List of General Secretaries of the Soviet Union

General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the top position in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. As the leader of the only legal political party, the General Secretary served as both the head of government and head of state, although the actual head of government was the Premier. Before Stalin turned the position of General Secretary into the most powerful in the Soviet Union, the Premier was the leader of the country. Lenin led the nation as Premier.
The office was called First Secretary from 1953 to 1966.