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Vladimir Lenin
Lenin will serve until his death on 21 January 1924. -
Joseph Stalin
Stalin will lead the Soviet Union after Lenin's death. During his time in office, Russia would participate in WWII, it's bloodiest conflict yet (11 million soldiers, 12+ million civilians. He would serve til his death on March 5th, 1953. -
Period: to
WWII
Russia enters WWII with the invastion of Poland, but things will quickely turn and the Russians will be soon be fighting the Germans. During the war the Soviet army will lose 11 millon men, but civilian losses will be over 12 million. Some estimates reach close to 20 million. -
Georgy Malenkov
After Stalin's death, Malenkov would take power. He assumed most of the power that Stalin had, but due to political pressures, he resigned most of them. Manenkov proved to be an ineffective leader as he was locked in a power struggle with Nikita Khrushchev. He will finally leave office on February 8th, 1955 -
Nikita Khrushchev
Khrushchev will be one of the most formitable Soviet leaders. Coming to fame during WWII as Stalins military commander, Khrushchev will be popular amoung the people and well respected in the Communist Party. During is time in office he will see the growing Cold War tensions including the arms and space race. He will be forced from office on October 14th, 1964 -
Sputnik 1 Launched
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Gagarin launched into space
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Berlin wall construction started
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Leonid Brezhnev
After taking over, Brezhnev would aim to consolidate his power. This is the first time since Stalin the office would acrew this much power. He will serve until his death on November 10th, 1982 -
Yuri Andropov
Andropov will not last long in office. He will die after serving a little over a year on February 9th, 1984. -
Konstantin Chernenko
And if we thought Andropov's term was short lived, Chernenko will die in office on March 10th, 1985. -
Mikhail Gorbachev
One of the Soviet Union's most well known leaders. Gorbachev would institute major changes across the USSR. Additionally he would be one of the first leaders of the USSR to work with the west working closely with President Regan. Due to political pressure and rising events, Gorbachev resigned his post on the 25th of December, 1991. -
Berlin wall destruction
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Fall of Soviet Union
After Mikhail Gorbachev resignation from office, the Soviet Union would collapse and break apart.
