Alexander Suvorov, Russian military hero and founder of Tiraspol

In 1792, A.V. Suvorov founded Tiraspol, the capital of Pridnestrovie. His statue has a place of honor in the city.

NEW YORK (Special to Tiraspol Times) - May 17 marks the death of what many consider to be Russia's greatest military commander. Philip Longworth, a long time historian on Russian affairs believes Suvorov was one of the "greatest generals in history."
Longworth's "The Art of Victory" (Holt, Rhinehart & Winston, New York, 1965) appears to be the most definitive English language biography on the 18th century Russian field marshal.

Suvorov's memory has added meaning in the disputed former Moldavian SSR region of Pridnestrovie (Trans-Dniester). He's credited for founding Pridnestrovie's capital Tiraspol in 1792.

Pridnestrovie itself was an integral part of the Kievan Rus legacy, consisting of ancient Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Outside of Russia and Russocentric former Soviet lands like Pridnestrovie, many are unaware of this great Russian historical figure. Just one of several examples of the great disconnect between the West at large, relative to Russia and former Soviet Russocentric territories outside of Russia. The American based History Channel has no in depth documentary on Suvorov. Wikipedia's biography of Suvorov contrasts with the assessment of Longworth and mainstream Russian military historians. Longworth's book addresses the negatives claimed on Suvorov by the Western sources chronicling him. As was true with some of his Russian counterparts, Suvorov's dealings with Western officials (military or otherwise) weren't always so smooth. This created a more subjective environment around him. It reminds one of the animosity which existed between some of the Western allied military commanders during World War II. Academically well written, Longworth's book is a must read for those seeking to acquire a greater understanding on why Suvorov is a highly revered Russian historical figure.

Ever since Pridnestrovie got its own currency national currency in 1994, local hero A.V. Suvorov has been featured on the unrecognized Slavic country's money.

A shared trait is evident with Suvorov and present day Pridnestrovie: some stiff opposition to their goals, while maintaining a purposed will to see their objectives achieved. Pridnestrovie steadfastly continues an independent course and a desired reunification with Russia. Suvorov's ascent to higher military honors was opposed by what Longworth describes as "corrupt and dandified aristocrats already in command". Unorthodox and fearless, Suvorov had to simultaneously overcome his superiors and actual military foes. Suvorov's manner is recorded as displaying rude behavioral bouts. Longworth suggests this to be partly due to the frustration of experiencing an imperfect merit system. He added that Suvorov might've calculatingly engaged in demonstrative behavior to get the attention of his superiors. Which is more rude: a flawed system of advancement which discriminates against competent personnel, or a display of protest to it?

Suvorov's presence resonates in contemporary Pridnestrovie. Its top football (soccer) team FC Sheriff is known as "Team Suvorov" for a regimen of training hard to have an easier time during matches. This "train hard, fight easy" (quoted from Suvorov's training manual) tactic is what Suvorov utilized with his forces. Suvorov's image has replaced the hammer and sickle on the uniform shoulder patches of Pridnestrovie's armed forces. There's a high profile statue of him in Tiraspol. In Pridnestrovie, his image is found on stamps, currency, as well as on alcohol and cigarette products. Note that Suvorov is considerably less popular in Moldova, another part of the 1940 Stalin created Moldavian SSR.

Never lost a battle

Suvorov was born into a career military family which wasn't part of the aristocracy, but nevertheless had a respectable place in society. This somewhat disadvantaged background made it imperative for him to advance on his own merits. Overcoming a constant cronyism, Suvorov was able to work his way up the ranks of the Russian army.

Suvorov's military ethics weren't out of the norm for his period. In 1794, he's on record for delaying the taking of Warsaw for the purpose of making sure that his troops were more controlled upon entering the Polish capital. This account is omitted from the frequently cited (at least by a good number) Wikipedia, which cites "a massacre of 20,000" by his forces. As noted by Longworth (at the end of chapter 6 in his book), Russian sources have that figure broken down to 7,000 civilians killed (many of them no doubt "collateral damage"), with the others consisting of soldiers and armed civilians. Note the sources which Wikipedia used and those it omitted (like Longworth). Suvorov's go-go offensive strategy on the battlefield was implemented with his stated idea to ensure a quicker victory with less lives lost, versus commanding a prolonged conflict leading to many more casualties. Wikipedia doesn't cite the World War II Western firebombing of Dresden as a "massacre". Likewise with the atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Over the past several years, what's the civilian death toll in Iraq? Mind you, we're now living in an age of supposedly higher moral standards than what existed in Suvorov's era. Spanning the globe and covering different historical eras, there are many other unfortunate examples to highlight the hypocritically negative and sometimes outright false commentary on Suvorov. All this relates to the tragedy of death in war. It's extremely unctuous to see how some sources will (in the comparative sense) apply different standards to related issues. Granted, that there are varying degrees of battlefield behavior ranging from the acceptable to unacceptable.

It's understandable why Suvorov isn't favorably viewed by many Poles. Some in the American South remain uncomfortable with American Civil War era Union officers like William Tecumseh Sherman. Suvorov was a major Polish adversary during an intense conflict. In addition, there's the historic Russo-Polish rivalry that existed before and after Suvorov (a relationship which lingers on, albeit in a diminished state).

Along with having never lost a battle, Suvorov's victories over Poland and Turkey and training manual "The Science of Victory" are among his chief accomplishments. Not to be overlooked are Suvorov's successful campaigns against the French in Italy and Switzerland in 1799. That West European experience saw him command a joint Russo-Austrian force (much to the dismay of some Hapsburg officials, who wanted one of their own as supreme commander).

Suvorov's training manual marked a radical departure from a then existing conservative approach to warfare. His sympathetic attitude towards the foot soldier and disdain for the coddled officer made him stand out during a period when divine right appointments usually went unquestioned. (Michael Averko)

See also:
» The former Moldavian SSR: A non-country which broke in two
» Re-affirming independence, Tiraspol celebrates its liberation from Romania
» Slavic Pridnestrovie is birthplace of ancient Ukraine

On the web:
» Visit: Suvorov's statue