Today, 59 years ago, on 29 March 1966 (Lunar Calendar 8 March 1966), Brzezinev became the Supreme Leader of the Soviet Union. Brzezinev visited West Germany on 29 March 1966, and at the 23rd National Congress of the Soviet Communist Party Brzezinev was elected First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. Brzezinev condemned the "aggression policy" of the United States against Vietnam in the opening speech of the conference. Brzezinev was a trade union leader, and was appointed Army Major General after the Second World War. He worked under Khrushchev.