Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Chairman of Supreme Soviet Presidium

Becomes Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, serving as the Soviet Union's head of state.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1960-1964

Hero of Socialist Labour

Receives the title Hero of Socialist Labour while serving as Soviet head of state.

Return to Central Committee Secretariat

Returns from the ceremonial head-of-state post to active work in the Central Committee Secretariat.

Informal Second Secretary Role

Emerges as Khrushchev's principal deputy in the day-to-day management of the Communist Party.

Role range: 1963-1964

First Secretary of CPSU

Succeeds Nikita Khrushchev as First Secretary of the Communist Party.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1964-1966

Khrushchev Removal

Helps organize the party leadership move that removes Nikita Khrushchev from power.

Role range: 1964-1966

Collective Leadership Established

Forms a collective leadership with Alexei Kosygin and Nikolai Podgorny after Khrushchev's removal.

Role range: 1964-1966

March Agricultural Programme

Backs higher agricultural investment and procurement incentives at the March Central Committee plenum.

Role range: 1964-1966

September Economic Reform

Supports economic reforms that restore central ministries while giving enterprises limited profitability incentives.

Role range: 1964-1966

Twenty-Third CPSU Congress

Leads the Twenty-Third Party Congress as the title General Secretary is restored.

Role range: 1966-1982

Eighth Five-Year Plan

The Eighth Five-Year Plan begins under Brezhnev's leadership, emphasizing industrial expansion and economic stability.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

First Hero of Soviet Union Award

Receives his first Hero of the Soviet Union title during his early years as party leader.

Role range: 1966-1982

General Secretary of CPSU

Takes the restored title of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Regional Economic Councils Abolished

The regional economic councils created during the Khrushchev period are abolished as central ministries regain authority.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

KGB Leadership under Andropov

The KGB gains renewed political importance after Yuri Andropov becomes its chairman.

Role range: 1966-1982

Middle East Rearmament Policy

Supports renewed Soviet military assistance to Arab allies after the Six-Day War.

Role range: 1966-1982

Dresden Warsaw Pact Meeting

Joins Warsaw Pact leaders in criticizing the direction of political reforms in Czechoslovakia.

Role range: 1966-1982

Cierna nad Tisou Negotiations

Conducts direct talks with Alexander Dubcek and the Czechoslovak leadership over the Prague Spring reforms.

Role range: 1966-1982

Warsaw Letter to Czechoslovakia

Supports a Warsaw Pact warning demanding that Czechoslovak leaders defend the Communist political system.

Role range: 1966-1982

Bratislava Declaration

Warsaw Pact leaders meeting at Bratislava affirm Marxism-Leninism and collective responsibility for defending socialism.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Brezhnev Doctrine

The policy later called the Brezhnev Doctrine asserts a Soviet right to defend Communist rule within the Eastern Bloc.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Warsaw Pact Intervention Decision

Brezhnev secures support from allied Warsaw Pact leaders for intervention against the Prague Spring.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Politburo Decision on Czechoslovakia

The Soviet leadership approves military intervention against the Prague Spring reform movement.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Detention of Czechoslovak Reform Leaders

Soviet forces detain Alexander Dubcek and other Czechoslovak reform leaders during the Warsaw Pact intervention.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Moscow Talks with Dubcek

Dubcek and other detained Czechoslovak leaders are taken to Moscow for negotiations with the Soviet leadership.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia

Warsaw Pact forces enter Czechoslovakia and end the Prague Spring reform experiment.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Moscow Protocol

Oversees negotiations resulting in the Moscow Protocol after the invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Role range: 1966-1982

Limited Sovereignty Speech

Publicly articulates the principle of limited sovereignty later widely known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Role range: 1966-1982

SALT Negotiations Begin

The Soviet Union and United States begin formal Strategic Arms Limitation Talks during his leadership.

Role range: 1966-1982

Sino-Soviet Border Crisis

The Soviet leadership confronts a serious border crisis with China following armed clashes along the Ussuri River.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Strategic Nuclear Parity Programme

Continues the large strategic weapons programme intended to achieve nuclear parity with the United States.

Role range: 1966-1982

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in Force

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty enters into force during Brezhnev's leadership.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1966-1982

Lenin Centenary Address

Uses the centenary of Lenin's birth to reaffirm Communist Party leadership and Soviet international priorities.

Role range: 1966-1982

Twenty-Fourth CPSU Congress

Presents the principal report to the Twenty-Fourth Communist Party Congress.

Role range: 1966-1982

Mutual Force Reduction Talks

Discusses possible mutual force reductions in Europe with Willy Brandt.

Role range: 1966-1982

Oreanda Meeting with Willy Brandt

Meets West German Chancellor Willy Brandt for extensive talks on European security and East-West relations.

Role range: 1966-1982

European Security Conference Proposal

Presses Willy Brandt for progress toward a Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Role range: 1966-1982

Official Visit to France

Begins an official visit to France, strengthening Soviet engagement with Western Europe.

Role range: 1966-1982

Franco-Soviet Cooperation Principles

Signs principles of Soviet-French cooperation with Georges Pompidou at the end of his French visit.

Role range: 1966-1982

Pompidou Talks

Holds talks with French President Georges Pompidou on European security, economic relations and international crises.

Role range: 1966-1982