Military · Politics · 1914–1984
Born: 15 June 1914 · Died: 9 February 1984 · Age at death: 69
Yuri Andropov died aged 69. He was born on 15 June 1914 and died on 9 February 1984.
Soviet leader who headed the KGB for 15 years before leading the USSR from 1982 until his death in 1984
Did you know?He invited an American child, Samantha Smith, to visit the Soviet Union after she wrote him a letter asking about nuclear war.
Yuri Andropov led the KGB for 15 years before becoming Soviet leader. As ambassador in Budapest in 1956, he saw the Hungarian uprising crushed by Soviet tanks, and it shaped him deeply. As KGB chief he persecuted dissidents and helped plan the invasion of Afghanistan. In 1982 he succeeded Leonid Brezhnev. He launched a campaign against corruption and lax discipline at work. But his health failed quickly and he died after 15 months. He promoted the young Mikhail Gorbachev.
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (15 June 1914 – 9 February 1984) was a Soviet politician who served as the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from late 1982 until his death in 1984. He previously served as the chairman of the KGB from 1967 until 1982.
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Profile
Soviet leader, 1914–1984
Yuri Andropov was born in Stavropol region on 15 June 1914 (2 June Old Style).
He was ambassador in Budapest in 1956.
He led the KGB from 1967 to 1982.
He led the Soviet Union from 1982 to 1984.
Career highlights
Did you know?He promoted the young Mikhail Gorbachev.
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