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Pyotr Mironovich Masherov Edit Profile

Peter, Petr

also known as Pyatro Mashera, Dubnyak

military politician first secretary

Pyotr Mironovich Masherov was a great Belarusian politician, the first secretary of Belarusian committee of the Soviet Union Communist Party, a communist leader of Soviet Belarus, and a hero of the Great Patriotic War who led an underground group of Soviet partisans in Belarus.

Background

Pyotr Masherov was born as Pyatro Mashera on February 13, 1918 in Shirki village (today’s Sennsky district, Vitebsk region) into a poor peasant family. According to the family tale, the great-grandfather surnamed Macheraut was a solder of the Napoleonic army, who stayed on the territory of Sennsky district and married a peasant girl.

The Masherov family was relatively small: father Miron (died 1938), mother Daria (died 1942), brother Pavel (1914 – 1988, military commander), sisters Matryona (born in 1908), Olga (born in 1924, doctor) and Nadezhda (1930, doctor). The children learnt from parents about diligence and neatness; such important things like exceptional kindness, perseverance in achieving their goals, modesty, love and respect to other people also were laid down within the family.

Pyotr was the second son. He was light-eyed and fair-haired boy with a broad smile on a freckled face. Together with his elder brother, they were participating in various kinds of mischiefs and sometimes were punished by mother. Pyotr was fond of sports from the very childhood. During winter, he got to school using self-made skates and skis. He also liked singing. Through adolescent years, he had even attended voice-training classes.

In 1937, his father Miron, was unfairly arrested and exiled to Gor’kovsky region, where he died soon. Pavel and Pyotr took responsibility for the family.

Education

Pyotr entered a seven-year school in Moshkany village in 1927. He was very good in Mathematics and Physics, and even started to write poems. He graduated from the school in 1934. From 1935 to 1939, Masherov studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Vitebsk Pedagogical Institute.

Career

In 1939, Masherov graduated from Vitebsk Pedagogical Institute and was sent to work as a teacher of Mathematics and Physics at the Rossony Secondary School. Pupils respected him. He had good reputation among others. Colleagues appreciated his knowledge, organizational skills and devotion to teacher's work. He liked sports and tried to involve other teachers and high school students in various kinds of activities. Together they went out to the country for trainings, organized sport competitions during weekends. Pyotr Masherov took part in the regional teacher’s conferences every year. He was fond of his job and planned to continue his studies as a postgraduate. Unfortunately, everything changed on summer 1941. He came to the Secretary of regional committee with the request to direct him at the front. He was sent to destroyer battalion, which was defeated in August 1941. He was captured by the Germans, but miraculously managed to run away (jumped out of the moving German train) and returned to Rossony. However, few days before his return his mother was tormented and shot by the Nazi. Filled with ebullient hatred for the invaders, Masherov assumed leadership of the underground Komsomol organization and was a leader of the partisan movevement in Rossony Raion, Belarusian SSR. From December 1941, he worked as an accountant in kolhoz (collective farm) “Rossony” and as a school teacher. He became commander of the Shchors Partisan Detachment in April 1942, commissar of the Rokossovskii Partisan Brigade in March 1943. At the same time, he became the first secretary of the underground Vileika Oblast Committee of Belarusian Komsomol in November 1943. Masherov personally participated in planning and carrying out many military operations known as “Dubnyak”. Under his leadership, the guerilla forces attacked connections between cities, authorities of command and provisioning for the German troops in Vitebsk and Kalinnynsk regions, USSR. He was wounded two times.

On August 15, 1944, he was awarded the highest honorary title in the Soviet Union “Hero of the Soviet Union” for exceptional heroism and gallantry in combat operations during the war against German-fascist invaders, and received the Order of Lenin.

In 1944-1946, he worked as the First Secretary of Molodechno Oblast Komsomol Committee, secretary and then first secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian Komsomol in 1946-1954. In 1954, he became the second secretary of the Minsk Oblast Committee of the Belarusian Communist Party. From 1955 to 1959, he served as the first secretary of the Brest Oblast Party Committee. In 1959, Masherov became secretary, then second secretary in 1962. In 1965, after holding some key positions in Belarusian regions and in Minsk, Pyotr Masherov became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian Communist Party. He was de facto the president of BSSR. He proved himself as a talented leader with inclusive thinking, logical mind and incredible energies.

Masherov was a delegate to the Nineteenth through Twenty fourth Congresses of the CPSU. He was elected a candidatemember of the Central Committee at the 22 Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1961) and a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union at the October Plenary Session of the Central Committee of Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1964) and at the Twenty-third (1966), Twenty-fourth (1971), and Twenty-fifth Party Congresses. In April 1966, he became a candidate member of thePolitburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He was a deputy to the third through fifth and seventh through ninthconvocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and has been a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of theUSSR since 1966.

Pyotr Masherov died on October 4, 1980 in an automobile accident.

Achievements

  • Pyotr Masherov was the World War II guerrilla leader who rose to become head of the Belarusian Communist Party organization and an alternate member of the Soviet Politoburo. Masherov had been near the upper ranks of power in the Soviet Union for 15 years. He was de facto the president of BSSR, was awarded the honorary titles “Hero of the Soviet Union”, “Hero of Socialist Labor”, five Orders of Lenin and various medals.

    The period of his leadership was marked by a significant economic growth in Belarus. The national income increased, industry and agriculture were actively developed. A number of today’s key enterprises were established, including Grodno chemical plant "Azot", Gomel chemical plant, Berezinskaya state district power station. Construction of the Minsk subway began.

    Masherov paid special attention to the development of science and education. He was interested in the activities of the BSSR Academy of Sciences, showing the greatest interest in physics. In addition to the development of academic institutions, he helped to establish a number of universities in Minsk and regional centers. He respected the so-called “creative intelligentsia” and kept in touch with the most outstanding representatives of Belarusian culture and art. He contributed to the construction of the House of the Writer, a special house where workshops for artists were held, helped the artists to solve their everyday life problems. Masherov paid special attention to the development of architecture, and in particular Minsk architecture. He actively supported construction of the Wileysk-Minsk water system, initiated construction of the Palace of the Republic, although after his death the project was changed. Thanks to Masherov, Minsk was awarded an honorary title “Hero City”.

    In 1978, Masherov was awarded the title of “Hero of Socialist Labor” for his contributions to the development of Belorussian Republic.

Politics

After the World War II, Masherov rose through the ranks of the Young Communist League and then the Communist Party. He had been near the upper ranks of power in the Soviet Union for 15 years and had long been tipped as a potential successor to ailing Premier Alexei Kosygin. Western diplomats who met him described Mr. Masherov as "urbane and intelligent."

Views

Quotations: “It’s better not to know everything but see the best in people. Only then, you will mean something. That is my moral. That is my life position. Even if I’m angry at someone I still take a pity on him and love him. That’s why I live. I really love people. I can knock someone’s teeth out, but after that, I will get them fixed – to better and more effective one. I really love people… And regret their weaknesses”

Personality

Masherov was known by his diligence and neatness; such important things as exceptional kindness, perseverance in the achieving the goals, modesty, love and respect to other people also were among the features of his character. According to memories of his colleagues, Pyotr Mironovich was charismatic, intelligent and easy to communicate; he had an ability to find a way in to people and very seldom got loud.

Physical Characteristics: From his childhood he liked sports, such as skiing and skating. He was always in a good athletic condition.

Quotes from others about the person

  • According to the memories of family members, Masherov had “…an incredible mind, extensive and generous nature, sweet and loving heart, beautiful and kind face, light and athletic pace. At the same time he was very strict, tough on himself and others, brave and strong; he stood his ground and loved the Motherland.

    Western diplomats who met him described Masherov as "urbane and intelligent."

Interests

  • ballet, theater, reading, baths

  • Sport & Clubs

    skiing, skating

Connections

He was married and had two daughters. Wife Polina outlived her husband’s death for less than 20 years and worked as a dentist in hospital. She died in 2002. Daughter Natalia lives in Minsk, and Elena – in Moscow, working in large telecommunications company. Peter Mironovich has 4 grandchildren who live in the USA, Russia and Belarus.

Peter's sister Olga lives in Grodno, Nadezhda – in Minsk.

Father:
Miron Mashera

In 1937 he was unfairly arrested and exiled to Gor’kovsky region, where he died soon.

Mother:
Daria Mashera

Brother:
Pavel Mashera

Sister:
Matryona Mashera

Sister:
Olga Mashera

She worked in Grodno Medical Institute.

Sister:
Nadezhda Mashera

Wife:
Polina Andreevna Masherova

Daughter:
Natalia Petrovna Masherova
Natalia Petrovna Masherova - Daughter of Pyotr Masherov

Announced her candidacy for the presidential elections in Belarus in 2001, but later withdrew from the election.

Daughter:
Elena Petrovna Masherova

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Education

Career

Awards

  • Award Hero of the Soviet Union
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    Hero of the Soviet Union, USSR

    15.08.1944
  • Award Hero of Socialist Labour
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    Hero of Socialist Labour, USSR

    1978
  • Award Seven Orders of Lenin
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    Seven Orders of Lenin, USSR

    15.08.1944; 28.10.1948; 18.01.1958; 12.02.1968; 02.12.1971; 12.12.1973; 10.02.1978
  • Award Order of Georgi Dimitrov
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    Order of Georgi Dimitrov, Bulgaria

  • Award Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"
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    Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin", USSR

  • Award Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 1st class
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    Medal "Partisan of the Patriotic War" 1st class, USSR

  • Award Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
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    Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", USSR

  • Award Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
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    Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945", USSR

  • Award Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
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    Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945", USSR

  • Award Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands"
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    Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands", USSR

  • Award Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
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    Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", USSR

  • Award Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
    Gallery

    Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", USSR

  • Award Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
    Gallery

    Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR", USSR