Rodion Yakovlevich Malinovsky (Russian: Родион Яковлевич Малиновский) (November 23, 1898 - March 31, 1967),
Soviet military commander and Defense Minister, was born in Odessa. He volunteered to join the Russian Army during World War I (1914), and was wounded and subsequently decorated for bravery. He was sent to France in 1916 as a member of the Russian Expeditionary Corps where he was once again wounded, and received a decoration from the French government. He returned to Russia in 1919, and joined the Red Army. He fought in the Russian Civil War against the White Army, again serving with distinction in Siberia. He entered the Frunze Military Academy in 1930.
During the Spanish Civil War, he was sent along with other Soviet "volunteers" to fight for the Republicans, where he was once again decorated for bravery. After he returned to the Soviet Union, Malinovsky became a teacher at the Frunze Military Academy, a position he held until March 1941.
When Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941, Malinovsky was commander of the 48th Army, which was a part of the Odessa Military District, and positioned in the Moldavian town of Beltsy. He led his army with distinction throughout the difficult opening phases of the war. In August, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and made commander of 6th Army. Later that year, around December 1941, Malinovsky was made commander of the Southern Front.
On January 18, 1942, the Southern and Southwest Fronts launched a joint attack in the Kharkov region that was able to push the Germans back 100 kilometers. Although these gains would soon be lost, it attested to Malinovsky's skill as a commander. On July 28, Malinovsky's Southern Front was inactivated, and he was appointed commander of the 66th Army, which held positions east of Stalingrad.
In September, the 66th was a part of a series of offensives aimed at decreasing the pressure on General Vasily Chuikov's forces in Stalingrad. The offensive ended in October, with marginal success. In October 1942, Malinovsky was made Deputy Commander of Voronezh front. However, in December of 1942, Malinovsky was placed in command of the powerful 2nd Guards Army. This unit played an instrumental role during Operation Saturn, the encirclement and destruction of the German 6th Army, and the liberation of Stalingrad. In February 1943, Malinovsky was once again placed in command of the Southern Front, and the next month (March) he was placed in command of Southwest Front, which was renamed 3rd Ukrainian Front October 1943.
During the following Winter Campaign, from December 1943to April 1944, Malinovsky's Ukrainian Front liberated much of the Ukraine, including Kharkov, and Malinovsky's home town of Odessa. In May 1944, Malinovsky was transferred to the 2nd Ukrainian Front. Along with General Fedor Tolbukhin's 3rd Ukrainian Front, Malinovsky's army continued its Southern push. During subsequent operations, these two armies liberated the remaining Soviet territory in German hands, and launched an invasion of the Balkans. Malinovsky's forces helped to conquer Romania and Bulgaria. Following these successful operations, Malinovsky was recalled briefly to Moscow.
There, on September 10 1944, he was made Marshal of the Soviet Union. He returned to his army a few days later and continued to lead them. His forces continued their offensive drive, forcing the Germans from Hungary, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. After the German surrender, in May 1945, Malinovsky was transferred to the Far East, where he was placed in command of the Transbaikal Front.
In August 1945, Malinovsky lead these men in the last Soviet offensive of World War II. They invaded Manchuria, which was under the occupation of Japanese forces. By now, Malinovsky was one of the greatest commanders the Soviet Union had, and he easily crushed the Japanese forces in China. After this victory, Malinovsky was awarded the Soviet Union's greatest honors, the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the war, Malinovsky was the commander-in-chief of Soviet forces in the Far East. In 1956 he was appointed Deputy Defense Minister, and in 1957, he became Defense Minister. He served in this capacity until his death. Malinovsky is well remembered as one of the greatest Soviet Defense Ministers. He greatly helped to strengthen and upgrade the Soviet armed forces. Malinovsky died on March 31, 1967 after a long bout with illness. He remains one of the most decorated and celebrated Russian military leaders.
