Leonid Brezhnev

NAME Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Leonid Brezhnev is famous for being the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964 until his death in 1982, a period known as the Brezhnev Era, marked by significant political, military, and economic events, including the Cold War, détente with the West, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

BIRTH Leonid Brezhnev was born on December 19, 1906, in Kamenskoye, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire (now Kamianske, Ukraine).

FAMILY BACKGROUND Brezhnev was born into a working-class family. His father, Ilya Yakovlevich Brezhnev, was a metalworker, and his mother, Natalia Denisovna Mazalova, was a housewife.

At different times during his life, Brezhnev specified his ethnic origin alternately as either Ukrainian or Russian, opting for the latter as he rose within the Communist Party.

CHILDHOOD Brezhnev's childhood was modest, reflecting the tough economic conditions of early 20th-century Russia. He grew up in a predominantly industrial environment which influenced his later political leanings towards the working class.

EDUCATION Brezhnev attended the Kamenskoye Metallurgical Technicum and later studied at the Dniprodzerzhynsk Metallurgical Institute, where he graduated as a metallurgical engineer in 1935.

CAREER RECORD

Brezhnev started his career as a land surveyor before moving into industrial management and Communist Party work. Here's his resume:

Joined the Communist Party in 1929

Rose through the ranks of the party apparatus in Ukraine

Served as political commissar in the Red Army during World War II

Became General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1964

Also held the position of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (head of state) for various periods

APPEARANCE Brezhnev had a stocky build with a round face, distinctive thick eyebrows and thinning dark hair. He developed a more portly appearance later in life. 

Brezhnev June 1972 By Anefo Wikipedia

FASHION His fashion was typical of Soviet officials of his era, often seen in military uniforms or conservative suits adorned with numerous medals and decorations.

CHARACTER Brezhnev was known for his cautious and conservative approach to governance, preferring stability and gradual change over radical reforms. He was often criticized for his lack of charisma and growing rigidity in later years

SENSE OF HUMOUR Brezhnev's sense of humor was considered dry and understated. He was not known for being particularly jovial in public, though those close to him noted a more relaxed demeanor in private settings.

RELATIONSHIPS Brezhnev married Viktoria Petrovna Brezhneva (née Denisova) in 1928. They had two children, Galina and Yuri. During Brezhnev's General Secretaryship, Viktoria remained at the sidelines; she did not like attracting public attention and their family life was kept relatively private.

Leonid and Viktoria Brezhnev as a young couple, 1926

MONEY AND FAME As a high-ranking Soviet official, Brezhnev enjoyed privileges and a standard of living far above that of the average citizen, although he did not amass personal wealth in the capitalist sense. 

Brezhnev achieved immense political power and international recognition as Soviet leader.

FOOD AND DRINK Brezhnev had a taste for traditional Russian cuisine and was known to enjoy a drink, particularly vodka, which was common among Soviet leaders of his time.

MUSIC AND ARTS He had a limited public association with music and the arts, though he supported Soviet cultural policies that promoted socialist realism.

LITERATURE Brezhnev authored several memoirs and books that were published during his time in office, which were often criticized as propaganda.

Brezhnev was awarded the Lenin Prize for Literature. He received this prestigious award in 1979 for his memoirs, which were published as part of a series of autobiographical works. The series included Little Land (Malaya Zemlya), Rebirth (Vozrozhdenie), and The Virgin Lands (Tselina). These works were celebrated in the Soviet Union for their depiction of his wartime experiences, although some might say they were also a tad propagandistic. But in the end, they earned him a prestigious literary prize, adding an unexpected feather to the cap of a leader more commonly associated with tanks and tractors than with tomes and tales.

NATURE Brezhnev had a fondness for hunting, which was a popular pastime among Soviet elites. He enjoyed spending time at his dacha, a country home, where he could engage with nature.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Brezhnev enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing dominoes. He also had a keen interest in automobiles and was an avid collector of cars, both Soviet and foreign models.

He supported Spartak Moscow football club and often attended their games.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Brezhnev supported Soviet advancements in science and technology, including the space program, although he was not a scientist himself.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Brezhnev adhered to Marxist-Leninist ideology and was an atheist, in line with the Communist Party's stance on religion.

POLTICAL BELIEFS Leonid Brezhnev was the General Secretary of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from October 14, 1964, until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term was second only to Joseph Stalin in duration, which is saying something considering the tumultuous nature of Soviet leadership.

Brezhnev was a staunch advocate of Marxist-Leninist principles, a set of beliefs that included the dictatorship of the proletariat, the abolition of private property, and the establishment of a classless, stateless society. In other words, he wanted to create a utopia where everyone was equal, although the methods to achieve this were often less than idyllic.

Known for his conservatism, Brezhnev prioritized stability and continuity over radical reform. He was the kind of leader who believed that if it wasn’t broken, don’t fix it, and if it was broken, well, maybe just tinker with it a little. He aimed to preserve the established political and economic structures of the Soviet Union, resisting significant changes to the system.

Brezhnev firmly believed in the central role of the Communist Party in governing the state. To him, the CPSU should have absolute control over all aspects of Soviet life, from the economy to culture and education. This control extended to a planned economy, with a heavy emphasis on industry, military production, and the collectivization of agriculture. Brezhnev initiated the "Developed Socialism" doctrine, which aimed to improve living standards through gradual reforms rather than bold changes.

However, Brezhnev’s policies led to what became known as the Era of Stagnation, characterized by economic slowdown, bureaucratic inefficiency, and a notable lack of innovation. It was a time when maintaining the status quo seemed to be the main agenda, with incremental improvements viewed as safer than pursuing any daring reforms that might rock the boat.

SCANDAL Brezhnev's tenure was marked by corruption and stagnation within the Soviet government. His family, particularly his daughter Galina, was involved in several scandals, including allegations of smuggling and corruption.

On January 22, 1969, an assassination attempt was made on Brezhnev. A Soviet Army deserter named Viktor Ilyin fired shots at a motorcade carrying the Soviet leader through Moscow. Though Brezhnev emerged unscathed, a driver was tragically killed. Brezhnev’s attacker was swiftly captured, but the incident was kept under wraps until after the Soviet Union’s collapse, a typical Soviet maneuver to maintain the illusion of invulnerability.

MILITARY RECORD Brezhnev served with distinction during World War II, earning several medals. As a leader, he maintained a strong focus on military strength, overseeing significant arms buildups and the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Brezhnev holds the dubious distinction of being the only recipient of the Order of Victory whose award was revoked. This prestigious order was reserved for generals and marshals who successfully led combat operations involving large army groups and achieved significant strategic successes. Brezhnev conferred the rare honor upon himself in 1978, but it was posthumously revoked as he didn’t quite meet the rigorous requirements.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Brezhnev had a miserable time with his teeth. He had a slight deformity in his mouth that caused him constant pain, and despite the best efforts of Soviet and German specialists, relief eluded him. Asking the Americans for help was out of the question due to the Cold War tensions, but the KGB secretly arranged for a British professor of dentistry and his colleague to fly to Moscow for treatment. These British experts were watched around the clock by the KGB, who feared they might poison Brezhnev or, in a twist straight out of a spy novel, plant a bug in his teeth.

There was some speculation that Brezhnev’s peculiar pronunciation was due to a jaw wound from the war. However, other sources claim he had never been wounded, leaving this mystery as unresolved as the man himself.

Brezhnev's health deteriorated significantly in his later years due to a combination of heavy smoking, excessive drinking, and the stress of his political responsibilities. He suffered from multiple ailments, including heart problems and arteriosclerosis.

HOMES Brezhnev had several residences, including a well-known dacha outside Moscow. He also had access to various government residences.

TRAVEL As the Soviet leader, Brezhnev traveled extensively both within the Soviet Union and internationally, engaging in state visits and diplomatic missions.

Brezhnev's main passion was driving foreign cars, gifts from state leaders around the world. He took great delight in careening between his dacha and the Kremlin at breakneck speeds, showing a flagrant disregard for public safety that would make a modern-day stunt driver blush. His impressive collection of Western cars included a Rolls Royce that he drove with the enthusiasm of a teenager with a new license. Perhaps the most notable in his collection was a 1973 Lincoln Town Car, a gift from President Nixon, which he piloted with the same reckless abandon as all the others, leaving a trail of startled pedestrians and bewildered onlookers in his wake.

DEATH Leonid Brezhnev died of heart failure on November 10, 1982, in Moscow just three days after his last public appearance.  

His death marked the end of an era, and he was given a state funeral with full honors. His funeral followed the custom of displaying his decorations on velvet cushions carried in the procession behind his coffin. Brezhnev, having accumulated over two hundred decorations, necessitated several cushions, each bearing a glittering load of medals. It was a fittingly grand send-off for a man who had spent his life under the heavy weight of both power and honors.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Brezhnev was a prominent figure in Soviet media, with his speeches and public appearances regularly broadcast. He has been depicted in various films and documentaries about the Cold War era.

ACHIEVEMENTS Brezhnev's achievements include maintaining stability within the Soviet Union, playing a key role in détente with the United States, and overseeing significant military and space advancements. However, his era is also criticized for economic stagnation and increased political repression.