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Sergei Sokolov | |
|---|---|
Сергей Соколов | |
 Sokolov in 1984 | |
| Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union | |
| In office 22 December 1984 – 29 May 1987 | |
| Premier | Nikolai Tikhonov Nikolai Ryzhkov |
| Preceded by | Dmitriy Ustinov |
| Succeeded by | Dmitry Yazov |
| Candidate member of the27thPolitburo | |
| In office 6 March 1986 – 26 June 1987 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1911-07-01)1 July 1911 Yevpatoria,Russian Empire |
| Died | 31 August 2012(2012-08-31) (aged 101) Moscow,Russia |
| Resting place | Novodevichy Cemetery |
| Nationality | Soviet,Russian |
| Other political affiliations | Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1937–1987) |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Honour |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Branch/service | Soviet Army |
| Years of service | 1932–1987 |
| Rank |  Marshal of the Soviet Union (1978–1987) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Lake Khasan World War II Soviet–Afghan War |
Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov (Russian:Серге́й Леони́дович Соколо́в; 1 July 1911 – 31 August 2012) was a Soviet military commander,Hero of the Soviet Union, and served asMinister of Defence of the Soviet Union from 22 December 1984 until 29 May 1987.
The son of anImperial Russian army officer,[1] Sokolov's early years were marked by the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. Following his family's relocation to Kotelnich in the Vyatka province, he began his career in the regional consumer union before transitioning to Komsomol work. In 1932, Sokolov joined theRed Army, embarking on a distinguished military career. Graduating from the Gorky Armored School, he served in the Far East, commanding various units with distinction. Notably, he served in theBattle of Lake Khasan during theSoviet-Japanese Border Wars. He also fought againstNazi Germany duringWorld War II.
He was Commander of theLeningrad Military District from 1965 to 1967 and First Deputy Defense Minister from 1967 to 1984.
Sokolov was promoted toMarshal of the Soviet Union in 1978. He was in charge of Soviet ground forces during theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan. He personally led the main Soviet incursion of ground forces on 27 December 1979. His actions and command strategies during the war made him one of the Soviet Union's most respected Marshals. On 28 April 1980 he was awarded the titleHero of the Soviet Union.
Sokolov was appointedMinister of Defense of the Soviet Union in 1984 and held this post until 1987, when he was dismissed byMikhail Gorbachev as a result of theMathias Rust affair. He was also a candidate (non-voting) member of thePolitburo from 1985 to 1987.
From June 1987 to July 1989, he was a member of theGroup of Inspectors General. For some time he was an adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of theUnited Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States/ From 1992, Sokolov was an advisor to theMinister of Defense of the Russian Federation. In July 2001, he became anhonorary citizen ofCrimea,Ukraine. From 2002 to 2012, he headed the Club of Military Veterans at the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans. On turning 100 he stated, "Military service prestige will regain the importance it once had."[2]
Sokolov died of undisclosed causes on 31 August 2012, at the age of 101. He was buried on 3 September with full military honors at theNovodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, next to his wife of 70 years, Maria Samojlovna Sokolova (16 December 1919 – 28 August 2012) who had predeceased him three days prior.[3]
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He was survived by two sons, Colonel-General Valery Sergeyevich (born 30 September 1940), now a lecturer at the Faculty of Command and General Staff Military Academy, and Colonel-General Vladimir Sergeyevich (born 22 January 1947), who had retired during the war in Afghanistan and was chief of staff of the40th Army.
From the corresponding article in the Russian Wikipedia
In July 2001, on the day of his 90th birthday, was awarded the title "Honorary krymchanin" and made an honorary citizen ofEvpatoria.
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commander ofLeningrad Military District 1965–1967 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| New office | First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union 1967–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Defence of the Soviet Union 1984–1987 | Succeeded by |
| People's Commissars for Military and Naval Affairs (1917–1934) |
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| People's Commissars for Defence (1934–1946) |
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| People's Commissars for the Navy (1937–1946) |
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| People's Commissar for the Armed Forces (1946) | ||
| Ministers of the Armed Forces (1946–1950) |
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| Minister of War (1950–1953) | ||
| Ministers of the Navy (1950–1953) |
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| Ministers of Defence (1953–1992) |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
