The rise to power of Leonid Brezhnev
Party career of Leonid Brezhnev
Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich
Brezhnev era. USSR in 1964 – 1985
Leonid Brezhnev from a working-class family. From 1921 he worked at the Kursk Oil Mill. He graduated from the Kursk Land Management College (1927) and the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Institute (1935). He worked as Deputy Chairman of the Bisersky District Executive Committee of the Sverdlovsk Region. (1929-30), director of the metallurgical technical school in Dneprodzerzhinsk (1936-37). Member of the CPSU since 1931. In 1935-36 he served in the army. Since 1938, head of the department of the Dnepropetrovsk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, since 1939 - secretary of the regional committee.
During the war years 1941-45 Brezhnev was deputy head of the political department of the Southern Front, and from 1943 - head of the political department of the 18th Army. Since 1945 - head of the political department of the 4th Ukrainian Front. He finished the war with the rank of major general (1943).
In 1946-50, first secretary of the Zaporozhye, then Dnepropetrovsk regional committees. Since 1950, first secretary of Moldova. At the 19th Party Congress (1952), on the recommendation of Stalin, Brezhnev was elected Secretary of the Central Committee and a candidate member of the Presidium of the Party Central Committee. In 1953-54, Deputy Head of the Main Political Directorate Soviet army And Navy.
In 1954, at the suggestion of N. S. Khrushchev, Brezhnev was transferred to Kazakhstan, where he first worked as the second, and from 1955, as the first secretary of the Communist Party of the republic. Since 1957, member of the presidium and secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. As a person enjoying Khrushchev’s full confidence, in 1960 he was appointed chairman of the Presidium Supreme Council THE USSR.
In 1964 Brezhnev leads a conspiracy against Khrushchev, after whose dismissal he occupies the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. Brezhnev was endowed with an instinct for power: during the apparatus struggle for power and influence in the party, he promptly eliminated his obvious and potential opponents (for example, A. N. Shelepin, N. V. Podgorny), placing people personally loyal to him in key positions (Yu. V. Andropova, N. A. Tikhonova, N. A. Shchelokova, K. U. Chernenko, S. K. Tsviguna). By the beginning of the 1970s. the party apparatus believed in Brezhnev, viewing him as its protege and defender of the system. The all-powerful party nomenklatura rejected any reforms and sought to maintain a regime that provided it with power, stability and broad privileges.
For the style of government Brezhnev was characterized by conservatism. He had neither the political will nor the vision of the country's development prospects. The economy showed trends of stagnation, which in the 1970s. were compensated by favorable foreign economic conditions for the USSR. The lion's share absorbed resources military-industrial complex(MIC) - area of special concern Brezhnev. Under him, the military-industrial complex reached its apogee, which harmed the development of the economy as a whole and aggravated the crisis. Economic reforms of the 1960s were curtailed, the growth rate of industry and Agriculture sharply decreased, scientific and technological progress slowed down. Soviet Union increasingly lagged behind the leading world powers in its development.
Political life was characterized by the growth of the bureaucratic apparatus and the intensification of its arbitrariness. Abuse of official position, embezzlement, corruption, and fraud flourished in party and Soviet circles (primarily in Brezhnev’s immediate circle).
At the same time, state security agencies intensified the fight against dissent. Brezhnev personally approved of repressive measures directed against activists of the human rights movement in the USSR.
In area foreign policy Brezhnev did a lot to achieve political detente in the 1970s. US-Soviet strategic arms limitation treaties were concluded, which, however, were not supported by adequate confidence and control measures. The process of detente was canceled out by the introduction Soviet troops to Afghanistan (1979) and other aggressive actions of the USSR.
In relations with socialist countries, Brezhnev initiated the doctrine of “limited sovereignty,” which provided for acts of intimidation up to and including military invasion of those countries that tried to carry out internal and independent activities independent of the USSR. foreign policy. In 1968, Brezhnev agreed to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by troops of the Warsaw Pact countries. In 1980, preparations were made for military intervention in Poland.
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was born according to the new style on January 1, 1907, but officially his birthday was considered December 19, 1906 ( old style), and his anniversaries were always celebrated on December 19, perhaps to avoid coincidence with the New Year.
He was born in the village of Kamenka, Dnepropetrovsk region of Ukraine. Graduated from the Kursk Land Management and Reclamation College and the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Institute. Worked at a factory. In 1937, he was elected deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Dneprodzerzhinsk City Council.
Since February 1939 - Secretary of the Dnepropetrovsk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine for Propaganda. Since 1941 - in the active army: deputy head of the political department of the Southern Front, head of the political department of the 18th Army, head of the political department of the 4th Ukrainian Front. In 1950-1952 - first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova. In 1953-1954 - Deputy Head of the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy. From February 1954 - second, from August 1955 - first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan. In 1952-1953, 1956-1960, 1963-1964 - secretary, in 1964-1966 - first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. Since 1966 - Secretary General Central Committee of the CPSU, at the same time since 1977 - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
During Brezhnev’s tenure at the highest party and government posts in the country, conservative tendencies prevailed, negative processes in the economy, social and spiritual spheres of society grew (the “Brezhnev era” was called “stagnation” in the literature). Periods of easing tension in the international situation, associated with the conclusion of a series of agreements with the USA, Germany and other countries, as well as with the development of measures for security and cooperation in Europe, were followed by a sharp aggravation of international contradictions; intervention was undertaken in Czechoslovakia (1968) and Afghanistan (1979).
Leonid Brezhnev is a whole era. Some call it a period of stagnation, others call it far from the worst years of their lives. In any case, interest in the personality of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee does not fade.
In the spring of 2005, the mini-series “Brezhnev” was broadcast on Channel One with great success, and in the same year a two-part series was shown on Channel One documentary"Galina Brezhneva" - about hectic life daughter of the party leader. At the same time, many facts from the life of the Secretary General still remain unknown.
In September 2005, Vladimir Bogomolov, an employee of the Secretary General’s personal security, shared his memories of Brezhnev on the pages of Express Newspaper. “Leonid Ilyich passionately loved hunting,” says Bogomolov. - It used to be that he would go to a special reserve and shoot a whole mountain of game. And he did it masterfully - the ducks were only killed when they flew in, not like the other members of the Politburo, who preferred to shoot at slowly swimming birds. During a wild boar hunt, our Grandfather, as we respectfully called the General Secretary, could kill two hundred-kilogram cleavers with one shot. Then the prey was dragged into a clearing and each boar was cut into four parts: two backs, two fronts. Brezhnev had a list of friends - 130 people. After the hunt, he will take it in his hands and mark it next to each name: “This is the back, this is the front.” Even on my balcony there were always several huge pieces of wild boar meat. But Leonid Ilyich himself did not particularly indulge in delicacies. He asks for simple buckwheat porridge and is satisfied.”
Russian journalist Alexey Ramensky also reported on the pages of the newspaper “Top Secret” in 2004 little known facts one of Brezhnev's hobbies. The party leader had a rich collection of hunting weapons and during his life he managed to hunt ducks, wild boars, and bears. In 1971, Leonid Ilyich came to hunt in the Gomel region. This time deer were chosen as the object of the hunt. Local rangers helped Leonid Ilyich, and a couple of deer became his trophy. Brezhnev was pleased with the outcome of the successful hunt, but noticed that the deer’s legs were completely green. Puzzled by this phenomenon, he ordered those accompanying him to urgently identify the cause. The information was transferred to the Minsk Research Institute of Zoology. Scientists conducted a study of the deer population living in the Gomel region and established the cause of the strange phenomenon. It turned out that deer constantly chew young hazel branches and then lick their feet. Therefore, the fur on deer legs gradually acquires a greenish tint. At the same time, the properties of hazel were studied and it was revealed that the substances contained in its leaves have a beneficial effect on the vessels of the extremities, thereby relieving inflammation of diseased veins. The data obtained from the experiment by Belarusian scientists was sent to the Leningrad Institute of Experimental Medicine, where an anti-varicose drug called “Phleboton” was created based on hazel extract. Unfortunately, this unique product was not put on free sale. It could be purchased along with other medications only at the government pharmacy. For a long time“Kremlin” wives had the opportunity not to think about varicose veins and spider veins. The drug was jokingly called “Brezhnev’s ointment,” and Leonid Ilyich, among his friends, often recalled the story of his deer hunting and was proud that he had “discovered a new medicine.”
Another passion of Leonid Brezhnev is cars. Brezhnev's name could have entered the Guinness Book of Records if information about his personal car collection had been open: in 1980, the car collection totaled 324 units. His collection included Cadillac, Rolls-Royce, and Mercedes cars. latest model. At that time, only one other person had the same car - Vladimir Vysotsky, bought by him for the fee received for touring in Germany (in order to register his car with the traffic police, Vysotsky had to obtain a personal Brezhnev visa on his application). According to the recollections of the Secretary General’s bodyguard Vladimir Bogomolov, when Leonid Ilyich was sent the first prototype of the Chaika from Gorky as a gift, he personally decided to test the new product. The Secretary General ordered the driver and Bogomolov to sit in the back seat, while he himself sat comfortably behind the wheel and headed from Staraya Square to Rublevskoye Highway. About five kilometers later, a gunman with a striped staff blocked traffic. It turns out that Politburo member Podgorny was being driven towards him. Leonid Ilyich stopped, opened the window and called the young lieutenant: “Are you going to let me through or not?” - Oh, Brezhnev! - the policeman exclaimed and sat down on the asphalt out of fear. - Please pass! - I’ll tell Yura Andropov to promote you in rank! - The Secretary General smiled and sped off at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. He kept his word. A few days later, the officer had another star on his shoulder straps.
Brezhnev had an amazing penchant for awards. After the Great Patriotic War, Major General Brezhnev had only four orders and two medals on his chest. After the war, under Stalin, Brezhnev was awarded the Order of Lenin. For 10 years of Khrushchev's leadership, Brezhnev was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. However, after Brezhnev himself came to lead the country and the party, awards began to fall on him like from a cornucopia. By the end of his life, he had much more orders and medals than Stalin and Khrushchev combined. At the same time, he really wanted to receive military orders. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union four times, which according to its status can only be awarded three times (only G.K. Zhukov was an exception). Dozens of times he received the title of Hero and the highest orders of all socialist countries. He was even awarded orders from Latin American and African countries. Brezhnev was awarded the highest Soviet military order "Victory", which was awarded only to the greatest commanders, and at the same time for outstanding victories on the scale of fronts or groups of fronts. Naturally, with so many highest military awards, Brezhnev could not be satisfied with the rank of lieutenant general. In 1976, Brezhnev was awarded the title of Marshal of the USSR. Brezhnev came to the next meeting with veterans of the 18th Army in a raincoat and, entering the room, commanded: “Attention! The marshal is coming! Throwing off his cloak, he appeared before the veterans in a new marshal's uniform. Pointing to the marshal stars on his shoulder straps, Brezhnev proudly said: “I have achieved the rank!” During the funerals of Soviet leaders, it is customary to carry their awards pinned to small velvet pillows. When Suslov was buried, fifteen senior officers carried his orders and medals behind the coffin. But Brezhnev had more than two hundred orders and medals! It was necessary to attach several orders and medals to each velvet cushion and limit the honorary escort to forty-four senior officers.
What was Leonid Brezhnev like in the eyes of his loved ones, friends, people around him? According to their assessments, Brezhnev was generally a benevolent person; he did not like complications and conflicts either in politics or in personal relationships with his colleagues. When such a conflict did arise, Brezhnev tried to avoid extreme solutions. When there were conflicts within management, very few people retired. Most of the “disgraced” leaders remained in the “nomenklatura”, but only two or three steps lower. He valued his family very much. All issues around the house were resolved by his wife Victoria, whom he married after three years of dating in 1928 and affectionately called Vitya at home. She reciprocated, waiting for him at any time of the day. He loved communication with his family and dishes prepared by his wife. She was distinguished by special tact - she did not interfere in his personal, official, and especially state affairs. This is written in detail in the book of the writer Larisa Vasilyeva “Kremlin Wives”. The Brezhnev couple had two children - son Yuri and daughter Galina. There were rumors about her during her father’s life, and they became even more numerous after his death. Galina Brezhneva was not typical child king There were legends about her drinking sessions, lovers, and lavish lifestyle. “My father used to say that he had to keep an eye on the country with one eye, and Galina with the other,” she said, sharing her memories. Indeed, the daughter was a headache for the Secretary General. She behaved contrary to all the traditions of the party elite - she did what she wanted and how she wanted. They say that this permissiveness of hers was revenge on her father for the fact that in her youth he did not allow her to become an actress. She married for the first time at the age of 22 to the circus acrobat Evgeniy Milaev - a strongman (he worked as the bottom of the pyramid), a handsome man, in the circus he was called “the gentleman.” He was twenty years older than Galina, he had two small children from his first marriage, and she lived with him for ten years, traveling with the circus around the country and the world as a costume designer. Then there was 20-year-old Igor Kio, whom she met when the circus was touring in Japan. They were divorced after nine days of marriage. Galina's third husband was Yuri Churbanov, a police lieutenant colonel. However, as they say, she did not love him and ordered all property to be recorded only in her name. A few years after the wedding, she started and did not hide from her husband the following great love. She became Boris Buryatse, singer, gigolo, gypsy by nationality. Soon he became a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, without performing a single role. And in 1982 he was arrested and sentenced to seven years for profiteering. Died in prison. Buryatse was involved in the theft of diamonds from trainer Irina Bugrimova and artist Zoya Fedorova. And, as it was customary to write, “the threads led to the highest echelons of power,” primarily to Galina. The last years of her life she lived by renting out her dacha and selling things. She died on June 30, 1998, forgotten by everyone. Brezhnev's son, Yuri Leonidovich, served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, then became a trade representative in Sweden.
In December 1974, Brezhnev developed symptoms of cerebral vascular disease, which led to a stroke. He was seriously ill for a long time. The doctors were unable to restore the Secretary General’s ability to work. Since 1975, his slow decline as a person and leader began. He lost his former wit and memory, began to speak and move poorly. L.I. Brezhnev died on November 10, 1982 at the 76th year of his life after 18 years of rule. After Brezhnev's death, a memorial plaque was installed at house 26 on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, where he lived (dismantled in December 1988). Brezhnev era for ordinary people- this is, first of all, a time of stability in all areas of life. And although the standard of living under Brezhnev was low, the stability of these 18 years and confidence in tomorrow remained in the good memory of the people. The scientific and technical intelligentsia, in turn, remembered hard work for a humiliating salary, half the worker’s salary, and subbotniks. And the artistic intelligentsia - bans on creativity, lies of ideologists and quiet repressions.
The material was prepared by the online editors of www.rian.ru based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Leonid Brezhnev - famous political leader, who carried out his active work in Soviet time. He spent almost 20 years at the heights of power in the Soviet Union, first as General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, and then as head of the USSR.
General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Leonid Brezhnev
The "Brezhnev era" was marked by stagnation, as the country's economy was completely destroyed due to failed reforms, which subsequently led to the collapse of the Union. Brezhnev's reign modern Russia is assessed differently in society - some consider it the best ruler XX century, and others even today offer him sarcasm “words of gratitude” for the collapse of the country, which became inevitable following the results of the reign of Leonid Ilyich.
Childhood and youth
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was born on December 19, 1906 in the village of Kolomenskoye in the Yekaterinoslav province, which today has become the Ukrainian metallurgical city of Dneprodzerzhinsk in the Dnepropetrovsk region. His parents, Ilya Yakovlevich and Natalya Denisovna, were ordinary working people. The future leader of the USSR was the first-born in the family; later he had a younger sister, Vera, and a brother, Yakov. The Brezhnev family lived in modest conditions in small apartment, but at the same time the children were surrounded by the love and care of their parents, who tried to compensate them for material benefits with their attention.
Leonid Ilyich’s childhood was essentially not very different from the children of that time; he grew up as an ordinary yard boy who loved to chase pigeons. In 1915 the future political figure He entered a classical gymnasium, and immediately after graduating in 1921 he went to work at an oil mill. In two years labor activity Brezhnev joined the Komsomol and then went to study at a local technical school to become a land surveyor. In 1927, he received a land surveyor diploma, which allowed him to work in his specialty, first in the Kursk province, and then in the Urals as the first deputy head of the district land administration.
In 1930, Leonid Ilyich moved to Moscow, where he entered the local Agricultural Institute of Mechanical Engineering, and a year later transferred to evening studies at the Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Institute. At the time of receipt higher education The future politician simultaneously works as a fireman at the Dnieper Metallurgical Plant. Then he joined the All-Union Communist Party of the Bolsheviks.
Leonid Brezhnev in the army After graduating from the institute in 1935 and receiving an engineering diploma, Leonid Brezhnev went to serve in the army, where he received his first officer rank Lieutenant Having repaid his debt to his homeland, the future head of the USSR returned to his native Dneprodzerzhinsk and became the director of the metallurgical technical school. In 1937, the biography of Leonid Brezhnev completely switched to politics, which he was actively involved in until the end of his days.
Party activities
Leonid Brezhnev's political career began as head of a department of the regional committee of the Communist Party in Dnepropetrovsk. That period of Brezhnev’s activity fell on the years of the Great Patriotic War. Then he took an active part in the mobilization of the Red Army and was involved in the evacuation of the country's industry. He then served in political positions in the active army, for which he was awarded the rank of major general.
In the post-war years, the future head of the USSR was engaged in the restoration of enterprises destroyed during the war, while paying attention to party activities, holding the post of first secretary of the regional committee of the Zaporozhye Communist Party, where he was appointed on the recommendation of the first secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, with whom he had by that time developed a trusting relationship. Friendship with Khrushchev became the “passing ticket” for Brezhnev on the path to power.
While at the top of the Communist Party, Leonid Brezhnev met the then-current head of the USSR, who in 1950 appointed a loyal communist to the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of Moldova. At the same time, the politician became a member of the Presidium of the Party Central Committee and the head of the Main Political Directorate of the Navy and the Soviet Army.
After Stalin's death, Brezhnev lost his job, but in 1954, again under the patronage of Khrushchev, he became secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, in whose position he was engaged in the development of virgin lands and actively took part in preparations for the construction of the Baikonur cosmodrome. Also at that time, the future head of the USSR oversaw the development of space technology in the country and participated in the preparation of the first manned space flight, which was made.
Governing body
Leonid Brezhnev's path to power ended with a conspiracy against Nikita Khrushchev, who was subsequently removed from government and party positions. Then the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee went to Leonid Ilyich, who on his way eliminated all his opponents and placed devoted people in key positions, including Nikolai Tikhonov, Semyon Tsvigun, Nikolai Shchelokov.
Since 1964, with the arrival of Brezhnev, conservative tendencies and gradually growing negativity both in the economy of the USSR and in the social and spiritual life of society returned to the country. The Brezhnev party apparatus saw in its leader the sole defender of the system, therefore the government rejected any reforms in order to preserve the previous regime of power endowed with broad privileges. The country formally returned to the “Leninist” principles of collective leadership, the country’s party apparatus completely subordinated the state apparatus, all ministries became ordinary executors of party decisions, and there were no non-party leaders left in the top leadership.
The growth of bureaucracy and bureaucratic arbitrariness, corruption and embezzlement became the key epithets characterizing the power of the USSR during the years of Brezhnev's rule. The development of the foreign-industrial complex became a special concern of the new ruler, since he did not find solutions to the internal stagnant crisis in society and was completely focused on foreign policy. At the same time, the Union began to again use repressive measures against “dissidents” who tried to protect their rights in the USSR.
The achievements of Leonid Brezhnev during his reign of the Soviet state generally consisted of achieving political détente in the 70s, when agreements were concluded with the United States on the limitation of strategic offensive weapons. He also signed the Helsinki Agreements, which confirmed the integrity of the inviolability of Europe's borders and agreement to non-interference in the internal affairs of foreign states. In 1977, Brezhnev signed the Soviet-French declaration on non-proliferation nuclear weapons.
All these processes were crossed out by the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. The participation of the USSR in the Afghan conflict led to the introduction of an anti-Soviet UN Security Council resolution, as well as sectoral Western sanctions, mainly affecting the gas industry. The USSR's participation in the Afghan conflict lasted almost 10 years and took the lives of about 40 thousand Soviet soldiers. Then the United States announced “ cold war“The USSR, and the Afghan Mujahideen turned into an anti-Soviet war squad led by the American leadership.
Under the leadership of Brezhnev, the USSR also took part in the Vietnam and Middle East military conflicts. During the same period, the head of the Soviet state agreed to the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact countries, and in 1980 he began preparing military intervention in Poland, which significantly worsened the attitude of the world community towards the USSR.
The results of Leonid Brezhnev's reign were reflected in the final collapse of the country's economy, which his successors were unable to restore. At the same time, many today consider the “Brezhnev era” better times for the Soviet people.
Personal life
Leonid Brezhnev's personal life was stable. He was married once, whom he met in 1925 at a dance in the college dormitory. Historians claim that family life The leader of the USSR was calm - his wife took care of the house and children, and he took care of politics.
Over the years life together Victoria gave birth to her husband’s children, Yuri and, who in her youth was one of the most scandalous figures of the Soviet elite. At the same time, there were a lot of legends about Brezhnev’s love affairs, which were never confirmed in modern history.
The Secretary General was distracted from everyday work by hunting and cars. Brezhnev left home almost every weekend to disconnect from everyday problems, which on weekdays he experienced exclusively with the help of calming tablets, without which I could not live and work. He also regularly went to all kinds of theatrical productions and circus performances, attended sports matches and even attended the ballet. Such an “active” vacation became an outlet for Leonid Ilyich, who found himself in complete power political system of that time, requiring complete dedication from the leader.
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev rose to the heights of power from the very bottom of the workers, so he clearly understood what a hard life was. He was not wasteful, he transferred every penny he earned to a savings book, and his needs were no different from an ordinary “little” person. At the same time, he did everything possible so that for the first time the Soviet people would put on normal shoes and clothes, get housing and household appliances, purchased personal cars and improved their diet. This is why people are nostalgic for the Brezhnev era, when the country began to pay increased attention improving the well-being of ordinary people.
Death
Leonid Brezhnev died on November 10, 1982 from sudden cardiac arrest during sleep. The death of the leader of the USSR occurred at the state dacha "Zarechye-6" and shocked the entire Soviet Union, which plunged into mourning for several days. According to historians, Brezhnev’s health began to fail from the beginning of 1970, when the Secretary General practically did not sleep for days due to the Prague Spring.
Even then, during meetings, one could notice a violation of his diction, which was associated with the uncontrolled use of sedatives. At the end of 1974, the Soviet leader’s comrades realized that Leonid Ilyich was “ending up” as an independent politician, since the work of his apparatus was entirely concentrated in the hands of Konstantin Chernenko, who had a facsimile, as well as the ability to put stamps under government documents with Brezhnev's signature.
At the same time, the first person to learn about Brezhnev’s death was Yuri Andropov, who was the second person in the country after Leonid Ilyich. He instantly arrived at the scene of the Secretary General’s death and immediately took Brezhnev’s briefcase, in which the politician kept incriminating evidence on all members of the Politburo. Only a day later did he allow the public to be notified of the death of the head of the USSR.
Leonid Brezhnev was buried on November 15, 1982 on Red Square near the Kremlin wall in Moscow. Leaders of 35 countries from all over the world attended his funeral, which made the farewell to the Secretary General the most magnificent and pompous after Stalin’s funeral. A lot of people were present at the funeral of the Soviet leader, some of whom could not hold back their tears and sincerely regretted the death of Leonid Ilyich.
In the 70s, the USSR favorably differed from many other states in that it produced almost everything: from launch vehicles to underwear. And even though the products were often unsightly, and the clothes were far from fashion standards, but, as they say, one’s shirt is closer to the body.By 1980, the Soviet Union by volume industrial production and agriculture ranked 1st in Europe and 2nd in the world, second only to the USA. For example, we produced the most cement in the world, and Soviet agricultural machinery, although far from perfect, was exported to 40 countries. Accusations that during Brezhnev’s time “it was hungry and cold” are not entirely true. Yes, it was impossible to predict what would disappear from store shelves once again. Scarcity and cronyism became the norms of life for Soviet people. Free to buy smoked sausage or buckwheat in the provinces was a little difficult, but still possible. In addition, there was a hospitable and hospitable capital, where one could “sleep” and “shop.” And how luxurious the New Year’s table seemed with sausage, green peas brought from the capital and the “Spider Web” obtained “in an unequal battle”!
I wrote in the “Share your news” section Gerasim:
Brezhnev era or best years THE USSR. I propose to remember a man, under whose leadership over 18 years the level of population consumption increased 2.5 times and the power of the country increased by the same amount.
Second Ilyich. Leonid Brezhnev and his great era
On November 10, 1982, the Soviet Union shuddered with forebodings. USSR television, which is faithful to the schedule of television programs to the same extent as airliners carrying top officials of the state are faithful to the schedule of movement, suddenly did not show a gala concert dedicated to Police Day.
In modern times, it’s the same as if Andrei Malakhov’s program and KVN were not aired at the same time without explanation. And when late in the evening the announcer, finishing his broadcast, suddenly did not announce the program for the next day, it became clear that something out of the ordinary had happened.
The next morning, the whole country learned that the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Leonid Brezhnev had died.
The most beautiful leader
The man who led the country for 18 years has passed away. The hero of numerous jokes, a politician with whom the concept of “the era of stagnation” is firmly associated.
For three days the country was plunged into mourning. Then the state of mourning will become familiar - one by one, elderly and sick Soviet politicians will pass away. However, it was Brezhnev's death that caused a real sense of depression in society.
The country understood that an era had passed, and it was unclear what would replace it. An acquaintance of mine, who was serving in the army at that time, recalled the feeling of confusion and even slight fear that gripped him and his colleagues in those days. “How will we continue?” – a silent question hung in the air.
When in 1964, after the dismissal of Nikita Khrushchev from the post of First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, 58-year-old Leonid Brezhnev took his place, most leading Soviet party leaders perceived him as a temporary, transitional figure.
Leonid Brezhnev led the USSR from 1964 to 1982. Photo: www.russianlook.com
Brezhnev did not stand out for his charisma, was not a major ideologist or an outstanding economic figure. Overseeing the space program from the CPSU Central Committee, the future Secretary General was never a key figure in this project. And Nikita Khrushchev himself considered the appointment of Leonid Ilyich as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1960 to strengthen his own power.
Brezhnev did not seem to anyone a figure capable of playing his own political game.
Perhaps what Brezhnev really could not be denied was personal charm. In 1952, Joseph Stalin himself drew attention to the handsome man in the corridors of power. . “What a handsome Moldovan!” – the leader said, looking at the head of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Moldova, Leonid Brezhnev. Stalin made only one mistake: the future Secretary General was from Ukraine. But the beauty of young Brezhnev was appreciated not only by Joseph Vissarionovich, but also by women, whose attention Leonid Ilyich was not deprived of until his very last days.
But Brezhnev, who for the time being played a secondary role, took full advantage of his chance. Leonid Ilyich turned out to be a master of subtle political intrigue, with the help of which he managed to get rid of all competitors, placing people loyal to him in the most important positions.
The era of rapid “stagnation”.
The times of Brezhnev were truly “vegetarian”: the overthrown Khrushchev, albeit under the supervision of the special services, quietly and peacefully ended his days in the status of a personal pensioner of union importance. Other outplayed competitors were relegated to third roles, but did not progress through the stage and were not relegated to the status of “enemies of the people.”
After the revolutionary-military upheavals, industrialization, collectivization of the Stalinist period, after the massive construction of communism during the Khrushchev era, Leonid Brezhnev brought both the elite and the country as a whole what they craved most of all - stability.
Development did not stop altogether, but became smoother and more balanced. It was during the reign of Leonid Brezhnev that the Soviet Union reached the second, or even the first level in the world in most economic indicators. Eighth Five-Year Plan - from 1966 to 1970. - turned out to be the most successful in all the years of the existence of the planned economy of the USSR. It was under Brezhnev that the head of government became Alexey Kosygin, whose economic reforms were aimed at increasing the efficiency, profitability and financial independence of enterprises.
It was during this period of time that the state became closely involved in improving the well-being of citizens.
The issues of increasing output and improving the quality of consumer goods became one of the key issues during the Brezhnev era.
Leonid Brezhnev and Alexey Kosygin on the podium of the mausoleum, 1976. Photo: www.russianlook.com
During the 18 years of Brezhnev's rule, the USSR economy grew two and a half times, state spending on social expenses increased three times, and the growth of real consumption of the population increased two and a half times. It was under Leonid Brezhnev that the pace of housing construction in the USSR reached 60 million square meters in year. We must not forget the fact that we are talking about free housing, which the state provided to those on the waiting list, and did not sell it at prices unaffordable to the majority.
Under Brezhnev, electricity production in the country increased threefold, large-scale gasification of housing was carried out - the number of apartments with gas stoves increased from 3 to 40 million.
It was during the Brezhnev period that the development of Siberian oil and gas fields began, the creation of a system of export oil and gas pipelines, which to this day serve as the main source of filling the state budget.
The list of results of the rapid development of the USSR under the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev can be continued indefinitely.
We should not forget that it was during this period that the Soviet Union reached the pinnacle of its power in the international arena, moving from confrontation to peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the West.
Late recognition
The main thing that Brezhnev gave the country was confidence in the future. Eternal self-sacrifice for the sake of the future faded into the background, and the possibility of a prosperous existence here and now appeared.
But the last phrase is always remembered. The policy of “personnel stability” announced by Brezhnev had back side– aging managers remained in their positions even when the effectiveness of their activities fell to almost zero.
The Secretary General himself became a victim of this “stability” - an aging and seriously ill man, who himself raised the question of his resignation, turned out to be a puppet in the hands of his entourage. The desire to preserve their own position turned out to be more important for them than the prospects for the country's development.
While the ill Brezhnev, who had fallen into senile sentimentality, with childish spontaneity rejoiced at new awards and titles, clouds were already gathering over the country.
The needs of the population, which had acquired material wealth, grew faster than the capabilities of the economy. Party officials, disdaining state ideology, actively engaged in personal enrichment.
The once handsome Brezhnev, turning into a ruin, into last years became a national laughing stock and the hero of endless jokes. The “vegetarian time” did not threaten their authors with severe punishment, and folklore flourished in all its glory:
“Politburo meeting. Brezhnev stands up and says:
– I propose to award Comrade Brezhnev the order posthumously.
They tell him:
- So you haven’t died yet!
Brezhnev answers:
“And in the meantime I’ll vilify him like that.”
Funeral of Leonid Brezhnev, November 10, 1982. Photo: www.russianlook.com
Much later it will become clear: they were laughing not at the unfortunate old man, exhausted by illness, but at the system, which turned out to be unable to stop the presence of a virtually incompetent person in the highest government post.
To be honest, the country was waiting for the death of Leonid Brezhnev, just as his exhausted relatives were waiting for the death of his long and seriously ill grandfather.
When this finally happened, citizens, having seen off the Secretary General on his last journey, began to expect changes for the better.
How expensive the peace that the Brezhnev era gave people is worth will become clear only after the great upheavals of perestroika, the collapse of the USSR and the “dashing 90s.” Three decades later, Russians, who have sensed the difference, recognize Leonid Brezhnev as one of the best leaders in the history of the country in various opinion polls.