15 Facts About Sergey Biryuzov

Sergey Semyonovich Biryuzov was a Marshal of the Soviet Union and Chief of the General Staff.

Sergey Biryuzov joined the Red Army in September 1922, studying at the 48th Rostov Infantry and Machine Gun and the 10th Vladikavkaz Courses in the North Caucasus Military District before transferring to the VTsIK Combined Military School in Moscow in October 1923.

Sergey Biryuzov was acting division commander until February 1938 and in April of that year became chief of the operations department Kharkov Military District staff.

Sergey Biryuzov held this position until August 1939, when he became the commanding officer of the 132nd Rifle Division.

Sergey Biryuzov's division was a part of Southwestern and Bryansk Fronts.

Sergey Biryuzov was a fine division commander, often leading his division personally into battle.

Sergey Biryuzov commanded this unit until November 1942, when he was made the Chief of Staff of the 2nd Guards Army.

Sergey Biryuzov was in this position until April 1943, helping to lead this unit during Operation Saturn, when 2nd Guards Army helped crush the German 6th Army after the Germans had been surrounded during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Sergey Biryuzov remained the Chief of Staff until May 1944 when he was transferred to 3rd Ukrainian Front, along with Tolbukhin.

In October 1944, Sergey Biryuzov was transferred to command the 37th Army, which was a part of 3rd Ukrainian Front.

Sergey Biryuzov held this position through the end of the war, until May 1945.

Two months later, Sergey Biryuzov was sent west to become commander-in-chief of the Central Group of Forces.

Sergey Biryuzov assumed a series of senior positions in the Soviet Air Defense Forces beginning in May 1954 when he became first deputy commander-in-chief of the forces.

On March 11,1955, Sergey Biryuzov was given the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union.

Between April 1955 and April 1962, Sergey Biryuzov was the Commander in Chief of the Soviet Air Defense Forces.