Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (19 December 1906 – 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964 and 1982 and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet between 1960 and 1964 and again between 1977 and 1982.
What key events happened under Brezhnev?
In foreign policy, Brezhnev oversaw a thaw in US-Soviet relations. He held several summits with presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter; negotiated both SALT arms limitation treaties (1972 and 1979); and signed the Helsinki Accords (1975).
Oct 20, 2018
What did Brezhnev change?
The 18 years of Brezhnev’s leadership of the Communist Party saw real incomes grow by more than 1.5 times. More than 1.6 billion square meters of living space was commissioned and provided to over 160 million people. At the same time, the average rent for families did not exceed 3% of the family income.
How did Brezhnev impact the Cold War?
Cold War – Brezhnev led the Soviet Union during much of the Cold War Era. His government took part in the Arms Race with the United States building up huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. In 1971 he instituted a thawing of relations with the US termed “detente”.
What happened to Leonid Brezhnev?
On 10 November 1982, Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, the third General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the fifth leader of the Soviet Union, died at the age of 75, a month before his 76th birthday, after suffering a heart attack following years of serious ailments.
Where is the Brezhnev kiss?
As well as the famous fraternal kiss (staged at Schönhausen Palace to show the special relationship between the two states), the official schedule also includes an appearance at the ostentatious anniversary parade. Brezhnev tells the SED politburo that it must see to it that industrial productivity increases.
Did Brezhnev kiss foreign leaders?
The socialist fraternal kiss gained worldwide attention in 1979 when Erich Honecker and Leonid Brezhnev, the leaders of the German Democratic Republic of East Germany and the USSR were photographed embracing for the 30th anniversary of founding of the East German Republic.
Feb 13, 2021
What impact did Brezhnev have on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe?
Named for Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet premier and leader of the Communist Party from 1964 until his death in 1982, the Brezhnev Doctrine stated that all communist countries in Eastern Europe were responsible for promoting the health of the communist parties throughout the region.
Oct 9, 2021
What were the main points of the Brezhnev Doctrine?
The Brezhnev Doctrine was a Soviet foreign policy that proclaimed any threat to socialist rule in any state of the Soviet Bloc in Central and Eastern Europe was a threat to them all, and therefore justified the intervention of fellow socialist states.
What impact did Brezhnev have on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe?
Named for Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet premier and leader of the Communist Party from 1964 until his death in 1982, the Brezhnev Doctrine stated that all communist countries in Eastern Europe were responsible for promoting the health of the communist parties throughout the region.
Oct 9, 2021
What happened after the Brezhnev Doctrine?
After Brezhnev’s death in 1982, his doctrine largely remained in effect until Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader in 1985. Faced with a changing political climate, Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine.
Dec 15, 2022
Did the Brezhnev Doctrine fail?
The immense blowback tempered Soviet foreign policy during the Polish crisis in 1980-81, which spelled the end for the Brezhnev doctrine. However, it wouldn’t be until 1989, during a turning point in Berlin, when this glaring gap in policy logic causes the Socialist Fatherland to collapse.