Who was Mikhail Kalinin? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin

Died At Age: 70

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Ekaterina Kalinina (m. 1906)

father: Ivan Kalinin

siblings: Fedor Kalinin

children: Aleksandr Kalinin, Lidiya Talanova, Valerian Kalinin, Yuliya Kalinina

Born Country: Russia

Political Leaders Russian Men

Died on: June 3, 1946

place of death: Moscow, Russia

Cause of Death: Cancer

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Mikhail Kalinin served as the nominal head of state of the Soviet Union as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1922 to 1946.
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Mikhail Kalinin was a key figure in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and played a significant role in the establishment of the Soviet government.
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What was Mikhail Kalinin's stance on industrialization in the Soviet Union?

Mikhail Kalinin supported the industrialization efforts of the Soviet Union, advocating for rapid industrial growth and modernization of the country's economy.
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How did Mikhail Kalinin contribute to the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union?

Mikhail Kalinin promoted and supported the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union, which aimed to transform individual farms into collective farms owned and operated by the state.
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What was Mikhail Kalinin's position on the role of the Communist Party in governing the Soviet Union?

Mikhail Kalinin believed in the leading role of the Communist Party in governing the Soviet Union and supported the Party's policies and decisions as a loyal member throughout his political career.

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Childhood & Early Life

Mikhail Kalinin was born on 19 November 1875, into a peasant family, who lived in the Tver region near Moscow. After he finished his education, he began working for a neighboring estate as a page boy.

Later, when its owner moved to Saint Petersburg (Petrograd City) in 1889, Kalinin was taken with her. He spent a lot of time in her library, helping him further his education as well during this time. He soon left the estate, and began working as a metal worker. He also worked as a butler and a railway worker for some time.

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Political Career

Mikhail Kalinin became a member of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in 1898, the same year it was founded. He also became acquainted with Joseph Stalin shortly after. Over the years, he became involved in several protests and strikes, and was also often arrested and exiled. This, however, only served to give him more respect in front of his comrades.

Shortly after the Bourgeois Revolution of 1905 took place, he also became a candidate for the governing Central Committee. He also became devoted to the Bolshevik faction of the RSDLP, of which Vladimir Lenin was the head.

Due to his revolutionary activities, Mikhail Kalinin was arrested in 1916, but again freed during the February Revolution of 1917, which also saw the overthrowing of the Tsarist state.

He also joined the Petrograd Bolshevik committee, and co-founded the daily newspaper Pravda. For some time, he also served as the Mayor of Petrograd city, which later became known as St. Petersburg. Shortly after, he also became President of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Owing to his peasant roots, and being a factory worker, he also became a symbol of unity between the peasants and workers.

In 1919, he became the formal head of state of Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. However, despite this fact, he didn’t have any power or influence. He became a big ally of Stalin, after Lenin passed away in 1924. Though he had disagreements with Stalin, he couldn’t defy Stalin, as after the 1930’’s, Stalin had become an all-powerful dictator.

Kalinn was forced to sign each and every decree which legalized Stalin’s barbaric actions, which included arresting and killing hundreds of thousands of people. Kalinin even failed to protect the people who were closest to him from Stalin’s Red Terror. Mikhail’s loyal and faithful wife Ekaterina Lorberg, who was also a revolutionary, was critical of Stalin’s actions. She was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Kalinin couldn’t take any action to help her, as doing so would eventually turn him into an enemy of the state.

Despite being very close to Stalin, he held almost little or no power other than receiving diplomatic letters from abroad. On 5th March, 1940, six members of the Soviet Politburo, which included Kalinin as well as Stalin, Lazar Kaganovich, Vyacheslav Molotov, Anastas Mikoyan and Kliment Voroshilov, together signed an order to execute over 25000 (Polish nationalists as well as counterrevolutionaries, which became a part of the Katyn massacre.

He continued to serve in his post, till the end of the Second World War. He was also one of the few Old Bolsheviks, who was able to survive the Stalinist purges.

Family & Personal Life

Mikhail Kalinin met Ekaterina Lorberg in 1905, in St Petersburg. She was also a revolutionary, working at a textile factory. They got married the following year. They had two sons and two daughters.

As Ekaterina was critical of Stalin and his policies, she was arrested in 1938, on charges of anti-Soviet activity. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Kalinin wasn’t able to do anything to help her.

She had to spend years in the harsh gulag system, which broke her health. She was released in 1945, a year before Kalinin’s death.

Kalinin passed away in 3 June 1946, due to cancer, and his wife died 14 years later.

Facts About Mikhail Kalinin

Mikhail Kalinin was known for his love of nature and enjoyed spending time in the countryside, gardening and fishing in his free time.

Despite his prominent role in the Soviet government, Kalinin maintained a simple and modest lifestyle, preferring to live in a modest apartment rather than a grand official residence.

Kalinin had a deep appreciation for traditional Russian culture and folklore, often participating in local celebrations and events that highlighted the country's rich heritage.

He was known for his kindness and approachability, often taking time to personally meet with ordinary citizens and listen to their concerns, regardless of their social status.

Kalinin had a talent for woodworking and often crafted furniture and other items as a hobby, showcasing his creativity and craftsmanship outside of his political duties.

Mikhail Kalinin Biography

You wanted to know

What role did Mikhail Kalinin play in the Soviet government?

What was Mikhail Kalinin's involvement in the Russian Revolution?

What was Mikhail Kalinin's stance on industrialization in the Soviet Union?

How did Mikhail Kalinin contribute to the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union?

What was Mikhail Kalinin's position on the role of the Communist Party in governing the Soviet Union?