Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev was a Soviet politician who served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, de facto leader of the Soviet Union, from 1964 until his death in 1982. He was born in Kamenskoye, Russian Empire (now Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine) in 1906. His political career began in the Ukraine, where he rose through the ranks of the Communist Party.

After World War II, Brezhnev played a significant role in the Soviet government, holding various high-ranking positions. In 1964, he was instrumental in the ouster of Nikita Khrushchev and subsequently became the leader of the Soviet Union. His era, often referred to as the Brezhnev Stagnation, was characterized by political stability but also economic slowdown and a lack of significant reforms.

Brezhnev's foreign policy was marked by détente with the West, though this was punctuated by events like the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Domestically, his rule saw a continued emphasis on military buildup and a suppression of dissent. Despite efforts to maintain the status quo, the Soviet Union faced increasing economic challenges during his tenure. Brezhnev died in 1982, and his successor, Yuri Andropov, inherited a country facing mounting internal and external pressures.