Alexandr M Vasilevsky (1895 – 1977)
Taking over the 3rd Byelorussian Front after Marshal Chernyakhovskii's death, Marshal Alexandr M. Vasilevsky had served in the Russian Army during the First World War and joined the Red Army in 1919. After becoming a regimental commander, he joined the General Staff in 1940 and became head of its Operational Directorate (War Planning). In June 1942 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff and a Deputy Minister of Defence (also known as a People's Commissar) but had an influential involvement with the counteroffensive at Stalingrad, coordinated the movements of several fronts during the battle for Kursk and was actually wounded during the fighting around Sebastopol. He was promoted to Marshal in 1943 and awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union twice (July 1944 and May 1945). After the war in Europe had ended, he became Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Forces in the Far East, controlling three Fronts during the invasion of Manchuria. Afterwards he was appointed Chief of the General Staff and from 1949 until March 1953, Minister for the Armed Forces.
How to cite this article:Antill, P. (7 December 2005) Vasilevsky, Alexandr M (1895-1977) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_vasilevsky.html