Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev - aspiring actor and poetry fan (209)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 14 November 2021

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Now, what do you think of when you hear the name Leonid Brezhnev who ruled the Soviet Union for 18 years from the 1960s to the 1980s? An old guy waving weakly from the Lenin mausoleum? Well, think again! We speak with Susanne Schattenberg, the author of a new biography that systematically dismantles the stereotypical and one-dimensional view of Brezhnev as the stagnating Stalinist by drawing on a wealth of archival research and documents not previously studied in English. The Brezhnev that emerges is a complex one, from his early apolitical years, as an aspiring actor and poetry fan, through his swift and surprising rise through the Party ranks. We talk about his hitherto misunderstood role in Khrushchev's ousting and appointment as his successor, to his somewhat pro-Western foreign policy aims, deft consolidation and management of power, and ultimate descent into addiction and untimely death. For Schattenberg, this is the story of a flawed and ineffectual idealist - for the West, this biography makes a convincing case that Brezhnev should be reappraised as one of the most interesting and important political figures of the twentieth century. Buy the book here and support CWC UK https://amzn.to/3kCUaVn US https://amzn.to/3c9fOvZ Now time doesn’t come free and I’m asking listeners to support my work recording these incredible stories via a small (or large)l donation. If you become a monthly supporter via Patreon, you will get the sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook. I am delighted to welcome Susanne Schattenberg to our Cold War conversation… Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Introduction 2:58 Brezhnev's early life, education, and career 8:07 Start of Brezhnev's political career and navigation of Stalinist purges 23:08 Brezhnev's rise to power and relationship with Khrushchev 34:06 Brezhnev's leadership style, reforms, and international crisis 38:12 Brezhnev's portrayal as a Western statesman and health decline 49:34 Brezhnev's involvement in Afghanistan and Poland's situation 56:41 Closing remarks and promotion of Cold War Conversations store Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.7	That struck me by surprise that you wanted to become a professional actor and neither, of course, a revolutionary nor an engineer.
0:19.2	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:24.6	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
0:30.9	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so that you don't miss out on future episodes.
0:37.6	Now, what do you think of when you hear the name Leonid Brezhnev, who ruled the Soviet
0:43.7	Union for 18 years from the 1960s to the 1980s?
0:48.9	An old guy?
0:50.5	Waving Weekly from the Lenin Mausoleum?
0:53.6	Well, think again. we speak with Susanna
0:56.2	Chattenberg, the author of a new biography which systematically dismantles the stereotypical
1:02.5	and one-dimensional view of Brezhnev as the stagnating Stalinist by drawing on a wealth
1:09.0	of archival research and documents not previously studied in English.
1:14.4	The Brezhnev that emerges is a complex one from his early apolitical years as an aspiring actor and poetry fan,
1:23.1	through to his swift and surprising rise through the party ranks.
1:27.6	We talk about his hitherto misunderstood role in Khrushchev's ousting,
1:32.3	an appointment as his successor, to his somewhat pro-Western foreign policy aims,
1:37.5	deft consolidation and management of power,
1:40.5	an ultimate descent into addiction and untimely death.
1:45.1	For Susanna, this is the story of a flawed and ineffectual idealist.
1:50.6	For the West, this biography makes a convincing case that Brezhnev should be reappraised
1:55.7	as one of the most interesting and important political figures of the 20th century.
	...

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