Khrushchev (1953-1964) Flashcards
how long did the power struggle/ collective leadership go on for after Stalin’s death (years)
1953-56
when did Stalin die
1953
who were the 5 people part of the power struggle between 1953-56
Malenkov
Molotov
Bulganin
Khrushchev
Beria
when did become Khurshchev the party leader
1949
what was Malenkov’s role
soviet premier
why did Malenkov decline in power (3 reasons)
accused of abuse of power and lack decisiveness
connections with Beria
1957- attempted to seize power again with a coup which failed
when did Malenkov resign
February 1955
what was the role of Beria
secret police
what was the reason to why Beria was executed
he was accused of accepting money from the Americans for the reunification of Germany
when was Beria executed
23rd December 1953
who replaced Malenkov
Bulganin
what did Malenkov consequently end up doing after his resignation
managing a hydro-electric power plant
a member of the Russian orthodox church
why did Molotov and Bulganin fall out of power
both were involved in 1957 of the plot of the ‘anti-party group’
what are the 3 core aims of destalinisation
progressive economic measures
peaceful co-existance with the west
get rid of blame on Khrushchev and other leaders on Stalin’s existance
what is an example of Khrushchev trying to get the blame of himself and other other of Stalin’s harsh exisitance
in 1955 a committee had been set up to investigate Stalin’s repressive policies
when did the secret speech take place
25th february 1956
how did the secret speech have an affect on foreign relations
angered China as China agreed with Stalin’s communist reigme
what were the criticisms of the secret speech made of Stalin (3)
he had never been accepted by Lenin
he had created a state that was unprepared for military conflict in 1941
he had committed a range of unforgivable crimes against the population
give an example of a shocking statistic that was presented in the secret speech
70% of the 139 Party Central Committee were shot due to being honest
how was the secret speech restrained
only read a list of dead people from 1938 onwards not prior as he didn’t want to tarnish communism as a whole
how did the prisoners and justice system improve after the secret speech (3)
families of prisoners allowed to send food and clothes
in 1961 the gulag system was closed down
confessions alone no longer considered enough to secure a conviction (counter-revolutionary)
what are the negatives of the change in the justice system (3)
relaxation of legal system led to an increase in crime rates (187 per 100,000)
in 1961, death penalty was extended to cover a broader range of crimes
increased penalties for hooliganism
what are 2 examples of anti-Stalin media that was allowed to be published
1954- Threnbum ‘the thaw’
‘Day in the life of Ivan Do’
what was not allowed to be published
anti-communist
