Andrei Zhdanov Андре́й Жда́нов |
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Chairman of the Soviet of the Union | |
In office 12 March 1946 – 25 February 1947 |
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Preceded by | Andrey Andreyev |
Succeeded by | Ivan Parfenov |
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR | |
In office 15 July 1938 – 19 July 1938 |
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Preceded by | Mikhail Kalinin |
Succeeded by | Mikhail Tarasov |
Head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Central Committee | |
In office 21 March 1939 – 6 September 1940 |
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Preceded by | Post established |
Succeeded by | Georgy Aleksandrov |
Full member of the 18th Politburo | |
In office 22 March 1939 – 31 August 1948 |
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Candidate member of the 17th Politburo | |
In office 10 February 1934 – 22 March 1939 |
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Member of the 17th, 18th Secretariat | |
In office 10 February 1934 – 31 August 1948 |
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Member of the 17th, 18th Orgburo | |
In office 10 February 1934 – 31 August 1948 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Andrei Alexandrovich Zhdanov 26 February 1896 Mariupol, Russian Empire |
Died | 31 August 1948 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
(aged 52)
Citizenship | Soviet |
Nationality | Russian |
Political party | Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
Occupation | Civil servant |
Andrei Alexandrovich Zhdanov (Russian: Андре́й Алекса́ндрович Жда́нов; IPA: [ɐnˈdrej ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕˈʐdanəf]; 26 February [O.S. 14 February] 1896 – 31 August 1948) was a Soviet politician. After World War II, he was thought to be the successor-in-waiting to Joseph Stalin, but Zhdanov died before Stalin.
Zhdanov enlisted with the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolshevik) in 1915 and was promoted through the party ranks, becoming the All-Union Communist Party manager in Leningrad after the assassination of Sergei Kirov in 1934. He was Chairman of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet from 20 July 1938–20 June 1947. Though somewhat less active than Vyacheslav Molotov, Joseph Stalin, Lazar Kaganovich and Kliment Voroshilov, Zhdanov was a major perpetrator of the Great Terror and personally approved 176 documented execution lists. In June 1940, he was sent to Estonia to supervise the establishment of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic and its annexation by the USSR.
Zhdanov took a leading role during the Siege of Leningrad during World War II. After the cease-fire agreement between Finland and the USSR was signed in Moscow on 4 September 1944, Zhdanov directed the Allied Control Commission in Finland until the Paris peace treaty of 1947.