Anastas Mikoyan

Anastas Mikoyan (25 November 1895 – 21 October 1978) was an Armenian revolutionary, Soviet statesman, and author. He was a top government official under Joseph Stalin and was instrumental in the development of the Soviet Union's post-World War II economy.

Early Life

Mikoyan was born in the village of Sanahin, then a part of the Russian Empire and now located in Armenia. He was the youngest of five children. His father, Hovhannes, worked as a carpenter and his mother, Ashkhen, was a rug weaver.

Political Career

Mikoyan joined the Bolshevik Party in 1915. After the October Revolution in 1917, he rose through the ranks of the party, eventually becoming a member of the Politburo, the highest policy-making government authority in the Soviet Union. He served under Joseph Stalin and was one of the few old Bolsheviks to survive Stalin's purges in the 1930s.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Mikoyan held several high-ranking positions in the Soviet government, including Minister of Trade and First Deputy Premier. He played a key role in the development of the Soviet Union's post-World War II economy, particularly in the area of food production. His efforts led to significant improvements in the Soviet Union's food supply and contributed to the country's rapid industrialization during this period.

Later Life and Legacy

Mikoyan retired from politics in 1965 and spent the last years of his life writing his memoirs. He died in 1978 in Moscow. Today, he is remembered as one of the key figures in the history of the Soviet Union.

See Also

• History of the Soviet Union
• Joseph Stalin
• Bolshevik Party
• Politburo

References

• Mikoyan: The Definitive Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore
• Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar by Simon Sebag Montefiore