The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union (Russian: Marshal Sovietskovo Soyuza [Маршал Советского Союза]) was in practice the highest military rank of the Soviet Union. (The highest rank in theory, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, was created for Joseph Stalin and held by him alone). The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was created in 1935 and abolished in 1991. Forty-one people held the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union. The equivalent naval rank was Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union. Image File history File links Marshal_of_the_Soviet_Union_rank_insignia. ... One of a conjectural Design for Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was developed by service of rear of the Soviet Army and heraldic council at the Ministry of Defence,USSR Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was a military rank created on June 27, 1945 and granted to Joseph Stalin following... Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Georgian: , Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili; Russian: , Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) (December 18 [O.S. December 6] 1878[1] – March 5, 1953), better known by his adopted name, Joseph Stalin (alternatively transliterated Josef Stalin), was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Unions Central Committee from... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union (Russian: Admiral Flota Sovietskogo Soyuza, Адмирал Флота Советского Союза) was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union. ...

History of the rank

See also: History of Russian military ranks Modern Russian military ranks trace their roots to Table of Ranks established by Peter the Great. ...

Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Vasilevsky in dress uniform

The military rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was established by a decree of the Soviet Cabinet, the Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom), on September 22, 1935. On November 20, the rank was conferred on five people: People's Commissar of Defence and veteran Bolshevik Kliment Voroshilov, Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army Aleksandr Yegorov, and three senior commanders, Vasily Blyukher, Semyon Budyonny, and Mikhail Tukhachevsky. Image File history File links Vasilevsky. ... Image File history File links Vasilevsky. ... Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Vasilevsky (Russian: , September 30, 1895 – December 5, 1977) was a Soviet military commander, promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1943. ... Sovnarkom (Russian language СовНарКом, the abbreviation of the phrase Совет Народных Комиссаров, Sovet Narodnykh Komissarov, the Council of Peoples Commissars, sometimes... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with: :Sovnarkom. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ...   (Russian: ), popularly known as Klim Voroshilov (Russian: ) (February 4 [O.S. January 23] 1881 – December 2, 1969) was a Soviet military commander and politician. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Yegorov Aleksandr Ilyich Yegorov (Russian: Александр Ильич Егоров) (October 13, 1883–February 22, 1939), Soviet military commander, was a prominent victim of Stalins Great Purge of the late 1930s. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily Blyukher Vasily Konstantinovich Blyukher (also spelled Blücher, Blukher, Bliukher etc, Russian: Василий Константинович Блюхер) (November 19, 1889 - November 9... Semyon Budyonny (also spelled Budennii, Budenny, Budyenny etc, Russian: Семён Михайлович Будённый) (April 25 [O.S. April 13] 1883 – October 26, 1973) was a Soviet military commander and an ally of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. ... Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky (Russian: ; Polish: ) (February 16 [O.S. February 4] 1893 â€“ June 12, 1937), was a Soviet military commander, chief of the Red Army (1925–1928), was one of the most prominent victims of Stalins Great Purge of the late 1930s. ...

Of these, Blyukher, Tukhachevski and Yegorov were executed during Stalin's Great Purge of 1937–38. On May 7, 1940, three new Marshals were appointed: the new People's Commissar of Defence, Semyon Timoshenko, Boris Shaposhnikov, and Grigory Kulik. The Great Purge (Russian: , transliterated Bolshaya chistka) is the name given to campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin during the late 1930s. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Timoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (Russian: Семён Константинович Тимошенко) (February 6 O.S (February 18 N.S.), 1895-March 31... Marshal of the Soviet Union Boris Shaposhnikov (with Joseph Stalin, 1935) Boris Mikhailovitch Shaposhnikov (Russian: Борис Михайлович Шапошников) (October 2, 1882 - March 26, 1945), Soviet military commander, was... Marshal of the Soviet Union Grigory Kulik Grigory Ivanovich Kulik (Russian: Григорий Иванович Кулик) (November 9, 1890 - August 24, 1950), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family near Poltava in Ukraine. ...

Even though traditional personal ranks for officers were reestablished in 1935, General ranks in the Red Army were not introduced until 1940. The updated rank system confusingly featured both Marshal and General of the Army ranks, but lacked a Brigadier and full General ranks (despite the fact that positional rank of 'kombrig', or Brigade commander, had existed before); the position in between Lieutenant General and General of the Army is occupied by the Colonel General rank. This arrangement suggests that General of the Army can be considered an equivalent to Field Marshal and U.S. General of the Army, which leaves the Marshal rank as a largely honorary one. For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... General of the Army (Russian: генерал армии, general armii) was a rank of the Soviet Union which was first established in June 1940 as the highest rank for Red Army generals, inferior only to the Marshal of the Soviet Union. ... Brigadier (IPA pronunciation: ) is a military rank, the meaning of which has a considerable variation. ... In military science a brigade is a military unit that is part of a division and includes regiments (where that level exists), or (in modern armies) is composed of several battalions (typically two to four) and directly attached supporting units. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Colonel General is a senior military rank which is used in some of the world’s militaries. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... General of the Army is a military rank used in some countries of the world to denote a senior military leader, usually a General in command of a nations Army. ...

During World War II, Timoshenko and Budyonny were dismissed and Kulik was demoted for incompetence, and the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was given to a number of military commanders who earned it on merit. These included Georgy Zhukov, Ivan Konev and Konstantin Rokossovsky. In 1943, Stalin himself was made a Marshal of the Soviet Union, and in 1945, he was joined by his police chief Lavrenti Beria. These "political" Marshals were joined in 1947 by Nikolai Bulganin. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, GCB (Russian: ) (December 1, 1896 [O.S. November 19]–June 18, 1974), was a Soviet military commander who, in the course of World War II, led the Red Army to liberate the Soviet Union from the Nazi occupation, to overrun... Marshal Ivan Konev Ivan Stepanovich Koniev (Russian Иван Степанович Конев) (December 28, 1897 – May 21, 1973), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family near Podosinovsky in central Russia (now in Kirov Oblast). ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovskiy (Russian: Константин Константинович Рокоссовский, Polish: Konstanty Rokossowski) (December 21, 1896 – August 3, 1968) was a Soviet military commander and Polish Defence Minister. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Lavrenty Beria Lavrenty Pavlovich Beria (Russian: Лавре́нтий Па́влович Бе́рия) (29 March 1899 - 23 December 1953), Soviet politician and police chief, is remembered chiefly as the executor of Joseph... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image:Nikolay Bulganin. ...

Two Marshals were executed in postwar purges: Kulik in 1950 and Beria in 1953, following Stalin's death. Thereafter the rank was awarded only to professional soldiers, with the exception of Leonid Brezhnev, who made himself a Marshal in 1976 and Ustinov who was appointed Defence Minister in July 1976. The last Marshal of the Soviet Union was Dmitry Yazov, appointed in 1990, who was imprisoned after the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991. Marshal Sergei Akhromeev committed suicide in 1991 on the fall of the Soviet Union. Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Russian: , Leonid Ilič Brežnev) December 19, 1906 [O.S. December 19, 1906] – November 10, 1982) was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (and thus de facto ruler of the USSR) from 1964 to 1982, serving in that position longer than anyone... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dmitri Timofeyevich Yazov (Дмитрий Тимофеевич Язов in Russian) (born November 8, 1923) was the last Marshal of the Soviet Union to be appointed before the collapse of the Soviet Union. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; (born 2 March 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Sergei Feodorovich Akhromeev (Ахромеев, Сергей Фёдорович in Russian) (1923—1991), Russian military figure, Hero of the Soviet Union (1982), Marshal of the Soviet Union (1983). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

The rank was abolished with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. It was succeeded by the rank of Marshal of the Russian Federation, which has been held by only one person, Marshal Igor Sergeyev who was Russian Defence Minister from 1997 to 2001. Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Marshal of the Russian Federation (Russian: ) is the highest military rank of Russia, created in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. ... Igor Dmitriyevich Sergeyev (Russian: Игорь Дмитриевич Сергеев) (April 20, 1938 — November 10, 2006) was the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation from May 22 of 1997 until March 28 of 2001. ...

The Marshals fell into three generational groups.

• Those who had gained their reputations during the Russian Civil War. These included both those who were purged in 1937–38 (Blyukher, Tukhachevsky and Yegorov), and those who held high commands in the early years of World War II (Budyonny, Kulik, Shaposhnikov, Timoshenko and Voroshilov). All of the latter except Shaposhnikov and Timoshenko proved incompetent^{[citation needed]} and were removed from office.

• Those who made their reputations in World War II and assumed high commands in the latter part of the war. These included Zhukov, Vasilievsky, Koniev, Rokossovsky, Malinovsky, Tolbukhin and Govorov.

• Those who assumed high command in the Cold War era. All of these were officers in World War II, but their higher commands were held in the Warsaw Pact or as Soviet Defence Ministers. These included Grechko, Yakubovsky, Kulikov, Ogarkov, Akhromeev, and Yazov.

All the postwar Marshals had been officers in World War II, except Brezhnev who had been a military commissar and Ustinov who had been an arms factory manager. Even Yazov, who was 20 when the war ended, had been a platoon commander. Unlike senior U.S. commanders in the Cold War era, no Soviet Marshal had combat command experience after 1945. The Russian Civil War (1917-1922) began immediately after the collapse of the Russian provisional government and the Bolshevik takeover of Petrograd, rapidly intensifying after the dissolution of the Russian Constituent Assembly and signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Not to be confused with the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement about airlines financial liability and the Treaty of Warsaw (1970) between West Germany and the Peoples Republic of Poland. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ...

List of Marshals of the Soviet Union

Marshal Rokossovsky (on black stallion) and Marshal Zhukov (on white stallion) during the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945.

Note: All Marshals of the Soviet Union, with the exception of the Political Marshals had at the very least started their military careers in the Army. The Service Arms listed are the sevices they served in during their respective tenures as Marshals of the Soviet Union. Image File history File links Summary Marshal Zhukov and Marshal Rokossovsky during the Victory Parade on Red Square (June 24, 1945) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Summary Marshal Zhukov and Marshal Rokossovsky during the Victory Parade on Red Square (June 24, 1945) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The 1945 Victory parade was the first major Soviet event recorded on color film. ...

1. ^ As Konstanty Rokossowski he was also a Marshal of Poland from 1949
2. ^ also known as Ivan Baghramian

  (Russian: ), popularly known as Klim Voroshilov (Russian: ) (February 4 [O.S. January 23] 1881 – December 2, 1969) was a Soviet military commander and politician. ... Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky (Russian: ; Polish: ) (February 16 [O.S. February 4] 1893 â€“ June 12, 1937), was a Soviet military commander, chief of the Red Army (1925–1928), was one of the most prominent victims of Stalins Great Purge of the late 1930s. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Yegorov Aleksandr Ilyich Yegorov (Russian: Александр Ильич Егоров) (October 13, 1883–February 22, 1939), Soviet military commander, was a prominent victim of Stalins Great Purge of the late 1930s. ... Semyon Budyonny (also spelled Budennii, Budenny, Budyenny etc, Russian: Семён Михайлович Будённый) (April 25 [O.S. April 13] 1883 – October 26, 1973) was a Soviet military commander and an ally of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Vasily Blyukher Vasily Konstantinovich Blyukher (also spelled Blücher, Blukher, Bliukher etc, Russian: Василий Константинович Блюхер) (November 19, 1889 - November 9... Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Timoshenko Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (Russian: Семён Константинович Тимошенко) (February 6 O.S (February 18 N.S.), 1895-March 31... Marshal of the Soviet Union Grigory Kulik Grigory Ivanovich Kulik (Russian: Григорий Иванович Кулик) (November 9, 1890 - August 24, 1950), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family near Poltava in Ukraine. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Boris Shaposhnikov (with Joseph Stalin, 1935) Boris Mikhailovitch Shaposhnikov (Russian: Борис Михайлович Шапошников) (October 2, 1882 - March 26, 1945), Soviet military commander, was... Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, GCB (Russian: ) (December 1, 1896 [O.S. November 19]–June 18, 1974), was a Soviet military commander who, in the course of World War II, led the Red Army to liberate the Soviet Union from the Nazi occupation, to overrun... Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Vasilevsky (Russian: , September 30, 1895 – December 5, 1977) was a Soviet military commander, promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1943. ... Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili (Georgian: , Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili; Russian: , Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) (December 18 [O.S. December 6] 1878[1] – March 5, 1953), better known by his adopted name, Joseph Stalin (alternatively transliterated Josef Stalin), was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Unions Central Committee from... Marshal Ivan Konev Ivan Stepanovich Koniev (Russian Иван Степанович Конев) (December 28, 1897 – May 21, 1973), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family near Podosinovsky in central Russia (now in Kirov Oblast). ... Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov (Russian Леонид Александрович Говоров) (February 22, 1897 - March 19, 1955), Soviet military commander, was born in the village of Butyrki in central Russia (now in Kirov Oblast). ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Rokossovsky Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovskiy (Russian: Константин Константинович Рокоссовский, Polish: Konstanty Rokossowski) (December 21, 1896 – August 3, 1968) was a Soviet military commander and Polish Defence Minister. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky (Russian: , Rodion Jakovlevič Malinovskij; November 23, 1898-March 31, 1967) was a Soviet military commander, Defense Minister of the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and 1960s, who played a key role in World War II, including the major defeat... Marshal of the Soviet Union Fedor Tolbukhin Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin (June 16, 1894 - October 17, 1949) (Russian: Фёдор Иванович Толбухин), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family in the rural... Kirill Afanasievich Meretskov (Russian: Кирилл Афанасьевич Мерецков) (June 7, 1897 - December 30, 1968) was a Soviet military commander. ... Lavrenty Beria Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria (Georgian: ლავრენტი ბერია; Russian: Лаврентий Павлович Берия; (29 March 1899 – 23 December 1953), was a Soviet politician and chief of the Soviet security and police apparatus. ... Vasily Danilovich Sokolovsky (Russian: Василий Данилович Соколовский) (July 21, 1897 - May 10, 1968), Soviet military commander, was born into a peasant family in Kozliki, a small town in the province of Grodno, near BiaÅ‚ystok in Poland (then part of the Russian Empire). ... Image:Nikolay Bulganin. ... Hovhannes Baghramian (Armenian Armenian: ; December 2 [O.S. November 20] 1897 — September 21, 1982), was a Soviet military commander. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergei Biriuzov Sergei Semenovich Biriuzov (August 21, 1904-October 19, 1964) Marshal of the Soviet Union, Chief of the General Staff, born in Skopin, in the province of Ryazan. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrei Grechko Andrei Antonovich Grechko (October 17, 1903–April 26, 1976) Soviet general, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Minister of Defense, born in small town near Rostov, the son of Ukrainian peasants. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Andrei Yeremenko Andrei Ivanovich Yeremenko (Yeryomenko, Андрей Иванович Ерёменко) (October 14, 1892 - November 19, 1970) Soviet general during World War II, Marshal of the Soviet Union, born in Markovka in the province of Kharkov in Ukraine to a peasant family. ... Kirill Semenovich Moskalenko (May 11, 1902 – June 17, 1985) Marshal of the Soviet Union, Commander in Chief Strategic Missile Forces, Inspector General Ministry of Defense, born in village of Grishino, near Donetsk in Ukraine. ... Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (Васи́лий Ива́нович Чуйко́в) (February 12, 1900 - March 18, 1982) was a lieutenant general in the Soviet Red Army during World War II, two times Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), who after the war became a Marshal of the Soviet Union. ... Marshal of the Soviet Union Matvei Zakharov Matvei Vasilevich Zakharov (August 17, 1898- January 31, 1972) Marshal of the Soviet Union, Chief General Staff, Deputy Defense Minister, born in Kalinin (now Tver) northwest of Moscow, to peasant parents. ... Filipp Ivanovich Golikov, a Marshal of the Soviet Union Filipp Ivanovich Golikov, (July 30, 1900 - July 29, 1980) was a Soviet military commander, promoted Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1961. ... Nikolai Ivanovich Krylov (April 29, 1903–February 9, 1972) was a Marshal of the Soviet Union (from 1962). ... Ivan Ignatyevich Yakubovsky (January 7, 1912 - November 30, 1976) was a Marshal of the Soviet Union, serving as commander-in-chief of the Warsaw Pact from 1967 to 1976. ... Pavel Fedorovich Batitsky (June 27, 1910 - February 17, 1984) served as commander-in-chief of Soviet Air Defense from 1963 to 1978, and was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1968. ... Petr Kirillovich Koshevoi (December 21, 1904 - August 30, 1976) was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1968. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Russian: , Leonid Ilič Brežnev) December 19, 1906 [O.S. December 19, 1906] – November 10, 1982) was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (and thus de facto ruler of the USSR) from 1964 to 1982, serving in that position longer than anyone... Dimitri Fyodorovich Ustinov (October 17, 1908–December 20, 1984) was Defense Minister of the Soviet Union from 1976 until his death. ... Viktor Georgiyevich Kulikov (born July 5, 1921) was the Warsaw Pact commander-in-chief from 1977 to 1989. ... Nikolai Vasilievich Ogarkov (October 30, 1917 - January 23, 1994), was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1977. ... Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov (Russian: ) (born July 1, 1911 in Eupatoria) was Commander of the Leningrad military district from 1965 to 1984, 1st Deputy Defense Minister from 1967 to 1984. ... Sergei Feodorovich Akhromeev (Ахромеев, Сергей Фёдорович in Russian) (1923—1991), Russian military figure, Hero of the Soviet Union (1982), Marshal of the Soviet Union (1983). ... Semyon Konstantinovich Kurkotkin (February 13, 1917 - September 16, 1990) was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1983. ... Vasily Ivanovich Petrov (born January 15, 1917) was appointed Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1983. ... Dmitri Timofeyevich Yazov (Дмитрий Тимофеевич Язов in Russian) (born November 8, 1923) was the last Marshal of the Soviet Union to be appointed before the collapse of the Soviet Union. ... Marshal of Poland (Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Army. ...

External link

• Biographies of all the Marshals of the USSR