Dmitry Yazov

Dmitry Yazov in 2014

Dmitry Timofeyevich Yazov (Russian: Дми́трий Тимофе́евич Я́зов) (8 November 1924 – 25 February 2020) was a Marshal of the Soviet Union. A veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Yazov served as Minister of Defence from 1987 until he was arrested for his part in the 1991 August Coup, four months before the fall of the Soviet Union. Yazov was the last person to be appointed to the rank of Marshal on 28 April 1990 and the only Marshal born in Siberia. His death in 2020 marks the end of the line of surviving Marshals of the Soviet Union.

Quotes

• I have been in the army since I was 17, but I never learned to swear. I think that swearing is good on a collective farm when the bulls do not obey. But with people you can't.
  • "Дмитрий Язов рассказал "РГ" о жизни маршала на пенсии" (4 December 2013)

• I cry only for joy. I can see something beautiful and cry. And I'm not ashamed of it. After all, crying from joy is much better than from weakness.
  • "Дмитрий Язов рассказал "РГ" о жизни маршала на пенсии" (4 December 2013)

• Russian and foreign historians and politicians said this for me. In their unanimous opinion, the main event of the twentieth century is the Second World War. In it, in the Great Patriotic War, we won. This is the main thing. Although the Americans wrote very different results, for them, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the main event of the past century. There is no more powerful state. The world has become unipolar and it is beneficial for them.

• Russians are used to flaunting their fearlessness, but I'll be honest: no one wants to die. Nevertheless, we rose and shouted: "For the Motherland, for Stalin!" and went on the attack.
  • "Экс-министр обороны СССР Маршал Советского Союза Дмитрий ЯЗОВ: «Руста специально послали на Красную площадь, чтобы дискредитировать наше военное руководство. Может быть, даже по договоренности с Горбачевым»" (12 August 2008)

• My real friend was my first wife. I could share everything with her without exception. That's how it came together that she became both a wife and a friend. A friend in the full sense of the word happens once in a lifetime or does not happen at all.
  • "Дмитрий Язов рассказал "РГ" о жизни маршала на пенсии" (4 December 2013)

Quotes about Dmitry Yazov

• Soviet Marshal Dmitry Yazov was an outstanding commander and a remarkable representative of the iconic generation of victors, a volunteer and a battle-front veteran. He was a man of exceptional courage and determination. He went through the ordeals of the Great Patriotic War with dignity, and after the Victory, he devoted his life to developing the Armed Forces and strengthening Russia’s defence and national security. His loyalty to the Oath and duty as well as his high professionalism and personal qualities earned him undeniable authority and respect.
  • President of Russia Vladimir Putin, "Condolences to family and friends of Dmitry Yazov"^{[specific citation needed]}

• After the war, Dmitry Timofeyevich dedicated his entire strength, experience, and knowledge to the development of the Armed Forces and the effort to bolster combat preparedness of the forces and defense capacity of our country. A highly competent and open and principled person who put officer's honor above all else and was highly respected.
  • Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, "Soviet Marshal Yazov passes away" (25 February 2020)

• For all of us, he was and will remain a legendary personality, who fought throughout the Great Patriotic War and earned a reputation as a courageous and resolute soldier, as a wise and responsible commander. It was for good reason that he was appointed as the defense minister at a difficult time for the country and fulfilled his duties with dignity, at the same time staying true to his ideals and homeland.
  • Defence Minister of Russia Sergey Shoygu, "Soviet Marshal Yazov passes away" (25 February 2020)

• Using the traditional demagoguery, which has been tried and tested over the years, the putschists blame all our current difficulties on the democrats and promise economic recovery and a better life, security and prosperity for the citizens of the USSR. What a hypocritical lie! Surely Pavlov is responsible for rocketing inflation and unprecedented price rises this year? Surely Yazov as leader of the most corrupt highest placed generals, is responsible for the poverty and lawlessness of our servicemen? Surely Pugo bears personal responsibility for the blood shed in the Baltic republics? Surely Starodubtsev, leader of the organization of Soviet land-owners is to blame, owing to the stance he assumed, for the abortive collection of last year’s bumper crops? And these are the people who promise to “restore order in the country!”
  • Boris Yeltsin, Appeal to the Russian public to resist the coup attempt. (20 August 1991)