Vilko Chervenkov Bulgarian politician, leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1950–1954 Date of Birth: 06.09.1900 Country: Bulgaria

1. Biography of Vulko Chervenkov
2. Early Life and Involvement with the Bulgarian Communist Party
3. Leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party
4. Stalinism and Repression
5. Later Career and Political Activity

Biography of Vulko Chervenkov

Vulko Velov Chervenkov (Bulgarian: Вълко Вельов Червенков) was a Bulgarian political figure and the leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party from 1950 to 1954. He was born on September 6, 1900, in Zlatitsa, Bulgaria, and passed away on October 21, 1980, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Early Life and Involvement with the Bulgarian Communist Party

In the 1920s, Chervenkov led a terrorist group affiliated with the Bulgarian Communist Party and was sentenced to death in absentia. He fled to the Soviet Union and became a member of the leadership of the Comintern. However, in 1944, he returned to Bulgaria and joined the leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party.

Leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party

After the death of Vasil Kolarov in 1950, Chervenkov became the leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Although there was no formal position of party leader until 1954, Chervenkov's influence was evident through the creation of a personality cult similar to that of Stalin. He also held the positions of the 66th (1950-1954) and 67th (1954-1956) Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

Stalinism and Repression

Chervenkov was a staunch Stalinist and implemented repressive measures against his own supporters. However, after Stalin's death, his influence gradually waned as Todor Zhivkov took over as the leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1954. Chervenkov was eventually removed from the position of Prime Minister, with Anton Yugov becoming his successor.

Later Career and Political Activity

Following his removal as Prime Minister, Chervenkov held positions as the Deputy Prime Minister (1956-1961) and Minister of Education and Culture (1957-1958). He was expelled from the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1962 but had his membership reinstated in 1969. Chervenkov served as a member of the XVI Ordinary People's Assembly (1945-1946), VI Great People's Assembly (1946-1949), and I (1950-1953), II (1954-1957), and III (1958-1961) National Assembly.