Boris Vannikov
Boris Lvovich Vannikov was a Soviet government and military official, a three-star General.
Vannikov was People's Commissar for Defense Industry from December 1937 until January 1939 and People's Commissar for Armament from January 1939 through June 1941. On June 7, 1941, Vannikov was arrested for "failing to carry out his duties". However, as the war with Germany started on 22 June, Vannikov was released on 25 July 1941 then appointed People's Commissar for Ammunition from February 1942 through June 1946.
From 1945 through 1953 Vannikov was Head of the 1st Main Directorate of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. In this position Vannikov worked under direct leadership of Lavrenty Beria overseeing the Soviet atomic bomb project. He inadvertently helped the nuclear scientists Yulii Khariton and Igor Kurchatov by walking close to their test reactor. His body fat reflected enough neutrons to approach criticality.
Vannikov was thrice named a Hero of Socialist Labor, and twice awarded the Stalin Prize. After Beria's arrest and death in 1953, Vannikov was moved to the position of First Deputy Minister of Medium Machine-Building Ministry. He retired in 1958.
