[M]This is the first part of a continuing series following and providing background on the prominent men of the USSR who will potentially vie for power and leadership once Stalin passes away. Partially ghost written by Pakistan Army Ball.

Born Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Skryabin, Vyacheslav Molotov is a man of the Old Guard. The name Molotov is derived from the work Molotov, meaning hammer. Initially chosen for its industrial and proletariat ring. He was one of the original Bolsheviks under Lenin, and one of the few of any prominence in Petrograd during the the February revolution. Molotov became a protégé, follower, and close friend to the man of steel. Lenin dismissed Molotov as bureaucratic and immature. He was later removed and replaced by Stalin as General Secretary. Stalin of course then used the position to rise to prominence.

Despite Lenin’s criticism, Molotov’s dull persona was camouflage for the intelligent and capable administrator that laid behind it. After Lenin’s death, Molotov was a key supporter of Stalin and aided the General Secretary in fighting off the numerous leadership challenges that followed. For this Molotov was rewarded with membership to the politburo in 1926. In the 1930s Molotov was heavily participated in Stalin’s Great Purge. He approved Stalin's list without hesitation or moderation, and a year later in 1939, he was placed in charge of foreign affairs.

Since the end of the war, Molotov has lost power. It is rumored that Molotov has fallen out of favor with Stalin. Molotov’s power has decreased to the point that he was unable to prevent the imprisonment of his wife for suggesting that Crimea be the location of a Jewish homeland. Her sentence has since been reduced to exile to a remote village, but Molotov still remains without contact with his wife.

Although Stalin’s dislike of Molotov had reduced Molotov’s power, he kept his position as Foreign Minister. The murmurings of a reformist clique forming made Stalin weary of bringing in new blood. Stalin may dislike Molotov, and Molotov may have made major mistakes from Stalin’s point of view, but he was an honest Bolshevik who would not stray into reform. Despite this, Molotov continued to come under withering attacks from a hostile Stalin. There are rumors in higher circles that Stalin has even considered having Molotov “finished off”. It remains unclear whether Stalin meant politically or literally. For now, Molotov clings on to power, rapidly following a leader who no long approves of him. Molotov’s situation is likely to continue to deteriorate, and unless something changes soon to reverse it, he may find himself 6 feet below the ground at the orders of his idol.