Vasily Margelov

Soviet general (1908–1990)

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 commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) from 1954 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1979. During his total of 23 years commanding the Soviet Airborne Forces, Margelov reformed and modernized the VDV. He was named a Hero of the Soviet Union in March 1944. After serving over 60 years in the Soviet military, Margelov retired early in 1990, dying on 4 March in the same year.

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