Until the 50s of the XX century, the airborne troops were simple infantry, which was sent to the rear of the enemy. Their main responsibility was to hold positions until reinforcements arrived. In fact, the airborne forces were then “cannon fodder”. They did not have the proper equipment and special equipment. However, everything changed when the army general, Hero of the Soviet Union, Vasily Filippovich Margelov was appointed commander of the Airborne Forces. This is the same "Uncle Vasya" who made a huge contribution to the development of the Airborne Troops.
Vasily Filippovich Margelov went through several wars, during which he managed to visit as commander of scouts and even marines. When Lieutenant Colonel Margelov was appointed to command the Airborne Forces (in 1954), he already knew exactly what needed to be changed in these troops. Despite the harsh pressure of his superiors, he began to put his ideas into practice.
Margelov understood that only highly mobile, well-trained landing could act effectively behind enemy lines. He rejected the earlier installation, according to which, the paratroopers had to hold the captured area until reinforcements arrived, and argued that such a method of defense would inevitably lead to the rapid destruction of the landing.
At the end of the 50s, An-8 and An-12 aircraft, which had a long flight range and carrying capacity, were adopted by the Airborne Forces. Margelov personally oversaw the work of the design bureau and took an active part in the development of aircraft for the Airborne Forces, although he constantly ran into active resistance from officials from the Ministry of Defense.
Vasily Margelov was a very principled person, for which he was removed in 1959 from the post of commander of the airborne forces, having been appointed deputy. However, two years later they were reinstated. Margelov gave the Airborne Forces twenty years of his life. During this time, this type of troops gained immense popularity in the USSR. To get a service in the Airborne Forces was the dream of almost every Soviet teenager.
Interesting facts about Margelov
It is known that the first time Margelov jumped with a parachute at the age of 40 years. That was in 1948. The jump was carried out from a balloon basket. Height - 400 meters. Before starting to command the Airborne Forces, Margelov bet on six jumps with General Denisenko. Unfortunately, Mikhail Ivanovich Denisenko died making his third jump, and Margelov fulfilled his promise and completed all six parachute jumps.
Margelov always took weapons with him for all the jumps - a pistol and grenades. In his presence, everyone had to jump with weapons. True, after his retirement, with military weapons began to jump only in exercises.
In the Republic of Belarus there is an official Margelova medal, which was approved by President Alexander Lukashenko.
By order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2005, a departmental medal "Army General Margelov" was established.
The name of Margelov is Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, Department of Airborne Forces of the Combined Arms Academy of the RF Armed Forces, Nizhny Novgorod Cadet Corps.
