born Feb. 12, 1900, Serebryannye Prudy, near Moscow, Russian Empire
died March 18, 1982, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.
Soviet general.
He joined the Red Army at age 18. In World War II he commanded the defense at the Battle of Stalingrad , joined in turning Adolf Hitler 's armies back, and led the Soviet drive to Berlin. He personally accepted the German surrender of Berlin in 1945. After the war he commanded the Soviet occupation forces in Germany (1949–53). He headed the Kiev military district (1953–60) and thereafter held a variety of military assignments in Moscow.