G.K. Zhukov, 18961974,Marshal of the Soviet UnionArguably the most successful general of World War II, thepeasant Zhukov began his military career as a cavalry trooperduring Word War I. He was twice awarded the Cross of StGeorge. During the Russian Civil War he served in the fabled1st Cavalry Army, earning the Order of the Red Banner. Heclimbed through the ranks of Red cavalry and managed toavoid persecution during Stalins purges.Commanding Soviet forces in Mongolia in 1938,Zhukov faced off against the rogue Japanese KwantungArmy. He patiently built up his forces to a 3:2 superiorityin manpower, a 2:1 ratio in artillery and aircraft, and a 4:1advantage in armor. He launched his attack supported bymechanized attacks on the Japanese flanks. John Ericksondescribed the battle of Khalkin Gol (Nomonhan to theJapanese) as a brilliant but costly operation because ofZhukovs lavish expenditure of manpower.1 For ZhukhovKhalkin Gol became the blueprint for his future operations.Strategically the battle had immense import. The victoryoccurred during negotiations of the MolotovRibbentropPact, but due to the state of communications at the timeonly the Soviet leadership knew of its outcome. UltimatelyStalin could be fairly sure he would have no more troublefrom the Japanese.Zhukovs victory brought him notoriety, a Hero of theSoviet Union medal and promotion to command of the KievMilitary District. Here he demonstrated high-leveladministrative skills to match his battlefield abilities. In June1940 he led the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia. His starcontinued to rise during the Kremlin wargames seven monthslater and Stalin named him Chief of Staff, Deputy DefenseMinister, and therefore member of the Supreme Soviet inFebruary 1941; he was now also a political leader.Harrison Salisbury called Zhukov, the master ofdisaster the general who was sent in when all else failed,whose terrible temper, iron will and savage determination wore men down (and condemned not a few to the firingsquad).2 Regarding his October defense of LeningradZhukov said, I have cobbled together a reasonableorganization and have virtually stopped the enemy advance;and you know how I propose to go on: I will wear him outand then beat him. On more than one occasion he didexactly that.It seems Zhukov could get away with conduct others couldnot. A Red Army colonel who observed Zhukov in November1941 observed, I was surprised by Zhukovs behavior. Hespoke in a sharp, commanding tone. It looked as if Zhukovwere really the superior officer here. And Stalin accepted thisas proper. At times a kind of bafflement even crossed his(Stalins) face.Even Zhukov was guilty of missteps, most notably his poorperformance west of Moscow in a November 1942 offensivemeant as a bookend to operations against Stalingrad. He isalso criticized for being careless with the lives of his men,but his meticulous operational planning saved many RedArmy soldiers. He was personally involved in every majorSoviet operation of the war; in addition to those alreadymentioned, the liberation of the Ukraine in 1943 andFearing Zhukovs popularity, after the war Stalin banishedhim to Odessa. The marshal nevertheless venerated Stalin,even after the dictators disgrace in the late 1950s. To thisday the Russian people continue to have immense respectsfor Zhukovs accomplishments.Marshal A.M. Vasilevsky, 18951977,Chief of Soviet General Staff and DeputyMinister of DefenseAs the son of an Orthodox priest, a seminary student andcultured World War I infantry captain and battalioncommander, Vasilevsky was an unlikely choice for StalinsWorld War II Red Army chief of staff. In 1936 he earnedselection to the new General Staff Academy; three-quartersof his class fell afoul of Stalins purges and did not graduate.While at the academy Vasilevsky caught the attention of thenchiefof staff General B.M. Shaposhnikov (himself a Tsaristcolonel) who became the junior officers mentor. Aftergraduating he headed the general staff section responsiblefor operational training of senior officers; this position puthim into close contact with the Red Army leaders who wouldeventually defeat Hitler.On August 1, 1941 Vasilevsky became the head of thegeneral staff operations section so therefore accompaniedShaposhnikov to daily meetings with Stalin. The two generalstried unsuccessfully to convince the dictator to evacuate Kievand save Kirponos command. When most of the generalstaff evacuated Moscow on October 1617, Vasilevskybecame Stalins closest military confidant, earning promotionto lieutenant general by the end of the month. He workedclosely with Zhukov on the defense of Moscow. In May 1942he was Stavka representative at the Northwestern Front whenStalin recalled him to Moscow. Despite his protests, on June26 he took Shaposhnikovs chief of staff position in place ofthe ailing marshal.Vasilevskys baptism of fire in his new job came two dayslater when Hitler launched Operation Blau toward Stalingradand the Caucasus oil region. During this campaign he beganto work more closely with Zhukov. Later that summer, alongwith Stalin the two conceived the subsequent Sovietcounteroffensive and the following year the defensiveoperation at Kursk. Vasilevsky was promoted to marshal inFebruary 1943. Harrison E. Salisbury noted that Zhukovsclosest and most important collaborator was his brilliantgeneral staff colleague, General Vasilevsky.3Stalin leaned heavily on the chief of staff and hisintellectual acuteness. But Vasilevsky also did double dutyas Stavka representative on far-flung theaters and Stalinsorely missed him when he was absent from Moscow. OnFebruary 17, 1945 Vasilevsky gave up his chief of staff job tocommand the Soviet Manchurian offensive against theJapanese. After the war he served as Defense Minister from194953, when, upon Stalins death, Vasilevskys closenessto the dictator became a political liability.1 Erickson, Road to Stalingrad.2 Salisburys introduction to Marshal Zhukovs GreatestBattles, p.12.3 Salisbury (ed.), Marshal Zhukovs Greatest Battles, p.111.Belorussia in 1944 as well as the capture of Berlin in 1945.