Commanders of the Airborne Forces of the USSR and the Russian Federation

On August 2, 1930, near the city of Voronezh, air force exercises were conducted. A special feature of the exercises was the parachute landing of a military unit in the number of twelve people from the plane "Farman-Goliath". This date was the day of the Airborne Forces of the Red Army, later becoming a separate military force, commanded by the commander. Airborne commanders were appointed from experienced military officers.

A new kind of troops

The first airborne division was formed in the USSR in 1931. In December 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council by its Decree introduces airborne divisions. Mass deployment of parts of a new kind of troops began, the motto of which in the future will be "No one but us."

Initially, the airborne units were part of the structure of the Air Force of the Red Army, but on June 3, 1946, by decree of the USSR government, the Airborne Forces were handed over personally to the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In this connection, a regular unit of the commander of this kind of troops was introduced.

The commanders of the Airborne Forces of the USSR and the Russian Federation, each in their time, contributed, who is more, who is less, in the development of their troops.

Commanders of the "winged infantry" of the USSR

During the time of the Airborne Forces' existence, the command of this special force was entrusted to the fifteen commanders.

Opens the list of commanders General Vasily Glagolev - in 1946 he headed a new army in the USSR.

Since October 1947, after the sudden death of V.V. Glagolev, the commander is appointed Alexander Fedorovich Kazankin.

Less than a year (the end of 1948 - September 1949), the airborne troops were under the command of Sergei Ignatievich Rudenko, the air marshal.

General Gorbatov A. V. commanded the Airborne Forces from 1950 to 1954.

Legendary man Margelov VF led airborne commandos for more than 20 years (1954 - January 1979).

In subsequent years, the commanders of the Airborne Forces of the USSR occupied their posts for a year or two, with the exception of DS Sukhorukov:

• Tutarinov IV (1959 - 1961);
• Sukhorukov DS (1979 - 1987);
• Kalinin NV (1987 - the beginning of 1989);
• Achalov VA (1989 - 1990);
• Grachev PS (January-August 1991);

Podkolzin EN became the last commander of the "winged infantry" of the USSR and the first - of Russia (August 1991 - November 1996).

The commanders of the "blue berets" of Russia

With the formation of the Russian Federation, there is a certain stability in the leadership of the Airborne Forces: the commanders occupy their posts for a longer time, which indicates the seriousness of recruitment in the Ministry of Defense of the country.

The last quarter of the century, the Airborne Forces of Russia were under the command of generals:

• Podkolzin Evgeny Nikolaevich (September 1991 - December 1996);
• Shpaka Georgiy Ivanovich (December 1996 - September 2003);
• Evtuhovich Valery Evgenievich (November 2007 - May 2009);
• Shamanov Vladimir Anatolyevich (May 2009 - present);

The First Commander

After the withdrawal of the Air Force from the USSR Minister of the Armed Forces, the first commander of the Airborne Forces was appointed: it was General Vasily Glagolev.

He was born on February 21, 1896. He received primary education in primary school and a real school in Kaluga.

With the outbreak of the Civil War (1918) he fought on the side of the Red Army in the cavalry. After the end of the fratricidal war, Glagolev passes the Third Baku commander courses and continues to serve in the 68th Cavalry Regiment.

In 1941, after the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy (VA) them. Frunze receives the rank of colonel. During the war he proved himself a skilful commander. For actions in the battles on the Dnieper on October 27, 1943 Glagolev receives the rank of lieutenant-general, and soon and the star of the Hero. In 1946 Glagolev was appointed Commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR.

For outstanding services he was awarded the Order of Lenin (twice), the Order of the Red Banner (twice), the orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov.

The exercises of September 21, 1947 were the last for the commander - he died in the course of their conduct. The grave of V. V. Glagolev is located on Novodevichy Cemetery.

His name is the streets of Moscow, Minsk, Kaluga.

Uncle Vasya's troops

So the abbreviation of the Airborne Forces was deciphered during the period when Vasiliy Filippovich Margelov , the legendary man of the USSR Armed Forces, commanded the "winged infantry".

Commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR Margelov VF was born on January 9, 1908 in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk). In 1928, on a Komsomol tour, Margelov goes to a military school in Minsk, which graduates with honors in 1931. In the Soviet-Finnish war, a young officer shows military prowess.

The attack of Nazi Germany Margelov meets in the post of commander of the infantry regiment, and since 1944 he is entrusted to the 49th Infantry Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.

For the able leadership of entrusted units during the crossing of the Dnieper, the division commander Margelov receives the star of the Hero.

After the Victory, he studies at the General Staff of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Voroshilov, after the command of the division. Then there was the Far East, where Margelov was entrusted with the corps.

From 1954 to 1979 (with a break in 1959 - 1961), Margelov commands the Airborne Forces. In this post Suvorov of the 20th century proved to be a wonderful organizer: thanks to him, the "blue berets" became a formidable strike force that did not know its equal.

The severe nature of Margelov organically combined with his father's warmth to his subordinates. Caring for people was a priority for the commander. Theft was punished mercilessly. Combat training was combined with the arrangement of soldiers and officers. For this, the paratroopers called Margelov a "bati".

It was in his time as commander of the airborne forces in 1973, for the first time possible, the landing of armored vehicles with the crew inside.

Margelov VF died on March 4, 1990. His grave is on the Novodevichy Cemetery.

The Ryazan Higher Command School of the Airborne Forces was named after Margelov. In Ryazan, St. Petersburg, Pskov and many other cities, the memory of "Paratrooper No. 1" is immortalized in the names of streets, squares, monuments.

Commander of Airborne Forces of two states

Airborne Force Commander Colonel-General Podkolzin Ye. N. - a unique to a certain extent military leader: as commander, with the disintegration of the USSR continued to hold this post in the Russian landing forces.

He was born in Lepsinsk, the settlement of the Taldy-Kurgan region (Kazakh SSR), April 18, 1936.

He graduated from the Airborne Training College of Alma-Ata, then - VA them. Frunze. In 1973 he commanded the landing regiment, and in three years - already the 106th division.

In 1982, after studying at the Military Academy of the General Staff. Voroshilov, appointed First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Airborne Forces, then - Chief of Staff-First Deputy Airborne Commander. In 1991 Podkolzin was appointed commander.

With the collapse of the Union, Yevgeny Nikolaevich continues to serve as commander of the Airborne Forces, but now a new state - Russia. In 1996 Podkolzin was dismissed to the reserve.

Years of service Podkolzin awarded orders, among which the Red Star.

He died on June 19, 2003. The grave of Podkolzin is located at the Troekurov cemetery.

Commander Shpak G.I.

Commander of the Airborne Forces Georgy Ivanovich Shpak comes from the city of Osipovichi, which is located in the Mogilev region. Date of birth - September 8, 1943.

After the Ryazan Higher School of the Airborne, he continued his service in the educational departments of the school and the landing units.

In 1978 Shpak after VA them. Frunze occupied the posts of the regiment commander, the commander of the 76th Airborne Division, and then the commander of this division.

In December 1979, his regiment was the first to take part in the military conflict in Afghanistan.

After the General Staff of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1988) he holds the posts of army commander, chief of staff of the Turkestan and Volga districts.

In December 1996, appointed Airborne Commander. In this post Shpak stayed until September 2003, after which he resigned after reaching the retirement age.

Georgy Ivanovich was awarded government decorations, including the Order of the Red Banner.

Second Ermolov

Commander of the Airborne Forces of Russia Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov stands out from all his predecessors: in his "asset" are two wars - Chechen.

He was born in Barnaul on February 15, 1957. In 1978, after the Ryazan school, on the recommendation of the commander of the airborne commander Sukhorukov, he was appointed a battalion commander. The extreme demands on himself and his subordinates made his career very rapid.

In the 1990s, Shamanov took part in the Karabakh conflict, commanded a grouping of the 7th Airborne Division in Chechnya. At the end of 1995, he became deputy commander of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in Chechnya, and a year later became commander of this group.

Shamanov's stiffness in making decisions is compared with the well-known general Ermolov, who at one time "forcibly brought peace" to the Caucasus.

In May 2009, Vladimir Anatolyevich was appointed commander of the Airborne Forces of Russia. In this position he is up to the present. Serves hard and efficient.

The role of airborne commanders

Airborne commanders, undoubtedly, played a decisive role in the formation and development of airborne assault in our country. Each of them did everything to make the "winged infantry" a formidable force capable of solving any problems anywhere in the world.

It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of such commanders as Glagolev, Margelov, Shamanov. They deserve the honor and respect of their colleagues and civilians, and the people pay them tribute.