Vasily Chuikov (12 Feb. 1900 - 18 Mar. 1982)
Chuikov served in command during the Soviet invasion of Poland and the Russo-Finish War in 1939 and 1940 respectively. Following this he served as a military advisor to the Chinese government of Chiang Kai-shek.
In May 1942 he returned to the Soviet Union, and was made commander of the 64th and then 62nd armies. It was in this role that he led the Soviet defence of Stalingrad. Here, Chuikov developed the “hugging” strategy, in which Soviet troops would keep the distance between themselves and their German counterparts as minimum as possible to reduce their enemies’ firepower. He was also proficient at using his environment to his advantage.
Following Soviet victory at Stalingrad, Chuikov commanded the group through Poland and ultimately to Berlin. His Poland advance was famed for its speed, and Chuikov was also the first Allied officer to learn of Hitler’s death.
For more information on Vasily Chuikov:
Cooke, Tim et. al. History of World War II, Global War (Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish), 2005 (p.410).
Erickson, John, ed. Main Front: Soviet Leaders Look Back on World War II (Michigan: Brassey’s Defence Publishers), 1987.
“Vasily Chuikov”, on http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=328 [last accessed 27/03/2012].
In May 1942 he returned to the Soviet Union, and was made commander of the 64th and then 62nd armies. It was in this role that he led the Soviet defence of Stalingrad. Here, Chuikov developed the “hugging” strategy, in which Soviet troops would keep the distance between themselves and their German counterparts as minimum as possible to reduce their enemies’ firepower. He was also proficient at using his environment to his advantage.
Following Soviet victory at Stalingrad, Chuikov commanded the group through Poland and ultimately to Berlin. His Poland advance was famed for its speed, and Chuikov was also the first Allied officer to learn of Hitler’s death.
For more information on Vasily Chuikov:
Cooke, Tim et. al. History of World War II, Global War (Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish), 2005 (p.410).
Erickson, John, ed. Main Front: Soviet Leaders Look Back on World War II (Michigan: Brassey’s Defence Publishers), 1987.
“Vasily Chuikov”, on http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=328 [last accessed 27/03/2012].