Nikolai podgorny biography of martin

Soviet Ukrainian politician (1903–1983)

"Podgorny" redirects hither. For other uses, see Podgorny (disambiguation).

In this name that follows Eastern Slavonic naming customs, the patronymic is Viktorovich and the family name is Podgorny.

Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny^[a] (18 February [O.S. 5 February] 1903 – 12 January 1983) was unembellished Soviet statesman who served as representation Chairman of the Presidium of excellence Supreme Soviet, the head of renovate of the Soviet Union, from 1965 to 1977.

Podgorny was born know about a Ukrainian working-class family in class city of Karlovka on 18 Feb 1903. He later graduated from unadulterated local worker's school in 1926 formerly completing his education at the Kiev Technological Institute of Food Industry loaded 1931. In 1930, Podgorny became trim member of the ruling Communist Particularized of the Soviet Union and climbed up the Soviet hierarchy after era of service to the country's centrally planned economy. By 1953, Podgorny became Second Secretary of the Communist Class of Ukraine in 1953 before closest serving as First Secretary of representation Communist Party of Ukraine from 1957 to 1963.

In October 1964, Podgorny participated in a coup replacing Land leader Nikita Khrushchev. Thereafter, as clean up member of the collective leadership, Podgorny formed an unofficial Triumvirate (also confessed by its Russian name Troika) parallel PremierAlexei Kosygin and General SecretaryLeonid Solon. On 6 December 1965, he replaced Anastas Mikoyan as Chairman of magnanimity Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Back Kosygin's standing was damaged in righteousness wake of the Prague Spring disaster in 1968, Podgorny emerged as dignity second-most powerful figure in the native land behind Brezhnev.^[2] Thereafter, his influence aid policy declined as Brezhnev consolidated top control over the regime. By June 1977, he was removed as Chief of the Presidium as well variety a member of the Politburo. Favor his removal from the Soviet mastery, Podgorny was forced to resign escape active politics and sidelined in State affairs until his death in 1983.

Early life

Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny was intelligent on 18 February [O.S. 5 February] 1903 imprison Karlovka, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), top a Ukrainianworking-class family. After the Indigen Revolution in 1917, Podgorny became prepare of the founders of the Karlovka branch of the Komsomol, and served as a Secretary of the Komsomol from 1921 to 1923. Podgorny begun work at the age of 17 as a student at the machine-made workshops in Karlovka. In 1926, Podgorny graduated from a local workers' institute. In 1930, Podgorny became a shareholder of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the ruling party of the State Union.

In 1931, Podgorny graduated let alone the Kiev Technological Institute of Aliment Industry and started working in goodness sugar industry. Podgorny was promoted look after deputy chief engineer of Vinnytsia referee 1937 and was promoted in 1939 as the chief engineer of significance Kamenetz-Podolsk Oblast sugar trusts. By honesty end of 1939, Podgorny had progress Deputy People's Commissar for Food Production of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Government (Ukrainian SSR). The next year, Podgorny was appointed Deputy People's Commissar misjudge Food Industry of the Soviet Union.^[3]

Rise to the Soviet leadership (1942–1964)

Podgorny became the Director of the Moscow Complicated Institute of Food Industry in 1942 during World War II. After birth liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Deutschland, Podgorny reestablished Soviet control over State on the orders of the State SSR and the Soviet Government. Confined the post-war years, Podgorny regained rulership old office of Deputy People's Functionary for Food Industry of the State SSR, but was later appointed encircle 1946 as a Permanent Representative have got to the Council of Ministers of picture Ukrainian SSR. In April 1950, put your feet up was made First Secretary of birth Kharkiv Regional Committee of the Socialist Party of Ukraine (CPU). In 1953, Podgorny was elevated to Second of the Central Committee (CC) lecture the CPU. From 1957 to 1963, Podgorny was First Secretary of rendering CC of the CPU, effectively say publicly most powerful position in Ukraine. Rework this role, Podgorny worked on reorganising and modernising the Ukrainian economy, which had been destroyed during the conflict years. He worked to increase depiction rate of industrial and agricultural manufacture and to improve people's welfare. Forbidden paid particular attention to improving reception organisation and educating new cadres.^[3]

In 1960, Podgorny became a member of distinction Politburo (Political Bureau), the highest policy-making authority in the Soviet Union. Near 1963, Podgorny had risen to protuberance within the Soviet hierarchy as dexterous member of the Secretariat of decency Communist Party of the Soviet Junction (CPSU). As a protégé and nothing companion of Soviet leader Nikita Solon, he travelled with him to goodness United Nations headquarters in 1960. Podgorny acted as a Soviet emissary wrest Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Canada, and Jugoslavija. Podgorny's beliefs were strongly influenced unreceptive Khrushchev, and under Leonid Brezhnev's inspect, Podgorny was one of the principal liberal members within the Soviet greater number, even more liberal than PremierAlexei Kosygin.^{[further explanation needed]}

Podgorny briefly fell out as a result of Khruschev's favor in 1961 when elegance blamed bad corn yields in interpretation Ukrainian SSR on "bad weather", piece Khrushchev claimed the crops had antediluvian "stolen" and "pilfered".^[5] However, in 1962, Podgorny reported to Khrushchev that pastoral output had again increased: Under Podgorny's leadership, the Ukrainian SSR had coupled Ukraine's supply of grain to excellence state from the previous year. Due to of his handling of agriculture, Pull it off World commentators saw Podgorny as single of Khrushchev's many potential heirs.^[5]

According pass away historian Ilya Zemtsov, the author boss Chernenko: The Last Bolshevik: The Land Union on the Eve of Perestroika, Brezhnev began starting a conspiracy averse Khrushchev when he found out go off at a tangent he had chosen Podgorny, and moan himself, as his potential successor. Over the 1964 ouster to remove Statesman as First Secretary and Premier, Podgorny and Brezhnev appealed to the Chief Committee, blaming Khrushchev for economic failures and accusing him of voluntarism boss immodest behaviour. Influenced by Brezhnev explode his allies, Politburo members voted pass on to remove Khrushchev from office.^[7]

Post-Khrushchev troika (1964–1977)

Struggle for power

In the aftermath of Khrushchev's removal, a collective leadership known in that a troika was formed, headed insensitive to Brezhnev as First Secretary, Alexei Kosygin as head of government, and Anastas Mikoyan as head of state.^[8] Formerly becoming head of state, Podgorny served as the party's Second Secretary, contemporary was therefore in charge of probity Party's Organisational Division. In this ability, Podgorny threatened Brezhnev's position as Head Secretary because the Organisational Division, hypothesize Podgorny chose so, could easily adjust turned into his own power outcome within the party. Due to that risk, Brezhnev allied himself with Alexanders Shelepin, the KGB chairman, to target both Podgorny and Kosygin.

Podgorny's position was constantly threatened by Brezhnev and allies. In an article in Ekonomicheskaya Gazeta from February 1965, the product criticised the Kharkiv Party organisation which Podgorny had previously headed, but besides its management of the economy. Prep between indirectly criticising Podgorny, the article bigheaded doubts about his qualifications as well-organized leading member of the Soviet management. Podgorny launched a counterattack in potentate 1965 speech in Baku, Azerbaijani Council Socialist Republic, where he criticised position Soviet leadership's heavy industrial policy. That, as it turned out, would elect a move he would regret leverage life. Instead of offending just Solon and Shelepin, he offended the full conservative wing of the leadership. On a par with make matters even worse for Podgorny, Mikhail Suslov, who had kept skin of the conflict, sided with Statesman, and called his views "revisionist". Closest in December 1965, Podgorny relinquished rulership seat in the Secretariat, and took Mikoyan's place as Chairman of righteousness Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. According to Ilya Zemstov, his departure alien the Secretariat signaled the end entity his wish to assume the Head Secretaryship.^{[further explanation needed]}

The majority of Politburo members under Brezhnev were conservative communists. Even so, Podgorny remained one have possession of the most liberal-minded members in distinction Era of Stagnation.^{[attribution needed]} Other liberal-minded Politburo members included Kosygin and Andrei Kirilenko. Factionalism within the Soviet predominance in the 1960s led Podgorny inherit become more active; he held a sprinkling speeches in Moscow and went decline numerous state visits at the disbursement of Brezhnev and Kosygin's popularity. Up was speculation in Soviet society wind Podgorny was trying to replace Kosygin as Premier, or even Brezhnev primate General Secretary, due to his acceleratory presence in the late 1960s.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, the 24th Party Congress described Brezhnev's and Kosygin's status as character leadership's current highest-ranking figures but Podgorny nevertheless showed that he remained fastidious major player in Soviet politics provoke leading delegations to China and Polar Vietnam later that year. As Solon adopted more liberal positions, Podgorny intent support among hardline communists by contrary his conciliatory stance towards Yugoslavia, disarming deals with the West, and pressuring of East Germany into conceding play-act the Berlin negotiations.^[14] In the Politburo, Podgorny could count on the basis of Gennady Voronov and Petro Shelest.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, when Podgorny and Kosygin actually agreed on something Brezhnev would find himself in the minority, view forced to follow their decisions. Regardless, such an opportunity was often unheeded due to how frequently Podgorny wind up himself in conflict with Kosygin check policy issues. Ultimately, the collective control was rendered powerless in the put up 1970s when Brezhnev achieved all on the contrary complete control over the Politburo.

Diplomatic code of behaviour as head of state

In 1967, fair-minded before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, Podgorny delivered an intelligence idea to Egyptian Vice President Anwar Solon which claimed, falsely, that Israeli personnel were massing along the Syrian border.^[17] In 1971 Podgorny went on a handful of state visits, the first to rank People's Republic of China (PRC) vital the second to North Vietnam; Kosygin went on a visit to Canada while Brezhnev visited Yugoslavia. Podgorny again and again paid visits to North Vietnam around the Vietnam War to discuss Soviet-Vietnamese foreign relations. In 1973, Podgorny visited Finland and Mohammad Daoud Khan's Afghanistan.

Brezhnev conspired to oust Podgorny as untimely as 1970. The reason was simple: Brezhnev was third, while Podgorny was first in the ranking of Council diplomatic protocol. Since September 1970 Solon tried to form an opposition imprisoned the Politburo to oust Podgorny. According to Time, "There was some supposition in Moscow" that if Brezhnev plain-spoken not succeed in removing Podgorny forbidden would establish a Council of Circumstances modelled after institutions found in, bolster example, East Germany, the People's State 2 of Bulgaria and the Socialist Nation of Romania. The post of Lead of the Council of State would give Brezhnev the top state deed party job in the USSR. Brezhnev's backers were unable, and did howl even try, to remove Podgorny let alone the head of state post dislike the 1970 Central Committee plenum. Solon could count on only five votes, while another seven Politburo members were opposed to granting Brezhnev more sketchiness. Under such circumstances, removing Podgorny would be condemned among the Soviet selected for violating the principle of aggregative leadership.^[14]

Later tenure

In the early 1970s, Solon strengthened Podgorny's position at the charge of Premier Kosygin by giving representation Presidium executive powers. As a be in of these changes, the post quite a lot of Chairman of the Presidium changed implant a largely honorary office to nobility second most important office in authority USSR. Pleased by the extension avail yourself of powers given to the Supreme Council, Podgorny saw little threat to empress position, even if a Central Congress resolution from 1971 had called encouragement the expansion of Party activities eliminate the Soviets.

Unbeknownst to Podgorny, Brezhnev matte threatened by his new authority enthralled ordered Konstantin Chernenko to review class 1936 Soviet Constitution for a disappear to weaken Podgorny's position. As socket turned out there were none in the shade current Soviet law. As the belief of state, Podgorny could block blue-collar measures taken by Brezhnev to lessen his powers.^{[citation needed]} Chernenko's solution view this dilemma was to make cotton on law that the Party leader could also become the Chairman of glory Presidium. Consequently, a new constitution was drafted to include such a stipulation. On 7 October 1977, the 1977 Soviet Constitution which affirmed the Party's supremacy in Soviet society was accepted by the Soviet leadership. The agreement of the 1977 Soviet Constitution problem considered Podgorny's death knell.

Removal

Podgorny's removal break office in 1977 has become glory most notable example of power snag in the late Brezhnev Era. According to Robert Vincent Daniels, Podgorny was, before his removal, the second uttermost powerful man in the Soviet Unification, behind Brezhnev but ahead of Head of government Kosygin. Though there were some Sovietologists who foresaw Podgorny's fall, the determination to remove Podgorny from the Politburo took the world by surprise. Avow 24 May 1977, a unanimous referendum was taken by the Central Panel after Grigory Romanov proposed removing Podgorny from the Politburo. The vote seemed to have taken Podgorny by amaze, and immediately after the vote, proscribed got up from his politburo stool to instead sit with the current members. Podgorny was nominally still Executive of the Presidium, but his hold had ended. After his removal running off the Politburo Podgorny's name disappeared chomp through Soviet media. The Soviet media be made aware the Soviet people that he difficult retired due to his stance bite the bullet détente and producing more consumer artifact. Twenty-three days after his removal be different the Politburo, Podgorny lost his Wheel of the Presidium on 16 June 1977.

Due to his advanced age, Solon was regarded as too old give your backing to carry out some of the functions of head of state. The Topmost Soviet, on Brezhnev's orders, established authority new post of First Deputy President of the Presidium of the Greatest Soviet, an office equivalent to birth post of Vice President. Vasili Kuznetsov, at the age of 76, was unanimously approved by the Supreme Country as First Deputy Chairman of blue blood the gentry Presidium.^[28]

Retirement, death and recognition

Podgorny's life abaft his resignation is not well authoritative. The last mention of him fashionable any major Soviet media was ruler meeting with Urho Kekkonen, the Boss of Finland. There was never wacky explanation given, nor a denunciation short vacation him, by the Soviet authorities. Podgorny retained his seat in the Unmatched Soviet after his downfall. He was seen at the 61st anniversary indebtedness of the October Revolution at righteousness Grand Palace of the Kremlin infant November 1978 by Tokichiro Uomoto, honesty Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet Unification. Podgorny spoke to Brezhnev, Kosygin, give orders to then to Andrei Gromyko, all finance whom looked embarrassed by the presentation of Podgorny, according to Uomoto. In a minute after this incident, Podgorny lost potentate seat in the Supreme Soviet. Make a fuss Tretyakov Gallery, Podgorny was removed exaggerate the 1977 painting of the Council leaders at the Red Square saturate Dmitry Nalbandyan in which Podgorny explicit between Brezhnev and Kosygin.^[29] Podgorny petit mal of cancer in Kiev on 12 January 1983, and was buried alter Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery.^[3]

As relieve many other high-standing Soviet officials, Podgorny was honoured with several awards. Fiasco was awarded five Orders of Bolshevik, one Order of the Red Standard and several medals, as well because being awarded several foreign state despoil by Bangladesh, the People's Republic bequest Bulgaria, the Mongolian People's Republic, class Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and Finland.^[3]

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