, Anatoly, Vitaly, Alexander

Party CPSU Education Order of the Red Banner of Labor OBVSH named after. Central Election Commission of the BSSR ();
Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, Higher Military Academy named after. K. E. Voroshilova () Academic degree candidate of military sciences Activity military science Autograph Awards Military service Years of service - Affiliation USSR Branch of the military infantry (-), airborne forces Rank
Commanded Battles Hike to Western Belarus,
Soviet-Finnish War,
Great Patriotic War, Operation Danube. Scientific activities Scientific field military science Known as author of the concept of using airborne forces in strategic operations Media files on Wikimedia Commons

Vasily Filippovich Margelov(ukr. Vasil Pilipovich Margelov, Belarusian Vasil Pilipavych Margela, December 14 (27), Yekaterinoslav, Russian Empire - March 4, Moscow, RSFSR, USSR) - Soviet military leader, commander of the Airborne Forces in - and -1979, Army General (1967), Hero of the Soviet Union (), laureate USSR State Prize (), Candidate of Military Sciences (1968).

Biography

Youth years

V. F. Markelov (later Margelov) was born on December 14 (27), 1908 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnieper, Ukraine), into a family of immigrants from Belarus. Father - Philip Ivanovich Markelov, metallurgist (surname Mar To elov from Vasily Filippovich was subsequently written down as Mar G ate due to an error in the party card).

In 1913, the Markelov family returned to the homeland of Philip Ivanovich - to the town of Kostyukovichi, Klimovichi district, Mogilev province. V.F. Margelov's mother, Agafya Stepanovna, was from the neighboring Bobruisk district of Minsk province. According to some information, V.F. Margelov graduated from a parochial school in 1921. As a teenager he worked as a loader and carpenter. In the same year he entered the leather workshop as an apprentice and soon became an assistant master. In 1923, he became a laborer at the local Khleboproduct. There is information that he graduated from a rural youth school and worked as a forwarder delivering mail on the Kostyukovichi-Khotimsk line.

Since 1924 he worked in Yekaterinoslav at the mine named after. M.I. Kalinin as a laborer, then a horse driver (driver of horses pulling trolleys).

In 1925, he was sent again to the BSSR, as a forester at a timber industry enterprise. He worked in Kostyukovichi, in 1927 he became the chairman of the working committee of the timber industry enterprise, and was elected to the local Council.

Start of service

In the airborne troops

V. F. Margelov

After the war in command positions. Since 1948, after graduating from the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, from the Higher Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov, he was commander of the 76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division.

From 1954 to 1959 - Commander of the Airborne Forces. In March 1959, after an emergency in artillery regiment 76th Airborne Division (gang rape of civilian women) was demoted to 1st Deputy Airborne Commander. From July 1961 to January 1979 - again commander of the Airborne Forces.

On October 28, 1967 he was awarded military rank"General of the Army". He led the actions of the Airborne Forces during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia (Operation Danube).

During his service in the Airborne Forces he made more than sixty jumps. The last of them is at the age of 65.

Died March 4, 1990. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Contribution to the formation and development of the Airborne Forces

In the history of the Air Force airborne troops, and in the Armed Forces of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, his name will remain forever. He personified an entire era in the development and formation of the Airborne Forces; their authority and popularity are associated with his name not only in our country, but also abroad...
…IN. F. Margelov realized that in modern operations only highly mobile landing forces capable of wide maneuver can operate successfully deep behind enemy lines. He categorically rejected the idea of holding the area captured by the landing forces until the approach of troops advancing from the front using the method of rigid defense as disastrous, because in this case the landing force would be quickly destroyed.

Under the leadership of Margelov for more than twenty years, the airborne troops became one of the most mobile in the combat structure of the Armed Forces, prestigious for service in them, especially revered by the people... A photograph of Vasily Filippovich in demobilization albums was sold to soldiers at the highest price - for a set of badges. The competition for the Ryazan Airborne School exceeded the numbers of VGIK and GITIS, and applicants who missed out on exams lived for two or three months, before the snow and frost, in the forests near Ryazan in the hope that someone would not withstand the load and it would be possible to take his place . The spirit of the troops was so high that the rest of the Soviet army was classified as “solars” and “screws”.

N. F. Ivanov “Start Operation Storm earlier...”

Theory of combat use

“To fulfill our role in modern operations, it is necessary that our formations and units be highly maneuverable, covered with armor, have sufficient fire efficiency, be well controlled, capable of landing at any time of the day and quickly proceed to active combat operations after landing. This, by and large, is the ideal to which we should strive.”

To achieve these goals, under the leadership of Margelov, a concept of the role and place of the Airborne Forces in modern strategic operations in various theaters of military operations was developed. Margelov wrote a number of works on this topic, and on December 4, 1968, he successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis (awarded academic degree candidate of military sciences by the decision of the Council of the Military Order of Lenin of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov Academy. M.V. Frunze). In practical terms, Airborne Forces exercises and command meetings were regularly held.

Armament

Margelov initiated the creation and serial production at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of landing equipment, heavy parachute platforms, parachute systems and containers for landing cargo, cargo and human parachutes, parachute devices. “You cannot order equipment, so strive to create in the design bureau, industry, during testing, reliable parachutes, and trouble-free operation of heavy airborne equipment,” Margelov said when setting tasks for his subordinates.

Modifications of small arms were created for paratroopers to make them easier to parachute - lighter weight, folding stock.

Especially for the needs of the Airborne Forces in post-war years new military equipment was developed and modernized: airborne self-propelled artillery unit ASU-76 (1949), light ASU-57 (1951), amphibious ASU-57 P (1954), self-propelled unit ASU-85, tracked combat vehicle of the Airborne Forces BMD- 1 (1969). After the first batches of BMD-1 arrived at the troops, attempts to land the BMP-1, which were unsuccessful, were stopped. A family of weapons was also developed on its basis: self-propelled artillery guns “Nona”, artillery fire control vehicles, command and staff vehicles R-142, long-range radio stations R-141, anti-tank systems, reconnaissance vehicle. Anti-aircraft units and subunits were also equipped with armored personnel carriers, which housed crews with portable systems and ammunition.

By the end of the 1950s, new An-8 and An-12 aircraft were adopted and entered service with the troops, which had a payload capacity of up to 10-12 tons and a sufficient flight range, which made it possible to land large groups personnel with standard military equipment and weapons. Later, through the efforts of Margelov, the Airborne Forces received new military transport aircraft - An-22 and Il-76.

At the end of the 1950s, parachute platforms PP-127 appeared in service with the troops, designed for parachute landing of artillery, vehicles, radio stations, engineering equipment and others. Parachute-jet landing aids were created, which, due to the jet thrust created by the engine, made it possible to bring the cargo landing speed closer to zero. Such systems made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of landing by abandoning large quantity large area domes.

External images
	BMD-1 with the Reactavr jet landing complex.

Family

Father - Philip Ivanovich Margelov (Markelov) - a metallurgist, became a holder of two St. George's Crosses in the First World War.
Mother - Agafya Stepanovna, was from Bobruisk district.
Two brothers - Ivan (eldest), Nikolai (younger) and sister Maria.

V. F. Margelov was married three times:

On February 21, 2010, a bust of Vasily Margelov was erected in Kherson. The bust of the general is located in the city center near the Youth Palace on Perekopskaya Street.
On June 5, 2010, a monument to the founder of the Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces) was unveiled in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The monument was built with funds from former paratroopers living in Moldova.
On September 11, 2013, a reinforced concrete monument to the hero of the USSR was installed at school No. 6. The school is named after V.F. Margelov, and there is also an Airborne Forces Museum there.
On November 4, 2013, a memorial monument to Margelov was unveiled in Victory Park in Nizhny Novgorod.
Monument to Vasily Filippovich, the sketch of which was made from a famous photograph from a divisional newspaper, in which he, being appointed division commander of the 76th Guards. Airborne Division, preparing for the first jump, is installed in front of the headquarters of the 95th separate airmobile brigade (Ukraine).
On October 8, 2014, a memorial complex dedicated to the founder of the USSR Airborne Forces, hero Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov. The complex is located on the territory of the park near the city House of Culture.
On May 7, 2014, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled on the territory of the Memorial of Memory and Glory in Nazran (Ingushetia, Russia).
On June 8, 2014, as part of the celebration of the 230th anniversary of the founding of Simferopol, the Walk of Fame and a bust of Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General, Commander of the Airborne Forces Vasily Margelov were inaugurated.
On December 27, 2014, on the birthday of Vasily Fillipovich in Saratov, a memorial bust of V. F. Margelov was erected on the Alley of Cossack Glory of the Municipal Educational Institution “Secondary School No. 43”.
On April 25, 2015, in Taganrog in the city center, in the historical park “At the Barrier,” a bust of Vasily Margelov was inaugurated.
April 23, 2015 in Slavyansk-on-Kuban ( Krasnodar region, Russia) a bust of Airborne Forces General V.F. Margelov was unveiled.
On June 12, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl at the headquarters of the Yaroslavl regional children's and youth military-patriotic public organization LANDMAN named after Guard Sergeant of the Airborne Forces Leonid Palachev.
On July 18, 2015, a bust of the commander who took part in the liberation of the city during the Second World War was unveiled in Donetsk.
On August 1, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the Airborne Forces.
On September 12, 2015, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled in the city of Krasnoperekopsk (Crimea).
A monument to V.F. Margelov was erected in Bronnitsy.
On August 2, 2016, a monument to V. F. Margelov was unveiled in the city of Stary Oskol Belgorod region, busts

Margelov Vasily Filippovich
Born: December 14 (27), 1908
Died: March 4, 1990 (age 81)

Biography

Vasily Filippovich Margelov - Soviet military leader, commander of the Airborne Forces in 1954-1959 and 1961-1979, army general (1967), Hero of the Soviet Union (1944), laureate of the USSR State Prize (1975), candidate of military sciences (1968).

Youth years

V. F. Markelov (later Margelov) was born on December 14 (27), 1908 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnieper, Ukraine), into a family of immigrants from Belarus. Father - Filipp Ivanovich Markelov, a metallurgist (Vasily Filippovich's surname Markelov was later written down as Margelov due to an error in the party card).

In 1913, the Markelov family returned to the homeland of Philip Ivanovich - to the town of Kostyukovichi, Klimovichi district, Mogilev province. V.F. Margelov’s mother, Agafya Stepanovna, was from the neighboring Bobruisk district of Minsk province. According to some information, V.F. Margelov graduated from a parochial school in 1921. As a teenager he worked as a loader and carpenter. In the same year he entered the leather workshop as an apprentice and soon became an assistant master. In 1923, he became a laborer at the local Khleboproduct. There is information that he graduated from a rural youth school and worked as a forwarder delivering mail on the Kostyukovichi - Khotimsk line.

Since 1924 he worked in Yekaterinoslav at the mine named after. M.I. Kalinin as a laborer, then a horse driver (driver of horses pulling trolleys).

Start of service

In 1928 he was drafted into the Red Army. Sent to study at the United Belarusian Military School (UBVSH) named after. Central Election Commission of the BSSR in Minsk, enrolled in a group of snipers. From the 2nd year - foreman of a machine gun company.

In April 1931, he graduated with honors from the Order of the Red Banner of Labor from the United Belarusian Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR. Appointed commander of a machine gun platoon of the regimental school of the 99th Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Belarusian Rifle Division (Mogilev).

Since 1933 - platoon commander in the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the General Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR (from 11/6/1933 - named after M.I. Kalinin, from 1937 - Order of the Red Banner of Labor Minsk Military Infantry School named after M.I. Kalinin). In February 1934 he was appointed assistant company commander, in May 1936 - commander of a machine gun company.

From October 25, 1938, he commanded the 2nd battalion of the 23rd rifle regiment of the 8th Minsk rifle division named after. Dzerzhinsky Belarusian Special Military District. He headed the reconnaissance of the 8th Infantry Division, being the head of the 2nd department of the division headquarters. In this position he participated in the Polish campaign of the Red Army in 1939.

During the wars

During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940) he commanded the Separate Reconnaissance Ski Battalion of the 596th Infantry Regiment of the 122nd Division (initially stationed in Brest, in November 1939 sent to Karelia). During one of the operations he captured officers of the Swedish General Staff.

After the end of the Soviet-Finnish War, he was appointed to the position of assistant commander of the 596th regiment for combat units. Since October 1940 - commander of the 15th separate disciplinary battalion of the Leningrad Military District (15th detachment, Novgorod region). At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in July 1941, appointed commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 1st Guards Division people's militia Leningrad Front (the basis of the regiment was made up of fighters of the former 15th Odisb).

November 21, 1941 - appointed commander of the 1st Special Ski Regiment of Red Banner Baltic Fleet sailors. Contrary to talk that Margelov “wouldn’t fit in,” the Marines accepted the commander, which was especially emphasized by addressing him by the naval equivalent of the rank of “major” - “Comrade Captain 3rd Rank.” The prowess of the “brothers” sank into Margelov’s heart. Subsequently, becoming the commander of the Airborne Forces, as a sign that the paratroopers had adopted the glorious traditions of their older brother - Marine Corps and they continued with honor, Margelov ensured that the paratroopers received the right to wear vests, but in order to emphasize their belonging to the sky, the paratroopers’ ones were blue.

Since July 1942 - commander of the 13th Guards Rifle Regiment, chief of staff and deputy commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Division. After division commander K. A. Tsalikov was wounded, command passed to Chief of Staff Vasily Margelov for the duration of his treatment. Under the leadership of Margelov, on July 17, 1943, soldiers of the 3rd Guards Division broke through 2 lines of Nazi defense on the Mius Front, captured the village of Stepanovka and provided a springboard for the assault on Saur-Mogila.

Since 1944 - commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. He led the division's actions during the crossing of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kherson, for which in March 1944 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Under his command the 49th Guards rifle division participated in the liberation of South-Eastern Europe.

During the war, commander Margelov was mentioned in thank-you orders ten times Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

At the Victory Parade in Moscow, Guard Major General Margelov commanded a battalion in the combined regiment of the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

In the airborne troops

In 1950-1954 - commander of the 37th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Corps (Far East).

From 1954 to 1959 - Commander of the Airborne Forces. In March 1959, after an emergency in the artillery regiment of the 76th Airborne Division (gang rape of civilian women), he was demoted to 1st Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces. From July 1961 to January 1979 - again commander of the Airborne Forces.

On October 28, 1967, he was awarded the military rank of Army General. He led the actions of the Airborne Forces during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia (Operation Danube).

Since January 1979 - in the group of inspectors general of the USSR Ministry of Defense. He went on business trips to the Airborne Forces and was the chairman of the State Examination Commission at the Ryazan Airborne School.

During his service in the Airborne Forces he made more than sixty jumps. The last of them is at the age of 65.
Lived and worked in Moscow.
Died March 4, 1990. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Theory of combat use

IN military theory it was believed that after immediate use nuclear strikes and maintaining a high rate of attack requires widespread use of airborne assault forces. Under these conditions, the Airborne Forces had to fully comply with the military-strategic goals of the war and meet the military-political goals of the state.

According to Commander Margelov:

“To fulfill our role in modern operations, it is necessary that our formations and units be highly maneuverable, covered with armor, have sufficient fire efficiency, be well controlled, capable of landing at any time of the day and quickly proceed to active combat operations after landing. This, by and large, is the ideal to which we should strive."

To achieve these goals, under the leadership of Margelov, a concept of the role and place of the Airborne Forces in modern strategic operations in various theaters of military operations was developed. Margelov wrote a number of works on this topic, and on December 4, 1968, he successfully defended his candidate’s dissertation (he was awarded the title of Candidate of Military Sciences by decision of the Council Military Order Lenin Order of the Red Banner Suvorov Academy. M.V. Frunze). In practical terms, Airborne Forces exercises and command meetings were regularly held.

Armament

It was necessary to overcome the gap between the theory of the combat use of airborne forces and the existing organizational structure troops, as well as the capabilities of military transport aviation. Having assumed the post of Commander, Margelov received troops consisting mainly of infantry with light weapons and military transport aviation (as an integral part of the Airborne Forces), which was equipped with Li-2, Il-14, Tu-2 and Tu-2 aircraft. 4 with significantly limited landing capabilities. In fact, the Airborne Forces were not capable of solving major problems in military operations.

Margelov initiated the creation and serial production at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of landing equipment, heavy parachute platforms, parachute systems and containers for landing cargo, cargo and human parachutes, parachute devices. “You cannot order equipment, so strive to create in the design bureau, industry, during testing, reliable parachutes, trouble-free operation of heavy airborne equipment,” Margelov said when setting tasks for his subordinates.

Modifications of small arms were created for paratroopers to make them easier to parachute - lighter weight, folding stock.

Especially for the needs of the Airborne Forces in the post-war years, new military equipment was developed and modernized: airborne self-propelled artillery unit ASU-76 (1949), light ASU-57 (1951), amphibious ASU-57P (1954), self-propelled unit ASU-85, tracked combat vehicle Airborne troops BMD-1 (1969). After the first batches of the BMD-1 entered service with the troops, a family of weapons was developed on its basis: Nona self-propelled artillery guns, artillery fire control vehicles, R-142 command and staff vehicles, R-141 long-range radio stations, anti-tank systems, and a reconnaissance vehicle. Anti-aircraft units and subunits were also equipped with armored personnel carriers, which housed crews with portable systems and ammunition.

By the end of the 1950s, new An-8 and An-12 aircraft were adopted and entered service with the troops, which had a payload capacity of up to 10-12 tons and a sufficient flight range, which made it possible to land large groups of personnel with standard military equipment and weapons. Later, through the efforts of Margelov, the Airborne Forces received new military transport aircraft - An-22 and Il-76.

At the end of the 1950s, the PP-127 parachute platforms appeared in service with the troops, designed for parachute landing of artillery, vehicles, radio stations, engineering equipment and others. Parachute-jet landing aids were created, which, due to the jet thrust created by the engine, made it possible to bring the cargo landing speed closer to zero. Such systems made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of landing by eliminating a large number of large-area domes.

On January 5, 1973, at the Slobodka airborne parachute track (view on Yandex. Maps) near Tula, for the first time in world practice in the USSR, a parachute-platform landing was carried out in the Centaur complex from an An-12B military transport aircraft of a tracked armored combat vehicle BMD-1 with two crew members on board. The crew commander was Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Gavrilovich Zuev, and the operator-gunner was Senior Lieutenant Margelov Alexander Vasilyevich.

On January 23, 1976, also for the first time in world practice, a BMD-1 was parachuted from the same type of aircraft and made a soft landing on a parachute-rocket system in the Reactavr complex, also with two crew members on board - Major Alexander Vasilyevich Margelov and Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Shcherbakov Ivanovich. The landing was carried out at great risk to life, without personal means of rescue. Twenty years later, for the feat of the seventies, both were awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

Family

Father - Philip Ivanovich Margelov (Markelov) - a metallurgist, became a holder of two St. George's Crosses in the First World War.

Mother - Agafya Stepanovna, was from Bobruisk district.
Two brothers - Ivan (eldest), Nikolai (younger) and sister Maria.
V. F. Margelov was married three times:
The first wife, Maria, left her husband and son (Gennady).
The second wife is Feodosia Efremovna Selitskaya (mother of Anatoly and Vitaly).

The last wife is Anna Aleksandrovna Kurakina, a doctor. I met Anna Alexandrovna during the Great Patriotic War.

Five sons:
Gennady Vasilyevich (1931-2016) - Major General.

Anatoly Vasilievich (1938-2008) - doctor technical sciences, professor, author of more than 100 patents and inventions in the military-industrial complex.

Vitaly Vasilyevich (born 1941) - professional intelligence officer, employee of the KGB of the USSR and the SVR of Russia, later - a social and political figure; Colonel General, Deputy of the State Duma.

Vasily Vasilyevich (1945-2010) - retired major; First Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Relations of the Russian State Broadcasting Company "Voice of Russia" (RGRK "Voice of Russia").

Alexander Vasilievich (1945-2016) - Airborne Forces officer, retired colonel. On August 29, 1996, “for the courage and heroism shown in testing, fine-tuning and mastering special equipment” (landing inside the BMD-1 using a parachute-rocket system in the Reaktavr complex, carried out for the first time in world practice in 1976) he was awarded the title of Hero Russian Federation. After retiring, he worked in the structures of Rosoboronexport.

Vasily Vasilyevich and Alexander Vasilyevich are twin brothers. In 2003, they co-authored a book about their father - “Paratrooper No. 1, Army General Margelov.”

Awards and titles

USSR awards

Medal " Gold Star» No. 3414 Hero of the Soviet Union (03/19/1944);
four Orders of Lenin (03/21/1944, 11/3/1953, 12/26/1968, 12/26/1978);
order October Revolution (4.05.1972);
two Orders of the Red Banner (02/3/1943, 06/20/1949);
the Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree (04/28/1944) was originally presented to the Order of Lenin;
two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (01/25/1943, 03/11/1985);
Order of the Red Star (11/3/1944);
two Orders “For Service to the Motherland in Armed Forces ah USSR" 2nd (12/14/1988) and 3rd degree (04/30/1975);
medals.
Orders (gratitude) of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in which V. F. Margelov was noted.

For crossing the Dnieper River in the lower reaches, and capturing the city of Kherson - a large junction of railway and water communications and an important stronghold of the German defense at the mouth of the Dnieper River. March 13, 1944. No. 83.

For mastering a major regional assault and industrial center Ukraine, the city of Nikolaev is an important railway junction, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea and a strong stronghold of the German defense at the mouth of the Southern Bug. March 28, 1944. No. 96.

For the assault on the territory of Hungary on the city and large railway junction of Szolnok - an important stronghold of the enemy’s defense on the Tisza River. November 4, 1944. No. 209.

For breaking through the enemy's heavily fortified defenses southwest of Budapest, the cities of Szekesfehérvár and Biczke, major communications hubs and important strongholds of the enemy's defense, were captured by storm. December 24, 1944. No. 218.

For the complete capture of the capital of Hungary, the city of Budapest - a strategically important center of German defense on the routes to Vienna. February 13, 1945. No. 277.

For breaking through the heavily fortified German defenses in the Värteshegyszeg mountains, west of Budapest, the defeat of the group German troops in the Esztergom region as well as the capture of the cities of Esztergom, Nesmey, Felshe-Galla, Tata. March 25, 1945. No. 308.

For the capture of the city and the important road junction of Magyarovar and the city and railway station of Kremnica - a strong stronghold of the German defense on southern slopes Velkafatra ridge. April 3, 1945. No. 329.

For the capture of the cities and important railway junctions of Malacky and Bruk, as well as the cities of Previdza and Banovce - strong strongholds of German defense in the Carpathian belt. April 5, 1945. No. 331.

For the encirclement and defeat of a group of German troops trying to retreat from Vienna to the north, and at the same time capturing the cities of Korneyburg and Floridsdorf - powerful strongholds of German defense on the left bank of the Danube. April 15, 1945. No. 337.

For the capture of the cities of Jaroměřice and Znojmo in Czechoslovakia and the cities of Gollabrunn and Stockerau in Austria - important communications hubs and strong strongholds of German defense. May 8, 1945. No. 367.

Honorary titles

Hero of the Soviet Union (1944).
Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1975).
Honorary citizen of the city of Kherson.
Honorary soldier of a military unit.

Memory

In 2014, the office-museum of Vasily Margelov was opened in the main building of the headquarters of the Airborne Forces.

By order of the USSR Minister of Defense dated April 20, 1985, V. F. Margelov was enlisted as an Honorary Soldier in the lists of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division.

By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 182 of May 6, 2005, the departmental medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “Army General Margelov” was established. In the same year, a memorial plaque was installed on a house in Moscow, in Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane, where Margelov lived for the last 20 years of his life.

Every year on V.F. Margelov’s birthday on December 27, in all cities of Russia, servicemen of the Airborne Forces pay tribute to the memory of Vasily Margelov.

Monuments

Monuments to V. F. Margelov were erected:
In Belarus: Kostyukovichi
In Moldova: Chisinau

In Russia: Alatyr (bust), Bronnitsy (bust), Gorno-Altaisk, Yekaterinburg, Ivanovo, Istomino village, Balakhninsky district Nizhny Novgorod region, Krasnoperekopsk, Omsk, Petrozavodsk, Ryazan (two monuments; one of them is located on the territory of the Airborne Forces School, the other is in a park in the immediate vicinity of the checkpoint of this school) and Seltsy ( training center Airborne Forces School near Ryazan), Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region (bust), St. Petersburg (in the park named after V.F. Margelov), Simferopol, Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Tula, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Lipetsk, Kholm (Novgorod region).

Ukraine: Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Zhitomir (at the location of the 95th brigade), Krivoy Rog, Lvov (at the location of the 80th brigade), Sumy, Kherson, Mariupol.

Chronology of discovery

On February 21, 2010, a bust of Vasily Margelov was erected in Kherson. The bust of the general is located in the city center near the Youth Palace on Perekopskaya Street.

On June 5, 2010, a monument to the founder of the Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces) was unveiled in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The monument was built with funds from former paratroopers living in Moldova.

On November 4, 2013, a memorial monument to Margelov was opened in Victory Park in Nizhny Novgorod.

Monument to Vasily Filippovich, the sketch of which was made from a famous photograph from a divisional newspaper, in which he, being appointed division commander of the 76th Guards. Airborne Division, preparing for the first jump, is installed in front of the headquarters of the 95th separate airmobile brigade (Ukraine).

On October 8, 2014, a memorial complex dedicated to the founder of the USSR Airborne Forces, Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov was opened in Bendery (Transnistria). The complex is located on the territory of the park near the city House of Culture.

On May 7, 2014, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled on the territory of the Memorial of Memory and Glory in Nazran (Ingushetia, Russia).

On June 8, 2014, as part of the celebration of the 230th anniversary of the founding of Simferopol, the Walk of Fame and a bust of Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General, Commander of the Airborne Forces Vasily Margelov were inaugurated.

On December 27, 2014, on the birthday of Vasily Fillipovich in Saratov, a memorial bust of V. F. Margelov was erected on the Alley of Cossack Glory of the Municipal Educational Institution “Secondary School No. 43”.

On April 25, 2015 in Taganrog in the city center, in the historical park “At the Barrier,” a bust of Vasily Margelov was inaugurated.

On April 23, 2015, a bust of Airborne Forces General V.F. Margelov was unveiled in Slavyansk-on-Kuban (Krasnodar Territory, Russia).

On June 12, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl at the headquarters of the Yaroslavl regional children's and youth military-patriotic public organization TROOPERS named after Guard Sergeant of the Airborne Forces Leonid Palachev.

On July 18, 2015, a bust of the commander who took part in the liberation of the city during the Second World War was unveiled in Donetsk.
On August 1, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the Airborne Forces.
On September 12, 2015, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled in the city of Krasnoperekopsk (Crimea).
A monument to V.F. Margelov was erected in Bronnitsy.

On August 2, 2016, busts of V. F. Margelov were unveiled in Petrozavodsk and Alatyr (Chuvashia); Also on this day, a memorial was opened in the city of Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region.

On November 4, 2016, a bronze monument more than two meters high was erected in the center of Yekaterinburg.
On April 19, 2017, a bust of the Soviet military leader was installed on the Walk of Fame in Vladikavkaz.
June 30, 2017 in the city of Kholm, Novgorod region.

Naming

The names of V. F. Margelov are:
Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School;
Department of Airborne Forces of the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
Nizhny Novgorod Cadet Corps (NKSHI);
MBOU "Secondary School No. 27", Simferopol;

streets in Moscow, Western Litsa ( Leningrad region), Omsk, Pskov, Taganrog, Tula, Ulan-Ude and the border village of Naushki (Buryatia), an avenue and a park in the Zavolzhsky district of Ulyanovsk, a square in Ryazan, public gardens in St. Petersburg, in Belogorsk (Amur region). In Moscow, the name “Margelova Street” was assigned to the street “Projected Proezd No. 6367” on September 24, 2013. In honor of the 105th anniversary of the birth of Vasily Filippovich, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the new street.

In Belarus - high school No. 4 in Gomel, streets in Minsk and Vitebsk. In Vitebsk, the memory of V.F. Margelov was immortalized on June 25, 2010. In the spring of 2010, the Vitebsk City Executive Committee approved the petition of the Airborne Forces veterans of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to name the street connecting the street. Chkalova and ave. Pobeda, General Margelov Street. On the eve of City Day on the street. General Margelov was commissioned new home, on which the memorial plaque is installed, the right to open it was given to the sons of Vasily Filippovich.

In art

During the Great Patriotic War, a song was composed in V. Margelov’s division, one verse from it:
The song praises the Falcon
Brave and courageous...
Is it close, is it far
Margelov's regiments were marching.

In 2008, with the support of the Moscow government, director Oleg Shtrom filmed the eight-episode series “Batya”, main role in which Mikhail Zhigalov played.

The Blue Berets ensemble recorded a song dedicated to V.F. Margelov, appreciating current state Airborne Forces, after his resignation as commander, which is called “Forgive us, Vasily Filippovich!”

Other

The Sumy distillery "Gorobina" produces memorial vodka "Margelovskaya". Strength 48%, recipe contains alcohol, pomegranate juice, black pepper.

In honor of the centenary of the birth of the Commander, 2008 was declared the year of V. Margelov in the Airborne Forces.

Since 1944, commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. He led the division's actions during the crossing of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kherson, for which he was awarded the title in March 1944Hero of the Soviet Union.

Under his command, the 49th Guards Rifle Division took part in the liberation of South-Eastern Europe. During the war, Divisional Commander Margelov was mentioned ten times in the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. After the war in command positions. Since 1948, after graduating from the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, from the Higher Military Academy named after Klima Voroshilova commander of the 76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division.
In 1950-1954, commander of the 37th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Corps | Far East.
From 1954 to 1959 Commander of the Airborne Forces. In March 1959, after an emergency in the artillery regiment of the 76th Airborne Division (gang rape of women), he was demoted to 1st Deputy Commander. From July 1961 to January 1979, again Commander of the Airborne Forces.
On October 28, 1967, he was awarded a military rank army general. He supervised the actions of the Airborne Forces during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia | Operation Danube
Since January 1979, in the group of inspectors general of the USSR Ministry of Defense. He went on business trips to the troops, was the chairman of the State Examination Commission at the Ryazan Airborne School. During his service he made more than 60 jumps. The last of them is at the age of 65.

General Pavel Fedoseevich Pavlenko ...in the history of the Airborne Forces, and in the Armed Forces of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, his name will remain forever. He personified an entire era in the development and formation of the Airborne Forces; his name is associated with their authority and popularity not only in our country, but also abroad... Vasily Filippovich realized that in modern operations only highly mobile, capable of wide landing maneuver. He categorically rejected the idea of holding the area captured by the landing forces until the approach of troops advancing from the front using the method of rigid defense as disastrous, because in this case the landing force would be quickly destroyed.

Colonel Nikolai Fedorovich Ivanov: Under the leadership of Margelov for more than twenty years, the airborne troops became one of the most mobile in the combat structure of the Armed Forces, prestigious for service in them, especially revered by the people... Photo of Vasily Filippovich in demobilization albums went to the soldiers at the highest price - for a set of badges. The competition for the Ryazan Airborne School exceeded the numbers of VGIK and GITIS, and applicants who missed out on exams lived for two or three months, before the snow and frost, in the forests near Ryazan in the hope that someone would not withstand the load and it would be possible to take his place . The spirit of the troops was so high that everything else Soviet Army was included in the category of “solars” and “screws”.

After watching the film Takova in 1964 sports life, Margelov ordered the introduction of rugby into the paratroopers training program. Margelov’s contribution to the formation of the Airborne Forces in their current form was reflected in the comic decoding of the abbreviation VDV - Uncle Vasya's troops. In military theory, it was believed that after the immediate use of nuclear strikes and maintaining a high rate of attack, widespread use of airborne assaults was necessary. Under these conditions, the Airborne Forces had to fully comply with the military-strategic goals of the war and meet the military-political goals of the state.

According to Commander Margelov: To fulfill our role in modern operations, it is necessary that our formations and units be highly maneuverable, covered with armor, have sufficient fire efficiency, are well controlled, capable of landing at any time of the day and quickly proceed to active combat operations after landing. This, by and large, is the ideal to which we should strive.

To achieve these goals, under the leadership of Margelov, a concept of the role and place of the Airborne Forces in modern strategic operations in various theaters of military operations was developed. Margelov wrote a number of works on this topic, and on December 4, 1968, he successfully defended his candidate's dissertation and was awarded the title of Candidate of Military Sciences by decision of the Council of the Military Order of Lenin of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov Academy named after Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze. In practical terms, Airborne Forces exercises and command meetings were regularly held.

It was necessary to bridge the gap between the theory of the combat use of the Airborne Forces and the existing organizational structure of the troops, as well as the capabilities of military transport aviation. Having assumed the post of Commander, Margelov received troops consisting mainly of infantry with light weapons and military transport aviation as an integral part of the Airborne Forces, which was equipped with LI-2, IL-14, TU-2 and TU-4 aircraft with significantly limited landing capabilities. In fact, the Airborne Forces were not capable of solving major problems in military operations. Margelov initiated the creation and serial production at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of landing equipment, heavy parachute platforms, parachute systems and containers for landing cargo, cargo and human parachutes, parachute devices. You can’t order equipment, so strive to create reliable parachutes in the design bureau, industry, and trouble-free operation of heavy airborne equipment during testing,” Margelov said when setting tasks for his subordinates.

Modifications of small arms were created for paratroopers to make them easier to parachute - lighter weight, folding stock. Especially for the needs of the Airborne Forces in the post-war years, new military equipment was developed and modernized: airborne self-propelled artillery unit ASU-76 (1949), light ASU-57 (1951), amphibious ASU-57P (1954), self-propelled unit ASU-85, tracked combat vehicle Airborne troops BMD-1 (1969). After the first batches of BMD-1 entered service with the troops, a family of weapons was developed on its basis: NONA self-propelled artillery guns, artillery fire control vehicles, R-142 command and staff vehicles, R-141 long-range radio stations, anti-tank systems, and a reconnaissance vehicle. Anti-aircraft units and subunits were also equipped with armored personnel carriers, which housed crews with portable systems and ammunition.

By the end of the 50s, new AN-8 and AN-12 aircraft were adopted and entered into service with the troops, which had a payload capacity of up to 10-12 tons and a sufficient flight range, which made it possible to land large groups of personnel with standard military equipment and weapons. Later, through the efforts of Margelov, the Airborne Forces received new military transport aircraft - AN-22 and IL-76, and the PP-127 parachute platforms, designed for parachute landing of artillery, vehicles, radio stations, and engineering equipment, appeared in service with the troops. Parachute-jet landing aids were created, which, due to the jet thrust created by the engine, made it possible to bring the cargo landing speed closer to zero. Such systems made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of landing by eliminating a large number of large-area domes.

On January 5, 1973, at the Slobodka Airborne Forces parachute track near Tula, for the first time in world practice in the USSR, a landing was carried out using parachute-platform vehicles in a complex Centaur [?] from an AN-12B military transport aircraft and a BMD-1 tracked armored combat vehicle with two crew members on board. The crew commander was Lieutenant Colonel Zuev Leonid Gavrilovich [?], and operator-gunner, senior lieutenant Margelov Alexander Vasilievich [?].

On January 23, 1976, also for the first time in world practice, a BMD-1 was parachuted from the same type of aircraft and made a soft landing using a parachute-jet system in the complex. Reactavr [?] also with two crew members on board - Major Alexander Vasilievich Margelov and Lieutenant Colonel Shcherbakov Leonid Ivanovich [?] . The landing was carried out at great risk to life, without personal means of rescue. Twenty years later, for the feat of the seventies, both were awarded the title Hero of Russia.

By order of the USSR Minister of Defense dated April 20, 1985, Vasily Filippovich Margelov was enrolled as an Honorary Soldier in the lists of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division. By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 182 dated May 6, 2005, a departmental medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was established Army General Margelov [?] . In the same year, a memorial plaque was installed on a house in Moscow, in Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane, where Margelov lived for the last 20 years of his life. Monuments to Vasily Filippovich Margelov were erected in Dnepropetrovsk, Krivoy Rog, Simferopol, Sumy, Kherson, Mariupol, Chisinau, Kostyukovichi, Ryazan and Seltsy (training center of the Airborne Forces School), Omsk, Tula, Tyumen, St. Petersburg (in the park named after Vasily Filippovich Margelov) , Ulyanovsk, Ivanovo, the village of Istomino, Balakhninsky district, Nizhny Novgorod region.

As we know, history is made by people. Not every one of us is given the opportunity to make any significant contribution to the development of science, technology, sports, culture and other areas of life. However there is individuals, life path which should be considered in detail and in detail. And one of these heroes of our time is Vasily Margelov.

Milestones in the life of a commander

Personal life

The first wife of Vasily Filippovich Margelov is Maria. She became his legal wife in 1930. And a year later their son Gennady was born.

Not all of Vasily Margelov’s sons, of which there are five, followed in their father’s footsteps. But none of them disgraced him. In particular, Margelov’s son Vasily Filippovich Alexander was an Airborne Forces officer, and in 1996 he became a Hero of Russia. And in 2003, already retired, together with his brother Vitaly, he wrote a book about his dad.

Hero Rewards

General Margelov was awarded a great many awards during his life, which are extremely difficult to list. Among them are not only the regalia of the USSR, but foreign orders and medals. The most highest rank with which he was awarded is, of course, Hero of the Soviet Union.

In addition, monuments to Vasily Filippovich were erected in his native Dnepropetrovsk, as well as in Omsk, Tula, Ryazan, St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk and other cities and villages.

Today, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation has the “Army General Margelov” medal.

In February 2010, a bust of the general was erected in Kherson as an eternal tribute to his memory. Also, a memorial plaque has now been hung on the house in which he lived for twenty years in the capital of the Union.

The date of death of the famous military man is the fourth of March 1990. He was interred at the Novodevichy cemetery, which is located in Moscow.

The story of how Margelov jumped with a parachute for the first time or the general’s receipt for 6 jumps:
It is known that... in 1948, during his first jump, he was 40 years old (for the Airborne Forces this is “pre-retirement” age; doctors sometimes do not recommend jumping if there is no appropriate physical training). The height was 400 meters (today this is the height for extreme sports enthusiasts), we jumped from a balloon basket.

It is known that... before he began to command the paratroopers, General Margelov made a bet on 6 jumps with General Denisenko in the reception room of the Airborne Forces Commander. On the third jump, a new division commander Airborne General Denisenko died tragically. Margelov did not stop - he only broke his legs twice during the first jumps (during the war, his most severe shrapnel wounds were in his legs). Perhaps (my version) from that time on, a recruit of the Airborne Forces had to make 6 jumps before taking the oath (which is what we did).

It is known that... for all the jumps, Margelov took weapons with him (including the first one) - a Mauser and grenades, saying: “Already in the sky, a soldier must join the battle!” In the presence of Margelov, everyone jumped with weapons, otherwise they could get hit in the neck, but after Margelov retired, they only jumped with weapons during exercises.

The story of how the people's medal "Margelov" appeared or who has the right to present the "airborne non-governmental award":
It is known that... only in Belarus there is an official state medal “Margelov”, approved by the President of the Republic Alexander Lukashenko...

It is known that ... in Russia and the CIS the Margelov medal (it appeared on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Airborne Forces) is unofficially awarded by the “Supreme Council of the USSR” under the leadership of Sazha Umalatova (25 rubles per medal), and their medal was also established in the Moscow cadet corps them. G. Zhukov (medal No. 1 - A.V. Margelov).

It is known that ... the Union of Airborne Veterans (created at the end of 2002) issues a statement addressed to the Commander of the Airborne Forces about the introduction in the troops (until the end of 2003) of an official airborne award named after Army General V.F. Margelov...

It is known that... in different parts of the CIS and Russia, where “Father” Margelov is remembered, competitions are held in boxing and wrestling, shooting, parachuting, skiing in honor of his name. Veterans of the Airborne Forces open teenage clubs “Margelovets”.

It is known that... five monuments to Margelov have been erected in the world (Moscow - Novodevichye Cemetery, Ryazan, Tula, Omsk and Dnepropetrovsk), busts have been erected in Pskov and Kosovo (there is information that in Ecuador, local special forces are fighting drug lords at the entrance to their headquarters they hung a portrait of Margelov. Since then, drug dealers believe that the General is their leader. Perhaps someone studied in Ryazan and met with Margelov). Skilled sculptors have mastered the production for Airborne Forces Day: a bust of Margelov and figurines of paratroopers with parachutes - “for an amateur.”

The story of how Margelov “boiled” cooks for charred porridge or the “Stalingrad Cauldron” in Margelov’s style:
It is known that... as soon as Margelov received the unit, he went to the kitchen to check the rear service. He believed that food was important to a soldier's fighting ability.

Once... having tasted burnt porridge before the battles near Stalingrad, Margelov shoved the cook into a cold cauldron of porridge, accusing him of aiding the Germans, who would see in battle not the weapons of the Red Army soldiers, but their lowered pants. In addition, after this incident, he ordered the officers to eat with the soldiers so that the commanders could see how their soldiers were eating.
It is known that... the Margelovsky regiment stood in tough defense, not allowing German tanks Guderian to release Field Marshal Paulus from the Stalingrad Cauldron. For the first time, Hitler threw a super-tank with new armor, the “Royal Tiger-4,” into a breakthrough. In 1945, German generals remembered the Margelov regiment in December 1942 near Stalingrad and decided that it was better to surrender than to fight again with such a commander as Margelov.

It is known that... that the corps commander, Major General Chanchibidze, after the defeat of the German troops of the Goth group, summoned Margelov and, at the meeting, without talking, hit the lieutenant colonel in the cheekbone. Resisting, Margelov also silently punched the general in the face. In response I heard: “Maladetz - you will be the division commander,” after which he began to accept Margelov’s report.

The story of how Margelov shot motorcycles or the “heady air of Europe”:
Once... in Romania, Margelov was hospitalized with a broken leg after reckless driving on a captured German motorcycle (good Bessarabian wine also played a role). And then he saw that half of his officers were (or were) lying with similar injuries. Standing on crutches, Margelov went out into the hospital yard and shot all the motorcycles that stood in the yard from his Mauser, and then ordered all owners of “trophy horses on wheels” to do the same.

It is known that... Margelov and the officers of his headquarters visited the Carpathians in 1944 at a real noble ball, where they almost married his guarantor to the princess’s daughter.

The story of how in 1953 Margelov met the Voroshilov amnesty or the Death of Stalin:
It is known that... On November 7, 1953, Margelov, alone before the arrival of the commandant’s office soldiers, pacifying the brawl (a train of amnestied penal prisoners stood at a dead end) at the Svobodny station, said to a drunken and angry crowd of former prisoners - “Who am I? Uncle Vasya (and he showed, turning back the collar of his overcoat, the Star of the Hero of the USSR), and my troops are behind me and if it doesn’t stop...” The former prisoners “capitulated” and received 15 days of arrest “for violating public order» in the guardhouse airborne regiment on behalf of Margelov - commander of the Far Eastern Airborne Corps (from the author - what soldiers of other types of troops are most afraid of is falling into the hands of an airborne patrol and into the “lip” of the Airborne Forces)

It is known that... when tens of thousands of prisoners were released from Stalin’s camps. Margelov ordered all officers to carry weapons around the clock to protect themselves from unpunished “amnestied” bandits. He himself slept with a Mauser under his pillow and once almost shot in the dark his 7-year-old son Alexander, who accidentally walked into his father’s bedroom.
It is known that... in 1953, after the death of Stalin and the arrest of Beria, Margelov was offered the position of military commandant of Moscow or a job in the Foreign Ministry. He replied that he did not want to be a Moscow policeman, but in “civilian life” to ruin friendly relations with all the ambassadors, since “I’m not used to choosing words - I say what is.”

It is known that... Margelov met with Klim Voroshilov twice (the first time, as a cadet, he was awarded a personalized watch, the second time, he was pulled out wounded from the front line on the Leningrad Front). But he “did not accept” Voroshilov’s liberal amnesty in Stalin’s camps in the summer of 1953.

The story of how the vest appeared and took to the Airborne Forces or “Don’t show me fly agarics...”:
One day... in November 1941, near Leningrad, Major Margelov was assigned to create the first Special Ski Regiment of volunteer sailors who presented their commander with a black and white vest...

It is known that... Margelov’s son, Alexander, keeps his father’s blue and white vest, which Dad wore until his last day...

One day... Commander of the Airborne Forces Margelov began to reform his troops. Along with the introduction of new technology, it changed its form. Minister of Defense Marshal Grechko and the Commander of the Navy were against the wearing of a beret and vest by paratroopers, believing that only “naval” personnel had this right.

It is known that... Behind his back, in the corridors of the Ministry of Defense, Margelov was called respectfully - “our Chapaev” (who was also called Vasily). The beret was allowed, but crimson (the color of the airborne troops European countries), and Margelov “won” the vest for the air infantry, in a dispute because he commanded the marines in 1941...

It is known that... the first parade of paratroopers in the new “Margelov” uniform (in crimson berets) took place in 1967 on Aviation Day in the area of Domodedovo airport. When Margelov saw the crimson berets for the second time at the Ryazan Airborne School at a parade review, he left the parade telling the head of the school not to “show him fly agarics again.”

It is known that... only 2 years later the Airborne Guardsmen received official permission from the USSR Ministry of Defense to wear blue berets and vests, which Soviet citizens saw during the 1969 military parade on Red Square (but in 1968 the Airborne Forces were allowed a new uniform in which the paratroopers were already dressed before entering the territory of Czechoslovakia).

It is known that... crimson berets appeared in Russia 10 years ago in special forces.

It is known that... American propaganda of the 70s of the Pentagon and NATO on posters about the “Red Threat” replaced a Red Army soldier from the USSR with a Budenovka and a star with a paratrooper in a vest and a blue beret.

The story of how a Soviet tank fell on the head of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee or why Leonid Brezhnev fell in love with Margelov:
It is known that... Leonid Brezhnev loved to attend and observe military exercises.

Once upon a time... in the fall of 1967, the Dnepr exercise was held in Ukraine, during which one of the tanks dropped from an airplane flew to the tower where it stood Secretary General CPSU Central Committee, Minister of Defense and Margelov. Everyone who saw this picture ran away, but Margelov was calm. Seeing the calmness of the Airborne Forces Commander, Brezhnev thought that this was the plan during the exercise, although in reality an emergency had occurred.

It is known that... while conducting a “debriefing” during an exercise in the Commander’s office, General Pavlenko (Margelov’s first deputy) said: “You are not an air group, but an air asshole,” which became “ catchphrase"in the troops.

The story of how US President Ronald Reagan frightened the Pentagon with Margelov:
One day... US President R. Reagan said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if on the second day of the war I see guys in blue berets on the threshold of the White House”...

It is known that... the “Red Menace” from Hollywood was given to the Americans - nuclear weapons USSR and paratroopers.

It is known that... Margelov was no longer the Commander of the Airborne Forces, but in American cinema a new hero appeared, Rambo (Sylvester Stallone), who in Vietnam and Afghanistan fights with brutal paratroopers in blue berets, and the film “Invasion of the USA” shows how in a week The US is captured by the Airborne Forces from Russia.

One day... General of the US Armed Forces Hake expressed his wish: “If they gave me a company of Russian paratroopers, I would bring the whole world to its knees.”
It is known that... American intelligence For many years, it conducted round-the-clock surveillance of the movements of only one Commander of the troops - Margelov. Since his troops were “first echelon” troops - those who are the first to go into battle anywhere in the world (this was the theme doctoral dissertation Margelov at the General Staff Academy, but the Minister of Defense forbade the Commander to develop such a topic).

The story of how Margelov lived in the Moscow region for 30 years or why Margelov’s sons lost their father-general’s dacha:
One day... Margelov decided that land should be brought from Ryazan to the dacha.

It is known that... Dad everything free time spent at the dacha, (for decades) he worked in the garden and vegetable garden (Vnukovo district). He invited those people whom he trusted to the dacha.

It is known that... Twice in his life he gathered all his sons together. These meetings took place at the dacha.

It is known that ... in the spring of 1990, there was a “quick privatization” of Margelov’s dacha by the rear service of the Ministry of Defense (after the death of Uncle Vasya). At this moment, Margelov’s widow was seriously ill, and her sons believed that no one would take away the dacha.

The story of why Margelov did not become a pilot or the first party reprimand “for foul-mouthed ditties”:
One day... after completing the Red Commanders course in Minsk, Margelov went to study at flight school in Orenburg (before being drafted into the army, he wanted to be a tank driver).

It is known that... military pilot Margelov mastered flying the U-2.

It is known that... while cleaning weapons, Margelov sang ditties “for the pilots.”