Editing Pyotr Masherov (section)

== First Secretary of the CPB (1965–1980) ==
Masherov had been Second Secretary of the CPB under [[Kirill Mazurov]] since 1962. Therefore, when Mazurov retired from his position as First Secretary to become [[First Deputy Premier of the Soviet Union]] in 1965 it was logical for Masherov to succeed him. However, the Soviet government put forward [[Tikhon Kiselyov]] as a possible successor to Mazurov. This effort fell flat when Masherov's allies within the CPB (most of whom were former partisans) backed him up, and he was appointed as First Secretary on 30 March 1965.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Velichko|first=Vladimir|title=His Heart was Beating for the People|pages=56}}</ref>

=== Industrialisation ===
{{main|Belarusian economic miracle}}
Masherov's primary policy as First Secretary of the CPB was expansion of Belarusian industry. Coming into office the same year as the [[1965 Soviet economic reform]] (popularly known as the Kosygin reform), Masherov established himself as one of its supporters and enacted it in Belarus. Uniquely among the SSRs, there were frequently public discussions on the economic situation in Belarus, including openly stating issues with the economy.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ioffe|first=Emmanuel|title=From Myasnikov to Malofeyev: the Rulers of the BSSR|year=2008|location=Minsk|pages=138}}</ref>

{{sidebar|image={{Photomontage
| photo2a = Minsk1981-11.jpg{{!}}The [[Minsk Sports Palace]] in 1981
| photo2b = Pkolosa_15.jpg{{!}}[[Ploshcha Yakuba Kolasa (Minsk Metro)|Ploshcha Yakuba Kolasa]], a station of the [[Minsk Metro]]
| size = 350
| spacing = 5
| color = transparent
| border = 0
| text_background = transparent
| text = The [[Minsk Sports Palace]] and [[Minsk Metro]], two of the most recognisable symbols of Masherov's efforts to modernise and industrialise the city
}}}}

While Masherov was in power numerous enterprises came into existence, including [[Grodno Azot]] and chemical plants in [[Novopolotsk]] and Gomel. One of the most well-known hallmarks of Masherov's time as First Secretary was the construction of the [[Minsk Metro]]; [[Gosplan]] originally intended to build a metro in [[Novosibirsk]] (plans which would eventually [[Novosibirsk Metro|come to fruition]] in 1986). However, Masherov wrote to Brezhnev (or Kosygin, according to some accounts),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Linyevich |first=Yaroslav |title=The Beauty of the Belarusian Territory |pages=300}}</ref> and eventually received support for the construction of a metro in Minsk, in the process working his former rival Kiselyov.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ioffe|first=Emmanuel|title=From Myasnikov to Malofeyev: the Rulers of the BSSR|pages=139}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 August 2007|title="His Name Was Tikhon"|url=https://www.sb.by/articles/ego-zvali-tikhon.html|access-date=29 July 2021|website=Belarus Today}}</ref>

Masherov did much as First Secretary to modernise [[Minsk]], the nation's capital. He pursued a rapid modernisation of the city, in the process destroying much of the original town which had survived the Second World War.<ref name=Rulers>{{Cite book|last=Ioffe|first=Emmanuel|title=From Myasnikov to Malofeyev: the Rulers of the BSSR|year=2008|location=Minsk|pages=138}}</ref> He would later state that he regretted doing this and wished that it had been possible to create something similar to [[Warsaw Old Town]] on [[Niamiha Street]].<ref name=Rulers/> The [[Minsk Sports Palace]] was built, and [[Dinamo Stadium (Minsk)|Dinamo Stadium]] was renovated for the [[1980 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dubrovskaya|first=Alesya|date=13 April 2017|title=Pyotr Masherov: Teacher, Partisan, Leader|url=http://lesgazeta.by/people/istorija-v-licah/petr-masherov-uchitel-partizan-rukovoditel|access-date=29 July 2021|website=Forestry Gazette}}</ref> The Vileyka-Minsk water system was built as well, providing running water to most of Minsk.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grigoriyev|first=Yu. P.|title=Creative Personality|pages=238–239}}</ref>

=== Agricultural reforms ===
Under Masherov's rule, the Belarusian agricultural industry, which had typically been at the forefront of the economy, expanded far beyond its traditional production levels. Masherov took power with the ambitious goal of expanding the Belarusian grain harvest from the 2.3 million tons it had been producing to 9-10 million tons, stating that Belarus would need to feed itself, as well as other republics within the Soviet Union. His efforts proved moderately successful; by 1977 the grain harvest had increased to 7.3 million tons.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dzyemyantsyey|first=Mikalay|title=Respect for Business|pages=116}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite book|last=Vecherko|first=G. N.|title=He Did Not Show Himself, and Did Not Utter Incantations|pages=240}}</ref>

Masherov raised eyebrows in 1974 when he appointed biologist {{ill|Viktor Shevelukha|ru|Шевелуха, Виктор Степанович}} as secretary of agriculture in the Central Committee of the CPB. Though Shevelukha was known at the time as a devoted socialist and was a member of the CPSU, he was not a politician, as many appointments were at the time, but a professional in the agricultural field. Many of Masherov's other appointments regarding such matters were also professionals rather than politicians. This happened largely due to the enthusiastic support of [[Fyodor Kulakov]], who was Secretary of the Central Committee's Agricultural Department; the agreement of the Central Committee was required for any appointments who were not already party officials.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Smirnov|first=A. A.|title=We Met a Long Time Ago|pages=98}}</ref>

=== Educational policy ===
With a background as a teacher, Masherov was immensely interested in the education of Belarusians, especially in sciences. Masherov worked with scientists from across the USSR, including [[Nikolai Borisevich]] (President of the Academy of Scientists of the Byelorussian SSR), [[Mstislav Keldysh]], [[Anatoly Alexandrov (physicist)|Anatoly Alexandrov]], [[Borys Paton]], [[Alexander Prokhorov]], [[Nikolay Basov]], and [[Nikita Moiseyev]], among others.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Babosov|first=Yevgeny|title=Comprehension of the Truth|pages=198–199}}</ref> Masherov worked tirelessly to get up-to-date equipment for institutes, including notably purchasing the first [[echocardiography]] machine in the BSSR for the Cardiography Research Institute.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Manak|first=Nikolai|title=I Trust You|pages=318}}</ref>
[[File:PSU and Blakhina street in Navapolack 1.jpg|left|thumb|[[Saint Euphrosyne Polotsk State University|Polotsk State University]], one of the universities constructed under Masherov's leadership, pictured in 2004]]
Masherov also promoted the expansion of educational institutions; the [[Brest State Technical University]], the [[Pavel Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel]], the [[Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts]], and [[Saint Euphrosyne Polotsk State University|Polotsk State University]] were all constructed by Masherov's government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Babosov|first=Yevgeny|title=Comprehension of the Truth|pages=200–218}}</ref> In regards to vocational education he brought in comprehensive measures to both improve the quality of education and decrease juvenile delinquency and took inspiration from [[Anton Makarenko]] in expanding education at [[Youth detention center|youth detention centres]]. Masherov also supported increased teaching of foreign languages as well as education on Belarusian culture.

Masherov retained good relations with the [[Komsomol]] as First Secretary; it was on his initiative that the BSSR's Komsomol school was opened, as one of the first in the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Platonov|first=Konstantin|title=Instructive Lessons|pages=386–387}}</ref> However, on the other hand he also strongly criticised the widespread practise of many Belarusians (up to 100,000 annually) leaving the BSSR to work on Komsomol construction projects; many of these workers would not return, resulting in what Masherov termed a "demographic crisis".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Platonov|first=Konstantin|title=Instructive Lessons|pages=398–401}}</ref>

=== War memorialisation ===
As First Secretary and a former partisan leader, Masherov supported a policy of memorialising the Second World War and Belarusian partisans. Under Masherov's rule, numerous monuments to the partisans were constructed, such as the [[Mound of Glory]], the memorial to the [[Khatyn massacre]], and the Breakthrough monument. According to [[Zair Azgur]], Masherov himself drafted the first design of the Mound of Glory. Masherov was also responsible for making the Belarusian contributions to the Soviet war effort more well-known across the Soviet Union. He successfully pushed for [[Brest Fortress]] and [[Minsk]] to be awarded the title of [[Hero City (Soviet Union)|Hero City]] despite reservations from Soviet leadership.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ioffe|first=Emmanuel|title=From Myasnikov to Malofeyev: the Rulers of the BSSR|year=2008|location=Minsk|pages=140–141}}</ref>

=== Consideration for promotion ===
Masherov was mentioned as a possible candidate for multiple positions within the Soviet government. Prior to his death he was a candidate member of the Politburo, and it has been stated by some such as the ''[[Washington Post]]'' that he intended to become [[Premier of the Soviet Union|Premier]] following the death of his mentor, Kosygin.<ref name=":6" /> More radically, it has been suggested by ''[[Moskovskij Komsomolets]]'' that Masherov was intended to be a possible successor to Brezhnev as [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|General Secretary of the CPSU]], backed up by a reformist "Komsomol Group" which also included [[Mikhail Zimyanin]]. The alleged group was opposed to the [[Dnipropetrovsk Mafia]], Brezhnev's clique within the CPSU.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 July 2018|title=How Komsomol Members Took Power: Undercover Wars for a Warm Place|url=https://www.mk.ru/social/2018/07/01/kak-komsomolcy-shli-k-vlasti-podkovernye-voyny-za-teploe-mesto.html|access-date=29 July 2021|website=[[Moskovskij Komsomolets]]}}</ref> Such a claim was also supported by a 1977 CIA report which cast Masherov as a leading member of a "Belorussian Faction" which Brezhnev viewed as a serious threat to his rule.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=27 January 1977 |title=The USSR: Regional and Political Analysis |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79T00912A000100010001-7.pdf |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref> However, others have disputed this, including Masherov's sister Olga, who has said that Brezhnev and Masherov maintained an amicable personal and political relationship.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|last=Masherova|first=Olga|title=Our Roots|pages=85}}</ref>

=== Conflicts with Soviet leadership ===
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Staatshoofden,_portretten,_Bestanddeelnr_925-6564_(cropped)(d).jpg
| caption1          = Leonid Brezhnev
| image2            = Mikhail_Suslov_1964.jpg
| caption2          = Mikhail Suslov
| align             = left
| total_width       = 300
}}
As an independent thinker, Masherov set himself apart from many others within the CPSU at the time. While many of his compatriots chose to closely adhere to the positions of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, Masherov instead pursued his own course, developing Belarus and frequently acting without seeking guidance from Moscow. Masherov's relationship with Brezhnev has been subject to wildly varying accounts, with some, such as Olga Masherova, stating that Brezhnev was hopeful that Masherov would achieve higher office.<ref name=":7" /> Others, like Viktor Shevelukha, claim that the vain Brezhnev was envious of Masherov, who was genuinely loved by the Belarusian people, something Brezhnev could not replicate at the national level.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shevelukha|first=Viktor|title=In Those Years, the Republic Grew by Leaps and Bounds|pages=137}}</ref>

Masherov had a complicated relationship with [[Mikhail Suslov]], Second Secretary of the CPSU and the party's primary ideologue. Suslov allegedly sabotaged Masherov's attempts to move upwards by inviting him to the [[24th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|24th Congress of the CPSU]] in 1971 and requesting that he give a speech criticising [[Eurocommunism]]. This was despite the attendance of Eurocommunist politicians, including [[Georges Marchais]] and [[Dolores Ibárruri]] (head of the [[French Communist Party]] and honorary president of the [[Spanish Communist Party]] respectively), and caused a diplomatic incident which dealt a serious blow to any further political aspirations of Masherov.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Antipenko|first=Valentin|date=13 February 2018|title=Pyotr Masherov: the Road to Immortality|url=https://teleskop.media/2018/02/13/pyotr-mironovich-masherov-doroga-v-bessmertie/|access-date=29 July 2021|website=Telescope Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kozlov|first=Igor|date=16 March 2018|title=The Centenary of a Friend|url=https://mogilevnews.by/news/16-03-2018-15-09/49437|access-date=29 July 2021|website=Mogilev News|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128093120/https://mogilevnews.by/news/16-03-2018-15-09/49437|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Antanovich|first=Ivan|title="Hallowed be Thy Name..."|pages=178–179}}</ref> However, according to a 1977 CIA report, Masherov, as well as his political allies Mazurov and Zimyanin, had backing from Suslov, as well as Premier Alexei Kosygin, in opposition to the establishment of Brezhnev's cult of personality.<ref name=":9" />