List of Marshals of the Soviet Union
Shoulder board of a Marshal of the Soviet Union (1943)
The Marshal of the Soviet Union ( Russian Маршал Советского Союза ) was a military rank in the armed forces of the Soviet Union . It was introduced by Josef Stalin in 1935 and abolished in the wake of the collapse of the USSR in 1991. In total, this rank was awarded to 41 people. In addition, there were three more admirals of the Soviet Union's fleet , who were ranked on an equal footing with the Marshal of the Soviet Union . In 1943, the ranks of Marshal of the Armed Forces and Chief Marshal of the Armed Forces were also introduced. Although both ranks are not counted among the Marshals of the Soviet Union , the main marshals of the branches of service are also listed for the sake of completeness . A list of the simple marshals of the branches of the armed forces was dispensed with, as these were ranked on an equal footing with the army generals and these two rank groups would go beyond the scope of this list.
In 1993 the title of Marshal of the Russian Federation was introduced and is part of the tradition of Marshal of the Soviet Union.
The list has been subdivided for a better overview:
- The Marshals of the Soviet Union are listed chronologically according to the date of their appointment:
- the period up to the beginning of the "Great Patriotic War" (1935–1941)
- the time of the "Great Patriotic War" itself (1941–1945)
- the Cold War period (1945–1991).
- The main marshals of the branches of service are classified according to their branches of service
Marshals of the Soviet Union
| image | Surname | appointment | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the Great Patriotic War (1935–1941) | |||
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Wassili Konstantinowitsch Blücher (1889–1938) | November 20, 1935 | Sergeant in the First World War . From 1918 in the Red Army . Was in command in Siberia during the civil war . First bearer of the Order of the Red Banner . From 1924 to 1927 as a military advisor in China. Murdered in the course of the Stalin purges and not rehabilitated as a hero of the civil war until 1956. |
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Semyon Mikhailovich Budjonny (1883–1973) | November 20, 1935 | Farmer's son who led cavalry troops in World War I, the Civil War and the Polish-Soviet War . From 1924 to 1937 inspector of the cavalry. Since 1937 in the Central Council of the CPSU and in World War II front-line commander . Since 1946 in the Supreme Soviet . |
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Alexander Ilyich Jegorow (1883–1939) | November 20, 1935 | Officer in the First World War. Distinguished himself in the civil war in Ukraine. Military advisor in China from 1925 to 1926. Subsequently, he was commander-in-chief of the Red Army in Belarus and from 1931 chief of the general staff . Executed in the course of the Great Purges and not rehabilitated until after Stalin's death. |
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Mikhail Nikolajewitsch Tukhachevsky (1893–1937) | November 20, 1935 | Sub-lieutenant in World War I from impoverished nobility. From 1918 army commander in the CPSU and in the civil war. In the General Staff since 1920, he commanded a front in the Polish-Soviet War. In the following years he was the organizer of the Soviet armed forces, 1925 to 1928 Chief of the General Staff and from 1936 Deputy People's Commissar for Defense. Executed as part of the Great Purges. |
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Kliment Eefremowitsch Voroshilov (1881–1969) | November 20, 1935 | In the labor movement since 1899 and political activist during the Revolution . Involved in the organization of the Red Army during the civil war. From 1927 to 1940 People's Commissar for Defense. During World War II he was in command of the Leningrad Front and from 1945 to 1947 chairman of the Soviet Control Commission in Hungary . As chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1953 to 1960, head of state of the USSR. From 1966 to 1969 he was once again a member of the Supreme Soviet. |
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Grigory Ivanovich Kulik (1890–1950) | May 7, 1940 | Farmer's son and soldier of the First World War. Since 1918 in the Red Army and in the Civil War commander of the artillery . Since 1939 Deputy People's Commissar for Defense. 1939 commander of the artillery in the war against Poland and in the winter war . Demoted to major general in 1942 . Executed in the course of the second Great Purge in 1950 and not rehabilitated until 1956. |
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Boris Michailowitsch Schaposhnikov (1882–1945) | May 7, 1940 | General staff officer as early as the First World War. 1918 Joined the Red Army as Deputy Chief of Operational Administration of the Staff of the Supreme War Council . From 1921 Deputy Commander in Chief of the Red Army. In addition to other posts, from 1937 also deputy to the People's Commissar for Defense and in 1942 Chief of Staff. |
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Semjon Konstantinowitsch Tymoshenko (1895–1970) | May 7, 1940 | Farmer's son and soldier of the First World War. Joined the Red Army in 1918 and received an award during the Civil War. Various higher troop commands after the war. 1939 Commander-in-Chief in the war against Poland and in the Winter War. From 1940 People's Commissar for Defense and from 1941 to 1943 commander of various fronts. Then worked in the STAVKA and after the war commander of the Belarusian military district. |
| During the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945) | |||
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Georgi Konstantinowitsch Schukow (1896–1974) | January 18, 1943 | Sergeant in World War I and from 1918 with the Bolsheviks. Up to 1937 promotion to corps commander. 1939 Victory over the Japanese army on Chalhin Gol . From 1941 to 1945 commander of various fronts, u. a. in the battle for Moscow , Stalingrad and Berlin . Thereafter chairman of the Soviet military administration . Since 1955 People's Commissar for Defense and from 1957 in the Central Committee of the CPSU, but relieved of all offices in the same year. |
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Alexander Michailowitsch Wassilewski (1895–1977) | February 16, 1943 | Son of a priest and officer in the First World War. Since 1919 in the Red Army, in which he rose during the civil war. From 1937 on the General Staff and then Chief of Staff in 1942. In 1945 he was in command of the front and then commander of the troops in the Far East against Japan. From 1949 to 1953 People's Commissar for Defense and 1952 to 1961 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Josef Stalin (1878–1953) | March 6, 1943 | Revolutionary and activist from Georgia . Since 1917 various high offices with the Bolsheviks and from 1922 General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Dictator since the late 1920s. From 1941 to 1953 President of the Soviet Government, People's Commissar for Defense from 1941 to 1946 and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In 1945 created the rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union above the rank of Marshal for himself. |
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Ivan Stepanowitsch Konew (1897–1973) | February 20, 1944 | Soldier in World War I and then in the Red Army. Promotion to lieutenant general by 1941 . From 1941 to 1945 commander of various fronts. From 1945 to 1947 commander in chief of the Soviet troops in Austria and Hungary, then until 1957 commander in chief of all land forces in the USSR. From 1955 to 1960 commander of the troops of the Warsaw Pact and then until 1962 of the troops in the GDR ( GSSD ). Member of the Supreme Soviet and the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Leonid Alexandrowitsch Goworow (1897–1955) | June 18, 1944 | Son of a seaman and student, then an officer in the First World War. Transfer to the Red Army. Founded the Military Academy of the General Staff in 1936 and had various troop and front commands during World War II. After the war General Inspector of the Land Forces and Air Forces. |
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Konstantin Konstantinowitsch Rokossowski (1896–1968) | June 29, 1944 | Factory workers from impoverished Polish nobility and soldier in World War I. Then worked in the Red Army and in the civil war. As a military advisor in China in the late 1930s. Imprisoned and tortured from 1937 to 1940, but then rehabilitated. Army and front-line commander in World War II. After the war he was also appointed Marshal of Poland and Minister of Defense (until 1956). After that he was inspector general of the Soviet armed forces. |
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Rodion Jakowlewitsch Malinowski (1898–1967) | September 10, 1944 | Ukrainian farmer's son and soldier in World War I. Entry into the Red Army and service in the civil war. In the Spanish Civil War military advisers. Various troop commands during World War II, then commander in the Far East. From 1956 commander in chief of the land forces. From 1957 People's Commissar for Defense. Since 1946 a member of the Supreme Soviet and since 1956 in the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbuchin (1894–1949) | September 12, 1944 | Farmer's son and officer in the First World War. In the civil war and in the Second World War he was a staff officer, then also front-line commander. After the war, he was a member of the Supreme Soviet and commander of the Transcaucasian Military District. |
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Kirill Afanassjewitsch Merezkow (1897–1968) | October 26, 1944 | Farmer's son and communist activist. Member of the SDAPR . Staff officer in the Civil War. Army commander in the Winter War and 1940 chief of staff. Army and front line commander in World War II. |
| After the Great Patriotic War (1945–1990) | |||
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Lavrenti Beria (1899–1953) | July 9, 1945 | Abkhazian farmer's son. From 1917 with the Bolsheviks and 1921 in the Cheka . Then head of the GPU . Chairman of the Communist Party in Georgia and since 1931 Chairman of the Transcaucasian Republic. From 1938 People's Commissar of the Interior and since 1946 in the Central Committee of the CPSU. From 1949 head of the Soviet nuclear weapons units. 1953 People's Commissar for the Interior, but then arrested and shot. |
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Wassili Danilowitsch Sokolowski (1897–1968) | July 3, 1946 | Farmer's son and anti-tsarist activist. In the Red Army since 1918. Staff officer in the civil war. 1931 Joined the CPSU. Staff officer and front-line commander in World War II. From 1946 to 1949 head of the Soviet military administration in Germany . From 1952 to 1960 Chief of the General Staff. From 1961 to 1968 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Nikolai Alexandrowitsch Bulganin (1895–1975) | November 3, 1947 | Son of a civil servant and with the Bolsheviks since 1917. From 1918 in the Cheka . Mayor of Moscow from 1931 to 1940 and Chairman of the State Bank from 1937 to 1941. During the Second World War chairman of the National Defense Committee and since 1947 Deputy Prime Minister of the USSR, then People's Commissar for Defense. Released from office after the failed coup attempt against Khrushchev in 1957. |
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Hovhannes Baghramjan (1897–1982) | March 11, 1955 | Armenian origin. Volunteer in World War I and in the Red Army from 1920. Since 1938 teacher at the General Staff School and staff officer. Commander of the 11th Guard Army and the 1st Baltic Front during World War II . Used against partisans in Latvia after the war . 1955 Deputy Minister of Defense. |
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Sergei Semjonowitsch Biryusov (1904–1964) | March 11, 1955 | Joined the Red Army in 1922; from 1940 in the rank of general. In the Second World War, he was a troop leader and staff officer. Since 1945 commander of the Soviet occupation forces in Bulgaria. In April 1955, Supreme Commander of the Air Force and Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. 1962 Commander in Chief of the Strategic Missile Forces. 1963 Chief of the General Staff. Death in an airplane accident. |
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Andrei Antonowitsch Grechko (1903–1976) | March 11, 1955 | Ukrainian origin and in the Red Army since 1919. Member of the CPSU since 1928. Army Commander in World War II. From 1953 to 1957 Supreme Commander of the Soviet Armed Forces in Germany and 1960 Supreme Commander of the Warsaw Treaty Forces. Minister of Defense from 1967 to 1976. |
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Andrei Ivanovich Jerjomenko (1892–1970) | March 11, 1955 | Soldier in World War I and since 1918 in the Red Army and in the CPSU. Commander in the front during World War II, then in the group of inspectors general of the Ministry of Defense and member of the Supreme Soviet. |
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Kirill Semjonowitsch Moskalenko (1902–1985) | March 11, 1955 | Farmer's son; since 1920 in the Red Army. From 1926 in the CPSU. Corps and army commander in World War II. 1960 commander in chief of the missile troops and 1962 deputy minister of defense. |
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Vasily Iwanowitsch Tschuikow (1900–1982) | March 11, 1955 | Joined the Red Army in 1918, the CPSU in 1919. Took part in the invasion of Poland and Finland as army commander. 1940 to 1942 military attaché in China, then army commander in World War II. 1949 to 1953 head of the Soviet Control Commission and Supreme Commander of the Soviet Armed Forces in Germany. From 1961 in the Central Committee of the CPSU. 1960 to 1964 Inspector of the Land Forces and Deputy Minister of Defense. 1964 to 1972 head of civil defense and since 1972 inspector general of the Ministry of Defense. |
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Matwei Wassiljewitsch Sakharov (1898–1972) | September 8, 1959 | Farmer's son. Since 1916 with the Bolsheviks and from 1918 in the Red Army. Service in the Russian Civil War, various staff assignments thereafter and in World War II. From 1945 to 1949 head of the Military Academy of the General Staff and 1955–1957 Defense Minister of the USSR, then 1957–1960 Commander of the Soviet troops in the GDR (GSSD). From 1960 to 1963 Chief of the General Staff of the USSR. After his successor Biryusov died in an accident in a plane, he was again Chief of Staff from 1964 to 1971. |
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Filipp Iwanowitsch Golikow (1900–1980) | May 6, 1961 | From 1917 member of the Bolsheviks and participant in the Russian Civil War. Various uses as a political and military officer since the 1930s. From 1940 head of the military secret service (GRU) and army commander in World War II. From 1958 to 1961 head of the main political administration of the army and navy. |
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Nikolai Ivanovich Krylow (1903–1972) | May 6, 1961 | In the Red Army since 1919 and in the CPSU since 1927. After serving as an officer in the Civil War, he was a staff officer in the Far East. Army commander in World War II. Commander of several military districts after the war. From 1963 Deputy Minister of Defense and from 1968 also Commander of the Strategic Missile Weapon Systems of the USSR. Since 1961 also a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Iwan Ignatjewitsch Jakubowski (1912–1976) | April 12, 1967 | Joined the Red Army in 1932, and the CPSU in 1937. Army officer in World War II. 1960/61 and 1962 to 1965 commander in chief of the Soviet troops in the GDR (GSSD). Commander in chief of the Warsaw Pact troops from 1967 to 1976. Since 1961 also member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Pawel Fyodorowitsch Batitski (1910–1984) | April 15, 1968 | In the Red Army since 1924, member of the CPSU since 1938. Division and corps commander in World War II. From 1966 to 1978 Commander in Chief of the Soviet Air Defense and Deputy Minister of Defense, as well as a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Pyotr Kirillowitsch Koschewoi (1904–1976) | April 15, 1968 | Corps commander in World War II and then Commander of the Siberian Military District (1957–1960) and the Kiev Military District (1960–65). Then until 1969 commander of the Soviet troops in the GDR (GSSD). |
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Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (1906–1982) | May 7, 1976 | From 1923 soldier and political officer in the Red Army and as such in World War II. From 1931 member of the CPSU. 1946 Dismissed as major general. Then political career and 1966 General Secretary of the CPSU. From 1977 to 1982 head of state of the USSR. |
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Dmitri Fjodorowitsch Ustinow (1908–1984) | July 30, 1976 | Worker's son. 1927 Joined the CPSU and employed in the armaments industry. Minister of Armaments from 1941 to 1953. Then until 1957 Minister for Defense Industry. From 1965 to 1976 also secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Minister of Defense of the USSR from 1976 to 1984. |
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Viktor Georgievich Kulikow (1921-2013) | January 14, 1977 | Officer in World War II and commander of the Kiev military district from 1967 to 1969. Then until 1971 commander of the Soviet troops in the GDR (GSSD). From 1971 to 1977 he served as Chief of the Soviet General Staff and then until 1989 Commander-in-Chief of the Warsaw Pact troops. Later a member of the Duma . |
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Nikolai Wassiljewitsch Ogarkow (1917–1994) | January 14, 1977 | Joined the Red Army in 1938, member of the CPSU since 1945. Pioneer officer in World War II. After the war staff officer. From 1974 Deputy Minister of Defense and from 1977 to 1984 Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Union. Since 1971 also member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Sergei Leonidowitsch Sokolow (1911–2012) | 17th February 1978 | Commander of the Leningrad Military District from 1965 to 1967. In the meantime, in 1979 he commanded the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan . Then until 1987 Defense Minister of the USSR, but was dismissed in the course of the Rust affair . From 1992 he was an advisor in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . |
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Sergei Fjodorowitsch Achromejew (1923–1991) | March 25, 1983 | Since 1940 as an officer in the Red Army and from 1943 in the CPSU. From 1972 various staff assignments and 1984 Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of Defense. From 1990 military advisor. Committed suicide after the August coup . |
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Semjon Konstantinowitsch Kurkotkin (1917–1990) | March 25, 1983 | Was commander of the Transcaucasian Military District from 1968 to 1971. From 1971 briefly commander of the Soviet armed forces in the GDR (GSSD) and from 1972 deputy defense minister of the USSR. |
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Vasily Ivanovich Petrow (1917-2014) | March 25, 1983 | Commanded the Far Eastern Military District from 1972 to 1976 and was Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Land Forces from 1980 to 1985. |
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Dmitri Timofejewitsch Jasow (1924-2020) | April 28, 1990 | Farmer's son. From 1941 officer in the Red Army and since 1944 in the CPSU. 1962/63 head of the Soviet teaching center in Cuba . Since 1972 in the rank of general and in 1987 Minister of Defense under Gorbachev and member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Significantly involved in the August coup in 1991; therefore imprisoned until 1993 and rehabilitated in 2003. Since 1998 military advisor in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . |
Admirals of the Soviet Union Fleet
| image | Surname | appointment | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
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Nikolai Gerasimowitsch Kuznetsov (1904–1974) | March 3, 1955 | In the Navy since 1919 and officer from 1926. 1936 Naval Attaché in Spain, 1937 Commander of the Pacific Fleet and 1939 People's Commissar of the Navy. Demoted to Vice Admiral after the war in 1948 and dismissed. Rehabilitated in 1953, he was demoted and dismissed again under Khrushchev in 1956. It was not until 1988 that he was posthumously rehabilitated. |
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Ivan Stepanowitsch Issakow (1894–1967) | March 3, 1955 | Armenian descent. First studied mathematics before becoming a sergeant in the Russian fleet in 1917. From 1922 general staff service. Commander of the Baltic Fleet in 1937, he was transferred to the North Caucasus Front in 1942 . |
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Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov (1910–1988) | October 28, 1967 | Ukrainian descent. Joined the Navy in 1927. Studied physics and mathematics before becoming an officer in 1931. During the Second World War he was the commander of smaller flotillas, but lost his command. From 1956 Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy and Deputy People's Commissar for Defense. From 1961 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Reorganization of the Soviet Navy. Dismissed under Gorbachev . |
Main Marshals of the Armed Forces
| image | Surname | appointment | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Marshals of the Air Force | |||
| Alexander Alexandrowitsch Novikow (1900–1976) | February 21, 1944 | Commander of various air units in World War II and Commander in Chief of the Air Force from 1942 to 1946. Thereafter in custody until 1953. After his discharge from 1956 head of the civil aviation college. | |
| Alexander Evgenjewitsch Golovanow (1904–1975) | August 19, 1944 | Civil aviation worker and commander of various aviation units during World War II. From 1942 Commander of the Long-Distance Air Force (ADD). Fell out of favor in 1948. | |
| Pavel Fyodorowitsch Schigarew (1900–1963) | March 11, 1955 | From 1941 to 1942 Commander in Chief of the Air Force and then transferred to the Far East. Commander-in-chief again from 1949 to 1957. Afterwards head of the head office of civil aviation. | |
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Konstantin Andrejewitsch Vershinin (1900–1973) | May 8, 1959 | Carpenter. 1919 Joined the Red Army and the CPSU. Commanded an air army in World War II. After the war from 1946 to 1949 and 1957 to 1969 Commander in Chief of the Soviet Air Force. Between 1952 and 1954, commander of the air defense. From 1956 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. and from 1961 to 1971 in the Supreme Soviet. |
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Pawel Stepanowitsch Kutachow (1914–1984) | 3rd November 1972 | Mechanic. Joined the Red Army as an aviator in 1935 and participated in the war against Finland and World War II. Commanded a fighter squadron from 1944 and became chief of the air force in 1969. Since 1971 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. |
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Boris Pavlovich Bugayev (1923-2007) | October 28, 1977 | Served as an aviator in World War II and then received civil flight training. Opened up some new flight routes after 1958 and headed the Special Use Department. From 1970 to 1987 Minister for Civil Aviation and since 1971 member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Later also a member of the Supreme Soviet. |
| Alexander Ivanovich Koldunow (1923–1992) | October 31, 1984 | Fighter pilot in World War II. Then from 1978 to 1987 commander of the air defense of the USSR. | |
| Chief marshals of the artillery | |||
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Nikolai Nikolajewitsch Voronow (1899–1968) | February 21, 1944 | Officer in the Spanish Civil War. From 1937 to 1940 and 1941 to 1950 commander of the artillery of the Red Army. Then head of the artillery academies of the Soviet armed forces. |
| Mitrofan Iwanowitsch Nedelin (1902–1960) | May 8, 1959 | In the Red Army since 1920 and in the CPSU in 1924. From 1937 to 1939 he participated in the Spanish Civil War. Then troop commander in the war against Finland and in World War II. From 1953 commander of the artillery and since 1959 of the strategic missile forces of the Soviet army. Died in a rocket explosion. | |
| Sergei Sergejewitsch Varenzow (1901–1971) | May 6, 1961 | General in World War II. Commander of the artillery of the land forces in the late 1950s. 1963 demoted to major general. | |
| Vladimir Fyodorowitsch Tolubko (1914–1989) | March 25, 1983 | Commander of a tank brigade in World War II. After the war, various troop commandos until 1972. Then commander in chief of the strategic missiles of the USSR. | |
| Chief marshals of the armored forces | |||
| Pawel Alexejewitsch Rotmistrow (1901–1982) | April 28, 1962 | Troop commander in World War II. After the war from 1958 to 1964 head of the Academy of Armored Forces. | |
| Amasasp Chatschaturowitsch Babajanjan (1906–1977) | April 29, 1975 | Armenian descent. With the armored forces since 1942 and corps commander until 1945. From 1969 to 1977 Commander in Chief of the Armored Forces of the USSR. | |
Web links
Commons : Marshals of the Soviet Union - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
- Biographies of all Marshals of the Soviet Union (Russian, English)
literature
- Seweryn Bialer : Stalin and his Generals , Pegasus Publications, New York 1969.
- Klaus Dorst / Birgit Hoffmann (eds.): Small Lexicon of Soviet Armed Forces , Military Publishing House of the GDR, Berlin (East) 1987. ISBN 3-327-00279-7 .
- John Erickson: The Soviet high command - A military-political history 1918–1941 (3rd edition), Frank Cass, London 2001. ISBN 0-7146-5178-8 .
- Dale R. Herspring: The Soviet high command 1967-1989 - Personalities and politics , Princeton University Press, Princeton / New Jersey 1990. ISBN 0-691-07844-0 .
- Harold Shukman : Stalin's Generals , Grove Press, New York 1993. ISBN 0-8021-1487-3 .
