Soviet General. He joined the Imperial Army in 1914 and rose to the rank of captain by 1916. He joined the Red Army in 1918 serving as chief of staff of the 56th Russian infantry division. Following the Russian Civil War he served in several staff positions. After graduation from the Frunze Military Academy, he was promoted to chief of staff of the Transcaucasus Military District. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 he was promoted to chief of staff of the Crimean Front and the following year was assigned as assistant commander of the Stalingrad Military District. In March 1943 he was appointed commander of the 57th Red Army Division, leading his forces in the battle of Stalingrad. Following his battlefield and leadership successes at Stalingrad he was appointed as commander of the Southern Front. In October 1943 he combined his military forces with those of General Rodion Malinovsky's, successfully driving German forces from the Ukraine. The following year the two combined forces once again launching a successful campaign to liberate the Balkans and Romania. In September 1944 he was awarded the title of Marshall of the Soviet Union for his military skill and victories. Following the war he was appointed commander-in-chief of Southern Group Forces in the Baltic Region and in 1947 he was promoted to commander of the Transcaucasus Military District. He was one of the Soviet Union's most decorated military officers, earning the Victory Order and Hero of the Soviet Union awards, the nation's most prestigious medal and rank.
Soviet General. He joined the Imperial Army in 1914 and rose to the rank of captain by 1916. He joined the Red Army in 1918 serving as chief of staff of the 56th Russian infantry division. Following the Russian Civil War he served in several staff positions. After graduation from the Frunze Military Academy, he was promoted to chief of staff of the Transcaucasus Military District. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 he was promoted to chief of staff of the Crimean Front and the following year was assigned as assistant commander of the Stalingrad Military District. In March 1943 he was appointed commander of the 57th Red Army Division, leading his forces in the battle of Stalingrad. Following his battlefield and leadership successes at Stalingrad he was appointed as commander of the Southern Front. In October 1943 he combined his military forces with those of General Rodion Malinovsky's, successfully driving German forces from the Ukraine. The following year the two combined forces once again launching a successful campaign to liberate the Balkans and Romania. In September 1944 he was awarded the title of Marshall of the Soviet Union for his military skill and victories. Following the war he was appointed commander-in-chief of Southern Group Forces in the Baltic Region and in 1947 he was promoted to commander of the Transcaucasus Military District. He was one of the Soviet Union's most decorated military officers, earning the Victory Order and Hero of the Soviet Union awards, the nation's most prestigious medal and rank.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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