Kuznetsov's fleet readiness and wartime priorities

Kuznetsov expected war with Germany and ordered the Soviet fleets to battle readiness on 22 June despite contrary orders from Timoshenko and Zhukov. The navy's separate ministry gave him the institutional basis to act independently. Concern about a German invasion of the Caucasus made the Black Sea a priority, with particular emphasis on amphibious assault. He also promoted Gorshkov, illustrating how a later political replacement could already be the successor whom a commander had prepared. His wartime standing brought the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, whose status rose to the level of Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1945. He also helped organize naval support for the Soviet entry into the war against Japan and Operation August Storm.