General Konev - Russia - WW2 - Ivan Stepanovich Konev


	The Generals of Russia ^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS} Ivan Konev

Ivan Stepanovich Konev (1897-1973), was a Soviet military commander, who led Red Army forces on the Eastern Front during World War II, liberated much of Eastern Europe from occupation by the Axis Powers, and helped in the capture of Germany's capital, Berlin. Later, as the Commander of Warsaw Pact forces, Konev led the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 by Soviet armed divisions.

Konev was born into a peasant family near Podosinovsky in central Russia (now in Kirov Oblast). He had little formal education, and worked as a lumberjack before being conscripted into the Russian Army in 1916. When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941, Konev took command of the 19th Army in the Vitebsk region, and waged a series of defensive battles during the Red Army's retreat, first to Smolensk and then to the approaches to Moscow. He commanded the Kalinin Front from October 1941 to August 1942, playing a key role in the fighting around Moscow and the Soviet counter-offensive during the winter of 1941-42. For his role in the successful defence of the Soviet capital Konev was promoted to Colonel-General.

Konev held high commands for the rest of the war. He commanded the Soviet Western Front until February 1943, the North-Western Front February-July 1943, and the Ukrainian Front (later renamed the First Ukrainian Front) from July 1943 until May 1945. During this latter command he participated in the Battle of Kursk, commanding the southern part of the Soviet counter-offensive that successfully enveloped Erich von Manstein's army.

After the victory at Kursk, Konev's armies liberated Belgorod, Odessa, Kharkov and Kiev from the Germans, and advanced to the Romanian border. For his achievements on the Ukrainian Front Konev was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union in February 1944.

A favourite of Stalin, Konev was widely renowned for brutality in combat. In one case, his forces had pursued a German division which took refuge in a small soviet town. Konev had the town surrounded, and then called in incendiary strikes from Il-2 aircraft, which turned the town into an inferno. German troops who had survived the bombardment fled into the Russian winter, only to be met by T-34 tanks which crushed them under their tracks, as well as cutting them down with machine gun fire. The survivors were then finished off with Cavalry units, who butchered the Germans with swords, with some accounts even claiming that those who raised their arms in surrender were also killed. This incident soon secured Konev's reputation as a cold and ruthless commander on all sides, most of all the Germans. ^{Source Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}

"We plan alone but we fulfill our plans together with the enemy, as it were, in accordance with his opposition."

Communist Zeal

1000

420

+40%

+20%

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Communist Zeal - Temporarily increases speed, attack, and defense values of all targeted infantry. Not to be confused with the worthless Communist Purge special op of Zhukov, Communist Zeal will give your infantry more health and speed to chase down retreating enemies..

Make sure to remember that this special op only affects infantry, so mid to late game smoke barrage will be Konev's best option.

Smoke Barrage

600

300

-50%

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Smoke Barrage - Lays down a smokescreen that reduces the rate of fire and max speed of any nearby enemy units. We would classify this as Konev's best overall special op, since it works on ALL types of units (therefore an effective special op at ANY time of the game). Konev's other special ops are infantry only! Try and use it as often as it comes ready, and coordinate with the special op's of your allies for maximum effect... and don't forget to push!

Military Gear Up 300

480

+20%

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Military Gear Up - Deploys supplies to increase the health of your infantry by 20% for 5 minutes (or less if destroyed). Military Gear Up does not provide a zone of supply, but will effect your infantry no matter where they are on the map, so deploy it in a safe location for maximum benefit. Will give your infantry more health, and a greater chance of succeeding during an all out early game rush. Combine with Communist Zeal and/or Smoke Barrage for even greater effect.

Corp Reorganization

1000

3600

(1) Corp HQ

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Corp Reorganization - Everyone has to deploy a new corp hq from time to time. Don't be hasty about placing that second corp (this special op can only be used once per hour). Make sure you have resolved the situation that caused you to lose your first one! You can always ask your allies if the have a safe place, their base defenses may be better than yours.

If there is no safe place wait until there is one! Move your technology buildings in the meantime, as they may be subject to attack following the fall of your corp hq (losing those buildings too will limit the regiments you can produce).

Keep in mind your second Corp HQ will become a "high priority" target for your enemies. If they can destroy your second corp, and your technology buildings, you will be stuck making only light tanks or halftracks (depending on the tents you have left), which really can't compete in the later stages of the game (or any stage of the game for that matter).

Russia is considered an "infantry" country, and all of the special ops available to Konev are well suited for the infantry game. If your opponent has no (or few) bombs feel free to make large quantities of snipers, regular infantry, or even conscripts, and go for the early game win. In such builds, make sure to get your infantry upgrades and use favorable terrain such as cities, forests, and jungle to your advantage!

Charge your EXP, get your supply ready, and when you are ready to push, try using all 3 of Konev's special ops at once! Watch as your infantry will dominate the front lines!

Mid-to-Late game, smoke barrage will be Konev's only viable special op, but thats not as bad as it sounds. Many players consider smoke barrage to be one of the more powerful special ops, and if you don't have a bomb, smoke is the next best thing.

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the inherent strengths of Russia [LINK]

Ivan Konev