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Matvey ZaharovTwice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of the Soviet Union
Date of Birth: 15.08.1898
Country:  Russia |
Content:
Biography of Matvey Zakharov
Matvey Vasilyevich Zakharov was born on August 15, 1898, in the village of Voidovo, Staritsky District, Tver Region. He served in the military from 1918. He graduated from the 2nd Petrograd Artillery Courses and the Staff Culture School in 1919. In 1924, he completed the Kharkov Courses for Command Personnel and later attended two faculties of the M.V. Frunze Military Academy (supply faculty in 1928 and operational faculty in 1933). In 1937, he graduated from the General Staff Military Academy.
Military Career
In April 1917, Zakharov joined the Red Guard and participated in the battles near Pulkovo during the suppression of the Kerensky-Krasnov uprising. During the Civil War, he commanded a battery and an artillery division, and later became the chief of artillery supply for a rifle division. He also served as an assistant chief of staff for a brigade engaged in combat against the Denikin forces on the Southeastern and Caucasian fronts. After the Civil War, he served in the division staff and held various positions, including assistant chief, chief of the organizational-mobilization department of the supply management, and chief of the operational department of the Military District staff. From 1936, he commanded a rifle regiment. In July 1937, he became the chief of staff of the Leningrad Military District, and from May 1938, he served as an assistant chief of the General Staff. From July 1940, he was the chief of staff of the 12th Army and later the Odessa Military District.
During the Great Patriotic War, Zakharov led the staff of the 9th Army, which was formed from the forces of the Odessa Military District. From July 1941, he served as the chief of staff of the North-Western Direction Headquarters. From August to December 1941, he was the deputy chief of the Main Rear Administration of the Red Army. From January 1942, he became the chief of staff of the Kalinin Front. He later led the staffs of the Reserve (April 1943), Steppe (July-October 1943), 2nd Ukrainian (October 1943-June 1945), and Transbaikal (July-October 1945) Fronts. The staffs he commanded during the war successfully developed plans for more than 20 major offensive operations.
Contributions and Honors
Matvey Zakharov personally contributed to the planning, preparation, and implementation of numerous successful offensives, including the Belgorod-Kharkov, Kirovograd, Korsun-Shevchenkovsky, Uman-Botoshani, Jassy-Kishinev, Debrecen, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Hingan-Mukden operations. For his exemplary leadership in combatting the German-fascist invaders and Japanese militarists, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war, Zakharov served as the chief of the General Staff Academy (1945-1949 and 1963-1964). From January 1949, he was the deputy chief of the General Staff, and from June 1952, he served as an inspector of the Soviet Army. From May 1953, he was appointed the commander of the Leningrad Military District, and from November 1957, he became the Supreme Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. From April 1960 to March 1963 and from November 1964 to September 1971, he was the chief of the General Staff and the 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. For his courage and valor in the defense of the Soviet state and his contributions to the construction and strengthening of the Soviet Armed Forces, he was awarded the second Gold Star medal. From 1971, he served in the General Inspection Group of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR.
Zakharov was also an author of several works on military theory, history, and the education and training of army and navy personnel. He was a professor and under his leadership, historical and theoretical works such as "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1968), "Final" (1969), and "Liberation of Southeastern and Central Europe by the forces of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts (1944-1945)" (1970) were created. He was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from the 4th to 8th convocations. He was awarded five Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, four Orders of the Red Banner, two Orders of Suvorov 1st Class, two Orders of Kutuzov 1st Class, the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky 1st Class, the Order of the Red Star, and several medals, as well as foreign orders. He was also awarded the Honorary Weapon. He was buried in Moscow.
