Deputy Premier of the Soviet Union facts for kids

Have you ever wondered who helped run the Soviet Union? The "Deputy Premiers" were like the main assistants to the head of the government. They played a big role in managing different parts of the country's daily operations. These important people helped the top leader, often called the Premier or Chairman, make decisions and keep things running smoothly. They were involved in everything from managing industries to overseeing social programs.

What is a Deputy Premier?

A Deputy Premier was a high-ranking official in the government of the Soviet Union. Think of them as vice-presidents or senior ministers who supported the main leader. Their job was to help manage the country's affairs. They often oversaw specific areas like industry, agriculture, or finance. This role was very important because the Soviet Union was a huge country. It needed many skilled people to help govern it.

Different Titles for Deputy Premiers

Over the years, the title for these assistants changed a few times. But their main job remained the same: to help lead the government.

Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

This was the first title for these important assistants. It was used from 1923 until 1946. The "Council of People's Commissars" was the main government body at that time. Many different people held this position. They helped manage the country during its early years and through World War II.

Some of the people who held this role included:

• Lev Kamenev (1923-1926)
• Alexey Rykov (1923-1924)
• Anastas Mikoyan (1937-1946)
• Lazar Kaganovich (1938-1946)
• Alexei Kosygin (1940-1946)
• Lavrenty Beria (1941-1946)

Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers

In 1946, the government changed its name from the "Council of People's Commissars" to the "Council of Ministers." So, the assistants' title also changed to "Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers." This title was used for a long time, from 1946 until 1991. During this period, many individuals served in this role. They helped guide the Soviet Union through the Cold War era and its later years.

Some notable individuals in this role were:

• Lavrenty Beria (1946-1953)
• Alexei Kosygin (1946-1953, 1953-1956, 1957-1960)
• Anastas Mikoyan (1946-1953, 1954-1955)
• Nikolai Bulganin (1947-1950)
• Dmitry Ustinov (1957-1963)
• Nikolai Tikhonov (1965-1976)
• Ivan Silayev (1985-1990)
• Boris Shcherbina (1984-1989) - He was involved in managing the response to the Chernobyl disaster.

Deputy Prime Minister of the USSR

Towards the very end of the Soviet Union, in 1991, the title changed again to "Deputy Prime Minister of the USSR." This was a short-lived title as the Soviet Union dissolved later that year.

Other Deputy Roles

As the Soviet Union was coming to an end, there were also other temporary deputy roles created to manage the economy during a time of big changes. These included:

• Deputy of the Committee on the operational management of the economy of the USSR (1991)
• Deputy of the Interstate Economic Committee of the Economic Community (1991)

These roles show how the government tried to adapt and manage the country's economy during its final years.