Vasily Margelov - biography, information, personal life. "Uncle Vasya's Troops"

MOSCOW, December 27 - RIA Novosti, Nikolai Protopopov. He fought in the Great Patriotic War, commanded the Airborne Forces for a quarter of a century, received many state awards and, no less important, the kind nickname Uncle Vasya among his charges - December 27 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Soviet military leader, founder of the modern Airborne Forces Vasily Margelov. Read about how he went down in history in the RIA Novosti article.

Soldier's Road

Margelov was called up to serve in the Red Army in September 1928 and was immediately sent to study at the United Belarusian military school in Minsk. Having graduated with honors in 1931, Vasily received command of a machine gun platoon in Mogilev. By the end of 1938, he was already a battalion commander and headed divisional intelligence.

During the Soviet-Finnish War, Margelov distinguished himself by capturing officers of the Swedish General Staff (officially, Sweden did not participate in the war, but there were many volunteers). He met the Great Patriotic War as the commander of a rifle regiment. From chief of staff and deputy division commander by 1944, Margelov rose to division commander of the Ukrainian Front. With his 49th division he crossed the Dnieper and liberated Kherson, for which he was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union. His fighters liberated Romania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Austria.

New landing

The first combat parachute units appeared in the Red Army in the mid-1930s, even before Margelov. The fact that the paratroopers call him the founder of the Airborne Forces, first of all, speaks of their endless respect for the services of “Uncle Vasya” to this independent branch of the military.

He was offered to try himself in a new role in 1948. After graduating from the General Staff Academy, Margelov was given command of the 76th Guards Airborne Division in Pskov. The difficulty was that during the war the division fought as a rifle division and only had to “attach its wings.” And from this moment it begins new stage in the history of the Airborne Forces.

Margelov, despite his high position and military merits, along with his subordinates, mastered the skill of a paratrooper, learned from experienced soldiers the details of his new profession and the nuances of special training. I made my first parachute jump in my life and learned how to stow it. Later, in an interview, he admitted that until the age of forty he had a vague idea of what a parachute was. During his service, Margelov jumped with a parachute more than 60 times, the last time at the age of 65.

In 1954, he was appointed commander of the Airborne Forces. At that time, in the military strategy of the USSR, in the event of a large-scale war, paratroopers were assigned the role of supporting high rates of offensive with the massive use of nuclear missile weapons. Therefore, the Airborne Forces required appropriate aviation and armored equipment.

“To fulfill our role in modern operations, it is necessary that our formations and units be highly maneuverable, covered with armor, have sufficient fire efficiency, be well controlled, capable of landing at any time of the day and quickly proceed to active combat operations after landing. That’s, by and large account, the ideal to which we must strive,” - this is how Margelov defined the tasks of the Airborne Forces. The Airborne Forces demonstrated their capabilities and ability to operate with lightning speed and efficiency already in 1956 during the Hungarian uprising.

The commander worked closely with the military-industrial complex. Most of the developments were created with his direct participation, and he personally tested some types of weapons. Thanks to the efforts of Margelov, the Airborne Forces received the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle, revolutionary at that time, the BTR-D armored personnel carrier, amphibious armored vehicles, and modern An-8 and An-12 transport aircraft. And later - the “workhorses” An-22 and Il-76. The latest small arms, portable anti-aircraft systems, grenade launchers, communications systems and engineering equipment were sent to the troops. The paratroopers were equipped with more reliable parachutes. And in connection with the adoption of armored vehicles for the Airborne Forces, multi-dome and parachute-jet landing systems were developed.

It was under the leadership of Vasily Filippovich that the Airborne Forces learned to land equipment with a crew inside. Moreover, during the tests, the general’s son Alexander, who also connected his life with the airborne troops, was part of the BMD crew. He graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne Forces as an external student. command school And Military Academy armored forces. In the winter of 1973, Alexander parachuted from an An-12 aircraft inside a BMD-1 combat vehicle. No one in the world has ever done this before. The release was personally supervised by the father, Vasily Margelov. Colleagues later recalled that “Uncle Vasya” smoked continuously throughout the entire operation and kept a loaded pistol ready to shoot himself if something happened to his son. Margelov took this step in order to convince the USSR Minister of Defense, Marshal Andrei Grechko, of the safety of landing equipment with people on board.

In January 1976, Margelov’s son set another record: a BMD-1 with its crew thrown out of a plane made a soft landing for the first time in history using the Reaktavr parachute-rocket system. Major Margelov Jr. was in the car with Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Shcherbakov. The BMD was parachuted at great risk to life, without personal means of rescue. Twenty years later, both crew members were awarded the title of Hero of Russia for their feat.

Airborne for life

Vasily Margelov commanded the Airborne Forces until 1979. Over the years of his leadership, the Airborne Forces have become a truly independent branch of the military and one of the most combat-ready military formations in the world. The Airborne Forces participated in all wars and local conflicts of the USSR and Russia.

The story of how Margelov jumped with a parachute for the first time or the general’s receipt for 6 jumps:
It is known that... in 1948, during his first jump, he was 40 years old (for the Airborne Forces this is “pre-retirement” age; doctors sometimes do not recommend jumping if there is no appropriate physical training). The height was 400 meters (today this is the height for extreme sports enthusiasts), we jumped from a balloon basket.

It is known that... before he began to command the paratroopers, General Margelov made a bet on 6 jumps with General Denisenko in the reception room of the Airborne Forces Commander. On the third jump, the new airborne division commander, General Denisenko, died tragically. Margelov did not stop - he only broke his legs twice during the first jumps (during the war, his most severe shrapnel wounds were in his legs). Perhaps (my version) from that time on, a recruit of the Airborne Forces had to make 6 jumps before taking the oath (which is what we did).

It is known that... for all the jumps, Margelov took weapons with him (including the first one) - a Mauser and grenades, saying: “Already in the sky, a soldier must join the battle!” In the presence of Margelov, everyone jumped with weapons, otherwise they could get hit in the neck, but after Margelov retired, they only jumped with weapons during exercises.

The story of how the people's medal "Margelov" appeared or who has the right to present the "airborne non-governmental award":
It is known that... only in Belarus there is an official state medal “Margelov”, approved by the President of the Republic Alexander Lukashenko...

It is known that ... in Russia and the CIS the Margelov medal (it appeared on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Airborne Forces) is unofficially awarded by the “Supreme Council of the USSR” under the leadership of Sazha Umalatova (25 rubles per medal), and their medal was also established in the Moscow Cadet Corps named after . G. Zhukov (medal No. 1 - A.V. Margelov).

It is known that ... the Union of Airborne Veterans (created at the end of 2002) issues a statement addressed to the Commander of the Airborne Forces about the introduction in the troops (until the end of 2003) of an official airborne award named after Army General V.F. Margelov...

It is known that... in different parts of the CIS and Russia, where “Father” Margelov is remembered, boxing and wrestling, shooting, parachuting, and skiing competitions are held in honor of his name. Veterans of the Airborne Forces open teenage clubs “Margelovets”.

It is known that... five monuments to Margelov have been erected in the world (Moscow - Novodevichye Cemetery, Ryazan, Tula, Omsk and Dnepropetrovsk), busts have been erected in Pskov and Kosovo (there is information that in Ecuador, local special forces are fighting drug lords at the entrance to their headquarters they hung a portrait of Margelov. Since then, drug dealers believe that the General is their leader. Perhaps someone studied in Ryazan and met with Margelov). Skilled sculptors have mastered the production for Airborne Forces Day: a bust of Margelov and figurines of paratroopers with parachutes - “for an amateur.”

The story of how Margelov “boiled” cooks for charred porridge or the “Stalingrad Cauldron” in Margelov’s style:
It is known that... as soon as Margelov received the unit, he went to the kitchen to check the rear service. He believed that food was important to a soldier's fighting ability.

Once... having tasted burnt porridge before the battles near Stalingrad, Margelov shoved the cook into a cold cauldron of porridge, accusing him of aiding the Germans, who would see in battle not the weapons of the Red Army soldiers, but their lowered pants. In addition, after this incident, he ordered the officers to eat with the soldiers so that the commanders could see how their soldiers were eating.
It is known that... the Margelovsky regiment stood in tough defense, not allowing German tanks Guderian to release Field Marshal Paulus from the Stalingrad Cauldron. For the first time, Hitler threw a super-tank with new armor, the “Royal Tiger-4,” into a breakthrough. In 1945 German generals They remembered the Margelov regiment in December 1942 near Stalingrad and decided that it was better to surrender than to fight again with such a commander as Margelov.

It is known that... that the corps commander, Major General Chanchibidze, after the defeat German troops group "Goth" summoned Margelov and at the meeting, without conversation, hit the lieutenant colonel in the cheekbone. Resisting, Margelov also silently punched the general in the face. In response I heard: “Maladetz - you will be the division commander,” after which he began to accept Margelov’s report.

The story of how Margelov shot motorcycles or the “heady air of Europe”:
Once... in Romania, Margelov was hospitalized with a broken leg after reckless driving on a captured German motorcycle (good Bessarabian wine also played a role). And then he saw that half of his officers were (or were) lying with similar injuries. Standing on crutches, Margelov went out into the hospital yard and shot all the motorcycles that stood in the yard from his Mauser, and then ordered all owners of “trophy horses on wheels” to do the same.

It is known that... Margelov and the officers of his headquarters visited the Carpathians in 1944 at a real noble ball, where they almost married his guarantor to the princess’s daughter.

The story of how in 1953 Margelov met the Voroshilov amnesty or the Death of Stalin:
It is known that... On November 7, 1953, Margelov, alone before the arrival of the commandant’s office soldiers, pacifying the brawl (a train of amnestied penal prisoners stood at a dead end) at the Svobodny station, said to a drunken and angry crowd of former prisoners - “Who am I? Uncle Vasya (and he showed, turning back the collar of his overcoat, the Star of the Hero of the USSR), and my troops are behind me and if it doesn’t stop...” The former prisoners “capitulated” and received 15 days of arrest “for violating public order” at the guardhouse of the airborne regiment on behalf of Margelov, the commander of the Far Eastern Airborne Corps (from the author - what soldiers of other types of troops are most afraid of is falling into the hands of an airborne patrol and into the “lip” Airborne Forces)

It is known that... when tens of thousands of prisoners were released from Stalin’s camps. Margelov ordered all officers to carry weapons around the clock to protect themselves from unpunished “amnestied” bandits. He himself slept with a Mauser under his pillow and once almost shot in the dark his 7-year-old son Alexander, who accidentally walked into his father’s bedroom.
It is known that... in 1953, after the death of Stalin and the arrest of Beria, Margelov was offered the position of military commandant of Moscow or a job in the Foreign Ministry. He replied that he did not want to be a Moscow policeman, but in “civilian life” to ruin friendly relations with all the ambassadors, since “I’m not used to choosing words - I say what is.”

It is known that... Margelov met with Klim Voroshilov twice (the first time, as a cadet, he was awarded a personalized watch, the second time, he was pulled out wounded from the front line on the Leningrad Front). But he “did not accept” Voroshilov’s liberal amnesty in Stalin’s camps in the summer of 1953.

The story of how the vest appeared and took to the Airborne Forces or “Don’t show me fly agarics...”:
One day... in November 1941, near Leningrad, Major Margelov was assigned to create the first Special Ski Regiment of volunteer sailors who presented their commander with a black and white vest...

It is known that... Margelov’s son, Alexander, keeps his father’s blue and white vest, which Dad wore until his last day...

One day... Commander of the Airborne Forces Margelov began to reform his troops. Along with the introduction of new technology, it changed its form. Minister of Defense Marshal Grechko and the Commander of the Navy were against the wearing of a beret and vest by paratroopers, believing that only “naval” personnel had this right.

It is known that... Behind his back, in the corridors of the Ministry of Defense, Margelov was called respectfully - “our Chapaev” (who was also called Vasily). The beret was allowed, but in crimson color (the color of the landing troops of European countries), and Margelov “won” the vest for the air infantry, in a dispute because he commanded the marines in 1941...

It is known that... the first parade of paratroopers in the new “Margelov” uniform (in crimson berets) took place in 1967 on Aviation Day in the area of Domodedovo airport. When Margelov saw the crimson berets for the second time at the Ryazan Airborne School at a parade review, he left the parade telling the head of the school not to “show him fly agarics again.”

It is known that... only 2 years later the Airborne Guardsmen received official permission from the USSR Ministry of Defense to wear blue berets and vests, which they saw Soviet citizens during the 1969 military parade on Red Square (but in 1968, a new uniform was allowed in the Airborne Forces, in which the paratroopers were already dressed before entering the territory of Czechoslovakia).

It is known that... crimson berets appeared in Russia 10 years ago in special forces.

It is known that... American propaganda of the 70s of the Pentagon and NATO on posters about the “Red Threat” replaced a Red Army soldier from the USSR with a Budenovka and a star with a paratrooper in a vest and a blue beret.

The story of how soviet tank fell on the head of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee or why Leonid Brezhnev fell in love with Margelov:
It is known that... Leonid Brezhnev loved to attend and observe military exercises.

Once upon a time... in the fall of 1967, the Dnepr exercise was held in Ukraine, in which one of the tanks dropped from an airplane flew onto the tower where the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, the Minister of Defense and Margelov stood. Everyone who saw this picture ran away, but Margelov was calm. Seeing the calmness of the Airborne Forces Commander, Brezhnev thought that this was the plan during the exercise, although in reality an emergency had occurred.

It is known that... while conducting a “debriefing” during an exercise in the Commander’s office, General Pavlenko (Margelov’s first deputy) said: “You are not an air group, but an air asshole,” which became “ catchphrase"in the troops.

The story of how US President Ronald Reagan frightened the Pentagon with Margelov:
One day... US President R. Reagan said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if on the second day of the war I see guys in blue berets on the threshold of the White House”...

It is known that... the “red threat” from Hollywood was given to the Americans - USSR nuclear weapons and paratroopers.

It is known that... Margelov was no longer the Commander of the Airborne Forces, but in American cinema a new hero appeared, Rambo (Sylvester Stallone), who in Vietnam and Afghanistan fights with brutal paratroopers in blue berets, and the film “Invasion of the USA” shows how in a week The US is captured by the Airborne Forces from Russia.

One day... General of the US Armed Forces Hake expressed his wish: “If they gave me a company of Russian paratroopers, I would bring the whole world to its knees.”
It is known that... American intelligence for many years conducted round-the-clock surveillance of the movements of only one Commander of the troops - Margelov. Since his troops were the “first echelon” troops - those who are the first to enter battle anywhere in the world (this was the topic of Margelov’s doctoral dissertation at the General Staff Academy, but the Minister of Defense forbade the Commander to develop such a topic).

The story of how Margelov lived in the Moscow region for 30 years or why Margelov’s sons lost their father-general’s dacha:
One day... Margelov decided that land should be brought from Ryazan to the dacha.

It is known that... Dad everything free time spent at the dacha, (for decades) he worked in the garden and vegetable garden (Vnukovo district). He invited those people whom he trusted to the dacha.

It is known that... Twice in his life he gathered all his sons together. These meetings took place at the dacha.

It is known that ... in the spring of 1990, there was a “quick privatization” of Margelov’s dacha by the rear service of the Ministry of Defense (after the death of Uncle Vasya). At this moment, Margelov’s widow was seriously ill, and her sons believed that no one would take away the dacha.

The story of why Margelov did not become a pilot or the first party reprimand “for foul-mouthed ditties”:
One day... after completing the Red Commanders course in Minsk, Margelov went to study at flight school in Orenburg (before being drafted into the army, he wanted to be a tank driver).

It is known that... military pilot Margelov mastered flying the U-2.

It is known that... while cleaning weapons, Margelov sang ditties “for the pilots.”

Heroes of the Great Patriotic War

Margelov Vasily Filippovich

Vasily Filippovich Markelov was born on December 27, 1908 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine), into a family of immigrants from Belarus. Father - Philip Ivanovich Markelov, metallurgist.

Vasily Filippovich’s surname “Markelov” was subsequently written down as “Margelov” due to an error in the party card.

In 1913, the Margelov family returned to the homeland of Philip Ivanovich - to the town of Kostyukovichi, Klimovichi district (Mogilev province). V.F. Margelov’s mother, Agafya Stepanovna, was from the neighboring Bobruisk district. According to some information, V.F. Margelov graduated from a parochial school in 1921. As a teenager he worked as a loader and carpenter. In the same year he entered the leather workshop as an apprentice and soon became an assistant master. In 1923, he became a laborer at the local Khleboproduct. There is information that he graduated from a rural youth school and worked as a forwarder delivering mail on the Kostyukovichi-Khotimsk line.

Since 1924, he worked in Yekaterinoslav at the mine named after. M.I. Kalinin as a laborer, then a horse driver, a driver of horses pulling trolleys.

In 1925, Margelov was sent again to the BSSR, as a forester at a timber industry enterprise. He worked in Kostyukovichi, in 1927 he became chairman of the working committee of the timber industry enterprise and was elected to the local Council.

In 1928, Margelov was drafted into the Red Army. Sent to study at the United Belarusian Military School (UBVSH) named after. Central Election Commission of the BSSR in Minsk, enrolled in a group of snipers. From the 2nd year - foreman of a machine gun company.

In April 1931, he graduated with honors from the Order of the Red Banner of Labor from the United Belarusian Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR, appointed commander of a machine gun platoon of the regimental school of the 99th Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Territorial Rifle Division in the city of Mogilev, Belarus. Since 1933, he was a platoon commander in the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the General Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR (from 11/6/1933 - named after M.I. Kalinin, from 1937 - Order of the Red Banner of Labor Minsk Military Infantry School named after M.I. Kalinin). In February 1934, Margelov was appointed assistant company commander, and in May 1936, commander of a machine gun company.

From October 25, 1938, he commanded the 2nd battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division. Dzerzhinsky Belarusian Special Military District. He headed the reconnaissance of the 8th Infantry Division, being the head of the 2nd department of the division headquarters. In this position he participated in the Polish campaign of the Red Army in 1939.

Vasily Filippovich Margelov with paratroopers

During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940), Margelov commanded the Separate Reconnaissance Ski Battalion of the 596th Infantry Regiment of the 122nd Division. During one of the operations he captured officers of the Swedish General Staff.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in July 1941, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 1st Guards Division people's militia Leningrad Front. Later - commander of the 13th Guards Rifle Regiment, chief of staff and deputy commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Division. After division commander P.G. Chanchibadze was wounded, command passed to Chief of Staff Vasily Margelov for the duration of his treatment. Under the leadership of Margelov, on July 17, 1943, soldiers of the 3rd Guards Division broke through 2 lines of Nazi defense on the Mius Front, captured the village of Stepanovka and provided a springboard for the assault on Saur-Mogila.

Since 1944, Margelov commanded the 49th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. He led the division's actions during the crossing of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kherson, for which in March 1944 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Under his command, the 49th Guards Rifle Division took part in the liberation of the peoples of South-Eastern Europe.

At the Victory Parade in Moscow, Guard Major General Margelov commanded the combined regiment of the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

In the Airborne Forces

After the war he held command positions.

Since 1948, after graduating from the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, from the Higher Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov, he was the commander of the 76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division.

In 1950-1954 - commander of the 37th Guards Airborne Svirsky Red Banner Corps in the Far East.

From 1954 to 1959 - Airborne Forces Commander. In 1959-1961, he was appointed (demotion) first deputy commander of the Airborne Forces. From 1961 to January 1979 he served as commander of the Airborne Forces.

On October 28, 1967 he was awarded military rank"General of the Army" He led the actions of the Airborne Forces during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia (Operation Danube).

Since January 1979, he was on the group of inspectors general of the USSR Ministry of Defense. He went on business trips to the Airborne Forces and was the chairman of the State Examination Commission at the Ryazan Airborne School.

During his service in the Airborne Forces he made more than 60 jumps. The last of them was at the age of 65.

Lived and worked in Moscow. Died March 4, 1990. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Vasily Filippovich Margelov

Contribution to the formation and development of the Airborne Forces

In the history of the Airborne Forces, and in the Armed Forces of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, his name will remain forever. He personified an entire era in the development and formation of the Airborne Forces; their authority and popularity are associated with his name not only in our country, but also abroad, recalls General Pavel Fedoseevich Pavlenko about Vasily Filippovich.

Under Margelov's leadership for more than twenty years, the airborne troops became one of the most mobile in the combat structure Armed Forces and prestigious in terms of service in them. “Photograph of Vasily Filippovich in demobilization albums went to the soldiers at the highest price - for a set of badges. The competition for the Ryazan Airborne School exceeded the numbers of VGIK and GITIS, and applicants who missed out on exams lived for two or three months, before the snow and frost, in the forests near Ryazan in the hope that someone would not withstand the load and it would be possible to take his place . The spirit of the troops was so high that everything else Soviet Army was included in the category of “solars” and “screws,” says Colonel Nikolai Fedorovich Ivanov.

Margelov’s contribution to the formation of the Airborne Forces in their current form was reflected in the comic decoding of the abbreviation Airborne Forces - “Uncle Vasya’s Troops.”

General's extended family

In August 2002, in Pskov, the grandson of the famous General Margelov, Mikhail Margelov, politician, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, answered the questions of the Pskov Province correspondent A. Mashkarin:

“- Vasily Filippovich Margelov is a legendary figure. And the attitude towards his name is appropriate. Doesn't the burden of responsibility for your grandfather's name weigh you down?

The load is indeed quite heavy. With his fame, my grandfather set a high bar, a bar for responsible behavior that must be met. Let me give you a few examples. The main reason that I did not choose for myself military career, it was just the last name. It would probably be impossible to achieve what my grandfather did, but I don’t want to be in second or third roles. My cousin Vasily Margelov served in the Airborne Forces, but he served under his mother’s last name - to avoid parallels and comparisons with his grandfather.

In our family, such a phenomenon as blat is not accepted. It didn’t exist in Soviet times, and it doesn’t exist now. My grandfather, who was then already the commander of the Airborne Forces, learned that my father had entered the law faculty of Moscow State University only from his son himself. My father, who was on a business trip abroad at that time, learned from his personnel officers that I became the head of Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s public relations department and at the age of 33 received the rank of minister. He was very surprised. I didn't ask him for help.

Such a strange family tradition for the general’s children and grandchildren. This is probably explained by the fact that my grandfather always made his way himself. This does not mean that there is no mutual assistance in our family, but it has always been human, and not career-related. No one in our country has ever been a “golden” youth and felt like they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

You didn't become a military man. Did anyone else in your family follow your grandfather's example?

We have an extremely large number of people in uniform. The eldest of his grandfather’s sons, Gennady Vasilyevich, is a Suvorov veteran, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, now a retired major general, his last place of service was the head of the Military Physical Education Institute. Lesgaft in Leningrad.

Anatoly Vasilyevich Margelov, next in age after Gennady, although he did not formally wear shoulder straps, spent his entire life working on missile guidance systems; he has two hundred and fifty inventions and discoveries. He is an Honored Inventor of the USSR.

My father, Vitaly Vasilyevich, is a colonel general, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.

Then come Alexander Vasilyevich - retired Airborne Colonel, Hero of Russia, tester of airborne equipment, and Vasily Vasilyevich - retired major, served in the Middle East for quite a long time, Arabist.

Many people know who your grandfather was. Who was your grandmother, the wife of General Margelov?

My grandfather’s life turned out to be such that he had three wives. The first wife, mother of Gennady Vasilyevich, the second Feodosia Efremovna, my grandmother, mother of Anatoly Vasilyevich and Vitaly Vasilyevich. The last wife is Anna Alexandrovna, mother of Alexander Vasilyevich and Vasily Vasilyevich.

My grandmother became my grandfather's wife when she was a graduate student at Minsky state university. She worked as a school teacher all her life, teaching biology.

Do you have any childhood memories associated with your grandfather?

When my father and his family were on a business trip to Tunisia (I was four years old), we went on his first vacation. We came to my grandfather’s house; he lived on Smolenskaya Street in Moscow. And I was afraid of my grandfather - he had such a thunderous voice, rumbling, roaring. And suddenly I saw a magazine in his house “ Funny pictures” and asked in surprise: “Whose is this?” Then my grandfather came into the corridor where I was looking at the magazine and said: “So I wrote this out for you!”

Only many years later did I understand what it meant for this thunderous man who, with his paratroopers, kept half of Europe at bay and North America, think about your grandson, who needs to write out “Funny Pictures”!

There are a lot of memories of my grandfather, but this is perhaps the most emotionally powerful.

Did Vasily Filippovich have any life attitudes which he bequeathed to his sons and grandchildren?

Here is the formula: raise a son, build a house, plant a tree. My grandfather had his own specific phrase. He believed that in order for a man to become a real man, he must experience all the hardships of this life: to go hungry at least once, to be wounded at least once in his life, and to be in prison at least once (this did not mean for a criminal offense, but in a guardhouse ).

After thirty-seven and a half years, I really believe that there are bumps that need to be filled in order to understand what is good and what is bad.

Is Margelov’s spirit still alive in the modern Airborne Forces?

Alive And not only in the Russian Airborne Forces, but also in the former republics of the Soviet Union.

It is also available abroad. When Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came to Moscow last winter and was in the Federation Council, I met with him. And when he compared the names - Margelov and Margelov - it turned out that Hugo was also a paratrooper colonel. Chavez said that the Venezuelan paratroopers know my grandfather, and a portrait of Vasily Filippovich Margelov hangs in the Military Museum of Venezuela. They consider him an airborne theorist.”

Vasily Filippovich married his first wife, Maria, two years before finishing his studies at military school. In September 1931, their son Gennady was born. However, due to the nomadic life of a commander, their happiness did not work out. Maria left.

Margelov met his second wife, Feodosia, in Minsk, where she worked as a teacher. They got married in 1935, when Feodosia Efremovna was already a student at the Belarusian State University. In this marriage Anatoly and Vitaly were born. But the family was not destined to survive. First they were separated by a campaign in Western Belarus, then Finnish War, and the Great Patriotic War completely ruined it. In a word, war is war...

There, during the fighting near Leningrad, Margelov met his third wife, Anna Aleksandrovna Kurakina. This event took place at the end of 1941.

Their love went through all the trials and tribulations of life, ultimately leaving a large mark in the memory of their descendants.

Anna Alexandrovna was born on January 23, 1914 into a large peasant family in the village of Morskoye, Myshkinsky district, Yaroslavl region. She worked in a printing house, graduated from the workers' school and only then entered the medical school, which she graduated just before the war, in 1941. Then there were courses for surgeons at the Military Medical Academy and the front.

During the war, Anna Alexandrovna served as a company commander, resident officer of the 1st Surgical department army field hospital lightly wounded of the 54th Army, the head of this department, and then in various positions in the 8th Separate Medical Battalion, next to her husband.

In the initial period of the war, she had the opportunity to operate on regimental commander Margelov, who was wounded in the leg, and who would have thought: in 1943 they would register their marriage at the front, and in 1947, already in peaceful life, as expected, in the registry office. In total, she operated on her husband twice in a combat situation.

The military doctor-surgeon of the Guard, captain of the medical service, Anna Aleksandrovna, finished the war with two orders (the Second Class of the Patriotic War and the Red Star) and many medals, among which was “For Military Merit.” In the regiment they called her “Mother” and were very grateful for her kind and skillful hands.

The eldest son Gennady (from his first marriage) lived in Kostyukovichi with Vasily Filippovich’s parents. At the age of twelve he ran away to his father at the front. First, Vasily Filippovich assigned his son to a reserve training battalion, and then, showing the cover of the magazine “Red Warrior”, which depicted a smiling Suvorov soldier, invited him to enter the Suvorov military school.

Anna Alexandrovna prepared him, and he entered the Tambov School.

In 1959, already as a paratrooper officer, he entered the Academy. Frunze. During his service in the Airborne Forces he made more than three hundred parachute jumps. Graduate of the General Staff Academy. He commanded a motorized rifle division and was deputy army commander in Buryatia. Recent positions: head of the Military Institute of Physical Education in Leningrad and senior lecturer at the General Staff Academy. Knight of the Order of the Red Star and “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, third degree. Now Major General G.V. Margelov lives in St. Petersburg. He has two sons.

Son Anatoly (from his second marriage) graduated from the institute in Taganrog. He worked as a researcher at a defense research institute, where he defended both his Ph.D. and doctoral dissertation. He is the author of more than two hundred inventions, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor. Anatoly Vasilyevich has a daughter and a son.

Son Vitaly is Anatoly's brother. In 1958 he entered the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University. Lomonosov. After graduation he worked in the KGB. Today he is a Colonel General, an Honorary Security Officer, and a holder of the Order of Military Merit. He has four sons.

Son Alexander (from his third marriage) graduated from Moscow University in 1970 aviation institute them. Ordzhonikidze. After graduation, he worked as an engineer at the Central Design Bureau of Experimental Mechanical Engineering in the city of Korolev. From 1971 to 1980 he served in the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Airborne Forces. During this period, he graduated from the Airborne School and the Military Academy of Armored Forces as an external student. He has 145 jumps. Made two flights inside the BMD and one together with the BMD. Hero of Russia, colonel, holder of the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star.

Son Vasily is Alexander's brother. Successfully graduated from the Institute of Oriental Languages at Moscow State University. Perfectly mastered Arabic. He served as an officer in the GRU system for about eight years. Of these, six years were in Arab countries. Major of the reserve. He has a son.

All of Margelov's sons gathered together only twice. The first time was at a service dacha in the Ministry of Defense village of Vnukovo, and the second time was at my father’s funeral. Nevertheless, they developed very friendly relations, because with such a person as Vasily Filippovich, it could not have been any other way!

In the summer of 1984, answering a correspondent’s question about his sons, General Margelov said literally:

The eldest, Gennady, the general, is said to be stepping on his father’s heels. Vitaly is a colonel, Alexander is a colonel, Vasily is a major. Only Anatoly did not become a military man. Everyone except him jumped with a parachute..."

Vasily Filippovich was very proud that they were all directly related to the army.

After the war, Anna Alexandrovna followed her husband, first working as an otolaryngologist, and then, due to an unsuccessful operation, she had to quit.

The war, endless travel, unrest and troubles completely undermined her health. Anna Alexandrovna left on January 30, 1993.

Shortly after her death, her younger sons found a bundle of yellowed letters. As they write, from them they “received stunning confirmation of what a faithful and loving heart beat under the combat commander’s tunic in harsh years war, and even more so after the Victory. How young hearts, despite all adversity, longed for love and small world for two, how they strove for each other, although their meetings were not so frequent, and sometimes they did not know whether there would be a next meeting... Death constantly hovered over them, tearing their friends and loved ones out of action, and, perhaps, it was That’s why their love was so bright, which they were able to carry together until the end of their days. Any man, any woman can dream of such a strong support as mother was for his father, and such a strong support as father was for his mother...”

This text is an introductory fragment.

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Margelov Vasily Filippovich
Born: December 14 (27), 1908
Died: March 4, 1990 (age 81)

Biography

Vasily Filippovich Margelov - Soviet military leader, commander of the Airborne Forces in 1954-1959 and 1961-1979, army general (1967), Hero of the Soviet Union (1944), laureate of the USSR State Prize (1975), candidate of military sciences (1968).

Youth years

V. F. Markelov (later Margelov) was born on December 14 (27), 1908 in the city of Yekaterinoslav (now Dnieper, Ukraine), into a family of immigrants from Belarus. Father - Filipp Ivanovich Markelov, a metallurgist (Vasily Filippovich's surname Markelov was later written down as Margelov due to an error in the party card).

In 1913, the Markelov family returned to the homeland of Philip Ivanovich - to the town of Kostyukovichi, Klimovichi district, Mogilev province. V.F. Margelov’s mother, Agafya Stepanovna, was from the neighboring Bobruisk district of Minsk province. According to some information, V.F. Margelov graduated from a parochial school in 1921. As a teenager he worked as a loader and carpenter. In the same year he entered the leather workshop as an apprentice and soon became an assistant master. In 1923, he became a laborer at the local Khleboproduct. There is information that he graduated from a rural youth school and worked as a forwarder delivering mail on the Kostyukovichi - Khotimsk line.

Since 1924 he worked in Yekaterinoslav at the mine named after. M.I. Kalinin as a laborer, then a horse driver (driver of horses pulling trolleys).

In 1925, he was sent again to the BSSR, as a forester at a timber industry enterprise. He worked in Kostyukovichi, in 1927 he became the chairman of the working committee of the timber industry enterprise, and was elected to the local Council.

Start of service

In 1928 he was drafted into the Red Army. Sent to study at the United Belarusian Military School (UBVSH) named after. Central Election Commission of the BSSR in Minsk, enrolled in a group of snipers. From the 2nd year - foreman of a machine gun company.

In April 1931, he graduated with honors from the Order of the Red Banner of Labor from the United Belarusian Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR. Appointed commander of a machine gun platoon of the regimental school of the 99th Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Belarusian Rifle Division (Mogilev).

Since 1933 - platoon commander in the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the General Military School named after. Central Executive Committee of the BSSR (from 11/6/1933 - named after M.I. Kalinin, from 1937 - Order of the Red Banner of Labor Minsk Military Infantry School named after M.I. Kalinin). In February 1934 he was appointed assistant company commander, in May 1936 - commander of a machine gun company.

From October 25, 1938, he commanded the 2nd battalion of the 23rd rifle regiment of the 8th Minsk rifle division named after. Dzerzhinsky Belarusian Special Military District. He headed the reconnaissance of the 8th Infantry Division, being the head of the 2nd department of the division headquarters. In this position he participated in the Polish campaign of the Red Army in 1939.

During the wars

During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940) he commanded the Separate Reconnaissance Ski Battalion of the 596th Infantry Regiment of the 122nd Division (initially stationed in Brest, in November 1939 sent to Karelia). During one of the operations he captured officers of the Swedish General Staff.

After the end of the Soviet-Finnish War, he was appointed to the position of assistant commander of the 596th regiment for combat units. Since October 1940 - commander of the 15th separate disciplinary battalion of the Leningrad Military District (15th detachment, Novgorod region). At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in July 1941, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 1st Guards Division of the People's Militia of the Leningrad Front (the basis of the regiment was made up of fighters of the former 15th Odisb).

November 21, 1941 - appointed commander of the 1st Special Ski Regiment of Red Banner Baltic Fleet sailors. Contrary to talk that Margelov “wouldn’t take root,” the Marines accepted the commander, which was especially emphasized by addressing him by the naval equivalent of the rank of “major” - “Comrade Captain 3rd Rank.” The prowess of the “brothers” sank into Margelov’s heart. Subsequently, becoming the commander of the Airborne Forces, as a sign that the paratroopers had adopted the glorious traditions of their older brother - Marine Corps and they continued with honor, Margelov ensured that the paratroopers received the right to wear vests, but in order to emphasize their belonging to the sky, the paratroopers’ ones were blue.

Since July 1942 - commander of the 13th Guards Rifle Regiment, chief of staff and deputy commander of the 3rd Guards Rifle Division. After division commander K.A. Tsalikov was wounded, command passed to Chief of Staff Vasily Margelov for the duration of his treatment. Under the leadership of Margelov, on July 17, 1943, soldiers of the 3rd Guards Division broke through 2 lines of Nazi defense on the Mius Front, captured the village of Stepanovka and provided a springboard for the assault on Saur-Mogila.

Since 1944 - commander of the 49th Guards Rifle Division of the 28th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. He led the division's actions during the crossing of the Dnieper and the liberation of Kherson, for which in March 1944 he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Under his command, the 49th Guards Rifle Division took part in the liberation of South-Eastern Europe.

During the war, Commander Margelov was mentioned ten times in the gratitude orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

At the Victory Parade in Moscow, Guard Major General Margelov commanded a battalion in the combined regiment of the 2nd Ukrainian Front.

In the airborne troops

After the war in command positions. Since 1948, after graduating from the Order of Suvorov, 1st degree, from the Higher Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov, he was commander of the 76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division.

In 1950-1954 - commander of the 37th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Corps (Far East).

From 1954 to 1959 - Commander of the Airborne Forces. In March 1959, after an emergency in the artillery regiment of the 76th Airborne Division (gang rape of civilian women), he was demoted to 1st Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces. From July 1961 to January 1979 - again commander of the Airborne Forces.

On October 28, 1967, he was awarded the military rank of Army General. He led the actions of the Airborne Forces during the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia (Operation Danube).

Since January 1979 - in the group of inspectors general of the USSR Ministry of Defense. He went on business trips to the Airborne Forces and was the chairman of the State Examination Commission at the Ryazan Airborne School.

During his service in the Airborne Forces he made more than sixty jumps. The last of them is at the age of 65.
Lived and worked in Moscow.
Died March 4, 1990. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.

Theory of combat use

In military theory, it was believed that after the immediate use of nuclear strikes and maintaining a high rate of attack, widespread use of airborne assaults was necessary. Under these conditions, the Airborne Forces had to fully comply with the military-strategic goals of the war and meet the military-political goals of the state.

According to Commander Margelov:

To achieve these goals, under the leadership of Margelov, a concept of the role and place of the Airborne Forces in modern strategic operations in various theaters of war. Margelov wrote a number of works on this topic, and on December 4, 1968, he successfully defended his candidate’s dissertation (he was awarded the title of Candidate of Military Sciences by decision of the Council of the Military Order of Lenin, Red Banner Order of Suvorov Academy named after M. V. Frunze). IN in practical terms Exercises and airborne commander training sessions were regularly held.

Armament

It was necessary to bridge the gap between the theory of the combat use of the Airborne Forces and the existing organizational structure of the troops, as well as the capabilities of military transport aviation. Having assumed the post of Commander, Margelov received troops consisting mainly of infantry with light weapons and military transport aviation (as an integral part of the Airborne Forces), which was equipped with Li-2, Il-14, Tu-2 and Tu-2 aircraft. 4 with significantly limited landing capabilities. In fact, the Airborne Forces were not capable of solving major problems in military operations.

Margelov initiated the creation and serial production at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of landing equipment, heavy parachute platforms, parachute systems and containers for landing cargo, cargo and human parachutes, parachute devices. “You cannot order equipment, so strive to create in the design bureau, industry, during testing, reliable parachutes, trouble-free operation of heavy airborne equipment,” Margelov said when setting tasks for his subordinates.

Modifications of small arms were created for paratroopers to make them easier to parachute - lighter weight, folding stock.

Especially for the needs of the Airborne Forces in post-war years new military equipment was developed and modernized: airborne self-propelled artillery unit ASU-76 (1949), light ASU-57 (1951), amphibious ASU-57P (1954), self-propelled unit ASU-85, tracked combat vehicle of the Airborne Forces BMD-1 (1969). After the first batches of BMD-1 entered service with the troops, a family of weapons was developed on its basis: Nona self-propelled artillery guns, artillery fire control vehicles, R-142 command and staff vehicles, R-141 long-range radio stations, anti-tank systems, and a reconnaissance vehicle. Anti-aircraft units and subunits were also equipped with armored personnel carriers, which housed crews with portable systems and ammunition.

By the end of the 1950s, new An-8 and An-12 aircraft were adopted and entered service with the troops, which had a payload capacity of up to 10-12 tons and a sufficient flight range, which made it possible to land large groups personnel with standard military equipment and weapons. Later, through the efforts of Margelov, the Airborne Forces received new military transport aircraft - An-22 and Il-76.

At the end of the 1950s, the PP-127 parachute platforms appeared in service with the troops, designed for parachute landing of artillery, vehicles, radio stations, engineering equipment and others. Parachute-jet landing aids were created, which, due to the jet thrust created by the engine, made it possible to bring the cargo landing speed closer to zero. Such systems made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of landing by eliminating a large number of large-area domes.

On January 5, 1973, at the Slobodka airborne parachute track (view on Yandex. Maps) near Tula, for the first time in world practice in the USSR, a parachute-platform landing was carried out in the Centaur complex from an An-12B military transport aircraft of a tracked armored combat vehicle BMD-1 with two crew members on board. The crew commander was Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Gavrilovich Zuev, and the operator-gunner was Senior Lieutenant Margelov Alexander Vasilyevich.

On January 23, 1976, also for the first time in world practice, a BMD-1 was parachuted from the same type of aircraft and made a soft landing on a parachute-rocket system in the Reactavr complex, also with two crew members on board - Major Alexander Vasilyevich Margelov and Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Shcherbakov Ivanovich. The landing was carried out at great risk to life, without personal means of rescue. Twenty years later, for the feat of the seventies, both were awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

Family

Father - Philip Ivanovich Margelov (Markelov) - a metallurgist, became a holder of two St. George's Crosses in the First World War.

Mother - Agafya Stepanovna, was from Bobruisk district.
Two brothers - Ivan (eldest), Nikolai (younger) and sister Maria.
V. F. Margelov was married three times:
The first wife, Maria, left her husband and son (Gennady).
The second wife is Feodosia Efremovna Selitskaya (mother of Anatoly and Vitaly).

The last wife is Anna Aleksandrovna Kurakina, a doctor. I met Anna Alexandrovna during the Great Patriotic War.

Five sons:
Gennady Vasilyevich (1931-2016) - Major General.

Anatoly Vasilyevich (1938-2008) - Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, author of more than 100 patents and inventions in the military-industrial complex.

Vitaly Vasilyevich (born 1941) - professional intelligence officer, employee of the KGB of the USSR and the SVR of Russia, later - a social and political figure; Colonel General, Deputy of the State Duma.

Vasily Vasilyevich (1945-2010) - retired major; First Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Relations of the Russian State Broadcasting Company "Voice of Russia" (RGRK "Voice of Russia").

Alexander Vasilievich (1945-2016) - Airborne Forces officer, retired colonel. On August 29, 1996, “for the courage and heroism shown in testing, fine-tuning and mastering special equipment” (landing inside the BMD-1 using a parachute-rocket system in the Reaktavr complex, carried out for the first time in world practice in 1976) he was awarded the title of Hero Russian Federation. After retiring, he worked in the structures of Rosoboronexport.

Vasily Vasilyevich and Alexander Vasilyevich are twin brothers. In 2003, they co-authored a book about their father - “Paratrooper No. 1, Army General Margelov.”

Awards and titles

USSR awards

Medal " Gold Star» No. 3414 Hero of the Soviet Union (03/19/1944);
four Orders of Lenin (03/21/1944, 11/3/1953, 12/26/1968, 12/26/1978);
order October Revolution (4.05.1972);
two Orders of the Red Banner (02/3/1943, 06/20/1949);
the Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree (04/28/1944) was originally presented to the Order of Lenin;
two Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (01/25/1943, 03/11/1985);
Order of the Red Star (11/3/1944);
two Orders “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 2nd (12/14/1988) and 3rd degree (04/30/1975);
medals.
Orders (gratitude) of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in which V. F. Margelov was noted.

For crossing the Dnieper River in the lower reaches, and capturing the city of Kherson - a large junction of railway and water communications and an important stronghold of the German defense at the mouth of the Dnieper River. March 13, 1944. No. 83.

For taking by storm the large regional and industrial center of Ukraine, the city of Nikolaev - an important railway junction, one of the largest ports on the Black Sea and a strong stronghold of the German defense at the mouth of the Southern Bug. March 28, 1944. No. 96.

For the assault on the territory of Hungary on the city and large railway junction of Szolnok - an important stronghold of the enemy’s defense on the Tisza River. November 4, 1944. No. 209.

For breaking through the enemy's heavily fortified defenses southwest of Budapest, the cities of Szekesfehérvár and Biczke, major communications hubs and important strongholds of the enemy's defense, were captured by storm. December 24, 1944. No. 218.

For the complete capture of the capital of Hungary, the city of Budapest - a strategically important center of German defense on the routes to Vienna. February 13, 1945. No. 277.

For breaking through the heavily fortified German defense in the Värteshegyszeg mountains, west of Budapest, the defeat of a group of German troops in the Esztergom region, as well as the capture of the cities of Esztergom, Nesmey, Felshe-Halla, Tata. March 25, 1945. No. 308.

For the capture of the city and the important road junction of Magyarovar and the city and railway station of Kremnica - a strong stronghold of the German defense on the southern slopes of the Velkafatra ridge. April 3, 1945. No. 329.

For the capture of cities and important railway junctions Malacki and Bruk, as well as the cities of Previdza and Banovce - strong strongholds of German defense in the Carpathian Strip. April 5, 1945. No. 331.

For the encirclement and defeat of a group of German troops trying to retreat from Vienna to the north, and at the same time capturing the cities of Korneyburg and Floridsdorf - powerful strongholds of German defense on the left bank of the Danube. April 15, 1945. No. 337.

For the capture of the cities of Jaroměřice and Znojmo in Czechoslovakia and the cities of Gollabrunn and Stockerau in Austria - important communications hubs and strong strongholds of German defense. May 8, 1945. No. 367.

Honorary titles

Hero of the Soviet Union (1944).
Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1975).
Honorary citizen of the city of Kherson.
Honorary soldier of a military unit.

Memory

In 2014, the office-museum of Vasily Margelov was opened in the main building of the headquarters of the Airborne Forces.

By order of the USSR Minister of Defense dated April 20, 1985, V. F. Margelov was enlisted as an Honorary Soldier in the lists of the 76th Pskov Airborne Division.

By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 182 of May 6, 2005, the departmental medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “Army General Margelov” was established. In the same year, a memorial plaque was installed on a house in Moscow, in Sivtsev Vrazhek Lane, where Margelov lived for the last 20 years of his life.

Every year on V.F. Margelov’s birthday on December 27, in all cities of Russia, servicemen of the Airborne Forces pay tribute to the memory of Vasily Margelov.

Monuments

Monuments to V. F. Margelov were erected:
In Belarus: Kostyukovichi
In Moldova: Chisinau

In Russia: Alatyr (bust), Bronnitsy (bust), Gorno-Altaisk, Yekaterinburg, Ivanovo, Istomino village, Balakhninsky district, Nizhny Novgorod region, Krasnoperekopsk, Omsk, Petrozavodsk, Ryazan (two monuments; one of them is located on the territory of the Airborne Forces School, the other - in the park in the immediate vicinity of the checkpoint of this school) and Seltsy (training center of the Airborne Forces School near Ryazan), Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region (bust), St. Petersburg (in the park named after V.F. Margelov), Simferopol, Slavyansk-on-Kuban , Tula, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Lipetsk, Kholm (Novgorod region).

Ukraine: Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Zhitomir (at the location of the 95th brigade), Krivoy Rog, Lvov (at the location of the 80th brigade), Sumy, Kherson, Mariupol.

Chronology of discovery

On February 21, 2010, a bust of Vasily Margelov was erected in Kherson. The bust of the general is located in the city center near the Youth Palace on Perekopskaya Street.

On June 5, 2010, a monument to the founder of the Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces) was unveiled in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The monument was built with funds from former paratroopers living in Moldova.

On November 4, 2013, a memorial monument to Margelov was opened in Victory Park in Nizhny Novgorod.

Monument to Vasily Filippovich, the sketch of which was made from a famous photograph from a divisional newspaper, in which he, being appointed division commander of the 76th Guards. Airborne Division, preparing for the first jump, is installed in front of the headquarters of the 95th separate airmobile brigade (Ukraine).

On October 8, 2014, a memorial complex dedicated to the founder of the USSR Airborne Forces, Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Vasily Margelov was opened in Bendery (Transnistria). The complex is located on the territory of the park near the city House of Culture.

On May 7, 2014, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled on the territory of the Memorial of Memory and Glory in Nazran (Ingushetia, Russia).

On June 8, 2014, as part of the celebration of the 230th anniversary of the founding of Simferopol, the Walk of Fame and a bust of Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General, Commander of the Airborne Forces Vasily Margelov were inaugurated.

On December 27, 2014, on the birthday of Vasily Fillipovich in Saratov, a memorial bust of V. F. Margelov was erected on the Alley of Cossack Glory of the Municipal Educational Institution “Secondary School No. 43”.

On April 25, 2015 in Taganrog in the city center, in the historical park “At the Barrier,” a bust of Vasily Margelov was inaugurated.

On April 23, 2015, a bust of Airborne Forces General V.F. Margelov was unveiled in Slavyansk-on-Kuban (Krasnodar Territory, Russia).

On June 12, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl at the headquarters of the Yaroslavl regional children's and youth military-patriotic public organization LANDMAN named after Guard Sergeant of the Airborne Forces Leonid Palachev.

On July 18, 2015, a bust of the commander who took part in the liberation of the city during the Second World War was unveiled in Donetsk.
On August 1, 2015, a monument to General Vasily Margelov was unveiled in Yaroslavl on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the Airborne Forces.
On September 12, 2015, a monument to Vasily Margelov was unveiled in the city of Krasnoperekopsk (Crimea).
A monument to V.F. Margelov was erected in Bronnitsy.

On August 2, 2016, busts of V. F. Margelov were unveiled in Petrozavodsk and Alatyr (Chuvashia); Also on this day, a memorial was opened in the city of Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region.

On November 4, 2016, a bronze monument more than two meters high was erected in the center of Yekaterinburg.
On April 19, 2017, a bust of the Soviet military leader was installed on the Walk of Fame in Vladikavkaz.
June 30, 2017 in the city of Kholm, Novgorod region.

Naming

The names of V. F. Margelov are:
Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School;
Department of Airborne Forces of the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
Nizhny Novgorod cadet corps(NKSHI);
MBOU "Secondary School No. 27", Simferopol;

streets in Moscow, Western Litsa (Leningrad region), Omsk, Pskov, Taganrog, Tula, Ulan-Ude and the border village of Naushki (Buryatia), an avenue and park in the Zavolzhsky district of Ulyanovsk, a square in Ryazan, public gardens in St. Petersburg, in Belogorsk (Amur region). In Moscow, the name “Margelova Street” was assigned to the street “Projected Proezd No. 6367” on September 24, 2013. In honor of the 105th anniversary of the birth of Vasily Filippovich, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the new street.

In Belarus - high school No. 4 in Gomel, streets in Minsk and Vitebsk. In Vitebsk, the memory of V.F. Margelov was immortalized on June 25, 2010. In the spring of 2010, the Vitebsk City Executive Committee approved the petition of the Airborne Forces veterans of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation to name the street connecting the street. Chkalova and ave. Pobeda, General Margelov Street. On the eve of City Day on the street. General Margelov was commissioned new home, on which the memorial plaque is installed, the right to open it was given to the sons of Vasily Filippovich.

In art

During the Great Patriotic War, a song was composed in V. Margelov’s division, one verse from it:
The song praises the Falcon
Brave and courageous...
Is it close, is it far
Margelov's regiments were marching.

In 2008, with the support of the Moscow government, director Oleg Shtrom filmed the eight-episode series “Batya”, main role in which Mikhail Zhigalov played.

The Blue Berets ensemble recorded a song dedicated to V.F. Margelov, appreciating current state Airborne Forces, after his resignation as commander, which is called “Forgive us, Vasily Filippovich!”