Zhukov was born into a poverty-stricken peasant family of Russian ethnicity in Strelkovka, Maloyaroslavsky, Kaluga Governoratein western Russia. His father Konstantin, who had been orphaned at age two and then adopted by

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On 22 June 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union. On the same day, Zhukov responded by signing the "Directive of Peoples' Commissariat of Defence No. 3", which ordered an all-out counteroffensive by Red Army forces. He

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Soviet occupation zone
After the German capitulation, Zhukov became the first commander of the Soviet occupation zone. On 10 June 1945, he returned to Moscow to

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After being forced out of the government, Zhukov stayed away from politics. Many people—including former subordinates—frequently

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On 18 June 1974, Zhukov died after another stroke. Contrary to Zhukov's last will for an Orthodox Christian burial, and despite the requests of the family to the country's top leadership, his body was cremated and his ashes were buried at the Kremlin Wall Necropolisalongside

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Father Konstantin Artemyevich Zhukov (1851–1921); a shoemaker Mother Ustinina Artemievna Zhukova (1866–1944); farmer from a poor family Siblings 1. Maria Kostantinovna Zhukova (born 1894) 2. Alexei Konstantinovich Zhukov (born 1901); died

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Arresting Beria
After Stalin's death, Zhukov returned to favour, becoming Deputy Defence Minister in 1953. He then had an opportunity to avenge himself on Beria.

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