Composition of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev: list

The political bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was created in October 1917 by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who vested him with the authority of political leadership through an armed coup. The members of this leading link of the Communist Party were a real party elite, possessing immunity and having a tremendous influence not only on party politics, but also on the life of the vast Soviet Union. In fact, we can confidently call the top leadership of the Soviet Union the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee under Brezhnev. The composition (photo below) included a total of 27 people, each of whom had a significant impact on the fate of the Union of Soviets.

Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich spent a long period as Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee (1966-1982). The Politburo under Brezhnev included the most influential political figures of the Soviet Union of that time, which will be discussed in this article.

Composition of the Political Bureau of 1966

The composition of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev in 1966 totaled 11 people:

1. Brezhnev Leonid.
2. Voronov Nikolay.
3. Polyansky Dmitry.
4. Suslov Michael.
5. Mazurov Kirill.
6. Kosygin Alexey.
7. Kirilenko Andrey.
8. Podgorny Nikolay.
9. Pelsche Arvid.
10. Shelepin Alexander.
11. Rustle Peter.

In the early years of the reign, only eleven members were members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev. The composition, age and photos of the members of the Politburo of the next years are of considerable interest, since this distinctive elite club is filled with the brightest politicians of their time.

Politburo in 1971

Over time, there was an increase in the members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee under Brezhnev. The composition of 1971 consisted of 15 people:

1. Brezhnev Leonid.
2. Voronov Nikolay.
3. Grishin Victor.
4. Kirilenko Andrey.
5. Kosygin Alexey.
6. Kulakov Fedor.
7. Kunaev Dinmukhamed.
8. Mazurov Kirill.
9. Pelsche Arvid.
10. Podgorny Nikolay.
11. Polyansky Dmitry.
12. Suslov Michael.
13. Shelepin Alexander.
14. Rustle Peter.
15. Scherbitsky Vladimir.

Composition of the Politburo in 1976

1. Brezhnev Leonid.
2. Andropov Yuri.
3. Grechko Andrey.
4. Grishin Victor.
5. Gromyko Andrey.
6. Kirilenko Andrey.
7. Kosygin Alexey.
8. Kulakov Fedor.
9. Kunaev Dinmukhamed.
10. Mazurov Kirill.
11. Pelsche Arvid.
12. Podgorny Nikolay.
13. Romanov Gregory.
14. Suslov Michael.
15. Ustinov Dmitry.
16. Scherbitsky Vladimir.

1981 lineup changes

The Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev, whose composition until 1981 remained unchanged, was radically rebuilt. The changes affected not only the current policy, but also the structure of the central committee. The current membership included:

1. Brezhnev Leonid.
2. Andropov Yuri.
3. Gorbachev Mikhail.
4. Grishin Victor.
5. Grechko Andrey.
6. Kirilenko Andrey.
7. Kunaev Dinmukhamed.
8. Pelsche Arvid.
9. Romanov Gregory.
10. Suslov Michael.
11. Tikhonov Nikolay.
12. Ustinov Dmitry.
13. Chernenko Konstantin.
14. Scherbitsky Vladimir.

1982 events

The composition of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev in 1982 underwent major changes, since 1982 was marked by a tragic event. March 23 in Tashkent, Leonid Ilyich visited the aircraft factory. A large crowd overflowed the bridges, and they fell right on him, causing a collarbone fracture. The tragedy shook Leonid Ilyich’s health completely and irrevocably, the collarbone did not grow together and the Secretary-General had to overcome severe pain by conducting meetings. November 10, he was gone. The composition of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev in 1982 lost two influential politicians - Mikhail Suslov and Leonid Brezhnev.

1. Andropov Yuri (Secretary General of the Central Committee of 11/12/1982).
2. Brezhnev Leonid (passed away on November 10, 1982).
3. Gorbachev Mikhail.
4. Grishin Victor.
5. Gromyko Andrey.
6. Aliyev Heydar.
7. Kunaev Dinmukhamed.
8. Pelsche Arvid.
9. Romanov Gregory.
10. Suslov Michael (passed away January 25, 1982).
11. Tikhonov Nikolay.
12. Ustinov Dmitry.
13. Chernenko Konstantin.
14. Scherbitsky Vladimir.

The five most important

Among some modern political scientists there is an opinion that the main problems and issues were considered in the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev 5 main members.

The Politburo resolved the most important issues - political, economic, party. The Secretariat of the Central Committee was engaged in the preparation of these questions, and specially created commissions were involved in resolving individual problems. The political bureau consisted of the five main members of the Central Committee, the remaining members had the right only to an advisory vote at meetings.

Who was in the “elite five” of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev, at what age did he get into it?

Suslov Mikhail Andreevich (years of life 1902-1982). He became a member of the Politburo twice: the first - even under Stalin I.V., the second - in 1955, at the age of 53 years, and he was until his death. The main ideologist of the country, Suslov, when he was a member of the Politburo under Brezhnev of the USSR, was the chief controller and curator of the departments of culture, science, agitation, and education. Responsible for censorship. Stalin's confidante, the cleverest and dodgy politician, he bore the nickname of the “gray cardinal” and “the man in galoshes”. Had a huge impact on the country's politics. According to rumors, even Comrade Brezhnev himself did not dare to argue with Mikhail Andreevich.

Podgorny Nikolay Viktorovich (1903-1983 gg.). He was in the Politburo for more than 17 years - from 1960 to 1977. He served as Chairman of the Presidium of the BC CCCP during the reign of Brezhnev. This meant that Podgorny, a politician who was hardly noticeable and had little influence, could be called the “head of state.” Realizing this, Nikolai Viktorovich loved when journalists, interviewing, called him nothing more than “the president of the Soviet Union”. Brezhnev did not like this fact, and in 1977 the 74-year-old Podgorny was ousted, combining his position with the post of Secretary General.

Kosygin Alexey Nikolaevich (years of life 1904-1980). He was introduced into the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev (since 1960), and was in it almost to death. He was a kind of record holder - he was the chairman of the Council of Ministers for a long sixteen years, at the same time moving to small posts in the Politburo. Carried out activities in the field of economics - carried out reforms in the planning system. After two heart attacks, at the age of 76, Aleksey Nikolayevich was removed from the Political Bureau under Brezhnev.

Pelshe Arvid Yanovich (years of life 1899-1983). Latvian Communist, was admitted to the Politburo in 1966, at the age of 67. Retired due to death. He controlled the observance of party discipline in the position of Chairman of the Party Control Committee. Arvid Yanovich is also known for writing multi-volume works on the history of the CPSU, recommended at that time for compulsory reading in universities.

Ustinov Dmitry Fedorovich (years of life 1908-1984). Member of the Politburo from 1976 until his death. He died at the age of 76. From 1941 to 1945 he served as the People's Commissar of Armaments, in 1976 he held the high post of Minister of Defense. Not being a military man, he bore the rank of Marshal. He is credited with the main role in the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. He had every chance to become at the helm of the country as the new General Secretary in connection with the death of Brezhnev, but lost the championship to Andropov, Yuri Vladimirovich.

List of other members

Throughout the existence of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev, the composition, the list of members of which is presented in the table, regularly changed, forming the structure of the main administrative body of the country.

Brief curriculum vitae

Each member who has ever been a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev (composition, age, photos of which are presented in a brief curriculum vitae), made a serious contribution to the development of a great power.

Leonid Brezhnev

Born in 1906 in the village of Kamensky (Ukraine). He studied at the gymnasium, reclamation technical school, and the Institute of Metallurgy. Succeeded in a party career. The Second World War was fought by Leonid Brezhnev as a political worker.

In 1960, he headed the BC CCCP. As a result of the resignation of Khrushchev, in the preparation for which he took an active part, he became First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee in 1964, and in 1966 - General Secretary. Contemporaries characterized Leonid Ilyich as a friendly, polite person, an executive and conservative official.

During Brezhnev’s stay at the helm, national gross income grew, some industries developed, but at the same time bureaucracy developed and the beginning of the USSR’s participation in the Afghan war was begun.

Mikhail Suslov

Date of birth - 11/21/1902 years. Place of birth: Shakhovskaya village, Saratov province. The family in which Mikhail Suslov was born was from the poorest layers of peasants, and the opportunity to learn and develop with a young man appeared only with the advent of Soviet power.

Active work in the field of the party, moving to Moscow and further promotion along the party line lead to the fact that at a fairly young age - about forty years old, Suslov takes up the post of secretary of the Stavropol Regional Committee. Actively implements Stalinist politics and as a result becomes the chief ideologist of the Union - the editor of the newspaper Pravda. Until the end of his life (until 1982) he was a member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee under Brezhnev.

Arvid Pelshe

Born in Latvia in 1899, in January, in a family of peasants. He was a simple worker in Riga, at the same time joined the ranks of the Social Democratic Party of Latvia. Actively led revolutionary propaganda. Active participant in the 1917 revolution.

The entire subsequent career of Arvid Yanovich was associated with party and teaching activities in the Red Army and the Navy. During the war he trained party members. He occupied a leading role in the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU under Brezhnev, a composition whose list of members largely depended on the opinion of Pelshe.

Alexey Kosygin

Born in St. Petersburg in 1904. He served in the army, then received a diploma from the Leningrad Textile Institute.

He went from master to director of the factory "October". In 1939 he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU (B.). From that moment, the party career of Alexei Nikolaevich began to grow. During the war, he led the Commissariat of the Civil Defense Committee and participated in the construction of the "Road of Life" from besieged Leningrad. A year after the victory over the Nazis, he was elected Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the CCCP and a member of the Politburo. Due to poor health, he was relieved of his posts and died in 1980.

Nikolai Voronov

He was born in 1899 in the family of a bank employee, who then became a teacher in the village. Externally, he graduated from eight classes of a gymnasium; since 1917 he worked in the banking sector. Volunteer went to the army in the artillery troops, participated in the Civil War. Was injured. He graduated from the Higher Artillery School, then the PKKA Military Academy named after Mikhail Frunze.

During the war, in 1943, commanded artillery. Nikolai Voronov, the first in the history of the USSR, was awarded the title of Marshal of Artillery and Chief Marshal of Artillery. Repeatedly visited the front as a representative of the Supreme Commander’s headquarters. The personnel military, courageous and skillful commander Nikolai Nikolaevich Voronov was awarded with many awards, including the Order of Lenin and the medal “Three-armed 3-star”

Dmitry Polyansky

He was born into a peasant family living in the city of Slavyanoserbsk, Luhansk region. Being active by nature, participated in the public life of the city, was interested in party ideology. After graduating from the Kharkov Agricultural Institute, he enlisted in the army. Having been demobilized, he begins his studies at the Higher Party School, at the same time leading the regional commissariat of the Komsomol.

During the war he works in the rear. He manifests himself as an outstanding leader, always looking for innovative solutions to issues. After 1945, he was involved in agricultural growth in Orenburg. Companion N.S. Khrushchev, Polyansky is successfully moving up the party ladder and since 1958 he has been appointed Chairman of the CCCP Council of Ministers. With the advent of power, Brezhnev first engaged in agriculture as Minister of Agriculture, and then served as ambassador to Japan and Norway.

Kirill Mazurov

He was born in 1914 in the village of Rudnya, Gomel region, in a large family, where he was the youngest. He was distinguished by curiosity and the ability to learn - at six years old he could already read and write. After graduating from school, he entered the road college. He dreamed of a career as a pilot, but it did not work out due to poor vision. After serving in the army, in the railway troops, he became an instructor in the political department of the Belarusian railway.

During the war he became the organizer of the partisan movement in Belarus. After the war, he continued his ascent up the party ladder - from the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus to the First Assistant to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. An extraordinary and courageous man, Kirill Trofimovich in peace years was engaged in the rehabilitation of partisan commanders who came under suspicion of treason. He received his resignation in the late 70s. He died in 1989.

Andrey Kirilenko

He was born in 1906 in the Voronezh province in the village of Alekseevka in a family engaged in handicrafts. He graduated from the Alekseevskaya vocational school, worked in the mine, constantly engaged in party and trade union work. He graduated from the Rybinsk ATI. Member of the CPSU since 1931.

The party line has come a long way to the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Bureau of the CPSU Central Committee, Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. He was a curator of industry and one of the candidates for the post of General Secretary after Brezhnev. In connection with the death of Leonid Ilyich, he was retired with honors.

Nikolai Podgorny

Born in the family of a casting worker in 1903 in the village of Karlovka in Ukraine. He worked in mechanical workshops, together with other initiative people participated in the creation of the Komsomol organization in Karlovka.

In 1939, Nikolai Viktorovich became deputy commissar of the Food Industry of the Ukrainian CCP. In 1940 - Deputy Commissar of the Food Industry. After the war, he created the organs of Soviet power in areas of Ukraine freed from the Nazis, organized the supply of food to the population. As the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ukrainian SSR, Nikolai Podgorny carried out work to restore the destroyed economy and improve the welfare of the people. An experienced party worker, he devoted much time and effort to developing the CPSU course and putting it into practice. Marked with numerous awards for services to the Communist Party.

Alexander Shelepin

Born in August 1918 in the city of Voronezh. Alexander's father worked as a civil servant. Received higher education at MIFLI. During the Second World War, he recruited youth cadres for partisan detachments.

After the war, first became secretary, and then headed the Komsomol. He supervised the preparation and conduct of the Sixth World Festival of Youth and Students. In 1958, Khrushchev appointed Shelepin the head of the State Security Committee. Alexander Nikolaevich completely reorganized the work of the KGB, dismissing an unprecedented number of employees, replacing them with party and Komsomol workers. In 1961, Shelepin was elected to the post of Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. It is considered the main organizer of the conspiracy against Nikita Khrushchev. He became a member of the Politburo under Brezhnev in 1964. In July 1967 he was demoted and soon by intrigue removed from the Politburo.

Peter Shelest

Born in the village of Andreevka, Kharkov province, in a family of poor peasants. He studied at the Zemstvo school for four years, after which he worked on the railroad and served as a postman. Joined the Komsomol. Member of the party since 1928. Since 1940 he was sent to party work.

During the war he was engaged in reprofiling industrial enterprises for the production of military products. In the early sixties he was elected first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Actively participated in the organization of the dismissal from the post of Khrushchev. He was rewarded for his efforts - he joined the Politburo. He actively defended the economic interests of Ukraine, while supporting folk art. He was officially removed from the Politburo due to his retirement. He fought for the independence of Ukraine, after the resignation he visited Kiev with public speaking. He died in 1996.

Victor Grishin

Born in the city of Serpukhov, Moscow Region in September 1914. After graduating from a railway school in Serpukhov, he studied at the Moscow Geodetic College. After serving in the army, where he served as deputy political director, he continued to advance along the party line.

In 1956 he took the post of Chairman of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, in 1967 became the First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU. For the professionalism shown in the leadership of the party organization in Moscow, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.

Fedor Kulakov

Born in a peasant family in 1918. Place of birth - the village of Fitizh, Lgovsky district, Kursk region. By education an agronomist, he graduated from the Rylsky Agricultural College in 1939. Since 1941, he was engaged in party work, reaching the post of deputy minister of the Union of Artists of the RSFSR in 1955, and in 1959 - the Minister of Bread Products of the RSFSR. He served as head of the agricultural department of the Central Committee of the CPSU. He was on friendly terms with Brezhnev L.I. He died suddenly in 1978.

Dinmukhamed Kunaev

Born in 1912 in Kazakhstan, in a family of hereditary breeders. He studied well at school and college. The party worker began his career as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan. He supported and successfully implemented the policy of the CPSU Central Committee, headed by Leonid Brezhnev, whose loyal ally he was. In 1952, Dinmukhamed Kunaev was admitted in 1971 as a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. He was removed from all posts in 1986-1987. He died in 1993.

Vladimir Scherbitsky

Born in 1918 in the family of a Ukrainian worker. In his youth he was an active Komsomol member. He is a mechanical engineer by his higher education. At the beginning of the war he studied at the Military Academy of Chemical Protection, then served as a tanker in the Caucasus. After demobilization, he was engaged in party work, first in the city committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, then as secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. From 1961 to 1963 he was Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR. Since 1955, a deputy of the BC Ukrainian SSR, and since 1958 - the USSR. Member of the Presidium of BC Ukrainian CCP and CCCP. An active and active politician, prevented the development of the nationalist movement in Ukraine, actively developed the economy and culture. He was criticized for concealing the circumstances of the Chernobyl accident. He resigned at the insistence of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Yuri Andropov

Date of birth - 06/15/1914. My father worked on the railway in the Stavropol Territory, his mother taught music in a female gymnasium. Yuri studied well at school. After graduating, he continued his studies at a technical school and then at the correspondence department of the higher Party School under the Central Committee of the CPSU. Having started his career as a simple worker, two years later he became First Secretary of the Komsomol Regional Committee in Yaroslavl. After the Finnish war, he organized Komsomol cells in the Karelian-Finnish Republic. His successful work in this field was noticed by party leaders in Moscow, and in 1950 Yuri Vladimirovich was transferred to the post of inspector of the Central Committee in Moscow, and then sent to Hungary as an ambassador. In the spring of 1967, Andropov was appointed Chairman of the KGB. Over the 15 years of his work in this position, Andropov has been striving for the huge influence of the KGB on all spheres of life in the USSR. The fight against corruption was actively carried out in the highest spheres of power. After the death of Brezhnev, it was Andropov who was appointed Secretary General. He ruled the country with a firm hand, in which he met support among ordinary people. He died in 1984.

Andrey Grechko

Born in 1903 in the village of Golodaevka, Kuibyshevsky District, Rostov Region. Personnel military, since 1939 - Head of the Special Cavalry Division BOBO. During the Second World War he commanded a cavalry division, since 1942 - commander. He served as deputy commander of the troops of the Voronezh Front in October 1943. In 1945, Andrei Antonovich Grechko was awarded the title of Marshal of the USSR. Since 1957 - First Deputy Minister of Defense, since 1967 - Minister of Defense, member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee. He died in 1976.

Andrey Gromyko

Born in July 1909 in the village of Stary Gromyki, Mogilev province. He worked from the age of 13 on rafting, along with his father. He studied successfully, for his activity he was first the secretary of the Komsomol and then the party cell. Graduated from Minsk Economic Institute. He worked as a director of a rural school. As one of the most active young people, he was sent to study at the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR as a graduate student, then transferred to Moscow. Constantly engaged in self-education, even thought about the career of a military pilot, but did not pass by age. In 1939, he got into diplomatic work, as he knew English. It was of proletarian origin, that is, it arranged the Central Committee of the party in many ways. He was an exceptionally competent diplomat, respected for his professionalism and clear position. In 1957, Andrei Gromyko became Minister of Foreign Affairs for a long 28 years. He died in 1989.

Grigory Romanov

He was born in 1923 in the village of Zikhnovo, Novgorod Region, in a family of peasants. The war was a signalman, since 1944 - a member of the party. Higher education of the Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute. He developed a career on the party line - in 1970 he became First Secretary of the Leningrad Regional Committee of the CPSU. For twenty years, a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU, being part of the Politburo, oversaw the military-industrial complex. He was a tough and uncompromising leader. He retired after being appointed to the post of Secretary General M.S. Gorbachev. Personal pensioner. He died in 2008.

Dmitry Ustinov

Born in Samara in 1908 in the poorest and largest peasant family. Worked since 10 years, at the same time studied at the locksmith. At the age of 14, he connected his fate with the army, joining the ranks of the defenders of the Soviet regime from the Basmachi bandits in Uzbekistan, where his family moved to flee from hunger and poverty. At 19, he joined the Bolshevik Party. Received a diploma in higher education in Leningrad. He built his career quickly - shortly before the start of the war he became the People's Commissar of Arms of the Soviet Union. He developed the military industry in the rear, was sincerely devoted to the party, for which he was awarded the title of Major General. After the war, he remained in the post of Minister of Defense until his death in 1984.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The peasant son, Mikhail Gorbachev was born in 1931 in the Stavropol Territory. From an early age he worked in the field. Silver medalist, after graduation, he entered the law faculty of Moscow State University. He joined the Komsomol at the university, and after receiving a diploma of higher education, he began working as secretary of the Stavropol city committee of the Komsomol. He also received the specialty of an economist-agronomist. Successfully developing along the party line, Mikhail Sergeyevich soon finds himself in Moscow, and his future fate will be inextricably linked with the capital. By 1978, becoming a member of the CPSU, in the role of Secretary of the Central Committee, he was in charge of the Union’s agriculture. He is a member of the Politburo under Brezhnev.

Nikolai Tikhonov

Born in 1905 in the Moscow region, the village of Petrovo-Dalnee. Nikolai's father worked as an engineer. The son followed in his footsteps - having studied at the College of Railway Engineering, and then at the Metallurgical Institute, he worked as an engineer in Dnepropetrovsk. During the war he was director of metallurgical plants, after which he was responsible for the pipe industry as Minister of Ferrous Metallurgy. A sharp increase in career began after Brezhnev came to power, with whom Tikhonov had personally known since 1930. Vice Prime Minister of the Union Government, member of the CPSU Central Committee, First Deputy Prime Minister, and since 1979 - member of the Politburo. In 1980, Tikhonov occupied the high post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the CCCP. He was distinguished by purposefulness and rejection of intrigue. He left his post with the advent of M. S. Gorbachev.

Konstantin Chernenko

Born in September 1911 in the village of Bolshaya Tes, Yenisei Province. Since childhood, he worked a lot. Having become a Komsomol member in 1929, he works in the agitation department of the local organization of the Komsomol. In 1930 he entered the service in the border detachment of the NKVD and soon became its commander. Then he enters the ranks of the Bolshevik party. During the Great Patriotic War he graduated from the Higher Party School, then worked as a secretary of the regional party committee in Penza. After some time, Konstantin Chernenko will be transferred to Moldova, where he will meet Leonid Brezhnev. The party career of Konstantin Ustinovich sharply went up, and in 1978 he became a member of the Politburo. He was elected Secretary General of the CPSU Central Committee after the death of Andropov, but remained in this position for a little over a year. He died in 1985.

Heydar Aliyev

Born in 1923 in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan SSR, died in America in 2003. He was the fourth child in a large family of a worker on the railway. In total, Heydar's parents had eight children. He graduated from a pedagogical college, planned to continue his education at the architectural department of the Institute of Industry in Baku, but the war prevented it. Since 1941, Aliyev has been working in the state security organs: first as a head of the department of the NKVD. After completing advanced training courses and joining the ranks of the CPSU (b), he becomes the head of the Fifth Directorate of the Ministry of State Security of Azerbaijan CCP. He excelled in the field of foreign intelligence. In 1969 he was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR, achieved success in the fight against corruption at the top. During the reign of Aliyev, Azerbaijan has achieved significant economic growth. He was a curator of mechanical engineering, light industry, and transport industry. After his resignation in 1990, he returned to his homeland.