Khrushchev

Question 1

Khrushchev’s secret speech

Answer 1

1956, 20th Party Congress
“Stalin abandoned the method of ideological struggle for that of administrative violence, mass repressions and terror”

“everywhere and in everything, he saw enemies, two facers and spies” - reference to PARANOIA

Question 2

Process of de-stalinisation

Answer 2

• decision making process de-centralised to regional level
• officials no longer faced prison for failure to meet quotas
• secret police (terror) brought back under gov control: Beria executed
• 2 mil political prisoners released from 1953-60
• stalin’s body removed from the red square

Question 3

Khrushchev’s time in office

Answer 3

1953 - 1964

Question 4

Khrushchev’s dismissal from office

Answer 4

support for Khrushchev’s leadership was significantly eroded by domestic policy failures/mishandling of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Such developments emboldened his political rivals who quietly rose in strength and ultimately deposed him in October 1964.

Question 5

Khrushcehv’s 3 failures

Answer 5

China - Mao condemned for being too tolerant to the West
Cuba - 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
Corn - agricultural reforms failed

Question 6

Khrushcehv’s peasant origins

Answer 6

K had a modest background
growing up in a poor, peasant family
he was a leader in the red army during the Civil war