Konstantin Chernenko

**Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko** (Russian language: Константи́н Усти́нович Черне́нко September 24, 1911 – March 10, 1985) was a Soviet Politician who briefly ruled The Soviet Union. Born to a poor family from Siberia, Chernenko joined the Communist Party in 1931. He was later elected to become a full member of the Politburo in 1978. Following the death of Leonid Brezhnev and his successor Yuri Andropov, Chernenko was elected General Secretary in February 1984. During his brief time in office, Chernenko continued Andropov's reforms. However, his term was cut short due to health problems and he died on March 10, 1985 after leading the country for only 13 months.

### Early Life and Career

Konstantin Chernenko was born to a poor peasant family on September 24, 1911, in Bolshaya Tes, Russia. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1931 and worked in various party and government positions, eventually rising through the ranks.

### Personal Life

Chernenko married twice, Faina Vassilyevna Chernenko and Anna Dmitrevna Lyubimova. Together, they had 4 children, a son named Albert and had two daughters, Yelena and Vera, and a son, Vladimir.

### Rising through the ranks

He started as a Komsomol activist, later joining the Communist Party. Chernenko held various party positions, showcasing his loyalty to the Soviet regime. His proximity to power increased under Brezhnev, eventually becoming a full member of the Politburo in 1978. After Brezhnev's death in 1982, Chernenko briefly served as Second Secretary during the brief rule of Yuri Andropov until Andropov's death in February 1984.

### Rule (1984 – 1985)

Chernenko served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1984 until his death in 1985. Chernenko pursued a conservative foreign policy, maintaining a firm stance against the West. Domestically, he faced health issues, hindering significant reforms, and his brief tenure limited major policy shifts. Chernenko's tenure is often associated with the later years of the Cold War and the Soviet Union's internal challenges.

### Health Problems

Chernenko faced various health issues during his brief time in office from 1984 to 1985. He suffered from emphysema and other respiratory problems, likely exacerbated by his heavy smoking. These health issues ultimately contributed to his death in March 1985.

## Legacy

Chernenko's legacy is often overshadowed by his predecessors and the subsequent changes in Soviet leadership. Chernenko's time in office was marked by health issues, and he passed away after just 13 months. His legacy is tied to the later years of the Cold War, but his impact on Soviet history is limited compared to other leaders.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Konstantin Chernenko
- **image**: Константин Черненко (28-05-1984) (cropped)(b).jpg
- **caption**: Chernenko in 1984
- **citizenship**: Soviet
- **nationality**: Ukrainian people, Ukrainian
- **office**: General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- **term start**: 9 February 1984
- **term end**: 10 March 1985
- **predecessor**: Yuri Andropov
- **successor**: Mikhail Gorbachev
- **office2**: :en:List of heads of state of the Soviet Union, President of the Soviet Union
- **term start2**: 11 April 1984
- **term end2**: 10 March 1985
- **predecessor2**: Yuri Andropov
- **successor2**: Andrei Gromyko
- **office3**: Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Second Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- **term start3**: 10 November 1982
- **term end3**: 9 February 1984
- **predecessor3**: Yuri Andropov
- **successor3**: Mikhail Gorbachev
- **birth name**: Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko
- **birth place**: Bolshaya Tes, Yeniseysk Governorate, Russian Empire
- **death place**: Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
- **death cause**: Emphysema and heart failure
- **resting place**: Kremlin Wall Necropolis, Moscow, Russian Federation
- **party**: Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- **spouse**: Faina Vassilyevna Chernenko
Anna Chernenko, Anna Dmitrievna Lyubimova
- **children**: Albert Chernenko
Vera Chernenko
Yelena Chernenko
Vladimir Chernenko
- **signature**: Chernenko signature.svg