Gradenko

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Field Marshal Gradenko is a fictitious Soviet commander of the real-time strategy computer game Red Alert in the Command & Conquer series by Westwood Studios.

Gradenko was a competent military officer who commanded Red Army troops in the conquest of East Asia. His success there resulted in his promotion to Marshal and won him an advisory position to Joseph Stalin during the subsequent war in Europe. Though Gradenko had been an outstanding strategist, he made a number of mistakes at the beginning of this new war which included the loss of the USSR's stockpiles of nerve gas, a critical element in Stalin's original plans. NKVD leader Nadia, who was Gradenko's main opponent at the head of the Communist party, convinced Stalin of Gradenko's incompetence. To prove his loyalty, Gradenko was forced by Stalin to sign the death warrants of Soviet generals who Stalin claimed were plotting to assassinate him.

Gradenko was the Soviet leader who was most suspicious of the "General" (the player) and seemed to have a somewhat aggressive attitude towards him. He was also the general who informed Stalin of the Allied Chronosphere project, something that led to Stalin's obsession with seizing it. Neither Gradenko nor his fellow general Kukov were informed of the Iron Curtain project. Nor were either of them (or Stalin for that matter) aware of the true powers within the Communist party: Kane, the leader of NOD, and Nadia, who served as his deputy.

After numerous failures, Gradenko was killed by poisoned tea (served by Nadia) and replaced by General Georgi Kukov. He was subsequently proclaimed a traitor to the Soviet Union.

Gradenko is played by Alan Terry.