Talk:Vladimir Sukhomlinov

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An entry from Vladimir Sukhomlinov appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know? column on 23 February 2006.

This article is not completely lacking in content but I disagree with much of what there is: "In December of 1908, he became head of General Staff and, in March of 1909, Minister of War. Vladimir Sukhomlinov was responsible for the military stagnation of 1905–1912, which resulted in unpreparedness of the Russian Army at the outbreak of World War I."

Russia was much better prepared for war in 1914 than it had been in 1904, and this is due in large part to Sukhomlinov's efforts. From Nik Cornish The Russian Army 1914-1918: "The period 1910-1914 saw change on a scale unprecedented during peacetime.... Inevitably there was opposition to these reforms, which polarised into hostility between those who supported Sukhomlinov's modernization programme and the more traditionalist adherents of the Grand Duke Nicholas."

From Norman Stone The Eastern Front 1914-1917: "The impression that Sukhomlinov, and not his enemies, was the real promoter of a modern cause is strongly confirmed by the story of his army reforms." Stone acknowledges accusations against Sukhomlinov but regards them as more the product of the latter's peronsonality defects, and his unpopular opposition to investment in fortresses, than an objective view of his work.

From Bruce W. Menning's Bayonets Before Bullets: "There was no doubt that [Sukhomlinov] remained committed to building Russia's defensive and offensive military power." Further: "Thanks to Sukhomlinov's reforms, the peacetime strength of the Imperial Russian Army on the eve of World War I reached 1,423,000 officers and men."

I have no problem inserting these into the article, but I have no idea how to balance the original unsupported critique of the General with the references I have provided. I'd like to avoid weasel words, e.g. "Despite the opinions of Stone, Cornish, and Menning, some still regard Sukhomlinov as responsible for an alleged military stagnation that began three years before his promotion to head of the general staff...."

- Boris B (talk) 11:15, 1 January 2008 (UTC)