trajectory of fate / comp., prepared. Texts, ill. N. Shklyaeva. - M.: House “All Russia”, 2004. - P. 639.
Kalashnikov M.T. In the whirlwind of my life. - 2008.
Kalashnikov M.T. Everything you need is simple. - 2009.

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