Vjacheslav Malyshev
Banned
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