Vasily Margelov

Vasily Markelov (later changed to Margelov due to a spelling error) was born on 27 December 1906 in the city of Ekaterinoslav, the son of Belarusian parents Filipp Ivanovich Markelov and Agata Stepanovna.

His father, Filipp Markelov, worked in an iron foundry.

Vasily Filippovich Margelov (Васи́лий Фили́ппович Марге́лов; Васі́ль Пілі́павіч Марге́лаў; 27 December 1908 – 4 March 1990) was a Red Army General who was the commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) from 1954 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1979.

Margelov modernized the VDV and was a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Author Carey Schofield wrote that Margelov "...is considered to be the real father of the VDV...[leading]...them through their most vital period of development."

In 1913, the Markelov family returned to Belarus and settled in Kastsyukovichy, the hometown of Margelov's father, where he graduated from the local parochial school in the mid-1910s.

As a teenager, he worked as a loader and a carpenter.

In the same year, he became an apprentice in a tanning shop and soon became an assistant master.

After the end of his convalescence, he became the commander of the 218th Rifle Regiment of the 80th Rifle Division during the Siege of Leningrad.

In 1923, Margelov became a laborer in a local bakery.

There is some evidence that Margelov graduated from the School of Rural Youth and worked as a forwarder in local mail delivery.

From 1924, Margelov worked in the Kalinin mine at Ekaterinoslav.

In 1925, he returned to Belarus and worked as a forester in the timber industry in Kostiukovichi.

In 1927, he became the chairman of the working committee of the timber industry and was elected to the local council.

In 1928, Margelov was drafted into the Red Army.

He studied at the United Belarusian Military School from 1928 to 1931.

In December 1932, he became a cadet in the 3rd Orenberg Pilot and observer school, but was expelled in January 1933 for making "politically ignorant statements".

Margelov became the commander of a machine gun platoon in the United Belarusian Military School.

In February 1934, he became the deputy commander of the company and its commander in May 1936.

From 25 October 1938, Margelov commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 23rd Rifle Regiment of the 8th Rifle Division.

As chief of intelligence of the division, he participated in the Soviet invasion of Poland.

In October 1940, he became the commander of the 15th Separate Disciplinary Battalion of the Leningrad Military District.

After Operation Barbarossa, Margelov became the commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 1st Guards Division of Leningrad Front militia (ru:1-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия народного ополчения (Володарского района)) in July 1941.

In November, he was appointed commander of the 1st Special (in the sense of "irregular") Ski Regiment, composed of Baltic Fleet sailors.

On 21 November, Margelov was wounded in a raid behind enemy lines on Lake Ladoga.

From 15 July 1942, Margelov was the commander of the newly reformed 13th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Guards Rifle Division.

In October 1942, the division was sent to the Southern Front.

In December, the regiment repulsed German attempts at relieving the encircled 6th Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.

In January 1943, Margelov became the 3rd Guards Rifle Division's deputy commander.

He participated in the Salsk-Rostov Offensive during the same month.

Margelov also fought in the Donbass Strategic Offensive and in the Melitopol Offensive from August to November 1943.

In 1944, Margelov became the commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division.

During the Bereznegovatoye–Snigirevka Offensive, the division crossed the Dnieper on the night of 12 March.

On the next night, the rapidly advancing division crossed the Inhulets River and captured Kherson within a few hours.

The division was awarded the title "Kherson" and Margelov became a Hero of the Soviet Union on 19 March.

During the Winter War, Margelov commanded a separate ski reconnaissance battalion in the 596th Rifle Regiment of the 122nd Rifle Division.

During one raid on the Finnish rear area, he reportedly captured a group of Swedish volunteers.

During the war, Margelov was wounded.

After the end of the Winter War, Margelov was appointed assistant commander of the 596th Rifle Regiment.

He was appointed the commander of a machine gun platoon in the 99th Rifle Regiment of the 33rd Rifle Division in Mogilev.