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By 1964, Nikita Khruschev, the First Secretary and the Premier of the Soviet Union, was becoming unpopular. He was old, for one thing, and for another, his agricultural policies were not very successful whatsoever. By March of 1964, the Chairman of the Presidium, Leonid Brezhnev, was gaining support for his overthrow. In October, Brezhnev struck. On the 14th of October, Khruschev was forced to resign. His 'voluntary' resignation was accepted.

On the 15th of October, Brezhnev announced his appointment as the new First Secretary, with Alexei Kosygin, standing behind him, to become Premier.

At that moment, shots rang out. Chaos had erupted. Soon afterward, Brezhnev and three bystanders were found dead, with Kosygin heavily wounded.

This threw the Soviet government into chaos. There were (completely unfounded) rumors of a Khruschev return, but this was not to be. After his recovery, Alexei Kosygin took the position of Premier of the Soviet Union. Former Head of the Committe of State Security, Alexander Shelepin became the new First Secretary. Replacing Brezhnev to become Chairman of the Presidium was the current Head of the Committee of State Security; Vladimir Semichastny.

This sudden shake-up in Soviet leadership would have an amazing effect on history.

Comments, please? This is my first timeline, and my pessimistic mind expects it to be a failure.
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