Georgy Zhukov was a notable Soviet military commander during World War II who played a vital role in the defeat of Axis Powers. Born into a peasant family, he was conscripted into the Russian Imperial Army during World War I. Afterwards he joined the Red Army and served as a cavalry commander during the Russian Civil War. He rose steadily through the military ranks and was later sent to command the forces in Mongolia where he directed an effective counterattack to defeat the Japanese army. Impressed by his leadership, Stalin appointed Zhukov the chief of the army general staff before the German forces invaded Soviet Union in the World War II. Subsequently, Zhukov directed the defense of the city of Moscow and organized a counter-attack against the Germans that drove them back from central Russia. After being appointed deputy commander-in-chief of the Red Army, Zhukov took charge of the defense of Stalingrad where he supervised the encirclement and surrender of the German Sixth Army. Following the defeat of the Germans at the Battle of Kursk, Zhukov led the final Soviet assault on Germany and captured Berlin, becoming a Soviet national hero. However, his popularity threatened Stalin and as a consequence, Zhukov faced a series of demotions. After Stalin's death, Zhukov returned to favor and became minister of defense but later fell out after an argument with Nikita Khrushchev. After being forced out of the government, Zhukov stayed away from politics until his death