Brezhnev: the making of a statesman

"Leonid Brezhnev was leader of the Soviet Union for eighteen years, a term of leadership second only in length to that of Stalin. He presided over the Brezhnev Doctrine, which accelerated the Cold War, and led the Soviet Union through catastrophic foreign policy decisions such as the invasion of Afghanistan. To many in the West, he is responsible for the stagnation (and to some even collapse) of the Soviet Union. But much of this history has been based on the only two English-language biographies (both published before Brezhnev's death and without access to archival sources) and Brezhnev's own astonishingly untrue memoirs--written for propaganda purposes. Newly translated from German, Schattenberg's magisterial book 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, when he dreamed of becoming an actor, through his swift and surprising rise through the Party ranks. From 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"--

Originally published in German in 2019 by Bohlau Verlag, Koln, as "Leonid Breschnew, Staatsmann und Schauspieler im Schatten Stalins: Eine Biographie."

Introduction -- 1.Career Aspiration: Actor Or: An Ordinary Soviet Man -- 2. How the Steel was Tempered Or: Career in Times of Terror and War -- 3.In Stalin s Shadow Or: Years of Apprenticeship of a General Secretary I -- 4.Under Khrushchev Or: Years of Apprenticeship of a General Secretary II -- 5.The Caring General Secretary Or: Collective Leadership as Theater -- 6.Live and Let Live Or: Everybody Shall Live and Work in Peace -- 7. Developed Socialism Or: Relaunch of the Soviet Project? -- 8.Emotions and Pills in the Cold War Or: How to Act as Western Statesman -- 9.Thirst of Glory and Decay Or: The Loneliness of the General Secretary -- Epilogue.