Mikhail Gorbachev
Did you know about the politician?
Mikhail Gorbachev lives in seclusion today
© imago images / Danita Delimont
Mikhail Gorbachev celebrates his 90th birthday. The politician has already excelled as a singer – there are more facts about him here.
The man to whom the Germans largely owe their political unity has almost completely disappeared from the public eye: Mikhail Gorbachev, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on March 2nd, lives secluded in a dacha in a suburb of Moscow. He was once one of the most powerful men in the world. The son of a combine harvester operator in the North Caucasus will go down in history as one of the great reformers and reconcilers with the West. The last General Secretary of the CPSU and first President of the Soviet Union initiated perestroika and thus the end of the Cold War.
Above all, Gorbachev encouraged the Germans to reunify as early as 1989; months before that, that was considered completely utopian. In 1990 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for this. Ultimately, his opening to the west also meant the end of the Soviet empire, which many in his Russian homeland have not forgiven him. A few months after a failed coup attempt in August 1991, Gorbachev resigned as President of the USSR. For the Germans, the Russian was and is a political hero. Gorbachev's wife Raissa (1932-1999), who was suffering from cancer, was also treated in Germany. The charismatic sociology professor was his great love and always at his side.
The book "Mikhail Gorbachev: Small anecdotes from the life of a great politician" (Riva) aims to provide insights into the eventful life of this politician of the century. Here are five exciting facts about Gorbachev:
Born on straw
When Mikhail Gorbachev was born in Privolnoye on March 2, 1931, his parents lived with Mikhail's grandparents in a modest dwelling consisting of the grandparents' room, a common room and a pantry. In this modest room, bedded on a bed made of straw, his mother gives birth to her firstborn. The stable is right next door and so it is not surprising that Gorbachev's daughter Irina later draws an obvious comparison: "You were born like Jesus Christ."
Learning or great love?
The year is 1951 and Mikhail Gorbachev is sitting, as he often does, in his student accommodation and studying. On this autumn evening he is supposed to get to know his future wife Raissa. When his friends tell him about the new girl, however, his enthusiasm is limited. There are so many girls. He'd rather learn something more. Fortunately, his friends finally prevail and convince Gorbachev to go to the club with them. It is there that Mikhail meets his Raissa for the first time.
Switch to politics
After completing his law degree, Gorbachev received an invitation from the Soviet public prosecutor's office. A short time later, however, he received a harsh refusal that an internal government order had just been issued prohibiting university graduates from joining the public prosecutor's office of the USSR immediately after graduating. He then receives an offer from the provincial public prosecutor's office. The harsh rejection from Moscow and the emerging disinterest in his personal situation, however, do not go out of his head. After just one week, at the age of 24, he decided to switch to politics.
Reagan the "dinosaur"
Gorbachev was already able to win over the iron Lady Margaret Thatcher through clever diplomacy. In contrast, Gorbachev got into a real argument with US President Ronald Reagan. He describes the arch-conservative Reagan as a "dinosaur". The latter allegedly dubbed Gorbachev a "concrete communist".
Old letters
For years after her death, Gorbachev loved his Raisa most of all. For this reason, in 2009 he also recorded a CD entitled "Songs for Raissa". The widower sings seven romantic songs for his beloved wife and, especially with the Russian classic "Alte Briefe", impressively demonstrates what talent he is as a singer.