Vasily Margelov
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| Name | Vasily Margelov |
| Birth date | 27 December 1908 |
| Death date | 14 December 1990 |
| Birth place | Yekaterinoslav, Russian Empire |
| Death place | Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Soviet Airborne Forces |
| Serviceyears | 1928–1990 |
| Rank | Army General |
| Commands | 76th Guards Airborne Division, 37th Guards Airborne Corps, Soviet Airborne Forces |
| Battles | Winter War, World War II: Operation Barbarossa, Leningrad Front, Stalingrad Front, Southwestern Front, 3rd Ukrainian Front, Vienna Offensive |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin (4), Order of the Red Banner (2), Order of Suvorov, Order of the Patriotic War (2) |
Vasily Margelov was a prominent Soviet military commander and a transformative leader of the Soviet Airborne Forces. Appointed commander of the airborne troops in 1954, he is widely credited with shaping them into a modern, elite strategic force, earning him the enduring nickname "Father of the VDV." His reforms in training, equipment, and tactics left a profound and lasting impact on Russian and post-Soviet airborne doctrine.
Early life and military education
Vasily Filippovich Margelov was born on 27 December 1908 in Yekaterinoslav, within the Russian Empire. He began his working life in a variety of industrial jobs, including at a mine in Donbas and a chemical plant. In 1928, he was conscripted into the Red Army and assigned to the United Belarusian Military School in Minsk. His leadership potential was quickly recognized, leading to his early command of a machine-gun platoon. Margelov continued his military education at the prestigious Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1941, just as the Soviet Union was plunged into the Great Patriotic War.
World War II service
Margelov's wartime service began during the Winter War against Finland. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, he commanded a battalion of the 1st Special Ski Regiment of the Leningrad Front. He later served with distinction on the Stalingrad Front, the Southwestern Front, and the 3rd Ukrainian Front. As commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division, he played a key role in the crossing of the Dnieper and the subsequent Vienna Offensive. His leadership in the capture of Vienna and other critical operations earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944.
Postwar career and airborne forces leadership
After the war, Margelov held several senior command and staff positions. His defining career chapter began in 1954 when he was appointed Commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces. He instituted revolutionary changes, advocating for the mass use of military transport aircraft like the Antonov An-12 and the development of specialized airborne combat vehicles, culminating in the BMD-1. Margelov emphasized extreme physical and psychological training, forging a culture of exceptional toughness and esprit de corps. He personally championed the iconic telnyashka striped shirt and the blue beret as symbols of the VDV. Under his command, the airborne forces conducted major exercises like Dnepr-67, demonstrating their strategic reach to NATO.
Legacy and honors
Vasily Margelov's legacy is foundational to modern airborne forces in the Russian Federation and other post-Soviet states. He was awarded numerous high Soviet honors, including four Orders of Lenin and the Order of Suvorov. His nickname, "Batya" (Father), remains synonymous with the VDV. Monuments to him stand in cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Pskov, home of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The main training center for the Russian Airborne Troops in Ryazan bears his name, and his birthday is celebrated as a professional holiday for paratroopers.
Personal life and death
Margelov was married and had five sons, several of whom followed him into military service, with careers in the Soviet Army and Soviet Navy. He remained an active and respected figure in military circles even after his retirement from active command. Vasily Margelov died on 14 December 1990 in Moscow and was buried with full military honors in the Novodevichy Cemetery. His grave is a site of reverence for serving and veteran paratroopers.
Category:Soviet Army generals Category:Heroes of the Soviet Union Category:Soviet Airborne Forces personnel Category:1908 births Category:1990 deaths