Yuri Andropov

1914- 1984

Soviet Politician

Yuri Andropov was born on June 15, 1914, in Stanitsta Nagutskaya. He joined the Communist Party as a teenager. Andropov served as his country's Ambassador to Hungary from 1954-1957. He held a variety of political positions, including Secretary of the Central Committee and head of the KGB. He was one of the leading proponents of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, as well as the invasion of Afghanistan. With the death of Brezhnev, Andropov became General Secretary of the USSR in 1982. Andropov was, however, in poor health, and died in 1984, without any significant accomplishments during his brief rule.