NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee

The Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee was a key body within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was responsible for the central administration of the party as opposed to drafting government policy which was usually handled by the Politburo. Its members were elected by the Communist Party's Central Committee, although in all but the first years of its existence the elections were a formality since decisions were made by the senior leadership before the voting. The General Secretary of the CPSU, who was also a Politburo member, was the leader of the Secretariat and the Party. Dual membership in the Secretariat and the Politburo was reserved for two or three very senior members of the Soviet leadership and in the post-Stalin era was a stepping stone to the ultimate power. The last 4 Soviet leaders (Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko and Mikhail Gorbachev) were all senior Secretaries before becoming General Secretaries. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Russian: ÐšÐ¾Ð¼Ð¼ÑƒÐ½Ð¸ÑÑ‚Ð¸ÌÑ‡ÐµÑÐºÐ°Ñ ÐŸÐ°ÌÑ€Ñ‚Ð¸Ñ Ð¡Ð¾Ð²ÐµÌÑ‚ÑÐºÐ¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð¡Ð¾ÑŽÌÐ·Ð° = ÐšÐŸÐ¡Ð¡) was the name used by the successors of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party from 1952 to 1991, but the wording Communist Party was present in the partys name since 1918 when the Bolsheviks became the Russian... The Politburo (in Russian: ÐŸÐ¾Ð»Ð¸Ñ‚Ð±ÑŽÑ€Ð¾), known as the Presidium from 1952 to 1966, functioned as the central policymaking and governing body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. ... The Central Committee, abbreviated in Russian as ЦК, Tseka, was the highest body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). ... The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (sometimes called First Secretary) was the title synonymous with leader of the Soviet Union after Lenins death in 1924. ... â€œStalinâ€ redirects here. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Russian: ; January 1, 1907 [O.S. December 19, 1906] â€“ November 10, 1982) was the effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, at first in partnership with others. ... Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Russian: Ð®ÌÑ€Ð¸Ð¹ Ð’Ð»Ð°Ð´Ð¸ÌÐ¼Ð¸Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾ÌÐ¿Ð¾Ð²; 15 June [O.S. 2 June] 1914 â€“ February 9, 1984) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU from November 12, 1982 until his death just sixteen months later. ... Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (Russian: ; September 24, 1911 â€“ 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. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ...

The Secretariat was established by the Central Committee on August 6, 1917 and was initially composed of Felix Dzerzhinsky, Matvei Muranov and Yakov Sverdlov as full members and Adolph Joffe and Yelana Stasova as candidate members (or alternates). Following the October Revolution of 1917, Sverdlov and Stasova became the de facto Secretariat as other members of the body assumed other duties. At the time, the Secretariat was responsible for technical issues such as coordination of the activities of regional party organizations and handling routine administrative affairs of the Party. August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky (Феликс Эдмундович Дзержинский; September 11, 1877 - July 20, 1926) was a Polish Communist revolutionary, famous as the founder of the Bolshevik secret police... Matvei Konstantinovich Muranov (29 November 1873 â€” 9 December 1959) was a Ukrainian-born Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet politician. ... Yakov Sverdlov Snow-covered statue of Sverdlov in Yekaterinburg Yakov Mikhaylovich Sverdlov (Russian: Ð¯ÌÐºÐ¾Ð² ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°ÌÐ¹Ð»Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð¡Ð²ÐµÑ€Ð´Ð»Ð¾ÌÐ²), born Yankel Movshevich Eiman (Russian: Ð¯ÌÐ½ÐºÐµÐ»ÑŒ ÐœÐ¾Ð²ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ¹Ð¼Ð°Ð½); known under pseudonyms Andrey, Mikhalych, Max, Smirnov, Permyakov (June 3 [O.S. May 22] 1885 â€“ March 16, 1919) was a Bolshevik party leader and an official of pre-Soviet Union Soviet Russia. ... Adolph Joffe Adolph Abramovich Joffe (Russian: ÐÐ´Ð¾Ð»ÑŒÑ„ ÐÐ±Ñ€Ð°Ð¼Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð˜Ð¾Ñ„Ñ„Ðµ, alternative transliterations Adolf Ioffe or, rarely, Yoffe) (October 10, 1883 (Simferopol) â€“ November 16, 1927, Moscow) was a Russian Communist revolutionary, a Bolshevik politician and a Soviet diplomat. ... For other uses, see October Revolution (disambiguation). ...

By 1922, the body had been transformed from a technical committee to one of the most important components of the party and from that point on it was responsible for day to day operations of the Communist Party. Also in 1922, the position of General Secretary was created, the General Secretary became the head of the Secretariat and, in the years following Lenin's death, became the most important figure in the party and the country. The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (sometimes called First Secretary) was the title synonymous with leader of the Soviet Union after Lenins death in 1924. ...

Members of the Secretariat 1917-1991

Category: Communist Party of the Soviet Union Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky (Феликс Эдмундович Дзержинский; September 11, 1877 - July 20, 1926) was a Polish Communist revolutionary, famous as the founder of the Bolshevik secret police... Matvei Konstantinovich Muranov (29 November 1873 â€” 9 December 1959) was a Ukrainian-born Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet politician. ... Yakov Sverdlov Snow-covered statue of Sverdlov in Yekaterinburg Yakov Mikhaylovich Sverdlov (Russian: Ð¯ÌÐºÐ¾Ð² ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°ÌÐ¹Ð»Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð¡Ð²ÐµÑ€Ð´Ð»Ð¾ÌÐ²), born Yankel Movshevich Eiman (Russian: Ð¯ÌÐ½ÐºÐµÐ»ÑŒ ÐœÐ¾Ð²ÑˆÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ¹Ð¼Ð°Ð½); known under pseudonyms Andrey, Mikhalych, Max, Smirnov, Permyakov (June 3 [O.S. May 22] 1885 â€“ March 16, 1919) was a Bolshevik party leader and an official of pre-Soviet Union Soviet Russia. ... Adolph Joffe Adolph Abramovich Joffe (Russian: ÐÐ´Ð¾Ð»ÑŒÑ„ ÐÐ±Ñ€Ð°Ð¼Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð˜Ð¾Ñ„Ñ„Ðµ, alternative transliterations Adolf Ioffe or, rarely, Yoffe) (October 10, 1883 (Simferopol) â€“ November 16, 1927, Moscow) was a Russian Communist revolutionary, a Bolshevik politician and a Soviet diplomat. ... Nikolai Nikolaevich Krestinsky (October 13, 1883 - March 15, 1938) was an original Bolshevik revolutionary, then one of five members of the Politburo, before finally being executed in the Great Purges. ... Yevgeni Alekseyevich Preobrazhensky (1886-1937) was an Old Bolshevik, an economist and a member of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik faction and, its successor, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. ... For other uses, see Molotov (disambiguation). ... Valerian Vladimorovich Kuybyshev (also Kuibyshev; Russian: During 1928 - 1930 he was Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy. ... â€œStalinâ€ redirects here. ... Yan Ernestovich Rudzutak (Latvian Janis Rudzutaks, Russian Ð¯Ð½ ÐÑ€Ð½ÐµÑÑ‚Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð ÑƒÐ´Ð·ÑƒÑ‚Ð°Ðº, August 3, 1887-July 29, 1938) was a Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet politician. ... Andrei Andreevich Andreyev (Russian: ) (1895-1970) was a Soviet politician Member of Politburo (1932 - 1952) Category: ... Lazar Kaganovich Lazar Moiseyevich Kaganovich (Russian: ) (November 22, 1893â€“July 25, 1991) was a Soviet politician and a close associate of Joseph Stalin. ... Andrei Sergeyevich Bubnov (March 23, 1883 - January 12 1940) was a Bolshevik revolutionary leader in Russia, and member of the Left Opposition. ... Alexandra Artukhina (1889? - 1938?)was an early Russian Bolshevist and revolutionary who rose to the sit on the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee, but was brought down by Joseph Stalins purges in the late 1930s. ... StanisÅ‚aw Kosior Trofim Lysenko speaking at the Kremlin in 1935. ... Alexandra Artukhina (1889? - 1938?)was an early Russian Bolshevist and revolutionary who rose to the sit on the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee, but was brought down by Joseph Stalins purges in the late 1930s. ... Andrei Zhdanov Andrei Aleksandrovich Zhdanov (ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€ÐµÌÐ¹ ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°ÌÐ½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð–Ð´Ð°ÌÐ½Ð¾Ð²) (February 26 [O.S. February 14] 1896â€“August 31, 1948) was a Soviet politician. ... Sergei Mironovich Kirov (Серге́й Миро́нович Ки́ров) (March 15 O.S. = March 27 N.S., 1886 - December 1, 1934) was a Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet communist. ... Yezhov along Moscow-Volga channel. ... Georgy (Georgii) Maximilianovich Malenkov (Russian: , his first name then surname pronounced GHYOR-ghee mah-leen-KOF; January 8 [O.S. December 26, 1901] 1902 â€“ January 14, 1988) was a Soviet politician, Communist Party leader and close collaborator of Joseph Stalin. ... Mikhail Suslov. ... Georgy Malenkov Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov (Гео́ргий Максимилиа́нович Маленко́в) (GHYOR-ghee mah-leen-KOF) (January 13 [January 8, Old Style], 1902... Panteleimon Kondratevich Ponomarenko, Russian: ÐŸÐ°Ð½Ñ‚ÐµÐ»ÐµÐ¹Ð¼Ð¾Ð½ ÐšÐ¾Ð½Ð´Ñ€Ð°Ñ‚ÑŒÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐŸÐ¾Ð½Ð¾Ð¼Ð°Ñ€ÐµÐ½ÐºÐ¾, (9 August 1902 - 18 January 1984) was a general in the Red Army and a Belarusian politician. ... Fyodor Andreyevich Kuznetsov, physicist, academician, Soviet Union Fyodor Isodorovich Kuznetsov, military, Soviet Union Fyodor Fedotovich Kuznetsov, military, Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov, Navy, Soviet Union Nikolai Dmitriyevich Kuznetsov, jet plane motor designer, Soviet Union, twice Hero of Socialist Labor Yuri Kuznetsov, geologist, academician, Soviet Union This is a disambiguation page... Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: , Nikita SergeeviÄ ChruÅ¡Äiov; IPA: , in English, , or , occasionally ); surname more accurately romanized as Khrushchyov; April 17 [O.S. April 5] 1894[1]â€“September 11, 1971) was the chief director of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Russian: ; January 1, 1907 [O.S. December 19, 1906] â€“ November 10, 1982) was the effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, at first in partnership with others. ... Panteleimon Kondratevich Ponomarenko, Russian: ÐŸÐ°Ð½Ñ‚ÐµÐ»ÐµÐ¹Ð¼Ð¾Ð½ ÐšÐ¾Ð½Ð´Ñ€Ð°Ñ‚ÑŒÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐŸÐ¾Ð½Ð¾Ð¼Ð°Ñ€ÐµÐ½ÐºÐ¾, (9 August 1902 - 18 January 1984) was a general in the Red Army and a Belarusian politician. ... Georgy Malenkov Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov (Гео́ргий Максимилиа́нович Маленко́в) (GHYOR-ghee mah-leen-KOF) (January 13 [January 8, Old Style], 1902... Dmitri Shepilov Dmitri Trofimovich Shepilov (Russian: Ð”Ð¼Ð¸Ñ‚Ñ€Ð¸Ð¹ Ð¢Ñ€Ð¾Ñ„Ð¸Ð¼Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð¨ÐµÐ¿Ð¸Ð»Ð¾Ð²) (23 October 1905 (Old Style, Askhabad â€” 8 August 1995, Moscow) was a Soviet politician and foreign minister who joined the abortive plot to oust Nikita Khruschev from power in 1957. ... During her lifetime, Furtseva was ironically referred to as Catherine the Third, an allusion to the famous Russian empress likewise named Ekaterina Alekseyevna. ... Nikita Khrushchev in 1962 Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: Ники́та Серге́евич Хрущёв) (nih-KEE-tah khroo-SHCHYOFF) (April 17, 1894 – September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union... Otto Ville (Wilhelm) Kuusinen (known in Russian as ÐžÑ‚Ñ‚Ð¾ Ð’Ð¸Ð»ÑŒÐ³ÐµÐ»ÑŒÐ¼Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐšÑƒÑƒÑÐ¸Ð½ÐµÐ½) (1881â€“1964) was a Finnish and Soviet politician, literature historian, and poet, who after the defeat in the Finnish Civil War fled to Bolshevist Russia, where he worked until his death. ... During her lifetime, Furtseva was ironically referred to as Catherine the Third, an allusion to the famous Russian empress likewise named Ekaterina Alekseyevna. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev listen? ( Russian: Леони́д Ильи́ч Бре́жнев) ( December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with... Boris Nikolayevich Ponomarev (Russian: Ð‘Ð¾Ñ€Ð¸Ñ ÐÐ¸ÐºÐ¾Ð»Ð°ÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐŸÐ¾Ð½Ð¾Ð¼Ð°Ñ€ÐµÐ²) (January 17, 1905 - December 21, 1995) was a Soviet politician and ideologist, and a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. ... Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Ю́рий Влади́мирович Андро́пов), (June 2 (O.S.) = June 15 (N.S.), 1914 - February 9, 1984) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev listen? ( Russian: Леони́д Ильи́ч Бре́жнев) ( December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with... Nikolay Viktorovich Podgorny (Никола́й Ви́кторович Подго́рный) (February 18, 1903–January 12, 1983) was a politician and President of the USSR from 1965 to... Nikita Khrushchev in 1962 Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: Ники́та Серге́евич Хрущёв) (nih-KEE-tah khroo-SHCHYOFF) (April 17, 1894 – September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev listen? ( Russian: Леони́д Ильи́ч Бре́жнев) ( December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with... Michurinsk (before 1932 - Kozlov) is a city in Tambov Oblast, Russia. ... Polyakov (Russian: ), or Polyakova (feminine; ÐŸÐ¾Ð»ÑÐºÐ¾Ð²Ð°) is a Russian last name and may refer to: People Alexander Polyakov, a Russian/American physicist Anisim Polyakov (1904-?), a Soviet academician and scientist in the field of veterinary sanitation and disinfection Dmitri Polyakov (1921-1988), a Soviet General and a spy for the CIA... Nikolay Viktorovich Podgorny (Никола́й Ви́кторович Подго́рный) (February 18, 1903–January 12, 1983) was a politician and President of the USSR from 1965 to... Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Russian: Ð®ÌÑ€Ð¸Ð¹ Ð’Ð»Ð°Ð´Ð¸ÌÐ¼Ð¸Ñ€Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€Ð¾ÌÐ¿Ð¾Ð²; 15 June [O.S. 2 June] 1914 â€“ February 9, 1984) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU from November 12, 1982 until his death just sixteen months later. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev listen? ( Russian: Леони́д Ильи́ч Бре́жнев) ( December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with... Andrei Pavlovich Kirilenko (September 8, 1906 - May 12, 1990) was a leading official of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in the 1970s and early 1980s among the few serving on both the Politburo and Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPSU. He was for a while positioned... Ponomaryov, also spelled Ponomarev (Russian: ), or Ponomaryova (feminine; ÐŸÐ¾Ð½Ð¾Ð¼Ð°Ñ€Ñ‘Ð²Ð°) is a Russian last name and may refer to: Alexander Ponomaryov (1876-1941), a Russian revolutionary Boris Ponomarev (1905-1995), a Soviet politician and ideologist Dmitry Ponomarev (b. ... Mikhail Alexandrovich Suslov (November 21, 1902 - January 25, 1982) was a member of the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, having joined the party in 1921. ... Dmitriy Fyodorovich Ustinov (Russian: ) (October 17, 1908â€“December 20, 1984) was Defense Minister of the Soviet Union from 1976 until his death. ... Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Ю́рий Влади́мирович Андро́пов), (June 2 (O.S.) = June 15 (N.S.), 1914 - February 9, 1984) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev listen? ( Russian: Леони́д Ильи́ч Бре́жнев) ( December 19, 1906 – November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with... Andrei Pavlovich Kirilenko (September 8, 1906 - May 12, 1990) was a leading official of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in the 1970s and early 1980s among the few serving on both the Politburo and Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPSU. He was for a while positioned... Ponomaryov, also spelled Ponomarev (Russian: ), or Ponomaryova (feminine; ÐŸÐ¾Ð½Ð¾Ð¼Ð°Ñ€Ñ‘Ð²Ð°) is a Russian last name and may refer to: Alexander Ponomaryov (1876-1941), a Russian revolutionary Boris Ponomarev (1905-1995), a Soviet politician and ideologist Dmitry Ponomarev (b. ... Andrei Pavlovich Kirilenko (September 8, 1906 - May 12, 1990) was a leading official of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in the 1970s and early 1980s among the few serving on both the Politburo and Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPSU. He was for a while positioned... Mikhail Alexandrovich Suslov (November 21, 1902 - January 25, 1982) was a member of the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, having joined the party in 1921. ... Dmitriy Fyodorovich Ustinov (Russian: ) (October 17, 1908â€“December 20, 1984) was Defense Minister of the Soviet Union from 1976 until his death. ... Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (Russian: ; September 24, 1911 â€“ 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. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Kirilenko may refer to: Maria Kirilenko (Tennis Player) (born 1987) Andrei Kirilenko (politician) (1906â€“1990) Andrei Kirilenko (basketball) (born 1981) Category: ... Mikhail Alexandrovich Suslov (November 21, 1902 - January 25, 1982) was a member of the Politburo and Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, having joined the party in 1921. ... Chernenko Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (Константи́н Усти́нович Черне́нко) (September 24, 1911 - March 10, 1985) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU... Chernenko Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko (Константи́н Усти́нович Черне́нко) (September 24, 1911 - March 10, 1985) was a Soviet politician and General Secretary of the CPSU... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (Russian: ) (February 1, 1931 â€“ April 23, 2007[1]) was the first president of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Anatoly Dobrynin was Soviet Ambassador to the United States, serving from 1962 to 1986 and most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis; he was appointed by Nikita Khrushchev. ... Yegor Kuzmich Ligachev (Ð•Ð³Ð¾ÌÑ€ ÐšÑƒÐ·ÑŒÐ¼Ð¸ÌÑ‡ Ð›Ð¸Ð³Ð°Ñ‡Ñ‘Ð²) (b. ... Alexander Yakovlev (left) with Mikhail Gorbachev. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... Gennady Ivanovich Yanayev (Ð¯Ð½Ð°ÐµÐ², Ð“ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð°Ð´Ð¸Ð¹ Ð˜Ð²Ð°Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ in Russian) (born August 26, 1937), Russian politician and statesman. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: ), surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ... The Soviet Coup of 1991 or the August Coup crushed the hopes of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that he could at least hold the union together in a decentralized form. ...