of the Soviet Union, four times Hero of the
Soviet Union, the gentleman of numerous Soviet and foreign orders and medals, Soviet defense MinisterHe was born in 1896 in Kaluga region in the village of Strelkovka in a peasant family.
At age of 18 in 1915 he was drafted into the army. Receiving the rank of a cavalry non-commissioned officer, was sent to the South-Western front. In the First world war has received such awards as the George cross, order of the red banner.