Political activist military leader party figure
Kliment Voroshilov was born on February 4, 1881 in the village of Verkhne Bakhmutsky Uyezd of Ekaterinoslav province, the Russian Empire (now the city of Lisichansk in the Lugansk region, Ukraine), in the family of railroad worker Voroshilov Efrem Andreevich (1844-1907) and the suburban Voroshilova (nee Agafonova) Maria Vasilievna (1857-1919).
In 1893-1895 he studied at the zemstvo school in the village of Vasilievka (now part of the city of Alchevsk).
Member of the revolutionary movement since 1903. Active participant of the Civil War. Commander of the 1st Lugansk Socialist Detachment (March 1918). Since April 1918, the organizer and commander of the 5th Ukrainian Army. In July - August 1918, he commanded a group of troops in the defense of the city of Tsaritsyn. In August - September 1918 he was a member of the Military Council of the North Caucasian Military District. In September-October 1918, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council and an assistant to the commander of the Southern Front. In October - December 1918 the commander of the 10th Army. Since January 1919, People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. In June - July 1919, he commanded the 14th Army and the internal Ukrainian Front. Together with Semyon Mikhailovich Budyon was among the organizers of the First Cavalry Army (November 1919) and became a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the army until May 1921. In 1919, he participated in military operations on the territory of the Voronezh province, visited Voronezh. People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the USSR (1925-1940). Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party (1926-60). During the Great Patriotic War, a member of the State Defense Committee, Supreme Command Supreme Headquarters. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1953-1960).
One of the books that met Voroshilov and turned his mind over was the Manifesto of the Communist Party printed in the underground printing house. The political views of the young worker developed in a few days, and no longer changed.
During the Great Patriotic War, a member of the State Defense Committee, Supreme Command Supreme Headquarters. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1953-1960).
Delegate of the 10th to 23rd Party Congresses.
In 1957, he joined the "anti-party group". Unlike its leaders, he was not expelled from the party, but was only criticized at the 22nd CPSU Congress.
Although he was a famous party figure, he used to smuggle weapons, make bombs, sit in jails, serve links.
Quotes from others about the person
Molotov in 1974: "Voroshilov was nice, but only in certain times. He always stood for the political line of the party, because he was from a working class, a common man, very good orator. He was clean, yes. And he was personally devoted to Stalin. But his devotion was not very strong. However, in this period he advocated Stalin very actively, supported him in everything, though not entirely sure in everything. It also affected their relationship. This is a very complex issue. This must be taken into account to understand why Stalin treated him critically and not invited him to all our conversations. At least at private ones. But he came by himself. Stalin frowned. Under Khrushchev, Voroshilov behaved badly."
Voroshilov was married to Ekaterina Voroshilova, born Golda Gorbman, who came from a Jewish Ukrainian family from Mardarovka. She changed her name when she converted to Orthodox Christianity in order to be allowed to marry Voroshilov. They met while both exiled in Arkhangelsk, where Ekaterina was sent in 1906. While both serving on the Tsaritsyn Front in 1918, where Ekaterina was helping orphans, they adopted a four-year-old orphan boy who they named Petya. They also adopted the children of Mikhail Frunze following his death in 1925. During Stalin's rule they lived in the Kremlin at the Horse Guards.
1887 – 1959
