Voroshilov, Kliment Yefremovich

views updated May 17 2018

Voroshilov, Kliment Yefremovich (1881–1969) Soviet statesman, president (1953–60). He joined the Bolsheviks in 1903, and took an military role in the Russian Revolution (1917). Voroshilov was a Red Army commander in the civil war (1918–20) before becoming commissar for defence (1925–40). He commanded the Red Army on the nw front in World War 2. Voroshilov became president on the death of Stalin, but was implicated in a plot against Nikita Khrushchev and resigned.