Vyacheslav Molotov

Molotov was a member of the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin and a member of the Communist Party Politburo.

He was once a favourite of Stalin, but had slowly lost favour and power by the 1950s.

In 1951, he attended dinner parties at Stalin's dacha with other high-ranking Politburo members which included Beria, Khrushchev, Malenkov, and Bulganin. Molotov was never actually invited to these parties, but dared not stay away. Khrushchev privately wished Molotov would stop attending, telling Malenkov that "it is hard to make merry in the presence of the living dead".

Stalin often mocked Molotov while drunk, jokingly asserting that he was an American spy. Molotov laughed along with these jokes, personally relieved to hear them. Molotov believed that once Stalin got tired of the joke, he would decide it was true and summarily execute him. (PROSE: Endgame)

Behind the scenes

 * Although not identified as Vyacheslav Molotov, the character of Molotov is intended to be the real world Politburo member of this name.
 * The Molotov cocktail was named after him, although this link has not been made in the DWU.
 * He was played by Michael Palin in the movie .