The twentieth century was one of the brightest and most terrible in the history of mankind. People lived and made history in it, about whose activities there is still heated debate (Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Lavrenty Beria, etc.). Moreover, some individuals over the years are perceived better.

The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion decided to find out what personalities of the XX century the Russians consider their idols. And so who entered the top ten.

10. Mikhail Sholokhov and Irina Rodnina

The tenth place in the Russian list of the most popular people of the XX century is shared by the author of “Quiet Don”, “The Fates of a Man”, “Virgin Soil Upturned”, “They Fought for the Motherland”, and the Soviet figure skater, ten-time world champion. Basically, women voted for Rodnina (14% against 4% of male votes).

It is curious that in 1973 Sholokhov signed a letter from a group of Soviet writers to the editorial office of the newspaper Pravda, speaking out against anti-Soviet activities and the speeches of two other Russian idols of the 20th century - Sakharov (8th on the list) and Solzhenitsyn (6th).

9. Mikhail Bulgakov

The candidacy of Mikhail Bulgakov is more popular with women than with men (12% versus 8%, respectively). Either this is because the ladies read more, or because they are more prone to mysticism, to which the great writer was so generous.

8. Andrey Sakharov and Andrey Mironov

Andrei Sakharov - one of the creators of the hydrogen bomb, and subsequently an ardent fighter for peace, and Andrei Mironov, who embodied a lot of images on the screen - from the insidious but charming Kozodoev in “The Diamond Arm” to the shy Mr. Fest in “The Man from Kapucin Boulevard”, completely unlike each other.

However, both persons scored 12% of the vote.

7. Vladimir Lenin

One can perceive the personality of one of the leaders of the October Revolution of 1917 in different ways. However, it is impossible to deny the achievements that the country made while it was in power. Here is a far from complete list of them:

• Electrification of Russia has begun;
• class inequality was abolished;
• aerodynamics, electrical engineering, automotive industry and a number of other scientific areas vital for the country developed;
• police and a new army were created - the Red Army;
• most of the territories lost during World War I and the Civil War returned to the state;
• on the recommendations of Lenin in 1922 the USSR was created.

6. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

The Nobel laureate and author of the book “The Gulag Archipelago”, which for some was a revelation, and for others a “terry anti-Soviet,” used to be on the fifth line of the rating of Russian idols of the 20th century. Now the situation has changed, he lost 2% of the vote (14% remained). The inclusion of Solzhenitsyn in the school curriculum will probably contribute to the growth of his popularity, which will be seen in the next survey.

In the meantime, in the writer's hometown of Rostov-on-Don, more than 70% of the townspeople spoke out against the appearance of his monument. It was planned to be installed on December 11, 2018, on the birthday of Solzhenitsyn. At the same time, people not only resented on Internet forums, but also took to the city streets with banners, demanding not to allow the installation of a monument to a man who "tarnished the country's history."

5. Joseph Stalin

The wind of history is slowly sweeping away the trash from the grave of one of the greatest rulers of Russia, who "took the country with a plow, and left it with an atomic bomb." In 1999, Stalin was chosen as the idol of the twentieth century by 14% of respondents, while in 2018 - already 16%. The most admirers of the general secretary are among the older age group (25% versus 15% of young respondents).

In 2008, Stalin led the project “Name of Russia”, the purpose of which was to identify the most popular characters in the history of the country. The top three also included Vladimir Lenin and the last Russian autocrat Nicholas II. However, then the vote was canceled, and its results were canceled due to hacker attacks, and other problems. During the televised debate on December 28, Alexander Nevsky was chosen as the “Name of Russia”.

4. Leo Tolstoy

Surprisingly, for the great Russian writer and humanist, it was mainly not the older generation who voted, but the youth (20-21% versus 11%). What is the reason for this: impressions of “War and Peace”, watching one of the adaptations of “Anna Karenina” or the dream to study as freely as the children in the Yasnaya Polyana school - who knows.

3. George Zhukov

Marshal of Victory voted 20% of respondents. However, compared with a similar survey conducted back in 1999, the number of Zhukov fans decreased (it was 26%).

The personality of this great man is very ambiguous. He had all the necessary qualities for a brilliant military leader: strong will, courage, determination, broad strategic outlook and rich military experience gained during the First World War, the Civil War and the Soviet-Japanese conflict of 1939.

During World War II, the marshal led the most important operations, such as Operation Bagration, due to which Belarus was liberated.

However, Zhukov himself was accused of “embarking on the path of looting,” ordering his subordinates to take out from Germany many trophy valuables for personal needs, as well as “licentiousness”. He did not hesitate to live in a big way when the country had just survived the most terrible war in its history. Largely thanks to him, Nikita Khrushchev came to power, who subsequently “thanked” Zhukov, sending him to resign.

2. Vladimir Vysotsky

The popularly beloved Zheglov from “The meeting place cannot be changed” and the ingenious poet and songwriter passed away early. However, his songs still sound, and will continue to sound for a long time. Among them are funny, philosophical, and piercingly sad. But all the songs are related by one thing - a combination of simple rhymes and wisdom, clear to even a child, and a strong moral message. And many singers are trying to copy the original manner of performance of Vysotsky, but nobody succeeded completely.

1. Yuri Gagarin

Here it is, the main idol of the 20th century for the inhabitants of Russia. 35% of respondents cast their votes for the first cosmonaut of the Earth. There was national euphoria in the USSR when on April 12, 1961, the first manned flight into space took place successfully. And everyone was happy not only because they managed to overtake their main rivals - the United States. And also because a new, cosmic era of the development of mankind began.

Gagarin instantly became a national idol, and the day of April 12 was forever included in the Russian calendar as “Cosmonautics Day”. Until now, the phrase "Let's Go," uttered by Yuri during the launch of the Vostok manned spacecraft, is winged.

Monuments to the first Soviet astronaut are not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world: the USA (in Houston), England (London), Montenegro, and Cyprus (in Nicosia).

Full list of idols according to VTsIOM

Watch the video: RUSSIAN K-POP IDOL INTERVIEW (May 2025).