Editing Semyon Timoshenko (section)

===Russian Civil War===
During the [[Russian Civil War]] of 1917–1923, Timoshenko served on various fronts. He [[Polish-Soviet War|fought against Polish forces]] in Kiev and then against [[Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel|Pyotr Wrangel]]'s [[White movement|White Army]] and [[Nestor Makhno]]'s [[Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine|Black Army]].<ref name="Twentieth Century" /> His most important encounter occurred at [[Volgograd|Tsaritsyn]], where he commanded a cavalry regiment and met and befriended [[Joseph Stalin]], who was responsible for the city's defense.{{sfn|Glantz|House|2009|p= 41}} The personal connection would ensure his rapid advancement after Stalin gained control of the Communist Party by the end of the 1920s. In 1920–1921, Timoshenko served under [[Semyon Budyonny]] and [[Kliment Voroshilov]] in the [[1st Cavalry Army]]; Budyonny and Voroshilov became the core of the '''"Cavalry Army clique"''' which, under Stalin's patronage, would dominate the Red Army for many years.{{sfn|Erickson|1999|p=15}} In April 1920, he was given command of the Sixth Division of the Red Cavalry, which was the first to attack the Polish army during the 'May offensive' launched by the Red Army during the [[Polish-Soviet War in 1920|Polish-Soviet War]]. On 29 May, the Sixth Division charged Polish trenches, taking heavy casualties for no gain, which convinced the Soviet commanders that charging trenches was pointless.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=Norman |title=White Eagle Red Star,The Polish-Soviet war 1919–1920 and the 'Miracle on the Vistula' |date=2003 |publisher=Pimlico |location=London |isbn=978-0-712-60694-3 |page=123}}</ref>