Victor Kravchenko Soviet statesman and party figure, defector Date of Birth: 11.10.1905 Country: Dive

1. Early Life and Education
2. World War II and Defection
3. "I Chose Freedom"
4. Financial Misfortunes
5. Suspicious Death

Early Life and Education

Viktor Kravchenko was a Ukrainian-born Soviet state and party official. Born in Kharkiv in 1905, he graduated as a metallurgist and worked in the Donbas region. In 1929, he joined the Communist Party and became a close friend of Leonid Brezhnev.

World War II and Defection

During World War II, Kravchenko served as a member of the Soviet procurement commission in Washington, D.C. In 1944, he sought political asylum in the United States.

"I Chose Freedom"

With the assistance of American journalist Eugene Lyons and translator Elizabeth Hapgood, Kravchenko wrote "I Chose Freedom." Published in 1946, the book exposed the realities of collectivization and famine in the Soviet Union and dealt a major propaganda blow to Stalin.

Financial Misfortunes

In the 1950s, Kravchenko used the profits from his book to invest in unsuccessful silver mining projects in Peru, resulting in his financial ruin.

Suspicious Death

In 1966, Kravchenko died under suspicious circumstances. The official cause of death was ruled as suicide, but many believe he was assassinated.