Death and state funeral of Leonid Brezhnev facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

On 10 November 1982, Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, the third General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the fifth leader of the Soviet Union, died aged 75 after suffering a heart attack.

His death was officially announced on 11 November by Soviet radio and television programs. After five days of national mourning, Brezhnev was given a state funeral and then buried in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis. Yuri Andropov, Brezhnev's successor as general secretary, was elected chairman of the committee preparing and managing Brezhnev's funeral. Brezhnev's funeral was on 15 November.

The funeral was attended by 32 heads of state, 15 heads of government, 14 foreign ministers and four princes; US President Ronald Reagan sent George H. W. Bush, the Vice President of the United States. Eulogies were delivered by Yuri Andropov, Dmitriy Ustinov, Anatoly Alexandrov and a factory worker.

Images for kids

Brezhnev and Dmitry Ustinov at the 1979 October Revolution Day Parade on Red Square celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the revolution.
Brezhnev's tomb in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis

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