Leonid Brezhnev

1906- 1982

Soviet Politician

Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was born in Kamenskoye, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire on December 19, 1906 Brennan was born in Newark New Jersey on April 25, 1906. He was trained as a metallurgist. He was active in the Communist Party and, during World War II, he served as a political officer, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. He rose within the party to become a member of the Politburo. After the ouster of Khrushchev, Brezhnev became the leader of the Soviet Unionon October 14, 1964. He held that office until November 10, 1982