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Mikhail Zaitsev

Mikhail Mitrofanovich Zaitsev (Russian: Михаи́л Митрофа́нович За́йцев; 23 November 1923 – 22 January 2009) was a general of the Soviet Army. Zaitsev's principal commands were the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and the southern military districts of the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Zaitsev
Personal details
Born
Mikhail Zaitsev

(1923-11-23)23 November 1923
Zadowski Chutor, Tula Oblast, Russia
Died22 January 2009(2009-01-22) (aged 85)
Moscow, Russia
NationalitySoviet
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
ProfessionSoldier
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union
Order of Lenin (2)
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
Branch/serviceSoviet Army
Years of service1941–1992
RankArmy General
CommandsGroup of Soviet Forces in Germany
Battles/warsGreat Patriotic War
Soviet–Afghan War

Second World War edit

Zaitsev was born in 1923 and attended middle school before volunteering for the Soviet Army in 1941. In May 1942, Zaitsev was transferred to the combat arms and served as a staff officer in the 113th Tank Brigade and later the 7th Guards Tank Corps. He was transferred to the headquarters of the 6th Guards Tank Corps. Zaitsev took part in the battles of Kursk and Berlin, as well as major Soviet operations such as Lvov-Sandomierz, Vistula-Oder, and the drive on Prague. Zaitsev ended his wartime service assigned to the 1st Ukrainian Front.

Postwar edit

 
General Zaitsev, on right, during a visit to East German troops in June 1981.

Following the war, Zaitsev served in a variety of staff assignments that built upon his expertise with armored forces and warfare. He commanded the 17th Guards Tank Division from August 1965 to January 1967 and the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division from January 1967 to 12 November 1968. Zaitsev served as chief of staff of the 7th Tank Army from 12 November 1968 to 2 December 1969, rising to command the 5th Guards Tank Army on 2 December 1969.[1] Zaitsev became first deputy commander of the Belorussian Military District on 11 August 1972, rising to command of the district itself on 28 May 1976.[2]

Zaitsev was transferred to East Germany and became commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG) on 25 November 1980, a position he held until 6 July 1985.[2] Zaitsev was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on 22 November 1983. Zaitsev's priorities for GSFG included training that stressed the use of individual initiative by junior officers.[3]

During his tour of command of GSFG, a crisis with the United States broke out because of the shooting of Arthur D. Nicholson, a U.S. officer assigned to the U.S. Military Liaison Mission in East Germany.[4] Zaitsev subsequently had a tense meeting with General Glenn K. Otis,[5] the commander of U.S. Army Europe, in which Zaitsev stated the Soviet forces had not acted improperly when Nicholson was shot.

From 6 July 1985 until 5 January 1989, Zaitsev commanded the Southern Strategic Direction (three southern military districts of the Soviet Union, including the Turkestan Military District, see Formations of the Soviet Army) and thus supervised the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan (ru:Ограниченный контингент советских войск в Афганистане),[6] mostly made up of troops of the 40th Army and the Air Force's 34th Composite Aviation Corps, plus Border and KGB Troops. From 1989 until his retirement in 1992, Zaitsev was assigned to the Group of Inspectors General of the Soviet Ministry of Defense.[2]

In 1981, he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and from 1979 until 1989 he was a member of the Supreme Soviet.

In retirement, he lived in Moscow until his death on 22 January 2009.[2] General Mikhail Zaitsev is interred in Troyekurovskoye Cemetery.

Dates of rank edit

  • Major General of Tank Troops (23 February 1967)[2]
  • Lieutenant General of Tank Troops (29 April 1970)[2]
  • Colonel General of Tank Troops (28 October 1976)[2]
  • Army General (4 November 1980)[2]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Michael Holm and Vitaly Feskov, 5th Guards Tank Army, 2013/2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kalashnikov & Dodonov 2013, pp. 109–110.
  3. ^ Cooley, p. 78.
  4. ^ "Statement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Speakes on the Death of Major Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr., in the German Democratic Republic". www.reagan.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  5. ^ Shannon, Don (1 April 1985). "U.S. General to Prepare for Talks on Shooting by Soviets". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  6. ^ Cooley, p. 78.

Bibliography edit

  • Cooley, John K., Unholy Wars, London: Pluto Press, 2002. ISBN 0 7453 1917 3.
  • Kalashnikov, Konstantin; Dodonov, Igor (2013). Высший командный состав Вооружённых сил СССР в послевоенный период. Справочные материалы (1945—1975 гг.) [Higher Commanders of the Soviet Armed Forces in the postwar period: Handbook of materials (1945–1975)] (in Russian). Vol. 1. Ust-Kamenogorsk: Media-Alyans. ISBN 978-601-7378-16-5.

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Mikhail Mitrofanovich Zaitsev Russian Mihai l Mitrofa novich Za jcev 23 November 1923 22 January 2009 was a general of the Soviet Army Zaitsev s principal commands were the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany and the southern military districts of the Soviet Union Mikhail ZaitsevPersonal detailsBornMikhail Zaitsev 1923 11 23 23 November 1923Zadowski Chutor Tula Oblast RussiaDied22 January 2009 2009 01 22 aged 85 Moscow RussiaNationalitySovietPolitical partyCommunist Party of the Soviet UnionProfessionSoldierAwardsHero of the Soviet UnionOrder of Lenin 2 Military serviceAllegiance Soviet UnionBranch serviceSoviet ArmyYears of service1941 1992RankArmy GeneralCommandsGroup of Soviet Forces in GermanyBattles warsGreat Patriotic WarSoviet Afghan War Contents 1 Second World War 2 Postwar 3 Dates of rank 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographySecond World War editZaitsev was born in 1923 and attended middle school before volunteering for the Soviet Army in 1941 In May 1942 Zaitsev was transferred to the combat arms and served as a staff officer in the 113th Tank Brigade and later the 7th Guards Tank Corps He was transferred to the headquarters of the 6th Guards Tank Corps Zaitsev took part in the battles of Kursk and Berlin as well as major Soviet operations such as Lvov Sandomierz Vistula Oder and the drive on Prague Zaitsev ended his wartime service assigned to the 1st Ukrainian Front Postwar edit nbsp General Zaitsev on right during a visit to East German troops in June 1981 Following the war Zaitsev served in a variety of staff assignments that built upon his expertise with armored forces and warfare He commanded the 17th Guards Tank Division from August 1965 to January 1967 and the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division from January 1967 to 12 November 1968 Zaitsev served as chief of staff of the 7th Tank Army from 12 November 1968 to 2 December 1969 rising to command the 5th Guards Tank Army on 2 December 1969 1 Zaitsev became first deputy commander of the Belorussian Military District on 11 August 1972 rising to command of the district itself on 28 May 1976 2 Zaitsev was transferred to East Germany and became commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany GSFG on 25 November 1980 a position he held until 6 July 1985 2 Zaitsev was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on 22 November 1983 Zaitsev s priorities for GSFG included training that stressed the use of individual initiative by junior officers 3 During his tour of command of GSFG a crisis with the United States broke out because of the shooting of Arthur D Nicholson a U S officer assigned to the U S Military Liaison Mission in East Germany 4 Zaitsev subsequently had a tense meeting with General Glenn K Otis 5 the commander of U S Army Europe in which Zaitsev stated the Soviet forces had not acted improperly when Nicholson was shot From 6 July 1985 until 5 January 1989 Zaitsev commanded the Southern Strategic Direction three southern military districts of the Soviet Union including the Turkestan Military District see Formations of the Soviet Army and thus supervised the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan ru Ogranichennyj kontingent sovetskih vojsk v Afganistane 6 mostly made up of troops of the 40th Army and the Air Force s 34th Composite Aviation Corps plus Border and KGB Troops From 1989 until his retirement in 1992 Zaitsev was assigned to the Group of Inspectors General of the Soviet Ministry of Defense 2 In 1981 he was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and from 1979 until 1989 he was a member of the Supreme Soviet In retirement he lived in Moscow until his death on 22 January 2009 2 General Mikhail Zaitsev is interred in Troyekurovskoye Cemetery Dates of rank editMajor General of Tank Troops 23 February 1967 2 Lieutenant General of Tank Troops 29 April 1970 2 Colonel General of Tank Troops 28 October 1976 2 Army General 4 November 1980 2 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michail Mitrofanowitsch Saizew Citations edit Michael Holm and Vitaly Feskov 5th Guards Tank Army 2013 2015 a b c d e f g h Kalashnikov amp Dodonov 2013 pp 109 110 Cooley p 78 Statement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Speakes on the Death of Major Arthur D Nicholson Jr in the German Democratic Republic www reagan utexas edu Retrieved 2016 05 31 Shannon Don 1 April 1985 U S General to Prepare for Talks on Shooting by Soviets Los Angeles Times ISSN 0458 3035 Retrieved 2016 05 31 Cooley p 78 Bibliography edit Cooley John K Unholy Wars London Pluto Press 2002 ISBN 0 7453 1917 3 Kalashnikov Konstantin Dodonov Igor 2013 Vysshij komandnyj sostav Vooruzhyonnyh sil SSSR v poslevoennyj period Spravochnye materialy 1945 1975 gg Higher Commanders of the Soviet Armed Forces in the postwar period Handbook of materials 1945 1975 in Russian Vol 1 Ust Kamenogorsk Media Alyans ISBN 978 601 7378 16 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mikhail Zaitsev amp oldid 1159858181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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