Khrushchev and reaction to Stalinism 1953-1964 Flashcards
What was announced on 6 March 1953?
Malenkov would combine the roles of Secretary of the Central Committee and Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
What was the reaction to Malenkov’s consolidation?
In a few days he had to step down as Party Secretary and concentrate on his governmental role, leaving the spot open for Khrushchev to establish a collective leadership with Molotov and Beria.
What was Khrushchev’s immediate action upon becoming Party Secretary?
He began appointing his own proteges to important Party posts and although underestimated as a serious contender, built himself a strong support network.
What was Beria’s stance in this period?
He was the most anxious to de-Stalinise. He advocated the release of some of the most dangerous political prisoners, took a moderate foreign policy line, denounced the Mingrelian purge and wanted to scale back industrialisation. The popularity of this caused alarm at the top.
What did Malenkov and Khrushchev conspire for in June 1953?
Beria’s arrest and execution for ‘criminal anti-Party and anti-State activities’.
How did policy differences cause further splits?
Malenkov placed government above Party and wanted to launch a ‘new course’, changing collective farm policy, reduce peasant taxes and invest in consumer goods.
Khrushchev placed Party above government and offered a less radical proposal for parallel development of industry. He launched his Virgin Lands Scheme in 1954.
What was the political impact of the initial success of the Virgin Lands Scheme?
The immediate success of this helped to rally the Party behind him.
What was Malenkov’s demotion in February 1955?
He was isolated and had to step down as Chairman of Ministers taking the unimportant role of Minister for Power Stations. He was succeeded by Khrushchev’s disciple, Bulganin.
What happened in 1957 on Bulganin’s visit to Finland?
There was an attempt to unseat Khrushchev, a majority on the Presidium voted in favour but Khrushchev insisted the matter be put to the CC. Khrushchev brought all in his favour to Moscow for the vote, benefitting from Zhukov’s Red Army support. He won the vote and rewarded his supporters with Presidium seats.
What happened to the ‘anti-Party group’?
They were outvoted by the CC and accused of conservatism and involvement in the 1930s purges. They were expelled from the CC.
How can we see that Khrushchev was not content to be reliant on others?
In October 1957 Zhukov was dismissed for hindering Party work in the army and developing his own COP.
In 1958 Bulganin was accused if encouraging the anti-Party group and forced to step down.
What was the impact of Bulganin stepping down?
Khrushchev took over as General Secretary of the Party, combining the top posts in government and party again.
When was Khrushchev’s first Party Congress?
June 1955. Khrushchev had already begun to reverse Stalinist policies: arresting Beria, releasing Doctors Plot doctors, attacking police & gulag system, and a cultural ‘thaw’ was underway.
What was the unease at the 20th Party Congress for?
Most of the Presidium welcomed the dismantling of Stalinist’s terror apparatus but many had been involved and did not welcome a re-opening of the past. Khrushchev, determined to speak out, was convinced to do so in a closed session, 1400 delegates and no questions.
What was Khrushchev’s famous speech at the 20th Party Congress?
‘On a Cult of Personality and its Consequences’. Khrushchev delivered a blistering attack on Stalin, accusing him of responsibility for purges an terror, causing ‘tremendous harm to socialist progress’. He quoted from Lenin’s testament, accused him of betraying Leninist principles and questioned wartime leadership.
