Top 10 idols of the 20th century in Russia, full list of VTsIOM

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

The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion decided to find out what personalities of the 20th century Russians consider their idols. And here's 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 20th century is shared by the author of "Quiet Don", "The Fate 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).

Curiously, in 1973, Sholokhov signed a Letter from a group of Soviet writers to the editorial office of the Pravda newspaper, opposing anti-Soviet activities and the speeches of two other Russian idols of the 20th century - Sakharov (8th in the list) and Solzhenitsyn (6th).

9. Mikhail Bulgakov

Mikhail Bulgakov's candidacy is more popular among women than among men (12% versus 8%, respectively). Whether this is because the ladies read more, or because they are more inclined 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 later an ardent fighter for peace, and Andrei Mironov, who embodied many images on the screen - from the insidious but charming Kozodoev in The Diamond Hand to the shy Mr. Fest in The Man from Boulevard des Capuchins, absolutely are unlike each other.

However, both persons gained 12% of the votes.

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 during his time in power. Here is a far from complete list:

• the electrification of Russia began;
• class inequality was abolished;
• developed aerodynamics, electrical engineering, automobile construction and a number of other scientific areas vital for the country;
• a militia and a new army, the Red Army, were created;
• most of the territories lost during the First World War 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 became a revelation, and for others - "terry anti-Soviet", was previously 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 results of the next survey.

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

5. Joseph Stalin

The wind of history is slowly sweeping garbage 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, 14% of respondents chose Stalin as the idol of the twentieth century, while in 2018 - already 16%. Most of the fans of the General Secretary are among the older age group (25% versus 15% of young respondents).

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

4. Leo Tolstoy

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

3. Georgy Zhukov

For Marshal Victory 20% of respondents voted. However, compared to a similar poll conducted back in 1999, the number of Zhukov's 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, a broad strategic outlook and rich military experience gained during the First World War, the Civil War and the Soviet-Japanese conflict of 1939.

During the Great Patriotic War, the marshal directed the most important operations, such as Operation Bagration, thanks to which Belarus was liberated.

However, the same Zhukov was accused of "embarking on the path of looting", ordering subordinates to take out from Germany a lot of trophy values ​​for personal needs, as well as "licentiousness." He did not hesitate to live on a grand scale when the country had just gone through the worst war in its history. It is largely thanks to him that Nikita Khrushchev came to power, who later “thanked” Zhukov by dismissing him.

2. Vladimir Vysotsky

The popularly beloved Zheglov from "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed" and the ingenious songwriter passed away early. However, his songs still sound, and will sound for a long time. Among them there are funny, and philosophical, and piercingly sad. But all the songs have one thing in common - a combination of simple and understandable rhymes and wisdom, even for a child, a strong moral message. And many singers are trying to copy Vysotsky's original style of performance, but no one succeeded completely.

1. Yuri Gagarin

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

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

There are monuments to the first Soviet cosmonaut 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