The famous military commander Alexander Vasilevsky never imagined a military career in his childhood. He wanted to become an agronomist or devote himself to land surveying, but his dreams were not destined to come true — war altered the course of his life. Together with his classmates, Alexander completed seminary school externally in his final year and then entered a military academy.
Childhood and Youth
Vasilevsky’s native village, Novaya Golchikha, was located in the Kostroma Governorate; since 1925 it has been the town of Vichuga in Ivanovo Region.
On September 30, 1895 (Old Style: September 16), the fourth of eight children was born to church cleric Mikhail Alexandrovich and the psalmist’s daughter Nadezhda Ivanovna. They named him Alexander.
He received his primary education at the parish school and later studied at the Kineshma Theological School. After graduating, he entered the Kostroma Theological Seminary. His future, however, was decided by World War I. After an accelerated course at the Alexeev Military School, he graduated in 1915 with the rank of praporshchik (ensign). He was sent to the front in this rank and was entrusted with commanding a company of the 103rd Infantry Division of the 9th Army.
In 1916, the brave young officer received his first decoration — the Order of St. Anna. More awards soon followed.
When the October Revolution began, Alexander Mikhailovich was in Romania. He returned home intending to leave military service. However, in December 1917, soldiers of the 409th Regiment of the Romanian Front elected him their commander.
As the Central Rada proclaimed Ukrainian independence, local authorities in Kineshma advised him not to return to the regiment. In 1918, Vasilevsky worked in agriculture with his parents, then became an instructor in the Kostroma region, and later taught primary school near Tula. From there, in 1919, he was drafted into the Red Army, serving as commander of a food requisition detachment.
By the end of 1920, he was entrusted with commanding a separate battalion of the 48th Rifle Division on the Western Front. After the Civil War, he served in the 48th Tver Rifle Division and headed the divisional school for junior commanders.
He completed advanced infantry and tactical courses for command staff and successfully finished them in 1927. The experienced combat officer was then transferred to staff work.
After graduating from the General Staff Academy in 1937, he served in various positions and participated in drafting strategic plans in case of war with Germany. In November 1940, he joined the Soviet delegation led by Vyacheslav Molotov for negotiations with Germany in Berlin.
The Great Patriotic War
Vasilevsky entered World War II with the rank of major general.
In autumn 1941, he played a key role in organizing the defense of Moscow. He led an operational group of ten officers servicing the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command. Their responsibilities included:
• assessing front-line developments and promptly informing the Headquarters;
• developing tactical measures and reporting them to the Supreme Command;
• rapidly drafting operational plans;
• monitoring combat readiness and implementation of orders;
• preparing military and personnel reserves;
• overseeing logistics and supplies.
The group’s work earned Stalin’s highest praise, and Vasilevsky was nominated for promotion along with other senior commanders.
In 1942, Vasilevsky was sent as Stavka representative to the North-Western Front. In April of the same year, he replaced the ill Chief of the General Staff Boris Shaposhnikov. With the new post came a new rank — colonel general. In October, he became Deputy People’s Commissar of Defense.
During the Battle of Stalingrad, the talented commander took direct part in planning and preparing the Soviet counteroffensive, making an enormous contribution to Soviet military art. After the German forces were encircled and defeated, he was transferred to the Southwest.
His successful leadership on all fronts led to rapid promotions.
Almost one month after becoming an Army General, Vasilevsky was awarded the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union on February 16, 1943.
The Marshal coordinated offensives in Crimea, Belarus, and the Baltic states, assisted front commanders in East Prussia, and his exceptional abilities were also crucial during the war against Japan.
The Party and the government highly valued his achievements. His many decorations and medals testify to his exemplary service.
After Germany’s defeat and the end of the war, Marshal Vasilevsky headed the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces until November 1948, while also serving as Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces. In 1949, he became Minister of the Armed Forces. He was repeatedly elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet and for many years was a member of the CPSU Central Committee.
His active service ended in 1957, when he was retired for health reasons, though he retained the right to wear military uniform.
In later years, he remained active in organizations of veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
Family Life
His first wife was Serafima Nikolaevna Voronova (born 1904). Their son Yuri, born in 1925, became a lieutenant general of aviation. The marriage ended in divorce in 1934. He later married Ekaterina Saburova, with whom he had a son, Igor (born 1935), a distinguished architect of Russia.
In 1948, Yuri Alexandrovich married Era Georgievna, daughter of Marshal Zhukov — despite Stalin’s disapproval of close personal or family ties between the highest-ranking military commanders.
Death
Alexander Vasilevsky passed away on December 5, 1977.
His ashes are interred in the Kremlin Wall.
