khrushchev Flashcards
what role was Malenkov given after Stalins death
- a role combined with being party secretary and chairman of the council of minister
- was forced to resign as others feared his growing power
who was apart of collective leadership
- Khrushchev as party secretary
- molotov as foreign minister
- beria as head of MVD
who did Khrushchev appoint into the important jobs
- his supporters
why was Beria executed
- accused on anti-state activities
- expressed strong anti-stalinist views e.g. denounced purges
- these activities concerned those in the Collective Leadership
what were the divisions within the collective leadership
- malenkov and molotov wanted to change collectivisation,reduce taxes and focus more on consumer goods
- khrushchev wanted a focus on consumer goods but less change
what did khrushchev launch in 1954
- virgin land scheme
what helped khrushchev emerge as a leader
the virgin lands scheme initial success
who replaced Malenknov in 1955
- Bulganin who was a close ally of khrushchev and was controlled by him
what was the anti-party group 1957 and who was in it
- a coup from some members in the presidium to remove Khrushchev
- particularly after his secret speech
- included, Malenkov molotov and kaganovich
how did Khrushchev defeat the anti-party group
- argued only the central committee could remove him
- had support of Marshall Zhukov
what happened to the members of the anti party group
- removed and sent to new positions away from Moscow
- Malenkov became minister for power stations
- molotov became ambassador to mongolia
why is it significant that khrushchev didn’t execute the members of the anti party group
- shows a change in the way things were under stalin
- supporting the secret speech with action, by not using violent methods to repress opposition
how were supporters of Khrushchev against the anti-party group rewarded
- given seats in the presidium
how did Khrushchev gain individual control
- dismissed Marshall Zhukov in 1957 after being accused of creating a cult centred around him and his control of the army was feared by Khrushchev
- forced Bulganin to resign from being the premier by Khrushchev in 1958 as he was suspected of sympathising with the Anti-party group
why did Khrushchev remove Beria
- part of de-Stalinisation
- removed police powers and the Gulag system
- highlighted the thaw of repression, lessening
how did the presidium denounce Stalin’s purges
- an official denouncement in a closed session with just party delegates
- this was the secret speech
what did the secret speech include
- criticisms of Stalin for purges, terror, gulags, poor organisation for WW2 and being disliked by Lenin
- e.g. of the 139 members of the party central committee 70% were shot during the ‘great terror’
- showed letters from Lenin that were against Stalin
- said Stalin used a globe instead of a detailed map to plan Russia’s attack in WW2
in what ways was the secret speech accepted
- many were pleased to see communism distance from Stalin’s actions
in what ways was the secret speech seen as being restrained
- ## included a selective list of victims of Stalin e.g. didn’t include Trotsky and none of the deaths before the 1930’s
why was the secret speech in ways restrained
- didn’t want to ruin the reputation of the communist party so therefore blamed the terror on one individual
- the amount of support Stalin had
how would the secret speech be seen as extreme and shocking
- attacked Stalin who was massively feared
- went against previous beliefs of the communist party under Stalin
what year was the secret speech
february 1956
what areas of Stalins rule did Khrushchev not attack
- economic controls
- strong leadership
- control over citizens
how did democracy change under Khrushchev
- greater democracy and participation
- focus on the party not one individual
- citizens still had no say who was in the central committee or ran their country
how did membership in the party increase from 1956-1964
7 million to 11 million
there were less working class members in the party under Khrushchev
true or false
false
what was part of decentralisation
- the party was split into rural and urban sections
- local soviets role was increased
- new courts made for minor offences
- visited local towns and therefore had first hand contact with the people
- secret police had less of a role (mainly under the fall of Beria), and were put under control of the party
- political crimes became less oppressed, some prisoners were freed
how was there no change in the system of government under Khrushchev
- still used force to distinguish opposition e.g. Beria and members of the Anti-party group
- although theres now a focus on the party, Khrushchev chose who was in the party
- no representation of the peasantry or other civilians in the soviet union
how did WW2 affect industry and the economy as a whole
- destroyed 70% of the industrial capacity
- reduced workforce
- had to now control and tackle it’s new satellite states it gained during the war
what was the Cominform
- the communist information bureau
- made in 1947
- established soviet control over all communist parties
- counter western propaganda
what was the Comecon
- the council for mutual economic assistance
- made in 1949 to coordinate the economic growth of countries inside the soviet bloc
what did Stalin refuse for those in the soviet bloc to take
- Marshall aid
- this was financial aid offered by the US in 1947 to assist European economic recovery
why did a cold war start to build between the USSR and the USA
- after WW2 the USSR had communist governments in the satellite states which were occupied in the east of Europe
- this created tensions between the communist east (soviet bloc) and the capitalist west which was headed by the USA
why were 2 5 plans created in the years 1946-1955
- to re-build the economy and industry
what was the aim of the 1946-50 plan
- to catch up with the USA
- rebuild heavy industry and transport
how was the 1946-50 plan carried out
- use of reparations from East Germany
- long hours, low wages and high targets
- use of female labour on ‘grand projects’ - canals and HEP plants
what were the results of the 1946-50 plan
- became 2nd in the world to USA in industrial capacity
- production doubled
- urban workforce increased from 67 million in 1941 to 77 million in 1952
what were the aims of the 1951-55 plan
- development of heavy industry and transport under Stalin
- 1953 Malenkov took over and switched focus to consumer goods, housing and services
what were the results of the 1951-55 plan
- national income increased by 71%
what problems did Khrushchev try to correct
- ministers in Moscow were disorganised and set different targets as there was no cohesion and not enough ministers
- no incentive for workers to produce more as if their targets were reached they were then increased the next year
what changes were made by Khrushchev
- abolished 60 Moscow ministries which were replaced by the creation of 105 economic regions, this gave Khrushchev more support in local areas
- the 1959 seven year plan which was replaced by a seven year plan in 1961
what industrial changes did Khrushchev make
- expansions on chemical industry (housing products and food), retail including food went from 50.2 million roubles produced in 1955 to 104.8 millions of roubles produced in 1965
- new flats of prefabricated materials
- more consumer goods produced
- modernisation of power e.g. went from 291 million tonnes of coal to 578 tonnes (1955 to 65)
- railways
- space
what advances were made in terms of space
- 1957 the first satellite (sputnik) was launched and a dog was put into space
what was money put into to help trade in Russia
- the Aeroflot company which was subsidised by the state to offer cheap air travel
what problems existed for industry under Khrushchev
- decentralisation made the system too complicated and bureaucratic
- still severe limitations to living standards
- focus on armaments and the space race meant a decline in growth of the economy e.g. 10% per year in 1958 to 7.5% per year in 1964
- consumer industries have 2% growth in 1964
what problems did Stalin have in agriculture in 1946-53
- WW2 led to many crops, farms and animals being destroyed
- 2/3 of the agriculture force had gone due to the worst drought in 1946 since 1891 famine
- 1945 harvest produced 60% less of pre war levels
what changes concerning agriculture did Khrushchev implement
- reduced the ministry of Agriculture’s powers more power to the local party
- encouraged peasants to produce more by:
-prices paid for state grain and other goods was raised (grain prices rose to 25 per cent between 1953-56)
-quotas were reduced, taxes reduced and playable by plot size
-collectives could set their own target
-more farms connected to electricity
-encouragement to merge and create collectives
-new crops (maize)
-tax reduced
what was the aim of the virgin land scheme and how successful was it
- increase production in cultivated areas e.g. West Siberia and North Kazakhstan
- initial success in 1953
- propaganda was used to get farmers to work on the farms
- the Komomsol (youth movement) helped build roads and fences etc.
- by 1956 nearly 36 million hectares had been ploughed for wheat
- bad harvest in 1963 led to them having to import grain as bad weather conditions, little to no crop rotation and erosion causing the soil to be infertile
in general how successful were the agricultural polices
- cereal production went from 82 million tonnes produced in 1952 to 132 in 1961-64
- meat went from 5.2 in 1952 to 9.1 in 1961-64
- milk went from 36 in 1952 to 63 in 1961-64
what were the problems with Khrushchev’s agricultural policies
- farmers spent more time on their private lands
- state officials kept altering the prices so farmers couldn’t plan ahead and the amount of contribution from the party was frustrating
- too few farmers were capable of working the technology effectively
- too much focus on growing maize
what social problems existed under the Stalin
- peasants earned 20% less than industrial workers
- shortages of food, houses and consumer goods
- long hours of work, 12 hours
- high targets set
- women expected to work in industrial factories and have domestic duties
how did Khrushchev change social conditions
- greater focus and avaliability of consumer goods
- some foreign imports of cosmetics and fashion were allowed
- partially improved housing crisis by new prefabricated and modern housing built
- conscriptions to the state were abolished, tax for bachelors and childless couples removed and an increase in pensions
- 40 hour working week, higher wages for the lowest paid and more power for trade unions
- higher standard for education
how did production of washing machines change from 1955 to 1966
-1 washing machine owned per 1000 people in 1955 changed to 77 in 1966
what social problems still existed under Khrushchev
- unequal society as better healthcare, luxuries and holiday access availiable to those higher up politically
- only party officials could afford cars
- living standards still below those in the west
what changes were made to censorship and social life
- reading foreign literature, radio broadcasts were allowed
- media showcased Russian talent abroad e.g. in the Moscow state circus
- intourist was created by Khrushchev to increase foreigners to visit Russia
what was the world festival of youth
-in 1957 34,000 people from 131 countries visited Moscow
why did the world festival of youth create problems
- it put russian youths in contact with westerners which was partiuclarary linked with a rise in opposition from the youth e.g. students boycotted lectures
what changes were made by Khrushchev in terms of culture
- greater acceptance of the arts and individual expression
-some new publications which criticised Stalin but not communism itself e.g. one day in the life of ivan denisovich which was about life in a gulag
what limitations still remained on publications
- those criticising the soviet or communism itself were not allowed
how were the churches repressed under Khrushchev
- children couldn’t attend church services or be taught christianity
- 22,000 churches and monasteries in 1959 to 8000 in 1965
- pilgrimages banned
how were ethnic minorities treated under Khrushchev
- promoted single common language
- disliked idea of independence
- refused to let jewish people have their schools
refused to let Jewish people move to a new state of israel which was created after WW2
what was the cultural dissidents
- a group which used the new relaxation of the arts to criticise Khrushchev over issues such as democracy
how were publications used to oppose Khrushchev
- some writers published abroad e.g. Boris Pasternak often circulated back to Russia
- sometimes printing was illegally given out at night
- the youngest society of geniuses was an underground society that published journals
how did poetry oppose Khrushchev
- readings were heard in squares in Moscow by students some were arrested in 1961 and sent to prison as content was too critical of the regime
how did magazines oppose Khrushchev
- some publishers and editors were punished for subversive behaviour e.g. Alexander Ginsburg was sent to labour camps for complaints about rights
- in 1961 130,000 people were arrested for writing publications that criticised the government
how was how Khrushchev dealt with political opposition different to Stalin
- more lenient
- less imprisoned and many were released for political crimes
- by 1956 up to 9 million were released from gulags
- however by 1960 about 2 million had returned to the gulags
what was a success that came from the Austrian State Treaty 1955
- Russia showed support for Austria to gain independence in return for their neutrality and co-operation with the west
what policy did Khrushchev claim to follow in terms of the cold war with the west
- peaceful co-existence
- greater use of negotiation and trade agreements
what was the Hungarian uprising in 1956 and how did Khrushchev deal with it
- Hungary hoped for greater independence through destalinisation
-Khrushchev had a firm stance using armed forces and tanks to defeat the rebels
why was the Berlin wall formed in 1961 and how did the Russian people react
- Khrushchev had demanded that the west remove themselves from berlin as it was in Russia’s section of germany
- Kennedy refused and the wall was built
- stopped people from fleeing and fear of spies
- many were impressed by the strong action
what was the cuban missile crisis in 1962
- the USA discovered the Khrushchev was supplying nuclear weapons to Cuba
- they ordered Soviet ships to turn back when heading for the island
- the ships then withdrew
what negotiations were made during the cuban missile crisis
- Khrushchev negotiated with Kennedy and agreed for the USA to remove their nuclear weapons from Turkey
what were criticisms of peaceful coexistence
- some thought it to be against communist principles and didn’t encourage the spread of communism
- China (Mao) believed this
why did Khrushchev and Mao’s alliance stop
- Russia withdrew support from China’s atomic bomb in 1959
- siding with India in the Sino-indian war
-mao didn’t like the secret speech as it criticised Stalin
what were criticisms of the Hungarian uprising
- it is claimed that it was Khrushchev’s leniency that encouraged the uprising
- the harsh treatment of the rebels particularly in Budapest damaged the reputation of communism as it was seen as violent and oppressive
how were Khrushchev’s actions with foreign relations seen overall
- inconsistent as they were both peaceful and aggressive
- a more definitive gap between Russia and the west by 1964
what happened in April 1964
- Khrushchev had been given the ‘Hero of the Soviet union’ award
- shortly after he was removed from the coup
what happened in October 1964
- Khrushchev was told to return from his holiday in Georgia
- was then met with many criticisms from the Presidium by Brezhnev in a meeting
- he agreed to sign a letter of resignation the following day
what were the public told was the reason for Khrushchev’s resignation
- due to age and ill health through the radio and Pravada (newspaper)
how did Khrushchevs personality and style of rule result in his fall from power in 1964
- accused of a one man style by removing ministers in the 1950s
- an over-bearing attitude
- embarrassing and flamboyant behaviour e.g. banging his shoe on the table at the UN general assembly
- creating his own cult of personality
- nepotism - advancing his son-in-law e.g. had a direct telephone line to Khrushchev’s office
how did decentralisation lead to the fall of Khrushchev
- creation of 105 economic councils and power to local party members lost the central party members power
- the policy of the central committee be renewed at every election threatened their influence
how did agriculture lead to Khrushchev’s fall from power
- the failure of the virgin land scheme, bad harvest in 1963 led to them having to import grain
- claimed to be an agricultural expert
how did industry lead to the fall of Khrushchev
- some disliked a lack of focus on heavy industry
- often a shortage of consumer goods to meet demands
how did the military lead to the fall of Khrushchev
- disliked that less money was spent on weapons and too much on nuclear weapons
how did Khrushchev’s foreign policy lead to his fall
- criticised for relations with the USA and the Cuban missile crisis and relations with China
