Central Committee elected by the 17th Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

Central Committee elected
by the 17th Congress

16th ← → 18th
A scene from the 17th Congress
Duration	10 February 1934 – 22 March 1939
General Secretary	Joseph Stalin
Second Secretary	Lazar Kaganovich (1934–1935)
Inner-groups	Politburo: 12 full & 5 candidates Secretariat: 6 members Orgburo: 12 full & 2 candidates
No. of departments	12
Members	71 full and 68 candidates

The Central Committee (CC) composition was elected at the 17th Congress, and sat from 10 February 1934 until 22 March 1939. Its 1st Plenary Session renewed the composition of the Politburo, Secretariat and the Orgburo of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). The 17th Congress was labelled the "Congress of Victors" to mark the success of the First Five-Year Plan and the collectivization of agriculture.^[1] The CC 1st Plenary Session elected Joseph Stalin General Secretary of the Central Committee, and Lazar Kaganovich continued to serve as Stalin's deputy, an informal post referred to by Sovietologists as Second Secretary, and was empowered to manage party business and sign Politburo resolutions when Stalin was away from Moscow.^[2]

This Central Committee composition saw the de-formalisation of politics; for example, the number of Politburo meetings was reduced to 16 for the year of 1934.^[3] Politburo decisions were made either by polling the members or informal meeting between Stalin and other Politburo members.^[3] According to Ukrainian historian Oleg Khlevniuk the "procedures followed by the Politburo became increasingly simplified as it was transformed from a collective body into an appendage of a decision-making system that rested on Stalin's sole authority. [e.g. that the Soviet Union, originally an oligarchic state, was turning into an autocracy]"^[4] According to Vadim Rogovin, "During the period of the Great Purge, the rights of the Central Committee and its members were restricted even more", noting that CC members lost the right to attend Politburo sessions or being informed on the decisions taken by the Politburo, Secretariat or the Orgburo.^[5] When looking back, Nikita Khrushchev lamented the situation; "by 1938, the earlier democracy in the Central Committee had already been greatly undermined. For instance, as a candidate member of the Politburo, I did not receive materials of our sessions. ... I received only the material which Stalin sent to me on his own orders."^[6]

Of the 139 full members and candidate members elected at the 17th Party Congress, 98 people were killed in the period 1936–1940.^[7] Of these 44 (out of 71) were full members, while 55 (out of 68) were candidate members.^[7] Of those arrested, over 80 percent of them were below the age of 50.^[7] When the 18th Party Congress convened in 1939, 31 individuals remained in the Central Committee.^[7] Of these, seven were not reelected, and of them five were pensioned or relieved of leading offices (Grigory Petrovsky, Gleb Krzhizhanovsky, Grigory Broydo, Mikhail Chuvyrin and Isaak Schwartz) while Tikhon Yurkin and Avraami Zavenyagin were reelected to the CC at the 19th Party Congress (in 1952) and the 20th Party Congress (in 1956) respectively.^[7] Of the 24 reelected at the 18th Party Congress, four would be subject to violent repression (Mikhail Kaganovich in 1941, Solomon Lozovsky in 1952, Lavrentiy Beria in 1953 and Mir Jafar Baghirov in 1956).^[8] Klavdija Nikolaeva became the only CC member who had previously been active in intra-party opposition to survive the purge.^[9]

When asked in an interview how the Central Committee approved its own destruction (the decision to expel a member from the CC or for a member to be arrested by the authorities had to be approved by the CC itself through a plenary session), Vyacheslav Molotov replied; "In the first place, on democratic centralism—Listen, it did not happen that a minority expelled a majority. It happened gradually. Seventy expelled 10–15 people, then 60 expelled another 15. All in line with majority and minority. ... Essentially, it happened that a minority of the composition of the TsK [CC] remained of this majority, but without formal violation [of democratic centralism]."^[10] According to J. Arch Getty and Oleg Naumov the CC "In the name of party unity and with a desperate feeling of corporate self-preservation, the nomenklatura committed suicide."^[11] However, there were some within the CC who breached party tradition and spoke against the purges, such as Grigory Kaminsky and Osip Piatnitsky for example.^[12]

Keys

Abbreviations used
K	"K" is an abbreviation of the word Keys.
I–C	"I–C" is an abbreviation of the word inner-composition, which means in this instance individual membership in the Politburo, Secretariat and Orgburo.
PB	Politburo member.
SC	Secretariat member.
OB	Orgburo member.
PB(C), OB(C)	The first "C" in these initials refers to "Candidate member"
Keys
	Indicates that the individual was born into a Jewish family.
	Indicates that the individual is female.
†	Indicates that the individual died of natural causes.
♠	Indicates that the individual committed suicide.
₪	Indicates that the individual was murdered.
¶	Indicates that the individual was arrested by Soviet authorities while holding a Central Committee seat.
∞	Indicates that the individual was removed from the Central Committee.
‡	Indicates that the individual was expelled on 8 December 1937, but that the expulsion was confirmed later by the 13th Plenary Session on 20 January 1938.[13]
↑	Indicates that the individual was elevated from candidate to full member.

Plenums

The CC was not a permanent institution. The CC was convened for fourteen plenary sessions between the 17th Congress and the 18th Congress. When the CC was not in session, decision-making powers were transferred to inner bodies of the CC itself; the Politburo, Secretariat and Orgburo (none of these bodies were permanent either, but convened to decide on crucial matters).^[14]

Plenum (CC)	Start–end	Length
1st Plenary Session	10 February 1934	1 day
2nd Plenary Session	29 June – 1 July 1934	3 days
3rd Plenary Session	25–28 November 1934	4 days
4th Plenary Session	1 February 1935	1 day
5th Plenary Session	28 February 1935	1 day
6th Plenary Session	5–7 June 1935	3 days
7th Plenary Session	21–25 December 1935	5 days
8th Plenary Session	1–4 June 1936	4 days
9th Plenary Session	4, 7 July 1936	2 days
10th Plenary Session	23 February – 5 March 1937	12 days
11th Plenary Session	26–29 June 1937	4 days
12th Plenary Session	11–12 October 1937	2 days
13th Plenary Session	11, 14, 18, 20 January 1938	4 days
14th Plenary Session	9–11 January 1938	3 days

Apparatus

Individuals employed by Central Committee's bureaus, departments and newspapers made up the apparatus between the 17th Congress and the 18th Congress.^[15] The bureaus and departments were supervised by the Secretariat, and each secretary (member of the Secretariat) supervised a specific department.^[16] The leaders of departments were officially referred to as Heads, while the titles of bureau leaders varied between chairman, first secretary and secretary.^[17]

Institution	Head (birth–death) Cyrillic	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Ethnicity
Agriculture Department	Zhdanov, AndreiAndrei Zhdanov (1896–1948) Андрей Жданов	3 March 1934	10 April 1934	38 days	Russian
	Yakovlev, YakovYakov Yakovlev (1896–1938) Я́ков Я́ковлев	10 April 1934	1936	2 years and 241 days	Ukrainian
Chief Administrator	Samsonov, TimofeyTimofey Samsonov (1888–1956) Тимофей Самсонов	10 February 1934	1935	1 year and 300 days	Russian
	Lychov, IvanIvan Lychov (1881–1972) Иван Лычев	1935	May 1938	3 years and 120 days	Russian
	Krupin, DmitryDmitry Krupin (1881–1972) Дмитрий Крупин	May 1938	22 March 1939	325 days	Russian
Cultural and Educational Work Department	Shcherbakov, AlexanderAlexander Shcherbakov (1901–1945) Алекса́ндр Щербако́в	13 May 1935	1936	1 year and 208 days	Russian
	Angarov, AlekseyAleksey Angarov (1898–1937) Алексей Ангаров	1936	July 1937	206 days	Russian
Industrial Department	Yezhov, NikolaiNikolai Yezhov (1895–1940) Николай Ежов	3 March 1934	3 March 1935	1 year and 0 days	Russian
	Andreyev, AndreyAndrey Andreyev (1895–1971) Андрей Андреев	3 March 1935	13 May 1937	2 years and 71 days	Russian
	Tselishev, MikhailMikhail Tselishev (1898–1938) Михаил Целищев	13 May 1937	September 1937	111 days	Russian
Leninist Culture and Propaganda Department	Stetskii, AlekseiAleksei Stetskii (1896–1938) Алексей Стецкий	10 February 1934	13 May 1935	1 year and 92 days	Russian
Planning, Finance and Trade Department	Zhdanov, AndreiAndrei Zhdanov (1896–1948) Андрей Жданов	10 April 1934	1934	235 days	Russian
	Bauman, KarlKarl Bauman (1892–1937) Карл Бауман	1934	20 January 1938	4 years and 19 days	Latvian
Political-Administrative Department	Brezanovsky, YakovYakov Brezanovsky (1888–1938) Яков Брезановский	10 March 1934	February 1935	328 days	Polish
	Piatnitsky, OsipOsip Piatnitsky (1882–1938) Осип Пятницкий	19 August 1935	7 July 1937	1 year and 322 days	Russian
Pravda	Mekhlis, LevLev Mekhlis (1889–1953) Лев Мехлис	10 February 1934	4 September 1937	3 years and 206 days	Ukrainian
Press and Publications Department	Tal, BorisBoris Tal (1898–1938) Борис Таль	13 May 1935	4 September 1937	2 years and 114 days	Azerbaijani
	Mekhlis, LevLev Mekhlis (1889–1953) Лев Мехлис	4 September 1937	2 January 1938	120 days	Ukrainian
	Niktin, AleksandrAleksandr Niktin (1901–1941) Александр Никитин	2 January 1938	21 November 1938	323 days	Russian
Propaganda Department	Stetskii, AlekseiAleksei Stetskii (1896–1938) Алексей Стецкий	13 May 1935	26 April 1938	2 years and 348 days	Russian
	Zhdanov, AndreiAndrei Zhdanov (1896–1948) Андрей Жданов	21 November 1938	22 March 1939	121 days	Russian
Science and Scientific-technological Discoveries Department	Bauman, KarlKarl Bauman (1892–1937) Карл Бауман	13 May 1935	14 April 1937	1 year and 336 days	Latvian
School Department	Volin, BorisBoris Volin (1886–1957) Борис Волин	13 May 1935	1936	1 year and 208 days	Russian
Special Sector	Poskrebyshev, AlexanderAlexander Poskrebyshev (1891–1965) Александр Поскрёбышев	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian
Transportation Department	Kaganovich, LazarLazar Kaganovich (1893–1991) Лазарь Каганович	10 March 1934	9 July 1935	1 year and 121 days	Russian
	Zimin, NikolaiNikolai Zimin (1895–1938) Николай Зимин	9 July 1935	22 March 1939	3 years and 256 days	Russian

Membership

Full

Name (birth–death) Cyrillic	K	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Ethnicity	Portrait	Position held (upon election)	I–C
Alexeyev, PyotrPyotr Alexeyev (1877–1936) Пётр Алексеев	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Leningrad Regional Council of Trade Unions	—
Andreyev, AndreyAndrey Andreyev (1895–1971) Андрей Андреев	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		People's Commissar for Railways	PB, SC, OB
Antipov, NikolayNikolay Antipov (1894–1938) Николай Антипов	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar, Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate	—
Badayev, AlekseiAleksei Badayev (1883–1951) Алексей Бадаев	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Chairman, Moscow Council of Consumer Societies	—
Baghirov, Mir JafarMir Jafar Baghirov (1896–1956) Мир Багиров	—	12 October 1937	22 March 1939	1 year and 161 days	Azerbaijani	—	First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Azerbaijan	—
Balitsky, VsevolodVsevolod Balitsky (1892–1937) Всеволод Балицкий	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Ukrainian	—	Chairman, Joint State Political Directorate of the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR	—
Bauman, KarlKarl Bauman (1892–1937) Карл Бауман	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Latvian	—	First Secretary, Central Asian Bureau	—
Beria, LavrentiyLavrentiy Beria (1899–1953) Лавре́нтий Бе́рия	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Georgian		First Secretary, Transcaucasian Regional Committee	—
Blyukher, VasilyVasily Blyukher (1899–1938) Василий Блюхер	¶	12 October 1937	22 October 1938	1 year and 10 days	Russian		Commander, Far East Front	—
Bubnov, AndreiAndrei Bubnov (1884–1938) Андрей Бубнов	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian		People's Commissar for Education of the Russian SFSR	—
Bulganin, NikolaiNikolai Bulganin (1895–1975) Николай Булганин	—	12 October 1937	22 March 1939	1 year and 161 days	Russian		Chairman, Board of the State Bank	—
Bulin, AntonAnton Bulin (1894–1938) Антон Булин	‡	12 October 1937	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian	—	Deputy Head, Political Directorate of the Red Army	—
Chernov, MikhailMikhail Chernov (1891–1938) Михаил Чернов	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Ukrainian	—	Chairman, Committee for the Procurement of Agricultural Products of the Council of People's Commissars	—
Chubar, VlasVlas Chubar (1891–1939) Влас Чубар	¶	10 February 1934	11 November 1938	4 years and 274 days	Ukrainian		Chairman, Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR	PB(C), PB
Chudov, MikhailMikhail Chudov (1893–1937) Михаил Чудов	∞	10 February 1934	29 June 1937	3 years and 139 days	Russian	—	Second Secretary, Leningrad Regional Committee	—
Chuvyrin, MikhailMikhail Chuvyrin (1883–1947) Михаил Чувырин	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Ukrainian Council of Trade Unions	—
Eikhe, RobertRobert Eikhe (1890–1940) Роберт Эйхе	¶	10 February 1934	28 April 1938	4 years and 77 days	Latvian	—	First Secretary, West Siberian Regional Committee	PB(C)
Enukidze, AvelAvel Enukidze (1877–1937) А́вель Енуки́дзе	∞	10 February 1934	7 June 1935	1 year and 117 days	Georgian		Secretary, Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Congress of Soviets	—
Gamarnik, YanYan Gamarnik (1894–1937) Ян Гамарник	♠	10 February 1934	31 May 1937	3 years and 110 days	Ukrainian		Head, Political Directorate of the Red Army	OB
Ivanov, VladimirVladimir Ivanov (1893–1938) Владимир Иванов	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Northern Regional Committee	—
Ikramov, AkmalAkmal Ikramov (1898–1938) Акмаль Икрамов	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Uzbek		First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Uzbekistan	—
Isayev, UrazUraz Isayev (1899–1938) Ураз Исаев	∞	12 October 1937	31 May 1938	3 years and 344 days	Kazakh	—	Chairman, Council of People's Commissars of the Kazakh SSR	—
Kabakov, IvanIvan Kabakov (1891–1937) Иван Кабаков	∞	10 February 1934	17 May 1937	3 years and 96 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Sverdlovsk Regional Committee	—
Kaganovich, LazarLazar Kaganovich (1893–1991) Лазарь Каганович	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		First Secretary, Moscow Regional Committee Chairman, Party Control Commission Head, Transportation Department	PB, SC, OB
Kaganovich, MikhailMikhail Kaganovich (1888–1941) Михаил Каганович	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Heavy Industry	OB(C)
Kalinin, MikhailMikhail Kalinin (1875–1946) Михаил Калинин	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Chairman, Central Executive Committee of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets	PB
Kartvelishvili , LavrentiyLavrentiy Kartvelishvili (1890–1938) Лаврентий Картвелишвили	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Georgian	—	First Secretary, Far Eastern Regional Committee	—
Khatayevich, MendelMendel Khatayevich (1893–1937) Мендель Хатаeвич	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		First Secretary, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Committee	—
Khrushchev, NikitaNikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Никита Хрущёв	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		First Secretary, Moscow City Committee	PB(C)
Kirov, SergeySergey Kirov (1886–1934) Серге́й Ки́ров	₪	10 February 1934	1 December 1934	294 days	Russian		First Secretary, Leningrad Regional Committee	PB, SC, OB
Knorin, VilhelmVilhelm Knorin (1890–1938) Вильгельм Кнорин	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Latvian	—	Secretary, Executive Committee of the Comintern Director, Historical Institute of Red Professors Member, Editorial Board of Bolshevik	—
Kodatskiy, IvanIvan Kodatskiy (1893–1937) Иван Кодацкий	∞	10 February 1934	29 June 1937	3 years and 139 days	Ukrainian	—	Chairman, Executive Committee of the Leningrad Regional Soviet	—
Kosarev, AlexanderAlexander Kosarev (1903–1939) Александр Косарев	¶	10 February 1934	28 November 1938	4 years and 291 days	Russian		First Secretary, Central Committee of the Komsomol	OB
Kosior, JosephJoseph Kosior (1889–1937) Иосиф Косиор	†	10 February 1934	14 May 1938	4 years and 93 days	Polish	—	Commissioner, Council of People's Commissar in the Far East Region	—
Kosior, StanislavStanislav Kosior (1889–1939) Станислав Косиор	¶	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Polish		First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolshevik) of Ukraine	PB
Krupskaya, NadezhdaNadezhda Krupskaya (1869–1939) Наде́жда Кру́пская	†	10 February 1934	27 February 1939	5 years and 17 days	Russian		Deputy People's Commissar for Education of the Russian SFSR	—
Krinitsky, AlexanderAlexander Krinitsky (1894–1937) Александр Криницкий	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		Deputy People's Commissar for Agriculture	OB(C)
Krzhizhanovsky, GlebGleb Krzhizhanovsky (1872–1959) Глеб Кржижано́вский	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Chairman, Committee of Higher Technical Education at the Central Executive Committee of the Congress of Soviets	—
Kulkov, MikhailMikhail Kulkov (1891–1939) Михаил Кульков	∞	12 October 1937	27 October 1938	1801 years and 15 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Party Control Commission under the CPSU Central Committee in Rostov Regional Committee	—
Kuybyshev, ValerianValerian Kuybyshev (1888–1935) Валериан Куйбышев	†	10 February 1934	25 January 1935	349 days	Russian		Chairman, State Planning Commission	PB, OB
Lebed, DmitryDmitry Lebed (1893–1937) Дмитрий Лебедь	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Deputy Chairman, Council of People's Commissars Deputy Chairman, Council of Labor and Defense	—
Litvinov, MaximMaxim Litvinov (1876–1951) Макси́м Литви́нов	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Lithuanian		People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs	—
Lobov, SemenSemen Lobov (1888–1937) Семён Лобов	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Forestry	—
Lozovsky, SolomonSolomon Lozovsky (1892–1952) Соломон Лозовский	—	12 October 1937	22 March 1939	1801 years and 161 days	Russian		General Secretary, Central Committee of the Red International of Labour Unions	—
Lyubimov, IsidoreIsidore Lyubimov (1882–1937) Исидор Любимов	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Light Industry	—
Makarov, IvanIvan Makarov (1888–1949) Иван Макаров	—	12 October 1937	22 March 1939	1 year and 161 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Heavy Industry	—
Manuilsky, DmitryDmitry Manuilsky (1883–1959) Дмитро Мануїльський	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Ukrainian		Member, Presidium of the Executive Council of the Comintern Secretary, Executive Committee of the Comintern	—
Mekhlis, LevLev Mekhlis (1889–1953) Лев Ме́хлис	—	12 October 1937	22 March 1939	1 year and 161 days	Ukrainian		Head, Political Directorate of the Red Army Deputy People's Commissar for Defense	OB
Mezhlauk, ValeryValery Mezhlauk (1893–1938) Валерий Межлаук	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Latvian		First Deputy Chairman, State Planning Commission	—
Mikhailov, MikhailMikhail Mikhailov (1902–1938) Михаил Михайлов	∞	12 October 1937	10 November 1937	29 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Voronezh Regional Committee	—
Mikoyan, AnastasAnastas Mikoyan (1895–1978) Анаста́с Микоя́н	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Armenian		People's Commissar for Supplies	PB(C), PB
Mirzoyan, LevonLevon Mirzoyan (1887–1939) Левон Мирзоян	¶	10 February 1934	23 May 1938	4 years and 102 days	Armenian		First Secretary, Kazakh Regional Committee	—
Molotov, VyacheslavVyacheslav Molotov (1890–1986) Вячеслав Молотов	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Chairman, Council of People's Commissars Chairman, Council of Labour and Defense	PB
Nikolaeva, KlavdijaKlavdija Nikolaeva (1893–1944) Клавдия Николаева	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Second Secretary, West Siberian Regional Committee	—
Nosov, IvanIvan Nosov (1888–1937) Иван Носов	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Ivanovo Industrial Regional Committee	—
Ordzhonikidze, GrigolGrigol Ordzhonikidze (1886–1937) Григо́рий Орджоники́дзе	♠	10 February 1934	18 February 1937	3 years and 8 days	Georgian		People's Commissar for Heavy Industry	PB
Pakhonov, NikolaiNikolai Pakhonov (1890–1938) Николай Пахомов	∞	12 October 1937	9 April 1938	179 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Water Transport	—
Petrovsky, GrigoryGrigory Petrovsky (1878–1958) Григо́рій Петро́вський	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Ukrainian		Chairman, Central Executive Committee of the All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets	PB(C)
Piatnitsky, OsipOsip Piatnitsky (1882–1938) Осип Пятницкий	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		Member, Presidium of the Executive Committee of the Comintern	—
Postyshev, PavelPavel Postyshev (1887–1939) Григо́рій Петро́вський	¶	10 February 1934	11 September 1936	2 years and 214 days	Russian		First Secretary, Kiev Regional Committee	PB(C)
Pramnek, EduardEduard Pramnek (1899–1938) Эдуард Прамнэк	∞	12 October 1937	9 May 1938	209 days	Lithuanian	—	First Secretary, Donetsk Regional Committee	—
Pyatakov, GeorgyGeorgy Pyatakov (1890–1937) Георгий Пятаков	¶	10 February 1934	12 December 1935	2 years and 306 days	Russian		Deputy People's Commissar for Heavy Industry	—
Razumov, MikhailMikhail Razumov (1894–1937) Михаил Разумов	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Ukrainian	—	First Secretary, East Siberian Regional Committee	—
Rudzutaks, JānisJānis Rudzutaks (1887–1938) Ян Рудзутак	∞	10 February 1934	26 May 1937	3 years and 105 days	Latvian		Deputy Chairman, Council of People's Commissars Deputy Chairman, Council of Labour and Defense Chairman, Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate	PB(C)
Rukhimovich, MoiseiMoisei Rukhimovich (1889–1938) Моисей Рухимович	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian	—	Managing Director, Board of Kuzbassugol	—
Rumyantsev, IvanIvan Rumyantsev (1886–1937) Иван Румянцев	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Western Regional Committee	—
Ryndin, KuzmaKuzma Ryndin (1893–1938) Кузьма Рындин	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Chelyabinsk Regional Committee	—
Sheboldaev, BorisBoris Sheboldaev (1895–1937) Борис Шеболдаев	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Azov–Black Sea Regional Committee	—
Shvernik, NikolayNikolay Shvernik (1888–1970) Николай Шверник	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Chairman, All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions	OB
Smorodin, PyotrPyotr Smorodin (1897–1938) Пётр Смородин	∞	12 October 1937	22 June 1938	253 days	Russian		First Secretary, Stalingrad Regional Committee	—
Stalin, JosephJoseph Stalin (1878–1953) Ио́сиф Ста́лин	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Georgian		General Secretary, Central Committee	PB, SC, OB
Stetskii, AlekseiAleksei Stetskii (1896–1938) Алексей Стецкий	¶	10 February 1934	26 April 1938	4 years and 75 days	Russian	—	Head, Culture and Propaganda Department	OB
Sulimov, DaniilDaniil Sulimov (1890–1937) Даниил Сулимов	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Council of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR	—
Ugarov, AleksandrAleksandr Ugarov (1900–1939) Александр Угаров	∞	12 October 1937	20 October 1938	1 year and 8 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Moscow Regional Committee	—
Ukhanov, KonstantinKonstantin Ukhanov (1891–1937) Константин Уханов	∞	10 February 1934	22 May 1937	3 years and 101 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Supplies	—
Vareikis, JuozasJuozas Vareikis (1894–1938) Иосиф Варейкис	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Lithuanian	—	First Secretary, Central Black Earth Economic Region	—
Voroshilov, KlimentKliment Voroshilov (1881–1969) Климент Ворошилов	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs	PB
Yakovlev, YakovYakov Yakovlev (1896–1938) Я́ков Я́ковлев	‡	10 February 1934	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Ukrainian	—	People's Commissar for Agriculture	—
Zelensky, IsaakIsaak Zelensky (1890–1937) Исаак Зеленский	∞	10 February 1934	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Board of the Central Council of Consumer Societies	—
Yagoda, GenrikhGenrikh Yagoda (1891–1938) Генрих Ягода	∞	10 February 1934	3 April 1938	4 years and 52 days	Russian		Deputy Chairman, Joint State Political Directorate Member, Special Council of the Joint State Political Directorate	—
Yakir, IonaIona Yakir (1896–1937) Иона Якир	∞	10 February 1934	30 May 1937	3 years and 109 days	Moldovan		Commander, Ukrainian Military District	—
Yevdokimov, YefimYefim Yevdokimov (1891–1940) Ефи́м Евдоки́мов	¶	10 February 1934	9 November 1938	4 years and 272 days	Russian		First Secretary, North Caucasian Regional Committee	—
Yezhov, NikolaiNikolai Yezhov (1895–1940) Николай Ежов	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Head, Administrative, Enterprise and Trade Union Cadres Department	PB(C), SC, OB
Zhdanov, AndreiAndrei Zhdanov (1896–1948) Андрей Жданов	—	10 February 1934	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		First Secretary, Gorky Regional Committee	PB(C)
Zhukov, IvanIvan Zhukov (1889–1937) Иван Жуков	∞	10 February 1934	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissars for Communications	—

Candidates

Name (birth–death) Cyrillic	K	Left office	Tenure	Ethnicity	Portrait	Position held (upon election)
Baghirov, Mir JafarMir Jafar Baghirov (1896–1956) Мир Багиров	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Azerbaijani	—	First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Azerbaijan
Blagonravov, GeorgyGeorgy Blagonravov (1896–1938) Георгий Благонравов	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	First Deputy People's Commissar for Railways
Blyukher, VasilyVasily Blyukher (1890–1938) Георгий Благонравов	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		Commander, Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army
Broydo, GrigoryGrigory Broydo (1883–1956) Григорий Бройдо	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan
Budyonny, SemyonSemyon Budyonny (1883–1973) Григорий Бройдо	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian		Cavalry Inspector, Red Army
Bukharin, NikolaiNikolai Bukharin (1888–1938) Никола́й Буха́рин	∞	27 February 1937	3 years and 17 days	Russian		Editor-in-chief, Izvestia
Bulganin, NikolaiNikolai Bulganin (1895–1975) Николай Булганин	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		Chairman, Executive Committee of the Moscow City Soviet
Bulin, AntonAnton Bulin (1894–1938) Антон Булин	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Deputy Head, Political Directorate of the Red Army
Bykin, YavlovYavlov Bykin (1888–1938) Яков Быкин	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Bashkir Regional Committee
Demchenko, NikolaiNikolai Demchenko (1896–1937) Николай Демченко	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Ukrainian	—	First Secretary, Kharkiv Regional Committee
Deribas, TerentyTerenty Deribas (1896–1937) Терентий Дерибас	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Member, Council of the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs
Eliava, ShalvaShalva Eliava (1883–1937) Шалва Элиава	∞	19 May 1937	3 years and 98 days	Georgian		Deputy People's Commissar for Foreign Trade
Filatov, NikolaiNikolai Filatov (1891–1939) Николай Филатов	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Moscow City Control Commission
Gikalo, NikolaiNikolai Gikalo (1897–1938) Николай Гикало	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Ukrainian	—	First Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Byelorussia
Goloded, NikolayNikolay Goloded (1894–1937) Николай Голодед	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Belarusian	—	Chairman, Council of People's Commissar of the Byelorussian SSR
Gryadinsky, FyodorFyodor Gryadinsky (1893–1938) Фёдор Грядинский	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Executive Committee of the West Siberian Regional Soviet
Hrynko, HryhoriyHryhoriy Hrynko (1890–1938) Григорий Гринько	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Ukrainian	—	People's Commissar for Finance
Isayev, UrazUraz Isayev (1899–1938) Ураз Исаев	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Kazakh	—	Chairman, Council of People's Commissar of the Kazakh ASSR
Kalgyna, AnnaAnna Kalgyna (1895–1937) Анна Калыгина	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Kalinin District Committee
Kalmanovich, MoiseiMoisei Kalmanovich (1888–1937) Моисей Калманович	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Board of the State Bank
Kaminsky, GrigoryGrigory Kaminsky (1895–1938) Григорий Каминский	∞	26 June 1937	3 years and 136 days	Russian		People's Commissar for Health of the Russian SFSR
Komarov, NikolayNikolay Komarov (1886–1937) Николай Комаров	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Communal Services
Kubiak, NikolayNikolay Kubiak (1881–1937) Николай Кубяк	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian		Chairman, All-Union Council for Communal Services of the Central Executive Committee of the Congress of Soviets
Kulkov, MikhailMikhail Kulkov (1891–1939) Михаил Кульков	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Proletarian District Committee
Kuritsyn, VasilyVasily Kuritsyn (1892–1937) Василий Курицын	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Director, Lugansk Locomotive Factory
Lepa, AlfredAlfred Lepa (1892–1937) Альфред Лепа	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Latvian	—	First Secretary, Tatar Regional Committee
Lozovsky, SolomonSolomon Lozovsky (1892–1952) Соломон Лозовский	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		General Secretary, Central Committee of the Red International of Labour Unions
Lyubchenko, PanasPanas Lyubchenko (1897–1937) Соломон Лозовский	♠	29 August 1937	3 years and 200 days	Ukrainian		Deputy Chairman, Council of People's Commissar of the Ukrainian SSR
Makarov, IvanIvan Makarov (1888–1949) Иван Макаров	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Director, Stalingrad Metallurgical Plant
Mekhlis, LevLev Mekhlis (1889–1953) Лев Мехлис	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Ukrainian		Editor-in-chief, Pravda
Mikhailov, MikhailMikhail Mikhailov (1902–1938) Михаил Михайлов	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Secretary, Moscow Regional Committee
Mikhailov, VasilyVasily Mikhailov (1894–1937) Василий Михайлов	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Head of Construction of the Palace of the Soviets
Musabekov, GazanfarGazanfar Musabekov (1888–1938) Газанфар Мусабеков	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Azerbaijani	—	Chairman, Council of People's Commissars of the Transcaucasian SFSR
Osinsky, ValerianValerian Osinsky (1887–1938) Валериан Оболенский	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Head, Central Directorate of National Economic Accounting of the State Planning Commission at the Council of People's Commissars
Pakhomov, NikolaiNikolai Pakhomov (1890–1938) Николай Пахомов	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Chairman, Executive Committee of the Gorky Regional Soviet
Pavlunovsky, IvanIvan Pavlunovsky (1888–1937) Иван Павлуновский	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Heavy Industry
Polonsky, VladimirVladimir Polonsky (1893–1937) Владимир Полонский	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Railways
Popov, NikolaiNikolai Popov (1891–1938) Николай Попов	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	Third Secretary, Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine
Poskrebyshev, AlexanderAlexander Poskrebyshev (1891–1965) Александр Поскрёбышев	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Head, Secret Department
Pozern, BorisBoris Pozern (1882–1939) Борис Позерн	¶	9 July 1938	4 years and 149 days	Russian		Head, Culture and Propaganda Department of the Leningrad Regional Committee
Pramnek, EduardEduard Pramnek (1891–1965) Эдуард Прамнэк	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Latvian		Second Secretary, Gorky Regional Committee
Ptukha, VladimirVladimir Ptukha (1894–1938) Владимир Птуха	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Ukrainian		First Secretary, Stalingrad Regional Committee
Rosengolts, ArkadyArkady Rosengolts (1889–1938) Аркадий Розенгольц	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Belarusian	—	People's Commissar for Foreign Trade
Rykov, AlexeiAlexei Rykov (1881–1938) Алексей Рыков	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		People's Commissar for Communications
Sarkisov, SarkisSarkis Sarkisov (1881–1938) Саркис Саркисов	‡	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Armenian		First Secretary, Donetsk Regional Committee
Schwartz, IsaakIsaak Schwartz (1879–1951) Исаак Шварц	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Ukrainian	—	Chairman, Central Committee of the Union of Coal and Steel Workers
Sedelnikov, AlexeiAlexei Sedelnikov (1894–1938) Алексей Седельников	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Tula Regional Committee
Semenov, BorisBoris Semenov (1890–1937) Борис Семёнов	‡	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Crimean Regional Committee
Serebrovsky, AlexanderAlexander Serebrovsky (1884–1938) Александр Серебровский	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Heavy Industry
Shteyngart, AleksandrAleksandr Shteyngart (1887–1934) Александр Штейнгарт	†	19 February 1934	9 days	Ukrainian	—	First Secretary, Saratov Regional Committee
Shubrikov, VladimirVladimir Shubrikov (1895–1937) Владимир Шубриков	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Kuybyshev Regional Committee
Smorodin, PyotrPyotr Smorodin (1897–1939) Пётр Смородин	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian		First Secretary, Vyborg District Committee
Sokolnikov, GrigoriGrigori Sokolnikov (1888–1939) Григорий Сокольников	∞	7 December 1936	2 years and 301 days	Ukrainian		Deputy People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs
Strievsky, KonstantinKonstantin Strievsky (1885–1938) Константин Стриевский	‡	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Belarusian	—	People's Commissar for Light Industry
Struppe, PyotrPyotr Struppe (1889–1937) Пётр Струппе	∞	29 June 1937	3 years and 136 days	Russian		Chairman, Executive Committee of the Leningrad Soviet
Tomsky, MikhailMikhail Tomsky (1880–1936) Михаил Томский	♠	22 August 1936	2 years and 194 days	Russian		Head, Association of State Publishing Houses
Tovstukha, IvanIvan Tovstukha (1889–1935) Иван Товстуха	†	9 August 1935	1 year and 180 days	Ukrainian		Deputy Director, Institute of Marx–Engels–Lenin of the Central Committee
Tukhachevsky, MikhailMikhail Tukhachevsky (1893–1937) Михаи́л Тухаче́вский	∞	25 May 1937	3 years and 104 days	Russian		Deputy People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs
Uborevich, IeronimIeronim Uborevich (1896–1937) Иероним Уборевич	∞	30 May 1937	3 years and 109 days	Lithuanian		Commander, Belorussian Military District
Ugarov, AleksandrAleksandr Ugarov (1900–1939) Александр Угаров	↑	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Head, Culture and Propaganda Department of the Leningrad City Committee
Unszlicht, JózefJózef Unszlicht (1879–1938) Ио́сиф У́ншлихт	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Polish		Head, Civil Aviation Department at the Council of People's Commissars
Veger, YevgenyYevgeny Veger (1899–1937) Евгений Вегер	∞	23 June 1937	3 years and 133 days	Russian	—	First Secretary, Odessa Regional Committee
Yegorov, AlexanderAlexander Yegorov (1883–1939) Александр Егоров	¶	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Chief of Staff, Red Army
Veynberg, GavriiGavrii Veynberg (1891–1946) Гавриил Вейнберг	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Polish	—	Secretary, All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions
Yeromin, IvanIvan Yeromin (1895–1937) Иван Ерёмин	∞	12 October 1937	3 years and 244 days	Russian	—	Deputy People's Commissar for Light Industry
Yurkin, TikhonTikhon Yurkin (1898–1986) Тихон Юркин	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	People's Commissar for Grain and Livestock
Zavenyagin, AvraamiAvraami Zavenyagin (1901–1956) Авраамий Завенягин	—	22 March 1939	5 years and 40 days	Russian	—	Director, Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine
Zatonsky, VolodymyrVolodymyr Zatonsky (1888–1938) Володи́мир Зато́нський	‡	20 January 1938	3 years and 344 days	Ukrainian		People's Commissar for Education of the Ukrainian SSR

References

General

Plenary sessions, apparatus heads, ethnicity (by clicking on the individual names on "The Central Committee elected by the XVIIth Congress of the CPSU (b) 2/10/1934 members" reference), the Central Committee full- and candidate membership, Politburo membership, Secretariat membership and Orgburo membership were taken from these sources:

• Staff writer. "Съезды, конференции, пленумы и заседания РСДРП – РСДРП(б) – РКП(б) – ВКП(б) – КПСС" [Congresses, conferences, plenary meetings and meetings of the RSDLP – RSDLP (b) – RCP (b) – AUCP (b) – CPSU] (in Russian). Retrieved 15 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Персональный состав Центрального комитета РСДРП – РСДРП(б) – РКП(б) – ВКП(б) – КПСС" [Membership of the Central Committee of the RSDLP – RSDLP (b) – RCP (b) – AUCP (b) – CPSU] (in Russian). Retrieved 15 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Центральный Комитет, избранный XVII-м съездом ВКП(б) 10.2.1934, члены" [The Central Committee elected by the XVIIth Congress of the CPSU (b) 2/10/1934 members] (in Russian). Retrieved 15 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Управление делами ЦК РКП(б) – ВКП(б) – КПСС" [Chief Administrator of the RCP (b) – AUCP (b) – CPSU] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Сельскохозяйственный отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Agriculture Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Сельскохозяйственный отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Culture and Educational Work Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Промышленный отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Industrial Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Отдел культуры и пропаганды ленинизма ЦК ВКП(б)" [Leninist Culture and Propaganda Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Планово-финансово-торговый отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Planning, Finance and Trade Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Политико-административный отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Political-Administrative Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Отдел партийной пропаганды и агитации ЦК ВКП(б)" [Propaganda Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Отдел школ ЦК ЦК ВКП(б)" [School Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Отдел науки, научно-технических изобретений и открытий ЦК ВКП(б)" [Science and Scientific-technological Discoveries Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Секретно-оперативный отдел - Бюро Секретариата - Секретный отдел - Особый сектор ЦК РКП(б) - ВКП(б) - КПСС" [Secret Operations Department—Office of the Secretariat—Secret Department—Special Sector of the RCP (b) – AUCP (b) – CPSU] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.
• Staff writer. "Транспортный отдел ЦК ВКП(б)" [Transportation Department of the AUCP (b)] (in Russian). Retrieved 22 June 2015.

Bibliography

• Fainsod, Merle; Hough, Jerry F. (1979). How the Soviet Union is Governed. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674410305.
• Getty, J. Arch; Naumov, Oleg V. (2010). Sher, Benjamin, ed. The Road to Terror: Stalin and the Self-Destruction of the Bolsheviks, 1932–1939. Annals of Communism Series. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300104073.
• Khlevniuk, Oleg (2009). Master of the House: Stalin and His Inner Circle. The Yale-Hoover Series on Stalin, Stalinism, and the Cold War. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300110669.
• Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1984). "Chapter 3: Statute of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". In Simons, Williams; White, Stephens. The Party Statutes of the Communist World. Law in Eastern Europe. Brill Publishers. pp. 413–435. ISBN 9024729750.
• Rogovin, Vadim (2009). Stalin's Terror of 1937–1938: Political Genocide in the USSR. Mehring Books. ISBN 1893638049.

Notes

1. Khlevniuk 2009, p. 86.
2. Khlevniuk 2009, p. 94.
3. Khlevniuk 2009, p. 100.
4. Khlevniuk 2009, p. 101.
5. Rogovin 2009, p. 179.
6. Rogovin 2009, pp. 179–180.
7. Rogovin 2009, p. 176.
8. Rogovin 2009, pp. 176–177.
9. Rogovin 2009, p. 177.
10. Getty & Naumov 2010, pp. 467–468.
11. Getty & Naumov 2010, pp. 468.
12. Getty & Naumov 2010, pp. 467.
13. Rogovin 2009, p. 175.
14. Simons & White 1984, pp. 423–425.
15. Fainsod & Hough 1979, p. 410.
16. Fainsod & Hough 1979, pp. 410–411 & 417–419.
17. Fainsod & Hough 1979, pp. 417–419.