August 2, 1930, near Voronezh, exercises of the air force (VVS) were held. A feature of the exercises was the parachute landing of a military unit in the amount of twelve people from the Farman-Goliath aircraft. This date became the day of the airborne troops (VDV) of the Red Army, which later became a separate branch of the military, commanded by the commander. Commanders of the Airborne Forces were appointed from among experienced combat officers.
New type of troops
The first airborne unit was formed in the USSR in 1931. In December 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council, by its Decree, introduces airborne units. The mass deployment of units 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 Red Army Air Force, but on June 3, 1946, by a decree of the USSR government, the Airborne Forces were transferred personally to the Minister of the Armed ForcesForces (AF) of the USSR. In this regard, the staff unit of the commander of this type of troops was introduced.
The commanders of the Airborne Forces of the USSR and the Russian Federation, each in his time, contributed, some more, some less, to the development of their troops.
Commanders of the "winged infantry" of the USSR
During the existence of the Airborne Forces, the command of this special type of troops was entrusted to fifteen commanders.
Opens the list of commanders, General Vasily Vasilyevich Glagolev - in 1946 he led a new type of troops in the USSR.
Since October 1947, after the sudden death of V. V. Glagolev, Alexander Fedorovich Kazankin is appointed commander.
For less than a year (late 1948 - September 1949) the airborne troops were under the command of Rudenko Sergei Ignatievich, Air Marshal.
General Gorbatov A. V. commanded the Airborne Forces from 1950 to 1954.
The legendary man Margelov V. F. led the airborne paratroopers for over 20 years (1954 - January 1979).
In subsequent years, the commanders of the USSR Airborne Forces held their posts for a maximum of a year or two, with the exception of D. S. Sukhorukov:
- Tutarinov I. V. (1959 - 1961);
- Sukhorukov D. S. (1979 - 1987);
- Kalinin N. V. (1987 - early 1989);
- Achalov V. A. (1989 - 1990);
- Grachev P. S. (January - August 1991);
Podkolzin E. N. became the last commander of the "winged infantry" of the USSR and the first - of Russia (August 1991 - November 1996).
Russian Blue Beret commanders
With the formation of the Russian Federation, there is a certain stability in the leadership of the Airborne Forces: commandershold their positions for a longer time, which indicates the seriousness of the selection of personnel in the Ministry of Defense of the country.
For the last quarter of a century, the Russian Airborne Forces have been under the command of generals:
- Podkolzin Evgeny Nikolaevich (September 1991 - December 1996);
- Shpak Georgy Ivanovich (December 1996 - September 2003);
- Valery Evtukhovich (November 2007 - May 2009);
- Shamanov Vladimir Anatolyevich (May 2009 - present);
First Commander
After the withdrawal from the subordination of the Air Force, the first commander of the Airborne Forces was appointed by the Minister of the USSR Armed Forces: General Vasily Vasilyevich Glagolev became him.
Born February 21, 1896. He received his primary education at an elementary school and a real school in Kaluga.
With the beginning 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 takes the Third Baku courses for commanders and continues to serve in the 68th cavalry regiment.
In 1941, after the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy (VA) named after. Frunze receives the rank of colonel. During the war he proved to be a skilled commander. For actions in the battles on the Dnieper on October 27, 1943, Glagolev received the rank of lieutenant general, and soon the star of the Hero. In 1946, Glagolev was appointed commander of the USSR Airborne Forces.
For outstanding services he was awarded the Order of Lenin (twice), the Order of the Red Banner (twice), the Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov.
Teachings on September 21, 1947 becamethe last for the commander - he died during their conduct. The grave of V. V. Glagolev is located at the Novodevichy cemetery.
The streets of Moscow, Minsk, Kaluga bear his name.
Uncle Vasya's troops
This is how the abbreviation of the Airborne Forces was deciphered during the period when the "winged infantry" was commanded by Vasily Filippovich Margelov, a man-legend of the USSR Armed Forces.
Commander of the USSR Airborne Forces VF Margelov was born on January 9, 1908 in Yekaterinoslavl (now Dnepropetrovsk). In 1928, on a Komsomol ticket, Margelov was sent to a military school in Minsk, from which he graduated with honors in 1931. In the Soviet-Finnish war, a young officer shows military prowess.
The attack of fascist Germany Margelov meets as commander of a rifle regiment, and since 1944 he has been entrusted with the 49th rifle division of the 28th army of the 3rd Ukrainian front.
For the skillful leadership of entrusted units during the crossing of the Dnieper, divisional commander Margelov receives the star of the Hero.
After the Victory, he studies at the VA of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Voroshilov, at the end he commands a 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 commanded the Airborne Forces. In this position, "Suvorov of the XX century" proved to be a wonderful organizer: thanks to him, the "blue berets" became a formidable strike force that knew no equal.
Margelov's stern character was organically combined with paternal warmth towards his subordinates. Taking care of 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 "batya".
It was during his tenure as commander of the Airborne Forces in 1973 that it became possible for the first time to land armored vehicles with a crew inside.
Margelov V. F. died on March 4, 1990. His grave is at 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 the Airborne Forces of two states
Commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel General Podkolzin E. N., is a unique military leader to a certain extent: being a commander, with the collapse of the USSR, he continued to hold this position in the airborne troops of the Russian Federation.
Born in Lepsinsk, the village of Taldy-Kurgan region (Kazakh SSR), April 18, 1936.
He graduated from the Airborne Forces School in the city of Alma-Ata, then - VA them. Frunze. In 1973 he commanded an airborne regiment, and three years later - already the 106th division.
In 1982, after studying at the VA of the General Staff. Voroshilov, was appointed first deputy chief of staff of the Airborne Forces, then - chief of staff - first deputy commander of the Airborne Forces. 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 of a new state - Russia. In 1996, Podkolzin was transferred to the reserve.
Years of servicePodkolzina were awarded orders, including the Red Star.
Died June 19, 2003. Podkolzin's grave is located at the Troekurovsky cemetery.
Commander Shpak G. I
Commander of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation 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 Forces, he continued to serve in the training units of the school and landing units.
In 1978 Shpak after VA them. Frunze holds the positions of regimental commander, chief of staff of the 76th airborne division, and then commander of this division.
In December 1979, his regiment was the first to take part in the military conflict in Afghanistan.
After the VA of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces (1988), he holds the positions of army commander, chief of staff of the Turkestan and Volga districts.
In December 1996 he was appointed commander of the Airborne Forces. Shpak stayed at this post until September 2003, after which he resigned upon reaching retirement age.
Georgy Ivanovich has received government awards, including the Order of the Red Banner.
Second Yermolov
Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov stands out from all his predecessors: in his “asset” there are two wars - the Chechen one.
Born in Barnaul on February 15, 1957. In 1978, after the Ryazan School, on the recommendation of the commander of the Airborne Forces, Sukhorukov, he was appointed battalion commander. Extreme demands on himself and his subordinates made himcareer very fast-paced.
In the 90s, Shamanov took part in the Karabakh conflict, commanded the grouping of the 7th Airborne Division in Chechnya. At the end of 1995, he became deputy commander of the Russian Armed Forces grouping in Chechnya, and a year later - commander of this grouping.
Shamanov's rigidity in decision-making is compared by many with the well-known General Yermolov, who once "forced peace" in the Caucasus.
In May 2009, Vladimir Anatolyevich was appointed commander of the Russian Airborne Forces. He is in this position to the present. Serving tough and efficient.
Role of Airborne Commanders
The commanders of the Airborne Forces undoubtedly played a decisive role in the formation and development of the airborne assault of our country. Each of them did everything to make the "winged infantry" a formidable force capable of solving any tasks anywhere in the world.
It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of such commanders as Glagolev, Margelov, Shamanov. They have earned the honor and respect of their colleagues and civilians, and the people pay tribute to them.
