1.1c To what extent did the nature of the Communist Party change after Stalin's death upto 1985? Flashcards
In what year did Khrushchev become First Secretary?
1953
What other position did Khrushchev hold?
Prime Minister
After Stalin’s death, what was put in place to govern Russia?
A collective leadership
Who was in the collective leadership after Stalin’s death
Beria
Malenkov
Khrushchev
How did Khrushchev remove Beria as opposition?
Accused him of being a British spy and had him executed
How was the execution of Beria justified, despite being very illegal?
Described as an act of ‘Socialist Legality’
What 2 direct similarities between how Stalin got into power and how Khrushchev got into power?
- Murdered a direct rival
- Placed his allies in government
Give 3 differences between how Stalin and Khrushchev when in power
- Reduced terror
- Wanted a return to ‘the legality of Leninism’
- Regular Presidium meetings
What was De-Stalinisation?
Khrushchev’s policy of denouncing Stalin and returning to the ‘Legality of Leninism’
As a result of De-Stalinisation, how many political prisoners were released?
2 million
What happened to the secret police after De-Stalinisation?
Brought under State control and lost control of labour camps
What was the public reaction to De-Stalinisation?
Reforms were welcomed but there were still heavy punishments for corruption or state criticism
What 4 key things happened at 22nd Party Congress?
- Stalin’s body removed from Lenin’s Mausoleum
- Divided the party into Industrial and Agricultural departments
- Major purge of Party Secretaries
- A limit to the tenure of party officials to 3 years
How did limiting the tenure of Party Officials contribute to the downfall of Khrushchev?
Posed a threat to older members of the Politburo who had power
Define Gerontocracy
A state run by the elderly
How did Brezhnev’s personality allow him to get into power?
He was organised and likable which allowed him to get his way with no conflict
What policy, previously introduced by Khrushchev, did Brezhnev remove?
Limits on tenure
What was ‘trust in cadres’, introduced by Brezhnev?
A policy to trust in party members to get on with their job roles
Under Brezhnev, what did party membership grow from and to?
From: 6.9 million
To: 17 million
By 1984, what proportion of Politburo members were over 70?
7 out of 11
How long did the average Politburo meeting last in 1984?
40 minutes
What did Brezhnev do to De-Stalinisation?
Brought the most radical elements to an end
Define Oligarchy
Rule by a small elite who govern in their own interests
What did Brezhnev’s Oligarchy allow the reformation of?
The Dnepropetrovsk Mafia
Define Nepotism
Giving promotions to family members
How did Brezhnev remove his opposition?
Giving them insignificant or ceremonial roles
