Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov (January 8, 1902 – January 14, 1988) was a prominent Soviet politician who rose to prominence following the death of Joseph Stalin in March 1953, becoming the Premier and the leading figure in the Soviet Union. His tenure was marked by a significant power struggle with Nikita Khrushchev, which ultimately led to his ousting from the premiership in 1955 and subsequent removal from the Central Committee Presidium in 1957.
Malenkov's political career began during the Russian Civil War, where he served in the Red Army. He joined the Communist Party in 1920 and, by 1925, was part of the Organizational Bureau, playing a crucial role in Stalin's purges throughout the 1930s. His ascent continued as he became a member of the Central Committee Secretariat by 1939 and later took on a vital role in the State Defense Committee during World War II, overseeing aircraft and missile production. In 1946, he secured a position as a full member of the Politburo and, by 1948, was appointed Second Secretary of the Communist Party.
After Stalin's death, Malenkov briefly held significant power but was quickly overshadowed by Khrushchev, leading to a failed coup in 1957 aimed at removing Khrushchev from power. Following this failure, Malenkov was expelled from the party by 1961 and lived a reclusive life until his passing in 1988 from natural causes.
