Malinovsky, Rodion Yakovlevich

Malinovsky, Rodion Yakovlevich (rōdyōn` yä`kəvlyĭvĭch mälyĭnŏf`skē), 1898–1967, Soviet marshal, b. Ukraine. He joined the Communist party in 1926. In World War II Malinovsky commanded an army in the Stalingrad (later Volgograd) offensive and later in Ukraine. He became (1956) a member of the central committee of the Communist party and commander in chief of Soviet land forces. In 1957, upon the demotion of Marshal Zhukov, Malinovsky was made minister of defense of the USSR. He held that post until his death.