Khrushchev And De-Stalinisation, 1953-64

Question 1

Who formed the collective leadership upon Stalin’s death?

Answer 1

Malenkov, Prime Minister
Beria, Minister of the Interior and Head of the Secret Police
Molotov, Foreign Minister
Voroshilov, Head of State
Khrushchev, First Party Secretary (from September)

Question 2

2 points how Khrush succeeded in the removal of Beria

Answer 2

Having imposed reforms on East German leadership, Beria was blamed when there was a rising in East Berlin
At Presidium meeting on 26 June 1953, Khrush accused Beria of many crimes and had him arrested. He was executed in December

Question 3

3 points how Khrush outmanoeuvred Malenkov

Answer 3

The harvest of 1953 was poor and Malenkov, having interfered in agriculture, got the blame. In 1954 Khrush got the party behind his Virgin Lands campaign, promising a quick end to the grain shortage
Khrush allied with the military and heavy industries, who despised Malenkov’s notion of diverting resources from defence to consumer goods
Malenkov was forced to resign as Prime Minister in Feb 1955, replaced by Bulganin with Khrush’s support