rudolf slánský (31 july 1901 – 3 december 1952) was a czechoslovak communist politician. he was a longtime member of the central committee of the communist party. later he was the general secretary of the cpc central committee (1945-1951). slánský was one of the main organizers of the 1948 czechoslovak coup d'état. during world war ii he was a member of czechoslovak exile resistance in the foreign centre in moscow. slánský was executed on december 3, 1952 at prague’s pankrac prison.