The weapons he invented killed thousands of people, both good and bad.
His original intention was to maintain peace, but terrorists used his invention to cause killing.
He experienced exile from the Soviet government, and a few years later, he experienced the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
How would he view his motherland?
When he travels across the ocean to meet with his former enemies, what will they talk about?
When he is old and looks back on his life, how does he feel?
In the previous article, we had a certain understanding of Kalashnikov’s experience in inventing the AK-47. It can be said that that was the glorious path of Kalashnikov, a farmer. A former soldier, through his own efforts and the help of his selfless mentors and friends, he successfully invented an assault rifle that will go down in history. I believe that no matter which country or language people speak, if the words "AK-47" are written in front of them, they will recognize it.
But AK-47 also brought many problems to his life. It can be said that he lived in the shadow of the AK-47 for the rest of his life. Next, let us walk into the days after Kalashnikov invented the AK-47.
In 1949, Kalashnikov was awarded the Stalin Prize for his outstanding performance in the army. In the same year, he retired from the army and became a full-time designer because of the unique society of the Soviet Union. system, so he does not have a patent for the AK-47 and has never received a penny from weapons sales, but has always lived on his own salary.
Although the achievements of AK-47 have attracted worldwide attention, he is not satisfied with this. He has a greater ambition, which is to realize the standardization of weapons and realize the "gun family".
The gun family is a new type of modern firearms. It is based on a gun and unifies the main components of rifles, submachine guns, and light machine guns to form a family, the gun family. Guns from the same gun family can use the same main parts and interchange bullets.
So, in 1956, the modernized AK-47 was born. This was the AKM that was later equipped on a large scale with the Soviet army (M is the abbreviation of "modernization" in Russian). At the same time, the RPK machine gun also successfully passed Army testing. Since then, the most powerful army on the ground has made the world tremble, and the Soviet armed forces have left an infinite shadow to the West. Their symbol, the AK gun family was born. From that moment on, all small arms equipment of the entire Soviet army came from Kalashnikov's designs, a phenomenon that continued throughout the Soviet period.
At the same time, Kalashnikov was twice awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, a supreme honor.
At this time, Kalashnikov also ushered in the most comfortable time in his life. He was a respected designer and a farmer-born person. In his hometown, he was awarded the title of honorary citizen. A huge bronze bust of him was erected high in the square in the city center. What a high honor it was!
Think about it, just over twenty years ago, when he returned to his hometown, he had to engrave his official seal privately and evade arrest. While in the army, he had to hide the disgraceful experience of his family being exiled. . And now, in his hometown, he is warmly welcomed by the people. In the army, the soldiers like him very much. He walked out among them! Not like those aloof scientists, but just an ordinary sergeant like them! And the weapons he designed were so reliable that everyone couldn't put it down and truly believed that it would bring them victory!
1973 ?American Indian Movement?
What a wonderful time it was! In the Soviet Union, the AK-47 became a weapon in the hands of the defenders of the motherland. In third world countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and in those oppressed and exploited colonies, the simple and reliable AK-47 became the best weapon for guerrillas to fight against imperialism. weapons, the fire of national liberation movements is burning in the world, and AK-47 has also become a symbol of the communist movement. Looking through the photos of that era, almost all the heroes had an AK-47 in their hands. This even made an unspectacular FAL rifle used by mercenaries to suppress guerrillas in Africa become a "gun of freedom". nickname.
But the good times ended soon. In the 1970s, terrorism began to appear on the world stage, and another familiar image of the AK-47 became clear. Massacre, Violence, terrorist attacks. At the same time, there are more and more local wars around the world, and the AK series weapons have become necessary equipment for armed organizations everywhere because of their excellent design, reliable performance, and simple operation.
Kalashnikov’s nightmare has begun. Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Cambodia? AK series weapons have equipped thousands of people and equipped the armies of at least 55 countries. and countless armed groups, some of whom have all kinds of ideologies, and some even have no ideology. This is getting confusing. Almost all parties fighting on the battlefield use AK series weapons to a greater or lesser extent. There is no longer any distinction between justice and evil, only chaos.
Kalashnikov chose to live in seclusion and live in isolation as a pure designer. He always believed that these problems needed to be explained to him by political figures, but there was no such thing. People explain to him.
All kinds of doubtful remarks also came. Some people said that he was just a liar who stole his name and had no inventions that transcended the times. He just stole German designs; some people said that he was a philistine. Executioner, the weapons he invented killed countless people.
He is tired. He is no longer like he was when he was young. When someone questions him, he will produce those certificates to prove his design. He no longer wants to care about the opinions of the outside world. Of course, there is some good news. Kalashnikov's military rank has always been reserve sergeant major. At this time, a Western newspaper published a report about him, "It was an ordinary sergeant major who armed the entire army." Warsaw Pact Countries", the authorities quickly promoted his military rank to colonel. Later, he was appointed general. Now, we can call him General Kalashnikov.
Christmas 1991.
The former Soviet Union collapsed. As a simple designer who stayed away from politics, Kalashnikov looked confused. He did not understand why the society became like this. The chaos, depression, and institutional reforms brought about by the disintegration of the Soviet Union made it difficult for him to adapt. The hammer and sickle that once represented workers and farmers became the double-headed eagle of the Tsar. The leader they once trusted so much even had the words "For the motherland, for Stalin" engraved on the tank, but now it has become a symbol of autocratic dictatorship.
Young people have become idle, idle, and even taking drugs on the streets. Yeltsin (the then President of Russia) drunkenly gave a speech on TV, and everything became so magical. The country's wealth has been privatized, leaving its people impoverished. It's a mess, it's all a mess.
In the chaos of the Soviet Union's impending disintegration, management was not as strict as before, and Kalashnikov was invited to visit the United States. An interesting episode also occurred during this process. When the US customs officers learned that he was the inventor of the AK-47, their faces changed with fear and they immediately called the State Department to report.
In the United States, he met an enemy he had never met before: Stoner. He was the inventor of the M-16. On the battlefield, the AK-47 often competed with the M-16. The two people also lived completely opposite but interesting lives. The Soviet Union was a country that advocated collectivism, but the AK-47 was named after Kalashnikov, while Stoner's name was not engraved on it. on his invention.
Kalashnikov has a lot of medals on his chest but is not rich. He did not make a penny from his arms sales, and every time he sold an M-16, There will always be money transferred to Stoner's account. They all worked to create a useful weapon in order to fight fascism due to the promotion of World War II. However, their fate was ridiculous. M-16 was used to suppress national liberation movements in the third world, and AK-47 was used. Used by extremist groups to cause massacres.
Although they belong to different camps, they have formed a deep friendship. Here, he also established a deep friendship with Galen Uzi (the inventor of the Uzi submachine gun). Just imagine it! The inventors of the AK-47, the inventor of the M-16, and the inventor of the Uzi submachine gun, three small arms masters who have influenced the world, sat together and chatted. On the other side of the distant earth, people from different camps are fighting each other with the weapons they invented.
Kalashnikov had to admit that this weapon was completely independent of his original intention.
However, Kalashnikov did not feel any guilt in his conscience.
In 1998, Kalashnikov went to Stalingrad to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. He first went to Mamayev Hill. A huge monument was built there, depicting a woman wielding a sword, their motherland, whose sons and daughters had fought to protect the city. On this day, many veterans gathered here, hoping to find their old comrades. They hugged each other and cried, recalling those who had sacrificed their lives here.
Gazing at the statue of the motherland holding a sword, he said: "Mom, I didn't have time to make this sword for you, but the sword you are holding in your hand today was made by me!" ?
Today, I understand one thing. I was one of the pillars of the national military-industrial complex and the most loyal servant of the military industry. It is the military industry that guarantees Russia's international status. I have never hurt anyone in my life and I am worthy of my conscience. I could have been someone else, but I became a weapons maker. I have never regretted it in the past or in the future. No matter what happens, I love Russia, even if the endless chaos she was and still is makes me miserable. ?Kalashnikov
In 2013, the great designer, World War II veteran, General Kalashnikov passed away.
Hopefully he will be remembered as the man who designed weapons to defend our homeland, not for terrorist attacks.