21 Facts About Fyodor Tolbukhin

Fyodor Ivanovich Tolbukhin was a Soviet military commander and Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Fyodor Tolbukhin is regarded as one of the finest Soviet generals of World War II.

Fyodor Tolbukhin joined the Red Army in 1918 and fought in the Russian Civil War.

Fyodor Tolbukhin rose further through the ranks following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and was involved in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Fyodor Tolbukhin then contributed to the Soviet drive into the Balkans and forced Romania's defection to the Allies, for which he was named a Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Fyodor Tolbukhin commanded the Vienna offensive in May 1945 and helped set up the new Austrian government under Karl Renner.

Fyodor Tolbukhin held the post until his death in October 1949 from diabetes.

Fyodor Tolbukhin was born into a peasant family in the province of Yaroslavl, north-east of Moscow.

Fyodor Tolbukhin volunteered for the Imperial Army in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I Fyodor Tolbukhin was steadily promoted, advancing from private to captain by 1916.

Fyodor Tolbukhin attended the Frunze Military Academy for advanced staff training, graduating in 1931.

In 1937, after a series of staff positions, Fyodor Tolbukhin was given command of a division.

Fyodor Tolbukhin remained in this position through the opening phases of Operation Barbarossa until August 1941, when he was made the chief of staff of the Crimean Front, which he held until March 1942.

In May 1944, Fyodor Tolbukhin was transferred to control of 3rd Ukrainian Front.

On September 12,1944, two days after Malinovsky was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union, Fyodor Tolbukhin was promoted to the same rank.

In late April 1945, at the end of the Battle of Vienna, Fyodor Tolbukhin acted on Stalin's order to entrust Karl Renner with foundation of a new provisional Austrian government in order to prepare democratic elections.

Fyodor Tolbukhin gave the go-ahead at the location, for this important step towards an independent Austria in the formation of the Second Republic.

In January 1947, Fyodor Tolbukhin was made the commander of the Transcaucasus Military District, a post he held until his death on October 17,1949, due to complication from diabetes.

Fyodor Tolbukhin is generally regarded as one of the finest Soviet generals of World War II.

Meticulous, careful, and not overly ambitious like some Soviet commanders, Fyodor Tolbukhin was well respected by fellow commanders and his men, especially since he had a dedication to keeping casualty rates low.

Fyodor Tolbukhin was the recipient of numerous awards and medals including the highest Soviet medal and rank, the Order of Victory and Hero of the Soviet Union, respectively.

Fyodor Tolbukhin was People's Hero of Yugoslavia, whose capital Belgrade he liberated.