Marshal Georgy Zhukov

In this article I will write about Marshal Georgy Zhukov, the most successful Russian general in World War Two. Zhukov effectively led the attack on Berlin in April/May 1945 and throughout the whole Russian campaign was known as the ‘man who did not lose a battle’.

He was born December 1, 1896, in Strelkovka, Russia; Georgy Zhukov was the son of peasants. After working in the fields as a child, Zhukov was apprenticed to a furrier in Moscow at age 12. His career proved short lived as in July 1915, he was conscripted into the Russian army for service in World War I. Assigned to the cavalry, Zhukov performed with distinction, twice winning the Cross of St. George. Serving with the 106th Reserve Cavalry and the 10th Dragoon Novgorod Regiment, his time in the conflict ended after he was badly wounded.

After the Civil War had ended in Russia and relative calm had descended on the nation, Zhukov studied the use of armored warfare in battle. He had seen for himself, the cost in human lives of outmoded warfare and he developed his own ideas on how armored vehicles could be used in combat. His knowledge and skill clearly impressed Joseph Stalin who had used the Purges to rid himself of many senior Red Army officers. In 1940, Zhukov was appointed chief of staff by Stalin. Zhukov knew that failure would not be tolerated by Stalin - neither would be getting on the wrong side of the leader.

His participation in the red army in the battle of Berlin was that after the October revolution in 1917, Zhukov became a member of the Bolshevik Party and joined the Red Army. Fighting in the Russian Civil War (1918-1921), Zhukov continued in the cavalry, serving with the famed 1st Cavalry Army. At the war's conclusion, he was awarded Order of the Red Banner for his role in putting down the 1921 Tambov Rebellion. Steadily rising through the ranks, Zhukov was given command of a cavalry division in 1933, and later was assigned as deputy commander of the Byelorussian Military District. Finally Zhukov was given the credit for the victory of the Russian forces over the Nazis in the Battle for Berlin. Though a victory in military terms, the Russians had taken very many casualties in this battle. However, this victory sealed for Zhukov the title of the ‘man who never lost a battle’. In the aftermath of this victory, Zhukov, now a marshal in the army headed the Russian occupation force.

By: Camila Richter and Analucia Castagnino