Konstantin Chernenko

Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (??????????? ?????????? ?????????) (September 24, 1911 – March 10, 1985) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU who led the Soviet Union from February 13, 1984 until his death just thirteen months later. Chernenko was also Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from April 11, 1984, until his death.

Power struggle and election as General Secretary

In 1965 Chernenko became Director of Personnel in the party's General Department. He continued his work as a clerk but he now held a powerful position. He had knowledge about all the top people in the party and monitored wiretapping and surveillance devices in offices, but his main job was to sign hundreds of documents every day. He did this for 20 years. Even when he became General Secretary, he continued to sign papers, although thanks to Soviet bureaucracy his signature meant little more than it did in his previous position. Eventually, when he became ill, he was no longer physically able to sign documents and a facsimile was used instead, further devaluing his signature.

Related Topics:
1965 - Wiretap - Bureaucracy - Facsimile

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Following the death of Brezhnev in 1982, Chernenko lost the power struggle due to anti-Brezhnev forces, including the KGB and the Red Army, and instead Yuri Andropov, the former head of the KGB, was nominated as General Secretary. When Andropov died in February 1984 after less than 13 months in office, Chernenko was elected to replace him, despite concerns over his health.

Related Topics:
1982 - KGB - Red Army - Yuri Andropov - 1984

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