32 - Khrushchev, 1953-64 Flashcards

1
Q

What type of leadership followed Stalin’s death? What 2 factors presented a power struggle behind the scenes?

A

Collective leadership
Policy
Rivalry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who was the dominant contender for leadership? What did he present himself as?

A

Beria

A reformer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who issued an amnesty to present himself as a reformer? How many prisoners were released?

A

Beria

A million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What consequence followed Beria’s amnesty?

A

Most prisoners were criminals, not political

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What 2 leadership groups feared Beria? What were they suspicious of?

A

Senior party leaders
Military leaders
His intentions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Who conspired and carried out Beria’s arrest? What was Beria accused of and shot for?

A

The military

The worst excesses of Stalinism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Whose downfall saw a coup? Who organised the coup?

A

Beria’s

Khrushchev

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did Khrushchev emerge from the Beria coup with? Why didn’t other leaders see him as a threat?

A

Political authority

His peasant background

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What position did Khrushchev use to build up party power? Which previous figure also did this?

A

General Secretary

Stalin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who proposed popular economic measures as PM? What 2 things did he want to boost?

A

Malenkov

Agriculture and consumer goods

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who was blamed for the 1953 poor harvest? What did Khrushchev propose because of this?

A

Malenkov

Virgin Lands scheme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was the Virgin Lands scheme met with by critics originally?

A

Success

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which 2 groups of leaders did Khrushchev ally himself with? What didn’t they like about Malenkov?

A

Heavy industry and army

His policies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When was Malenkov forced out as PM by leaders?

A

1955

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When did Khrushchev give his “secret speech”? Where was the speech delivered?

A

February 1956

20th Congress of the Communist Party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who did Khrushchev want to break the hold of in Soviet Russia in his “secret speech”? What did he want new leadership to do?

A

Stalin

Make changes and move on

17
Q

Who did Khrushchev want to absolve of complicity in terror during his “secret speech”?

A

Party leaders

18
Q

What did Khrushchev criticise Stalin for? What did he blame him for personally?

A

“Abuses of power”

Terror

19
Q

What complex did Khrushchev attack about Stalin? What did he imply death was a result of?

A

“Cult of personality”

Stalin’s “mania for greatness”

20
Q

Why didn’t Khrushchev’s killing list of innocents go back before 1934? Who didn’t he blame for the murders?

A

He only wanted to blacken Stalin’s reputation

The Party

21
Q

What did Khrushchev want to restore faith in with his “secret speech”?

A

The party of Lenin

22
Q

What did some observers see de-Stalinisation as the start of? How many prisoners were released by 1960?

A
A new era of tolerance and freedom
2 million (some never got home)
23
Q

What was eased due to de-Stalinisation? What rule was the Soviet Union still under?

A

Censorship

One-party rule

24
Q

What happened to secret police power under Khrushchev? What were they known as?

A

Diminished

KGB

25
Q

What did many Party members ask post-“secret speech”? What were the more critical members expelled and labelled as?

A

Why leaders didn’t speak out on Stalinism

“Rotten elements”