Sergei Sokolov (Marshal)
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| Серге́й Леони́дович Соколо́в Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov |
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| Born July 1, 1911 | |
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| Place of birth | Eupatoria, Russian Empire |
| Allegiance |  Soviet Union |
| Service/branch |  Red Army |
| Years of service | 1932 - 1987 |
| Rank | Marshal of the Soviet Union |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Lake Khasan Great Patriotic War Soviet war in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Hero of the Soviet Union Order of Merit for the Fatherland Order of Zhukov Order of Honor Order of Lenin (3) Order of the Red Banner (2) Order of Suvorov, 1st Class Order of the Patriotic War, 1st Class (2) Order of the Red Star (2) Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces, 3rd Class |
Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov (Russian: Серге́й Леони́дович Соколо́в) (born 1 July [O.S. 18 June] 1911 in Eupatoria) was Commander of the Leningrad Military District from 1965 to 1984, 1st Deputy Defense Minister from 1967 to 1984. Minister of Defence of Soviet Union from 1984 to 1986 (he was dismissed by Mikhail Gorbachev as a result of the Mathias Rust affair). He was also a candidate (non-voting) member of the Politburo from 1985 to 1987.
Sergei Sokolov was also in charge of Soviet ground forces during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He personally led the main Soviet incursion of ground forces on the December 27, 1979. His actions and command strategies during the war made him one of the Soviet Union's most respected Marshals.
He was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1978. On April 28, 1980 he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and in July 2001 he became an honorary citizen of Crimea. Since 1992 Sokolov has been an advisor to the Defence Minister of Russia. Sokolov is currently the oldest living Soviet Marshal.
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| Preceded by Dmitriy Ustinov |
Minister of Defence of Soviet Union 1984–1987 |
Succeeded by Dmitry Yazov |
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