Background
Kurkotkin was born near Moscow and attended a technical college in the capital before joining the Red Army in 1937.
politician Marshal of the Soviet Union
Kurkotkin was born near Moscow and attended a technical college in the capital before joining the Red Army in 1937.
He completed the Oryol tank school in 1939 and a political school in 1941. After the war Lieutenant Colonel Kurkotkin attended the Malinovsky Armoured Forces Academy and became a tank division commander in 1951. He completed the General Staff Academy in 1958 and was promoted to General.
He commanded the Transcaucasus Military District in 1968–1971 and the Soviet forces stationed in East Germany since 1971. Kurkotkin was appointed Assistant Minister of Defense in 1972. During World World War II Kurkotkin fought in the armoured corps rising to become a brigade commander.
Kurkotkin fought with the Voronezh Front and later the 1st Ukrainian Front.
He commanded the Transcaucasus Military District in 1968–1971 and the Group of Soviet forces, stationed in East Germany (1971/72). Kurkotkin was appointed Assistant Minister of Defense in 1972 in charge of rear echelon areas.
In 1988 he became one of the Inspector Generals of the Soviet Army.
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.