On August 2, 1930, not far from Voronezh, exercises of the Air Force were held. A feature of the exercises was the parachuting of a military unit in the amount of twelve people from the Farman-Goliath plane. This date was the day of the Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces) of the Red Army, which later became a separate branch of the army, commanded by the commander. Airborne commanders were appointed from among experienced combat officers.
New kind 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 "Nobody 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 order of the Government of the USSR, the Airborne Forces were personally subordinated to the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In this regard, a full-time 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 at one time, contributed, who is more, who is 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 kind of troops was entrusted to fifteen commanders.
Opens the list of commanders, General Vasily Vasilievich Glagolev - in 1946 he led a new type of army in the USSR.
Since October 1947, after the sudden death of V.V. Glagolev, the commander is appointed Alexander Fedorovich Kazankin.
For less than a year (end of 1948 - September 1949), airborne troops were commanded by Sergei Ignatievich Rudenko, 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 more than 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 - Russia (August 1991 - November 1996).
Commanders of the Blue Berets of Russia
With the formation of the Russian Federation, a certain stability is observed in the leadership of the Airborne Forces: commanders hold their posts for a longer time, which indicates the seriousness of the selection of personnel in the Ministry of Defense of the country.
The last quarter century, the Russian Airborne Forces were under the command of generals:
- Podkolzin Evgeny Nikolaevich (September 1991 - December 1996);
- Shpak George Ivanovich (December 1996 - September 2003);
- Evtukhovich Valery Evgenievich (November 2007 - May 2009);
- Shamanov Vladimir Anatolyevich (May 2009 - present);
First commander
After removal from submission to the Air Force, the first commander of the Airborne Forces was appointed Minister of the USSR Armed Forces: General Vasily Vasilyevich Glagolev became him.
Born February 21, 1896. He received primary education in elementary school and real school of 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 undergoes the Third Baku courses of commanders 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 years proved to be a skilled commander. For actions in 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 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 teachings of September 21, 1947 were the last for the commander - he died during their conduct. The grave of V.V. Glagolev is located at the Novodevichy cemetery.
His name is the streets of Moscow, Minsk, Kaluga.
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 Margelov Vasily Filippovich, a legend man of the USSR Armed Forces.
Margelov V.F., commander of the USSR Airborne Forces, was born on January 9, 1908 in Yekaterinoslavl (now Dnepropetrovsk). In 1928, on a Komsomol ticket, Margelov went to a military school in Minsk, which he graduated with honors in 1931. In the Soviet-Finnish war, the young officer shows military valor.
Margelov meets the attack of fascist Germany 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 the entrusted parts during the crossing of the Dnieper, divisional commander Margelov receives a Hero star.
After the Victory, he studies at the VA General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Voroshilova, at the end of 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 commanded the Airborne Forces. In this position, “Suvorov of the twentieth century” proved himself to be a wonderful organizer: thanks to him, the “blue berets” became a formidable striking force that knew no equal.
Margelov's harsh character was organically combined with his fatherly warmth for 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 "Batya".
It was during his time as commander of the Airborne Forces in 1973 that for the first time it became possible to drop armored vehicles with crew inside.
Margelov V.F. died on March 4, 1990. His grave is located 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, and monuments.
Commander of the Airborne Forces of the two states
Commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel-General E. N. Podkolzin, is a unique military commander to a certain extent: as a commander, with the collapse of the USSR, he continued to hold this position in the landing forces of the Russian Federation.
Born in Lepsinsk, a village in the Taldy-Kurgan region (Kazakh SSR), April 18, 1936.
He graduated from the school of the Airborne Forces of the city of Almaty, then - VA named after Frunze. In 1973, he commanded a landing regiment, and three years later - already the 106th division.
In 1982, after studying at the VA General Staff. Voroshilov, 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 Nikolayevich continues to serve as commander of the Airborne Forces, but now of the new state - Russia. In 1996, Podkolzin was sacked.
The years of service of Podkolzin are marked by orders, including the Red Star.
He died on June 19, 2003. The grave of Podkolzin is located at the Troekurovsky cemetery.
Commander Shpak G.I.
The commander of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation Georgy Ivanovich Shpak is from the city of Osipovichi, which is located in the Mogilev region. Date of birth - September 8, 1943.
After the Ryazan Higher School, the Airborne Forces continued to serve in the training divisions of the school and landing units.
In 1978, Shpak after VA. Frunze holds the positions of the regiment commander, chief of staff 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 Armed Forces of the USSR Armed Forces (1988), he occupies the posts 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 quit after reaching retirement age.
Georgy Ivanovich was awarded with government awards, including the Order of the Red Banner.
Second Ermolov
The commander of the Russian Airborne Forces Vladimir Anatolyevich Shamanov stands out from all his predecessors: in his “asset” are two wars - the Chechen ones.
Born in Barnaul on February 15, 1957. In 1978, after the Ryazan School, on the recommendation of the commander of the airborne forces Sukhorukov, was appointed a battalion commander. Extreme demands on himself and his subordinates made his career very rapid.
In the 90s, Shamanov took part in the Karabakh conflict, commands a group of the 7th Airborne Division in Chechnya. At the end of 1995, he became deputy commander of the RF Armed Forces in Chechnya, and a year later - the commander of this group.
Shamanov’s rigidity in decision-making is compared by many with the famous general Ermolov, who at one time “forced the Caucasus to peace”.
In May 2009, Vladimir Anatolyevich was appointed commander of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation. He is in this position to the present. Serves tough and efficient.
The role of airborne commanders
Undoubtedly, the commanders of the airborne forces played a decisive role in the formation and development of the airborne landing of our country. Each of them did everything so that the “winged infantry” became 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, Shamans. They have earned the honor and respect of colleagues and civilians, and the people pay tribute to them.