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
