Promoting Leningrad Cadres in the First Post-War Years

The article examines the mechanism, scale and reasons for promoting Leningrad cadres to central regional bodies in 1946–1949. prevailing opinion Russian historiography is that during first post-war years, hundreds of executives from received significant posts Moscow different regions country thanks A. Kuznetsov. study personnel policies 1940s reveals Kuznetsov, as head Cadre Department Central Committee, was responsible preparation issues concerning cadres, but decisions were made by Secretariat Politburo. country’s top leadership, especially J. V. Stalin, carefully controlled all key reshuffles, so Kuznetsov could not freely promote his people. An analysis archival documents shows there no large-scale expansion years. In 1945–1948, only 20–30 people annually high positions. contrast appointees other regions, they more often headed obkoms oblispolkoms, yet their share leadership USSR small. active promotion leaders primarily due fact many them had university degrees nd solid managerial experience. Committee tried overcome shortage qualified middle-ranking managers with help Leningraders, well employees metropolitan departments. For same reason, some also interested Leningraders. continued even when G. M. Malenkov became again selection stopped because “Leningrad affair”.