Andropov, Yury Vladimirovich
- Andropov, Yury Vladimirovich
-
▪ president of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
born June 15 [June 2, Old Style], 1914, Nagutskoye, Russia
died Feb 9, 1984, Moscow
head of the Soviet Union's KGB (State Security Committee) from 1967 to 1982 and his country's leader as general secretary of the Communist Party's Central Committee from November 1982 until his death 15 months later.
The son of a railway worker, Andropov was a telegraph operator, film projectionist, and boatman on the Volga River before attending a technical college and, later, Petrozavodsk University. He became an organizer for the Young Communist League (
Komsomol) in the Yaroslav region and joined the Communist Party in 1939. His superiors noticed his abilities, and he was made head of the Komsomol in the newly created Karelo-Finnish Autonomous Republic (1940–44).
The turning point in Andropov's career was his transfer to Moscow (1951), where he was assigned to the party's Secretariat staff, considered a training ground for promising young officials. As ambassador to Hungary (July 1954–March 1957), he played a major role in coordinating the Soviet invasion of that country. Andropov then returned to Moscow, rising rapidly through the Communist hierarchy and, in 1967, becoming head of the KGB. Andropov's policies as head of the KGB were repressive; his tenure was noted for its suppression of political dissidents.
Andropov was elected to the Politburo, and, as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's health declined, Andropov began to position himself for succession, resigning his KGB post in 1982. Andropov was chosen by the Communist Party Central Committee to succeed Brezhnev as general secretary on November 12, scarcely two days after Brezhnev's death. He consolidated his power by becoming chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (
president) on June 16, 1983.
Ill health overtook him by August 1983, and thereafter he was never seen again in public. He accomplished little and was succeeded by a former rival, Konstantin Chernenko (
Chernenko, Konstantin Ustinovich).
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Andropov, Yury Vladimirovich — (1914–1984) Politician. Born to a father of a Don Cossack noble family and a mother of ethnic German origin, Yury Andropov was orphaned in his teens. He joined the Komsomol youth organization and became a member of the Communist Party of the… … Historical Dictionary of the Russian Federation
Andropov, Yury (Vladimirovich) — born June 15, 1914, Nagutskoye, Russia died Feb 9, 1984, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R. Soviet leader. He joined the Communist Party in 1939 and rose rapidly in the party hierarchy. His tenure as head of the KGB (1967–82) was noted for its suppression… … Universalium
Vladimirovich — (as used in expressions) Andropov Yury Vladimirovich Mayakovsky Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov Vladimir Vladimirovich Obraztsov Sergey Vladimirovich Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich * * * … Universalium
Andropov — /ænˈdrɒpɒf/ (say an dropof) noun Yury Vladimirovich /ˈjuəri vlædɪˈmɪərəvɪtʃ/ (say yoohuhree vladi mearruhvich), 1914–84, Soviet politician, born in Russia; president of the Soviet Union 1983–84 …
Yuri Andropov — Infobox Officeholder name = Yuri Andropov Юрий Владимирович Андропов nationality=Russian imagesize = small caption = order = General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union term start = 12 November 1982 term end = 9 February 1984… … Wikipedia
Russia — /rush euh/, n. 1. Also called Russian Empire. Russian, Rossiya. a former empire in E Europe and N and W Asia: overthrown by the Russian Revolution 1917. Cap.: St. Petersburg (1703 1917). 2. See Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 3. See Russian… … Universalium
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics — a former federal union of 15 constituent republics, in E Europe and W and N Asia, comprising the larger part of the former Russian Empire: dissolved in December 1991. 8,650,069 sq. mi. (22,402,200 sq. km). Cap.: Moscow. Also called Russia, Soviet … Universalium
intelligence — /in tel i jeuhns/, n. 1. capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc. 2. manifestation of a high mental capacity: He writes with… … Universalium
international relations — a branch of political science dealing with the relations between nations. [1970 75] * * * Study of the relations of states with each other and with international organizations and certain subnational entities (e.g., bureaucracies and political… … Universalium
Rybinsk — /rib insk/; Russ. /rddi byinsk/, n. 1. a city in the W Russian Federation in Europe, NNE of Moscow, on the Volga near the Rybinsk Reservoir. 254,000. Formerly, Andropov (1984 90), Shcherbakov (1946 57). 2. Also called Rybinsk Reservoir. a… … Universalium
