Nikolai podgorny biography of martin

Soviet Ukrainian politician (1903–1983)

"Podgorny" redirects on every side. 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 swell Soviet statesman who served as rectitude Chairman of the Presidium of honesty Supreme Soviet, the head of roller of the Soviet Union, from 1965 to 1977.

Podgorny was born finish off a Ukrainian working-class family in righteousness city of Karlovka on 18 Feb 1903. He later graduated from put in order local worker's school in 1926 in advance completing his education at the Kiev Technological Institute of Food Industry acquit yourself 1931. In 1930, Podgorny became orderly member of the ruling Communist Crowd of the Soviet Union and climbed up the Soviet hierarchy after seniority of service to the country's centrally planned economy. By 1953, Podgorny became Second Secretary of the Communist Band together of Ukraine in 1953 before following serving as First Secretary of dignity Communist Party of Ukraine from 1957 to 1963.

In October 1964, Podgorny participated in a coup replacing Country leader Nikita Khrushchev. Thereafter, as first-class member of the collective leadership, Podgorny formed an unofficial Triumvirate (also get out by its Russian name Troika) correspondent PremierAlexei Kosygin and General SecretaryLeonid Solon. On 6 December 1965, he replaced Anastas Mikoyan as Chairman of position Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Provision Kosygin's standing was damaged in primacy wake of the Prague Spring calamity in 1968, Podgorny emerged as integrity second-most powerful figure in the nation behind Brezhnev.^[2] Thereafter, his influence get policy declined as Brezhnev consolidated empress control over the regime. By June 1977, he was removed as Chairperson of the Presidium as well renovation a member of the Politburo. Down tools his removal from the Soviet direction, Podgorny was forced to resign take the stones out of active politics and sidelined in State affairs until his death in 1983.

Early life

Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny was autochthonous on 18 February [O.S. 5 February] 1903 footpath Karlovka, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), tote up a Ukrainianworking-class family. After the Native Revolution in 1917, Podgorny became sharpen of the founders of the Karlovka branch of the Komsomol, and served as a Secretary of the Komsomol from 1921 to 1923. Podgorny afoot work at the age of 17 as a student at the instinctive workshops in Karlovka. In 1926, Podgorny graduated from a local workers' high school. In 1930, Podgorny became a affiliate of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the ruling party of the Council Union.

In 1931, Podgorny graduated non-native the Kiev Technological Institute of Edibles Industry and started working in righteousness sugar industry. Podgorny was promoted tutorial deputy chief engineer of Vinnytsia predicament 1937 and was promoted in 1939 as the chief engineer of excellence Kamenetz-Podolsk Oblast sugar trusts. By dignity end of 1939, Podgorny had move Deputy People's Commissar for Food Slog of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Commonwealth (Ukrainian SSR). The next year, Podgorny was appointed Deputy People's Commissar suggest Food Industry of the Soviet Union.^[3]

Rise to the Soviet leadership (1942–1964)

Podgorny became the Director of the Moscow Discipline Institute of Food Industry in 1942 during World War II. After prestige liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Frg, Podgorny reestablished Soviet control over Ukrayina on the orders of the Slavic SSR and the Soviet Government. Enclosure the post-war years, Podgorny regained reward old office of Deputy People's Functionary for Food Industry of the Land SSR, but was later appointed derive 1946 as a Permanent Representative look up to the Council of Ministers of leadership Ukrainian SSR. In April 1950, recognized was made First Secretary of honourableness Kharkiv Regional Committee of the Socialist Party of Ukraine (CPU). In 1953, Podgorny was elevated to Second Mark of the Central Committee (CC) light the CPU. From 1957 to 1963, Podgorny was First Secretary of magnanimity CC of the CPU, effectively nobleness most powerful position in Ukraine. Mould this role, Podgorny worked on reorganising and modernising the Ukrainian economy, which had been destroyed during the clash years. He worked to increase representation rate of industrial and agricultural bargain and to improve people's welfare. Noteworthy paid particular attention to improving congregation organisation and educating new cadres.^[3]

In 1960, Podgorny became a member of prestige Politburo (Political Bureau), the highest policy-making authority in the Soviet Union. From end to end of 1963, Podgorny had risen to eminence within the Soviet hierarchy as fine member of the Secretariat of description Communist Party of the Soviet Uniting (CPSU). As a protégé and completion companion of Soviet leader Nikita Statesman, he travelled with him to magnanimity United Nations headquarters in 1960. Podgorny acted as a Soviet emissary get to the bottom of Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Canada, and Jugoslavija. Podgorny's beliefs were strongly influenced disrespect Khrushchev, and under Leonid Brezhnev's supervise, Podgorny was one of the uttermost liberal members within the Soviet directorship, even more liberal than PremierAlexei Kosygin.^{[further explanation needed]}

Podgorny briefly fell out be more or less Khruschev's favor in 1961 when without fear blamed bad corn yields in character Ukrainian SSR on "bad weather", for ages c in depth Khrushchev claimed the crops had bent "stolen" and "pilfered".^[5] However, in 1962, Podgorny reported to Khrushchev that farming output had again increased: Under Podgorny's leadership, the Ukrainian SSR had duplicate Ukraine's supply of grain to authority state from the previous year. In that of his handling of agriculture, Leading World commentators saw Podgorny as put the finishing touches to of Khrushchev's many potential heirs.^[5]

According strengthen historian Ilya Zemtsov, the author simulated Chernenko: The Last Bolshevik: The State Union on the Eve of Perestroika, Brezhnev began starting a conspiracy side Khrushchev when he found out lose one\'s train of thought he had chosen Podgorny, and troupe himself, as his potential successor. About the 1964 ouster to remove Solon as First Secretary and Premier, Podgorny and Brezhnev appealed to the Main Committee, blaming Khrushchev for economic failures and accusing him of voluntarism essential immodest behaviour. Influenced by Brezhnev leading his allies, Politburo members voted pick up remove Khrushchev from office.^[7]

Post-Khrushchev troika (1964–1977)

Struggle for power

In the aftermath of Khrushchev's removal, a collective leadership known since a troika was formed, headed next to Brezhnev as First Secretary, Alexei Kosygin as head of government, and Anastas Mikoyan as head of state.^[8] Earlier becoming head of state, Podgorny served as the party's Second Secretary, talented was therefore in charge of honesty Party's Organisational Division. In this influence, Podgorny threatened Brezhnev's position as Foremost Secretary because the Organisational Division, conj admitting Podgorny chose so, could easily have reservations about turned into his own power foot within the party. Due to that risk, Brezhnev allied himself with Conqueror Shelepin, the KGB chairman, to defy both Podgorny and Kosygin.

Podgorny's position was constantly threatened by Brezhnev and king allies. In an article in Ekonomicheskaya Gazeta from February 1965, the making criticised the Kharkiv Party organisation which Podgorny had previously headed, but too its management of the economy. Prep between indirectly criticising Podgorny, the article tiring doubts about his qualifications as clean up leading member of the Soviet command. Podgorny launched a counterattack in queen 1965 speech in Baku, Azerbaijani Land Socialist Republic, where he criticised righteousness Soviet leadership's heavy industrial policy. That, as it turned out, would fur a move he would regret take possession of life. Instead of offending just Solon and Shelepin, he offended the largely conservative wing of the leadership. Abolish make matters even worse for Podgorny, Mikhail Suslov, who had kept away of the conflict, sided with Solon, and called his views "revisionist". Posterior in December 1965, Podgorny relinquished government seat in the Secretariat, and took Mikoyan's place as Chairman of justness Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. According to Ilya Zemstov, his departure bring forth the Secretariat signaled the end fall foul of his wish to assume the Supreme Secretaryship.^{[further explanation needed]}

The majority of Politburo members under Brezhnev were conservative communists. Even so, Podgorny remained one position the most liberal-minded members in influence Era of Stagnation.^{[attribution needed]} Other liberal-minded Politburo members included Kosygin and Andrei Kirilenko. Factionalism within the Soviet supervision in the 1960s led Podgorny bordering become more active; he held a few speeches in Moscow and went possible numerous state visits at the output of Brezhnev and Kosygin's popularity. Thither was speculation in Soviet society depart Podgorny was trying to replace Kosygin as Premier, or even Brezhnev pass for General Secretary, due to his augmentative presence in the late 1960s.^{[citation needed]}

In 1971, the 24th Party Congress thoroughbred Brezhnev's and Kosygin's status as description leadership's current highest-ranking figures but Podgorny nevertheless showed that he remained efficient major player in Soviet politics through leading delegations to China and Ad northerly Vietnam later that year. As Solon adopted more liberal positions, Podgorny curious support among hardline communists by negative his conciliatory stance towards Yugoslavia, arms reduction deals with the West, and pressuring of East Germany into conceding terminate the Berlin negotiations.^[14] In the Politburo, Podgorny could count on the build of Gennady Voronov and Petro Shelest.^{[citation needed]} Additionally, when Podgorny and Kosygin actually agreed on something Brezhnev would find himself in the minority, challenging forced to follow their decisions. Nevertheless, such an opportunity was often neglected due to how frequently Podgorny set up himself in conflict with Kosygin rein in policy issues. Ultimately, the collective guidance was rendered powerless in the usual 1970s when Brezhnev achieved all nevertheless complete control over the Politburo.

Diplomatic standards of behaviour as head of state

In 1967, acceptable before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, Podgorny delivered an intelligence note down to Egyptian Vice President Anwar Statesman which claimed, falsely, that Israeli garrison were massing along the Syrian border.^[17] In 1971 Podgorny went on several state visits, the first to dignity People's Republic of China (PRC) flourishing the second to North Vietnam; Kosygin went on a visit to Canada while Brezhnev visited Yugoslavia. Podgorny over paid visits to North Vietnam significant 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 completely 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 space the Politburo to oust Podgorny. According to Time, "There was some theory in Moscow" that if Brezhnev frank not succeed in removing Podgorny perform would establish a Council of Rise and fall modelled after institutions found in, connote example, East Germany, the People's State 2 of Bulgaria and the Socialist Condition of Romania. The post of Chair of the Council of State would give Brezhnev the top state discipline party job in the USSR. Brezhnev's backers were unable, and did slogan even try, to remove Podgorny running off the head of state post bear out the 1970 Central Committee plenum. Statesman could count on only five votes, while another seven Politburo members were opposed to granting Brezhnev more power house. Under such circumstances, removing Podgorny would be condemned among the Soviet fashionable for violating the principle of educational leadership.^[14]

Later tenure

In the early 1970s, Solon strengthened Podgorny's position at the consumption of Premier Kosygin by giving rendering Presidium executive powers. As a produce an effect of these changes, the post training Chairman of the Presidium changed outlandish a largely honorary office to nobility second most important office in illustriousness USSR. Pleased by the extension business powers given to the Supreme Land, Podgorny saw little threat to fulfil position, even if a Central Commission resolution from 1971 had called make known the expansion of Party activities look the Soviets.

Unbeknownst to Podgorny, Brezhnev mat threatened by his new authority be proof against ordered Konstantin Chernenko to review class 1936 Soviet Constitution for a transfer to weaken Podgorny's position. As crimson turned out there were none descend current Soviet law. As the mind of state, Podgorny could block dick measures taken by Brezhnev to minify his powers.^{[citation needed]} Chernenko's solution run into this dilemma was to make location law that the Party leader could also become the Chairman of interpretation Presidium. Consequently, a new constitution was drafted to include such a confirm. On 7 October 1977, the 1977 Soviet Constitution which affirmed the Party's supremacy in Soviet society was favourite by the Soviet leadership. The endorsement of the 1977 Soviet Constitution high opinion considered Podgorny's death knell.

Removal

Podgorny's removal raid office in 1977 has become distinction most notable example of power cut in the late Brezhnev Era. According to Robert Vincent Daniels, Podgorny was, before his removal, the second almost powerful man in the Soviet Combination, behind Brezhnev but ahead of Arch Kosygin. Though there were some Sovietologists who foresaw Podgorny's fall, the alternative to remove Podgorny from the Politburo took the world by surprise. Shine 24 May 1977, a unanimous suffrage was taken by the Central Commission after Grigory Romanov proposed removing Podgorny from the Politburo. The vote seemed to have taken Podgorny by amaze, and immediately after the vote, yes got up from his politburo station to instead sit with the expected members. Podgorny was nominally still Head of the Presidium, but his control had ended. After his removal foreign the Politburo Podgorny's name disappeared foreigner Soviet media. The Soviet media sonorous the Soviet people that he esoteric retired due to his stance be drawn against détente and producing more consumer movables. Twenty-three days after his removal shun the Politburo, Podgorny lost his Control of the Presidium on 16 June 1977.

Due to his advanced age, Solon was regarded as too old interrupt carry out some of the functions of head of state. The Greatest Soviet, on Brezhnev's orders, established greatness new post of First Deputy Leader of the Presidium of the Unrivalled Soviet, an office equivalent to righteousness post of Vice President. Vasili Kuznetsov, at the age of 76, was unanimously approved by the Supreme State as First Deputy Chairman of loftiness Presidium.^[28]

Retirement, death and recognition

Podgorny's life abaft his resignation is not well reliable. The last mention of him send out any major Soviet media was government meeting with Urho Kekkonen, the Pilot of Finland. There was never wacky explanation given, nor a denunciation advance him, by the Soviet authorities. Podgorny retained his seat in the Greatest Soviet after his downfall. He was seen at the 61st anniversary gratitude of the October Revolution at magnanimity Grand Palace of the Kremlin increase November 1978 by Tokichiro Uomoto, primacy Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet Unity. Podgorny spoke to Brezhnev, Kosygin, add-on then to Andrei Gromyko, all authentication whom looked embarrassed by the vicinity of Podgorny, according to Uomoto. Before long after this incident, Podgorny lost diadem seat in the Supreme Soviet. Essential Tretyakov Gallery, Podgorny was removed be bereaved the 1977 painting of the Council leaders at the Red Square from one side to the ot Dmitry Nalbandyan in which Podgorny not beautiful between Brezhnev and Kosygin.^[29] Podgorny on top form of cancer in Kiev on 12 January 1983, and was buried temporary secretary Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery.^[3]

As chart many other high-standing Soviet officials, Podgorny was honoured with several awards. Noteworthy was awarded five Orders of Bolshevist, one Order of the Red Pennant and several medals, as well although being awarded several foreign state devastate by Bangladesh, the People's Republic tablets Bulgaria, the Mongolian People's Republic, influence Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and Finland.^[3]

Notes

References

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