Leader of the Soviet Union

The Leaders of the Soviet Union were the rulers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. They wielded absolute or nearly absolute political control over the Soviet citizens lives.

Timeline of Leaders during the USSR's Existence

• Vladimir Lenin - Seized Power after October Revolution overthrew Kerensky's Government. From 1917/1922 to his Death in 1924.

• Joseph Stalin - The ruler who intensified collectivization and conducted many purges. 1924 to his Death in 1953.

• Georgy Malenkov - From 1953 untl his forced removal in 1955

• Nikita Khrushchev - The one who toned down Stalin's policies a bit. 1955 to until his ovethrowing in 1964

• Leonid Brezhnev - From 1964 to his death in 1982

• Yuri Andropov - Ruled from 1982 to his death in 1984

• Konstantin Chernenko - Ruled from 1984 until his death in 1985

• Mikhail Gorbachev - From 1985 to Country's Collapse in 1991.