Khrushchev And The Reaction To Stalinism 1953-64 Flashcards
What happens after Stalin’s death
Malenkov takes leadership as chairman of council of minister and gerneral sec or the party, but a week later is relaxed by Khrushchev as general sec and a collective leadership is established.
Who was Khrushchev
Was of a peasant legion and had worked for the communist party in Kiev and Moscow in the early 1930s, gaining a reputation for efficiency. From 1935 he was sec of Moscow regional committee where he organised the building of the Moscow underground. From 1938-47 he was in the Ukraine assisting in the military operation Kursk. He entered the politiburo on 1939 and in 1947 chosen the supervise agriculture production.
Why was Melenkov most expected to be leader after Stalin died
Part of the 5 man defence council during the war.
1946 stalins deputy pm
Full member of the presidium
One of stalins favourite who he spoke about old times with although Beria was reformer.
Why might Beria had been considered leader
Head of NKVD
Intelligent but ruthless and opportunists man
Deputy pm in 1941
1946 politburo member
What did Beria do as leader
Released all prisoners apart from the most dangerous ones
Took a moderate line in foreign policy
Denounced the milgrelian purges
Why did he dial as leader
Malenkov and other presidium members including Khrushchev conspired him and arranged his arrest in the aphands of the military in 1953. He was accused of criminal anti party.
What were the leadership divided on
What did malenkov attempt
What did Khrushchev propose as an alternative
Foehn policy, industrial and agricultural policy and the role of the party.
- with the backing of Molotov
(Both placed government above party)
Wanted to create a new course. He wanted to change collective farm policy’s, reduce peasant tax and put more investment into consumer goods. - the concentration of agriculture and launched his virgin land schemes in 1954.
Why did malenkov had to step down and when
Who was he replaced by
1955- found himself isolated and stepped down as chairman of the council of ministers.
- Bulganin
Bulganin and Khrushchev acted as joint leaders until 1958
What happened in 1957 and the attempt to unseat Khrushchev
A majority n the presidium votes for his dismissal but he instigated the matter put to the central committee, Khrushchev ensured those who was favourable to him came to Moscow and voted in his favour.
What event happened to show that Khrushchev was not reliant on others
Even tho Zhukov brought red army support, in 1957 he was dismissed and a propaganda campaign accusing him or of hindering party work in the army and creating his own personally cult.
What had already started to happen before the 1955 congress (first one since stalins death)
What did most of the presidium welcome ?
Khrushchev had already started to revise Stalinists polices. Those accused of the doctors plots were released, the police and the gulag system had all been attacked and a cultural thaw was underway.
- welcomed the dismantling of the Stalinist terror.
How did Khrushchev consolidate his power
His speech entitle “on the cult of personality and its consequences”
This was a huge attack on Stalin accusing him of responsibility for the purges, terror, torture, mass arrest, execution and the gulags causing tremendous harm to the cause of socialist progress. He quotes from Lenin’s testament to indicate Lenin’s view of him and accused him of betraying Stalinist principles. Blames Stalin for the murder of Kirov, called for the rehabilitation of Trotsky and questioned stalins war leadership.
The speech ended with applause and although it was conducted in secret copies were soon send out to forgein parties
What were the two goals sought by Khrushchev
What measures and action would fulfil the twin goals
Democratisation a- weakening the tradition
Bureaucracy and given more pope to the people
Decentralisation- more initiative to the localities.
- 1962- party was split into rural and urban sections.
- new rules were issues limited how long party officials could serve
- membership was expanded from 7 mil in 1956 to 11 mil inn 1964. Bringing more working class members
- comrade courts to handle minor offences were reviewed
- non party members were encouraged to take supervisory roles and some were invited to the party congress.
- Khrushchev visited villages and towns - showing a desire for first hand contact with the people
- economic decentralisation was pursued, moving some power from central Moscow ministries to provincial authorities.
