Leonid Brezhnev

Profession: Soviet General Secretary

Nationality:

Biography: Leonid Bezhnev was the dominant political force in Soviet politics through much of the Cold War. He is the 2nd longest serving General Secretary after Stalin himself.

Brezhnev rose steadily through the rank to become Soviet leader Khrushchev's protégé. In 1960 he was appointed Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, a largely ceremonial position.

In 1964 Brezhnev emerged as part of group that deposed Krushhchev and he was appointed General Secretary of the Soviet Central Committee and Khrushchev's successor.

In power Brezhnev continued Krushchev's hard line stance, presiding over the invasion of Czechoslovakia to halt the Prague Spring and invading Aghanistan in 1979. He developed a policy of détente, a gradual thrawing with non Communist countries, particularly the US.

Domestically Brezhnev's time in power has been characterised as a period of economic stagnation, living standards fell in part due to the huge spend on the military and the space race.

Born: December 19, 1906
Birthplace: Kamenskoye, Ukraine, Russia

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Horse
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: November 10, 1982 (aged 75)
Cause of Death: Heart attack