KHRUSHCHEV Flashcards
What was collective leadership?
Group of politicians took over after Stalin’s death, though the leadership was collective, meaning no one should stand out, there was a clear competition between Krushchev (First Party Secretary) and Malenkov (PM).
Who was Malenkov? Why might he have had an advantage?
MALENKOV – PRIME MINISTER
- was the most obvious successor
Who was Beria?
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AND HEAD OF THE SECRET POLICE (ARRESTED IN JUNE)
Who was Molotov?
MOLOTOV- FOREIGN MINISTER
What position did Khrushchev have? But what advantage did he have?
Krushchev (First Party Secretary) -> only member of the collective leadership that didn’t have a top job in gov, but was only one in the Secretariat and Presidium – secure power base to exploit.
State the 4 stages of Khrushchev’s establishment of power
REMOVAL OF BERIA
MELENKOV OUTMANEOUVERED
THE 20TH PARTY CONGESS
THE DEFEAT OF THE ANTI-PARTY GROUP
How was Beria removed? (4)
Khrushchev takes lead at the Presidum meeting on 26th June 1953 – Khrushchev and Malenkov accuse Beria of many crimes – arrested
His disgrace endorsed by Cent Com (with KH as dom figure) and was blamed for excesses of Stalinism. Beria labelled ‘an enemy of the state’ in Pavrada ad executed
How was Malenkov outmanoeuvred? (5)
- Kh had economic measures that were favourable to peasants (lower taxes etc) – bad harvest in 1953 Malenkov’s policies blamed. Kh saw himself as an ‘agricultural expert’ – launched Virgin Land schemes early 1954 to end grain shortage. Got more support from party as his policies gained momentum and given role of First Party Secretary in Sep
- Kh asserts supremacy of party bureaucracy over Secret police – the KGB as this point – and the council of ministers
- Malenkov was unstable, Kh made ties with heavy industry, planners and military men and could count on party support – e.g Molotov
- Malenkov resigns as PM in Feb 1955, Bulganin (approved by Kh, and not a threat) replaces him
When did Malenkov resign? Who replaced him?
Malenkov resigns as PM in Feb 1955, Bulganin (approved by Kh, and not a threat) replaces him
What was destalinisation?
Destalinisation was the process of undermining Stalin’s policies and improving the living standards of the Soviet people
What were the motives for destalinisation (3)
- liberate party officials from fear of repression so that the party could become an efficient mechanism
- to build support in all sectors of party and society that supported his ideas of reform and Leninist renewal - and undermine those who opposed
- address Stalin’s crimes to control radical debate
When was the 20th Party Congress? Why is it labelled a ‘key turning point’?
Feb 1956
- Khrushchev made his ‘secret speech’ denouncing Stalin and his policies
Key aspects of the ‘Secret Speech’
- attacked the ‘cult of personality’
- suggested that Stalin might have been implicated in the murder of Kirov
- role of the NKVD in purges - particularly focusing on Order 00447 - exaggerated numbers (5k shot - claimed 8k< shot)
- criticised the Leningrad affair and the Doctors’ Plot
- Ignored advice of the party and oncomings of war - ‘Stalin took no notice of these warnings’
Immediate impacts of the ‘Secret Speech’ (5)
- Hosking - ‘revealed a blood-stained torture chamber’
- read by 20mil people
- Party thrown into confusion - why had no one said anything sooner?
- Stalin labelled an ‘enemy of the people’
- Freeing of political prisoners - 7k rehabilitated within 3 years
Immediate consequences of the Secret Speech outside of the USSR (3)
- de-stabilising impact
- Polish strikes - change in gov
- Hungarian Uprising Oct 1956
What was the Hungarian Uprising? How was it dealt with?
- Full uprising Oct 1956 provoked by Secret Speech made them realise their mistreatment
- Soviet troops demanded them to leave - Hungarian PM denounces the Warsaw Pact and announces Hungarian neutrality
- Crushed uprising - 20k casualties
What/When was the Warsaw Pact? How did it impact Khrushchev?
Warsaw Pact - 1955 military alliance of eastern communist states in response to WG admission into NATO
The turbulence it caused (i.e Hungarian Uprising) along with the implications of the SS strengthened the position of those in the Presidium who were against de-stalinisation
What were the long-term consequences of the Secret Speech? (3)
Figes - ‘it was the beginning of the end’
- colleagues never forgave him for the chaos caused by the speech, nor did the soviet system ever truly recover
- readmission of Molotov 1984 highlights Party’s hostility to Kh
What was the ‘Anti-Party’ Group? How did they attack Khrushchev?
- Molotov, Malenkov and other opposers to Kh secret speech - unrest caused undermined credibility, unity and strength of the international communist movement
- Also used the fact that the Presidium were annoyed at the abolition of central economic ministries - lost power and Kh becoming too ‘assertive’
How did Khrushchev deal with the Anti-Party Group? (3)
- Kh assembled Cent Com quickly (base support) and Zhukov (head of army and KGB) - labelled the opponents as the ‘Anti-Party Group’ and accused them of factionalism
- Similar to Stalin but they were not purged - gave Kh the chance to highlight the break from Stalinist years
Impacts of the 22nd Party Congress 1961
Leningrad renamed Volgograd, his body removed from the Mausoleum
How can Khrushchev’s rise to power be compared to Stalin’s rise? (3)
- both were underestimated but used cunning tactics to outmanoeuvre rivals
- both exploited links to Party Secretariat to create a power base and have advantage in Central Committee and Presidium (Kh - often placed former colleges in key positions to build support among regional Party organisations - Moscow, Ukrainian Party Organisations)
- Ready to change/implement polices to undermine rivals - the starting of Virgin Land Schemes
What policies where implemented after the Secret Speech to change the Soviet System of government?
DEMOCRATISATION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY
DECENTRALISATION OF CONTROL
DEMOCRATISATION OF THE PARTY: (2)
- From 1954-1964 membership of the communist party increased to 11mil
- New Party Programme 1961 - communism complete and increase of real income by 250% by 1980
DECENTRALISATION OF CONTROL: (2)
- Transferred power from Soviet Cent gov to 15 republics of USSR
- 1957 Sovnarkhozy created - regional councils in charge of economic development (similar to Gosplan? caused opposition)
Why/When was Zhukov removed (3)? What impact did this have? (1)
- Had been essential in rise to power but started to become more assertive - introduced military reforms without consulting Party = threat
- Was dismissed and replaced with Malinovsky (pliable) - more freedom and action between 1957-60 but Kh became more authoritarian and arrogant
What were Khrushchev’s aims for the economy? (4)
- compete against America - particularly in Space Race
- expansion of chemical industry and produce more fertilisers for agriculture
- consumer goods and living standards
- focus on agriculture and high biological yields
When was the 7YP?
1959-65
What did the 7YP entail? (4)
- more investment in oil, natural gas
- investment in east Urals
- focus on space race
- used incentives rather than fear
Impacts of the 7YP (2)
- 1957 - Sputnik launched into space
- space race successful but draining on the economy - 1963-64 saw lowest growth rates since 5YPs
How did Khrushchev reorganise the economy to gain control?
- powers given to the republics - strengthened party presence
- command economy (similar to Stalin and Lenin) but split up across the USSR
When were the Virgin Land campaigns launched?
1954
What did the Virgin Land Campaigns entail?
Plough up vast areas of virgin land in Urals and Siberia for grain
What were they key impacts of the Virgin Land Campaigns? (3)
- introduction of ‘agro-towns’
- by 1956 over 35mil hectors of land cultivated - leading to the largest harvest of soviet history
- focus on speed didn’t provide a LT solution, causing over-reliance and decline of the soil’s fertility - by 1963 grain harvest was disastrous, drop 1/3 in expected grain output
ECONOMIC POLICY: COMPETING WITH AMERICA AND IMPROVING LIVING STANDARDS POSITIVES (6)
- Communal flats abandoned (Housing construction plans)
- 55% increase in meat consumption
- 1958 - abolition of tuition fees in education - allowing all to achieve higher education
- Sputnik
- tracks electrified
- 1956 - minimum wage began
FAILURES OF KH ECONOMIC POLICY (5)
- ‘agro-towns’ - inadequate housing and tough conditions
- regional economic councils added another layer of bureachry - targets set centrally with little sensitivity to nation’s needs
- space projects drained economy - limiting improvement of living standards
- may new apartments lacked running water
- prices were unpredictable - 1962 Nobocherassk rising, Kh forced to import grain from West etc
give an example of a regional council that was set up to coordinate the economy
Supreme Economic Council set up in Moscow
NEW PARTY PROGRAMME: SOCIAL/CULTURAL CHANGES (2)
- tuition fees abolished
- writers that were previously banned were rehabilitated - allowing circulation of anti-Stalin material
How did Khrushchev use censorship as a means of control? Why is this strange?
- material was not allowed to criticise the party e.g 1956 Dr Zhivago banned as anti-revolutionary or Bukovsky put in psychiatric hospital 1963 for being outspoken
- re-wrote history books
- this is strange as the New Party Programme claimed that the society would be more liberal than ever before
NEW PARTY PROGRAMME: RELIGIOUS CHANGES (3)
- revival of atheism and circulation of anti-religious propaganda
- taxes on religious activity increased
- unity to the party - Leninist ideology
How does John Keep interpret Khrushchev’s economic policy? (2)
Keep -
- peasant affairs kept at the centre of attention which other leaders didn’t
- agricultural policy took over half of investment - yet still failed
How does Peter Kenez interpret Khrushchev’s economic policy? (2)
Kenez
- impressive industrial growth
- problems caused by nature of a highly centralised planned economy which was made worse through confusion
What happened in the 1962 revolt? How was it dealt with?
June 1962 - protest in Nobocherkassk
- meat and dairy prices increased suddenly causing riot
- troops open fire - killing 24
Why can it be argued that opposition under Khrushchev was better controlled/less severe than other leaders?
- limited opposition as they were just little pocket of dissent which were often put down very quickly e.g post Hungarian Uprising mass arrests between 1957-8, KGB presence
Who was Bukovsky? When was he jailed?
Bukovsky - reader of political propaganda - imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital 1963
CO-EXISTENCE WITH THE WEST: How did 1917 revolutionaries view foreign policy? How did K counter this at the 20th Party Congress?
Revolutionaries viewed foreign policy as an opportunity to spark and international revolution
Kh countered this pushing forwards a policy of Co-existence with the west
What events had smoothed the way for better relations with the West?
End of the Korean War -> Austrian Treaty
What success did Khrushchev highlight when he visited Western countries? Why did this no help co-existence with the West?
Khrushchev was an arrogant character, meaning he bragged of space race successes
This encouraged hostility and competition
CO- EXISTENCE WITH THE WEST: What happened in 1959? Why was this seen as a fragile agreement?
Kh met with Eisenhower in 1959 - they reached a mutual understanding but in the context of the CW this was a very fragile agreement
CO-EXISTENCE WITH THE WEST: What limited this policy?
- fear of communist expansion
- cold war
RELATIONS WITH GERMANY: why were relations strained between east and west Germany? (4)
- Political divisions of East and West Germany
- Marshall Aid
- 1949 - influx of 2mil refugees left eastern germany
- western powers refused to recognise Eastern Germany as its own state - Khrushchev sent an official note requesting this and threatening the West but USA refused to agree
RELATIONS WITH GERMANY: What impact did K’s ultimatum have? What action did he then take in 1961
- K’s ultimatum led to a crisis in relations.
* 1961 Khrushchev repeated his warning to the West that they must leave Berlin within 6 months.
RELATIONS WITH GERMANY: What did K do in 1963?
Ordered the construction of the Berlin Wall
RELATIONS WITH GERMANY: What shaped K’s policies towards Germany? Why were K’s policies a complete failure? (2)
- Khrushchev’s policies towards Germany were shaped by pressure put on him rather than how good the policies were.
- Because the construction of the Wall showed the failure of Khrushchev’s policy towards Germany.
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS: How did K justify Soviet actions? What was it in reality?
- K justified it as the protection of Cuba against the USA potential use of force (K wanted to attain a strong Russian presence in Cuba and spread communism)
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS: What was Operation Anadyr?
• Operation Anadyr was the installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba by Khrushchev.
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS: How did the USA respond to Operation Anadyr? How did K respond to this?
- The USA responded with a naval blockade of Cuba to get the missiles removed.
- Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships not to challenge the blockade. This relieved the tension between the USA and the Soviet Union, but such a retreat damaged Khrushchev’s reputation
CHINA: What was the main issue in the Sino-Soviet relations?
Zedong and Khrushchev both communist - who was the best communist country?
CHINA: Why did relations with China decline in the 1950-60s? (2)
1958 - didn’t support Taiwan attack - K continued to promote policy of co-existence
1963 - China refuses to sigh treaty against using nuclear weapons - fear of communism
- the leaders didn’t get on - yelled and insulted each other
CHINA: What were the impacts of these tensions? (2)
• The personal conflict damaged Khrushchev’s reputation as Mao Zedong and Khrushchev were both Communist so should have been able to work together.
When was Khrushchev removed?
Oct 1964
What were the main reasons for Khrushchev’s removal? (6)
- Cuban Missile Crisis and relations with China got him many enemies - nearly started a nuclear war!
- He was an embarrassment abroad - shoe banging incident at the UN
- relaxed laws on press, allowing destalinisation but also a rise of radicals meaning literary freedoms were clamped down on again
- personality isolated him - brash, arrogant, ignored advice
- agricultural failures despite being an ‘expert’
- reorganisations of Party - divided party (by 1961 2/3 of councils of minister and presidium replaced) lost his power base support
Describe the steps of Khrushchev’s dismissal (4)
- Khrushchev ignored clear warnings of his lack of power
- Went on holiday Oct 1964 - meeting called Cent Com openly criticised his leadership
- Called back to Moscow - forced him to resign for ‘deteriorating health’
- At the meeting, he was accused of mismanaging the economy and errors in foreign policy
Who was appointed the author of Izvestia newspaper
Kh’s son in law- highlighting his impulsive behaviour and losing support
KEY DEBATES: How far did Stalinisation represent a genuine break from the past? YES (6)
- press freedoms - circulation of articles criticising stalin
- security services reshaped - MVD and KGB not under direct admin of the party rather than an individual
- needed to change image of Russia that Stalin created
- reduction in mass terror - release of prisoners
- increased patriotism and stability
- improvement in living
KEY DEBATES: How far did Stalinisation represent a genuine break from the past? NO (4)
- unrest for more freedoms - had to be put down
- continued to rely on centralised planning
- fear of communist expansion suggests Kh failed to present Russia as different
- still at the centre of gov
KEY DEBATES: What caused Khrushchev’s fall from power? POLICIES (TRADITIONAL VIEW)
- Traditional views suggest that it was Khrushchev’s failed foreign policy, agricultural policy and shifting of government that contributed to his downfall
KEY DEBATES: What caused Khrushchev’s fall from power? HIMSELF
Lowe suggests that it was Khrushchev’s personal failing - appointment of his son, his personality etc
KEY DEBATES: What caused Khrushchev’s fall from power? FEAR OF RADICALISM
Volkogonov - de-Stalinisation did represent a geniune break from the past but some feared that this new era would be even more radical than the last and cause the fall of Communsim
KEY DEBATES: Was Khrushchev successful in dealing with challenges posed by the Cold War? YES (3)
- dealt well with the aftermath of the Korean War, dissent in Eastern Europe (1953 uprising) and managing nuclear arms race
- compromise achieved in Cuban Missile Crisis can be viewed as successful
- Attempting to create a more peaceful world through policy of co-existence
KEY DEBATES: Was Khrushchev successful in dealing with challenges posed by the Cold War? NO (3)
- Cold War policy too risky and peaceful coexistence betrayed communist ideals
- Construction of Berlin Wall worsened relations with West
- Almost provoked a nuclear war with Cuban Missile crisis
- McCauley - Hungarian Uprising was a ‘disaster’ and was viewed as a poor reflection on communism
Who said: Hungarian Uprising was a ‘disaster’ and was viewed as a poor reflection on communism
McCauley
KEY DEBATES: Were his economic and social reforms successful? YES (2)
- movement in focus from heavy to agricultural industry for a more rounded economy
- Lowe - in the context of the period, they were successful
KEY DEBATES: Were his economic and social reforms successful? NO
- badly planned
- too optimistic and didn’t provide LT relief
When was the Truman Doctrine introduced?
March 12, 1947.
When was Marshall Aid introduced?
April 3, 1948.
