Georgy Stepanov
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Russian Empire
Soviet UnionGeorgy Andreyevich Stepanov | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 November [O.S. 18 November] 1890 |
| Died | 3 January 1957 (aged 66) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Russian Empire Soviet Union |
| Branch |  Imperial Russian Navy Soviet Navy |
| Service years | 1908–1953 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | |
| Awards | Russian Empire
Foreign Awards
|
Georgy Andreyevich Stepanov (Russian: Георгий Андреевич Степанов) (30 November [O.S. 18 November] 1890 – 3 January 1957) was an officer of the Soviet Navy. He rose to the rank of vice-admiral and was commander of the Onega and White Sea Military Flotillas, as well as acting-commander of the Black Sea Fleet.
Born into a naval dynasty, Stepanov embarked on a career in the Imperial Russian Navy, serving as a torpedo officer with the Baltic Fleet during the First World War. He continued his naval career after the Russian Revolution, siding with the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War, taking part in the Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet and then commanding the Onega Military Flotilla, seeing action against the White Finns. He then served in staff positions with the Black Sea Fleet, interspersed with courses at the Naval Academy. He graduated to a teaching post at the Academy and after serving as senior director, and department head, became head of the Academy itself. Recalled to seagoing service with the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Stepanov was appointed to command the White Sea Military Flotilla, an important task that required protecting the Arctic convoys. Recalled to Moscow he was appointed acting head of the Main Naval Staff, but came in for criticism after losses in the Black Sea, and was demoted for a period.
Returning to academia after the war, he was attached to the Naval Academy once more, until 1948, when he and several fellow officers were convicted of passing secrets to Britain and the US during the war years. Stepanov was imprisoned for a time, but was fully rehabilitated after the death of Stalin. He returned to academic life, and died in 1957. He had received a number of awards from both the Tsarist and Soviet governments over his long career.
Stepanov was born into a noble dvoryan family on 30 November [O.S. 18 November] 1890 in Kronstadt, Saint Petersburg Governorate, in the Russian Empire.[1] His grandfather was a retired captain 1st rank, while his father, Andrei Ivanovich Stepanov, was an officer of the Imperial Russian Navy, and served as a torpedo officer on the cruiser Rurik, and later as a senior torpedo officer aboard the battleship Andrei Pervozvanny. He reached captain 2nd rank, and was killed at the Battle of Tsushima in 1905 while commanding the transport Kamchatka.[1] Stepanov's uncle, Konstantin Ivanovich Stepanov, was also a naval officer, rising to captain 1st rank and commanding the cruiser Admiral Makarov.[2]
Stepanov followed his relatives into the navy, studying at the Alexander Cadet Corps from 1905 to 1907, while also joining the Marine Corps in 1905. His naval service began in 1908, though he completed his time in the Marine Corps in 1911.[3] From 1911 to 1912 he served on the training ship Nikolaev as a watch officer.[1] He took specialised classes in torpedo warfare and radio telegraphy from 1912 to 1914. In 1913 he was appointed junior torpedo officer on the battleship Andrei Pervozvanny, and was serving in this post at the outbreak of the First World War. From February 1916 he was senior torpedo officer of the battleship Slava, and from March 1917 to September 1918 served as the torpedo officer at the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet's patrol division.[1]
Early Soviet service
Stepanov supported the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution, and continued to serve in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Navy. Between February and May 1918 he participated in the Ice Cruise of the Baltic Fleet, the evacuation of the fleet's ships from Tallinn (Reval) and Helsinki to Kronstadt. From September 1918 to March 1919 Stepanov commanded the minelayer Sheksna, and from March 1919 to March 1920, he served as Chief of Staff of the Onega Military Flotilla.[1][3] In March 1920 he was briefly acting commander of the flotilla, and saw action against the White Finns on Lake Onega. In May 1920 he became chief of staff of the Black Sea Fleet's marine detachment, temporarily serving as chief of the West Black Sea coast defence sector, between Ochakov and Odessa, from June to August 1921.[3] From August 1921 to December 1924 Stepanov was Chief of the Operational Directorate of the Naval Staff, and from December 1924 to October 1925 Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet.[1]
From October 1925 Stepanov studied the Higher Naval Academic Courses at the Naval Academy, graduating in April 1926. He returned to the post of Chief of Staff of the Black Sea Fleet, was briefly acting commander of the Black Sea Fleet from January to March 1928, and then left to take up a post teaching at the Naval Academy. Over the next decade he held a number of positions at the Academy, including teacher, senior director, and department head, before becoming head of the Academy itself, as well as the head of Naval Engineering and Technical Academy, in September 1939.[1] On 4 June 1940 he was advanced to the rank of vice admiral.[1]
