At the time of World War II, many influential military figures existed across the world. Some have reaped the fruits of success and others have experienced the bitter taste of defeat. The Soviet Union was one of the victorious countries in this war. Although many Soviet military leaders contributed, General Georgy Zhukov was instrumental in Russia's success in World War II, as he designed and implemented many combat strategies that took assault their opposition. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov was born on December 1, 1896 into a peasant family. He worked in the fields until he was apprenticed to a furrier at the age of twelve. After completing his apprenticeship in 1912, he entered the fur trade, but this did not last long, as Zhukov was drafted into the army for World War I in 1915. He carried out his duties in the cavalry commendably and received the Cross of Saint Petersburg. George twice. He served in the 106th Reserve Cavalry and the 10th Novgorod Dragoon Regiment, but his service in World War I ended after he was seriously injured. Soon after, Zhukov joined the Bolshevik Party and enlisted in the Red Army. He remained in the cavalry, serving in the famous 1st Cavalry Army. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his assistance in crushing the Tambov Rebellion in 1921. Over time, he gradually rose in rank and was first given command of a cavalry division in 1933. Problems arose from 1937 to 1939 during Stalin's rule. purge of the Red Army, but Zhukov avoided it and was chosen to command the First Soviet Mongol Army Group. Its goal was to stop Japanese aggression on the Mongol-Manchurian border, and throughout the summer of 1939 the two sides clashed, with no real gain of ground one way or another. .... middle of paper..... ...to eliminate the Germans. Zhukov was not only a Soviet military leader and patriot, but also a symbol of hope for the entire Russian nation. He is still remembered as a hero today. Works Cited "Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (Soviet Marshal) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica. Internet. December 19, 2011. "Georgy Zhukov - World War II Biography of Georgy Zhukov." Military history - War through the ages - Battles and conflicts - Weapons of war - Military leaders in history. About.com. Internet. December 19, 2011. .Schroeder, Jay. “Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov.” EHistory at OSU | Welcome to EHistory. Internet. December 19. 2011. .