Vasily Margelov

Vasily Filippovich Margelov
Vasily Filippovich Margelov
Native name	Василий Филиппович Маргелов
Born	27 December (O.S. 14 December) 1908; Ekaterinoslav, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire (today Dnipro, Ukraine)
Died	4 March 1990; Moscow, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Buried	Novodevichy Cemetery
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Service / branch	Soviet Army; Soviet Airborne Forces
Years of service	1928–1990
Rank	General of the Army
Commands	49th Guards Rifle Division; 76th Guards Air Assault Division; 37th Guards Airborne Corps; Soviet Airborne Forces;
Battles / wars	World War II Invasion of Poland; Winter War; Eastern Front Battle of Leningrad; Battle of Stalingrad; Donbass Strategic Offensive; ; ;
Awards	Hero of the Soviet Union; Order of Lenin (4); Order of the October Revolution; Order of the Red Banner (2); Order of Suvorov, 2nd class; Order of the Patriotic War,; 1st class (2); Order of the Red Star; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star;
Spouse(s)	Marya (divorced); Theodosia Selitskaya (divorced); Anna Kurakina;
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Vasily Filippovich Margelov (Russian: Васи́лий Фили́ппович Марге́лов; Belarusian: Васі́ль Пілі́павіч Марге́лаў; 27 December [O.S. 14 December] 1908 – 4 March 1990) was a Red Army General who was the commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) from 1954 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1979. Margelov modernized the VDV and was a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Author Carey Schofield wrote that Margelov "...is considered to be the real father of the VDV...[leading]...them through their most vital period of development."