Malenkov, Georgy

Malenkov, Georgy (Maksimilianovich)

(born Jan. 13, 1902, Orenburg, Russia—died Jan. 14, 1988, near Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.) Soviet politician and prime minister (1953–55). He joined the Communist Party in 1920 and rose swiftly through the ranks as a close associate of Joseph Stalin. In 1946 he became a full member of the Politburo and deputy prime minister. After Stalin's death (1953), he was forced to yield his post as senior party secretary to Nikita Khrushchev, but as prime minister Malenkov worked to reduce arms appropriations, increase the production of consumer goods, and provide more incentives for collective farm workers. His programs were opposed by other party leaders, and he was forced to resign as prime minister (1955). Involved in the unsuccessful effort to depose Khrushchev, he was expelled from his other posts (1957) and from the party (1961) and was exiled to central Asia to manage a hydroelectric plant.