Beria vs. Malenkov: A Fatal Betrayal in the Struggle for Power

Soviet Secrets
Sep 1, 2025

With Stalin's death, the familiar world of the Soviet political elite, which had seemed unshakeable, suddenly faced a profound power vacuum. This situation, like a sudden calm after years of stormy weather, not only caused confusion but also paved the way for new, sometimes quite unexpected configurations. It was at this critical moment that three figures, whose names were already well known in the corridors of the Kremlin, came to the fore, each with their own ambitions and ideas about the future of the country. They were Georgy Malenkov, Lavrentiy Beria and Nikita Khrushchev.