The Peasant Tsar

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The future leaders of the USSR


By November of 1945 two of the big three were dead. For nearly 20 years Stalin led the Soviet Union. There was chaos in the weeks after his death. It was obvious to some that Kalinin should succeed as he was one of the few old Bolsheviks left and head of state. However Kalinin was reluctant at first because he was considering retiring. His mind was changed after having a deep ideological talk with his wife. He told here he would consider it while staying at his dacha for a week. During the Politburo meeting he held a speech that he would accept becoming General Secretary of the USSR
 
I am no Kremlinologist but my understanding is that this is an extremely unlikely turn of events.
 
Kalinin was very much marginalised in the Soviet Union and was really only one of the last remaining Old Bolsheviks because he dared not disagree with Stalin in any regard and toed the Stalinist line as his patsy. His role at this point was largely ceremonial. You'd have to change that relationship somehow to have Kalinin be a reasonable leadership choice but in doing so no doubt he'd be amongst the other Old Bolsheviks purged.
 
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