Biography of Georgi Zhukov,


General Georgi Zhukov was one of the few generals to survive Stalin's 1937-39 Purge of the Red Army. He was probably the most talented military leader in the Soviet Union and was certainly the most successful.

Zhukov's first victory was the Battle of Khalkan-Gol, fought in July and August, 1939, near Nomonhan, Mongolia, as part of the undeclared war with Japan. This battle, little noticed in the West, ended Japanese Army attempts to invade Soviet Asia and led Japanese militarists to look elsewhere for ways to expand their Empire. Thus, it led indirectly to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Zhukov's next success was the defense of Leningrad, during the first autumn of the German invasion of the USSR, in 1941. Moved to a higher command, he lead the Western Front-Army in the defense of Moscow, holding back the Germans once again. In 1942, Zhukov directed the defense of Stalingrad and the succeeding counteroffensive which trapped and destroyed the German 6th Army, in 1943.

Having been essential in the three great defensive battles which saved the Soviet Union, Zhukov was appointed a Marshal of the Soviet Union and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Army. As such, he went on to plan or command most of the victories which pushed the German Armies back to Berlin. He was Soviet Representative at the official German surrender on 8 MAY 45 and led the Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany.