Nikolai Ogarkov 1917 – 1994

Biography

Nikolai Ogarkov was born on October 30, 1917, in Molokovo, entering a world transformed by revolution and upheaval. Throughout his life, he would become one of the Soviet Union’s most prominent military figures, rising to the distinguished rank of Marshal—a title reserved for the nation’s highest-ranking officers. His career spanned decades of significant historical change, during which he contributed to shaping Soviet military strategy and doctrine during some of the Cold War’s most consequential periods.

On January 23, 1994, Ogarkov passed away in Moscow at the age of 76. His passing marked the end of an era for those who had known him and worked alongside him during pivotal moments in twentieth-century military history. The respect accorded to him in life extended to his final resting place: he was interred at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow’s Khamovniki District, a cemetery of considerable historical significance that has long served as the burial ground for many of Russia’s most honored citizens, military leaders, and cultural figures.

Ogarkov’s legacy remains connected to the military institutions and strategic thinking of the Soviet period, a testament to a life devoted to his nation’s defense and military advancement.