Golikov’s trip to London on July 8–13 suggested the British were not sanguine about Soviet chances against the Germans. Stalin hoped for greater success in dealing with the Americans so on July 26 Golikov flew to the United States, where he was received by President Roosevelt. He doubtless reported very positively on the meeting. After his return from his trips, Golikov asked Stalin for a field com- mand, which he received. The descriptions of his actions in various 242 THE FINAL RECKONING command positions that appear in his official biography in the Soviet Mili- tary Encyclopedia do not always correspond to reality. He was relieved of virtually every combat assignment he was given or found another by appealing to Stalin. When he was deputy commander of the Stalingrad Front, for example, he was accused of cowardice by Nikita Khrushchev, then political member of the front’s Military Council. In October 1942 Golikov was given command of the Voronezh Front but was relieved in March 1943 at Zhukov’s urging.
