1.13 Khrushchev and de-stalinisation Flashcards
1
Q
When did Stalin die?
A
5 March 1953
2
Q
Why was there a power struggle in the party after Stalin’s death?
A
Stalin died suddenly so named no successor
3
Q
What did Khrushchev do after Stalin’s death?
A
He used his position as Party Secretary to fire and appoint loyal people to the republic and regional parties to build his forces
4
Q
What happened to Beria and who was he?
A
- He was Khrushchev’s rival for head of the USSR
- Khrushchev convicted Beria for torturing people and then executed him
5
Q
What did Khrushchev do in 1956?
A
Denounced Stalin in his secret speech
6
Q
What did Khrushchev specifically criticise in his secret speech?
A
- Revealed Lenin’s testament which denounced Stalin.
- Blamed Stalin for not having made the USSR ready for the German attack in 1941,
- Criticised his paranoia, and criticised the gulags used by Stalin.
- Also criticised Stalin’s show trials and the cult of Stalin
7
Q
What party Congress was the Secret Speech?
A
20th Party Congress
8
Q
How did Khrushchev escape blame for working for Stalin during the terror?
A
- Khrushchev argued that the crimes he had committed under Stalin was because he was just as scared as everyone else of him.
- Molotov, Kaganovitch and Malenkov (Praesidium members) abolished the position of first secretary, Khrushchev’s position.
- But Khrushchev’s supporters came to his defence and insisted that only the central committee could abolish the position.
- The decision to was overturned and Molotov, Kaganovitch and Malenkov were expelled
9
Q
What were some consequences of de-stalinisation?
A
- Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd
- Stalin’s body was removed from Lenin’s mausoleum
- A new party history was accepted which criticised the 1930s decisions
- Khrushchev demolished orthodox churches, which left only 7500 places of worship. Muslim and Jewish places of worship met the same fate
