Khrushchev- depth study

Question 1

Q1. How far did de-stalinisation represent a genuine break from the past?

Question 2

When did Khrushchev come to power?

Answer 2

1956-1964

Question 3

Why did Khrushchev adopt a policy of de-stalinisation?

Answer 3

1. Believed that the previous government, under Stalin’s extreme repressive rule, had tarnished the USSR’s reputation and image overseas- wanted to change that
2. Thought the people of Russia would welcome a new form of government
3. Khrushchev may have wanted to detract from the unpopularity of his own policies

Question 4

What was the impact of khrushchev’s secret speech?

Answer 4

-February 1956
-Launched an attack against Stalin’s repressive rule, showing him as satanic
-Initiated the policy of de-stalinisation

Question 5

What were the features of de-stalinisation?

Answer 5

-8 million political prisoners released from Gulags
- Erosion of the cult of personality enshrined under Stalin e.g. Stalin’s body removed from the Stalin Mausoleum, all images and pictures of Stalin removed, Stalingrad renamed Volgograd
-Relax in censorship e.g. books published, tourists allowed to travel
-Freedom of employment

Question 6

What were the aims of Khrushchev?

Answer 6

1. Introduce a policy of ‘reform communism’ i.e. aimed to improve living standards through policies which included industrial and agricultural reform as well as give the people of Russia greater freedoms
2. Ensure movement away from the cult of personality

Question 7

What two major changes did Khrushchev plan for the Soviet system of government?

Answer 7

1. Democratisation of the Communist party- increase democracy
   -Tuition fees abolished
   -Pensions were increased
   -Party membership consisted of more workers and peasants
2. Decentralisation of control
   -Creation of the Svnarkhozy= regional economic councils
   -Transfer power from soviet central government to svnarkhozy

Question 8

What two major changes did Khrushchev plan for the Soviet system of government?

Answer 8

1. Democratisation of the Communist party- increase democracy
   -Tuition fees abolished
   -Pensions were increased
   -Party membership consisted of more workers and peasants
2. Decentralisation of control
   -Creation of the Svnarkhozy= regional economic councils
   -Transfer power from soviet central government to svnarkhozy

Question 9

What evidence suggests that de-stalinisation was a genuine break from the past?

Answer 9

-Talks of ‘peaceful co-existence’ with the USA was a positive change
-‘The Thaw’ i.e. allowance of greater personal freedom, particularly in comparison to Stalin’s previous repressive rule
-Decreasing the gap between the rich and the poor improved the position of the majority in society
-Less repression used e.g. in the face of a coup Khrushchev re-assigned the members of the Anti-Party group to unimportant positions, rather than executing/torturing them
-The fact that Khrushchev was removed by a single vote in itself shows a break from the bloodshed in the past

Question 10

What evidence suggests that de-stalinisation was not a genuine break from the past?

Answer 10

-Some historians argue that Khrushchev replaced the Cult of Stalin’s Personality with his own cult of personality- total power remained in Khrushchev’s hands
-There was never any discussion of a total democracy taking place- a genuine break= total democracy
-Khrushchev’s handling of the Hungarian uprising- going against ‘liberal’ policies as well as the Novocherkassk riots
-No religious tolerance allowed e.g. Orthodox churches were abolished

Question 11

JUDGEMENT: Did de-stalinisation represent a genuine break from the past?

Answer 11

-No
-Still elements of repression and no discussion of a total democracy
HOWEVER
-Still significant changes made to people’s personal freedoms, as well attempting to restructure the soviet central government to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor- break from the past is still clear

Question 12

Q2. How effectively did Khrushchev deal with the challenges posed by the cold war?

Question 13

What are the two debates about Khrushchev’s handling of the cold war?

Answer 13

He was a ‘courageous failure’ or a ‘courageous success’
-Courageous= policies of de-stalinisation and peaceful co-existence

Question 14

What evidence shows that he was a ‘courageous success’?

Answer 14

-Supported the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955- indicates that Khrushchev was willing to co-operate with the USA over Austria’s independence
-Gained support from Tito, Yugoslavia’s leader, for handling of the Hungarian uprising
-Gained backing of other socialist states e.g. Poland and Romania
-Berlin Wall prevented the West taking control over Germany
-Handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis tested Kennedy’s diplomatic skills and resulted in a direct ‘hotline’ which strengthened ‘peaceful coexistence’

Question 15

What evidence shows that he was a ‘courageous failure’?

Answer 15

-Invasion of Hungary did not follow ‘coexistence’ liberal ideals as repression was used (like Stalin would have)- preventing the spread of communism
- Similar idea as the the Berlin Wall i.e. separated many families
-Khrushchev was unable to deal with conflict from Tito, which he tried to do through appeasement. Allowing Tito autonomy led to other states demanding autonomy, which created instability for the Soviet Bloc
-Cuban Missile Crisis led to criticism for Khrushchev who was seen as weak for backing down to the USA
-Unable to maintain positive relations with China, as they claimed they were the real upholders of Lenin-Marxism

Question 16

JUDGEMENT: Was Khrushchev a courageous failure or a courageous success?

Answer 16

-Majority was a success- reduced tensions with the USA particular at the most important part in the cuban Missile Crisis, preventing a nuclear war
HOWEVER
-Invasion in Hungary suggests these peaceful policies were not always successful and that repression was still used by Khrushchev to spread his communist ideals

Question 17

Q3. To what extent were the economic and social reforms made by Khrushchev a failure?

Question 18

AGRICULTURE: What was the Virgin Land Scheme?

Answer 18

-Began in 1954
-Campaign to introduce agriculture to the ‘Virgin Lands’ of Western Siberia and Kazakhstan

Question 19

What evidence shows that the Virgin Lands Scheme was a success?

Answer 19

-At the beginning, it had cultivated 30 million hectares of land
-1956 harvest produced grain harvest for 50% of the USSR
-Machine Tractor Stations (MTS)= 200,000 new tractors

Question 20

What evidence shows that the Virgin Lands scheme was a failure?

Answer 20

-After 1959, production= steady decrease
-Much of the land was barely usable e.g. much of land was liable to drought and land became exhausted
-8000 tractors had been abandoned=reduction in workers
-Soil erosion led to problems growing crops like Maize
-Disruption in hay production= meat production suffered

Question 21

What was the impact of the Sovkhozy?

Answer 21

=State farms
-Peasants were paid a salary rather than owning land collectively
-Improved living conditions

Question 22

What event showed the scale of discontent against Khrushchev’s agricultural reforms?

Answer 22

-Novocherkassk massacre 1962
-Rising price of meat and dairy products
-26 killed

Question 23

INDUSTRY: What did Khrushchev set up?

Answer 23

Sovnarkhoz- 105 economic regional councils to coordinate the work of different branches more effectively
HOWEVER
-When Khrushchev was removed from power, the Sovnarkhoz was dismantled so had little long-lasting success

Question 24

What evidence suggests that Khrushchev improved Russia’s industry?

Answer 24

-New housing built (agro towns) for married couples to live in
-1960-1965 average household income increased by 3%
-Minimum wage introduced in 1956
-Diet of Russians considerably improved
-By 1968= 50% Russians had a TV
-Miles of railway track were electrified

Question 25

What evidence suggests that Khrushchev failed to improve Russia’s industry?

Answer 25

-Only 10% Russians had a mobile phone
-Focus on ‘quantity not quality’ meant many Russian apartments lacked running water or lifts
-

Question 26

JUDGEMENT: Were the social and economic reforms made by Khrushchev a failure?

Answer 26

-Yes
-Agriculture failed after 1959 and led to a decrease in food production- major reason for his downfall
HOWEVER
He did much to improve the people’s of Russia’s lives in such a short time

Question 27

Q4. How far was Khrushchev a ‘courageous failure’ in his policy towards minorities, satellite states and Asia?

Question 28

What evidence suggests that he was a ‘courageous success’ towards the minorities, satellite states and Asia?

Answer 28

1. Period of relaxation in Ukraine
   -Gave Ukraine control of the Crimean Peninsula in 1954
2. Elements of relief in Poland
   -Peasants were allowed to leave collective farms
   -Catholic church was allowed to teach again
3. Language
   -Introduced legislation saying that it was the choice of the parents choice in what language to educate their children in
4. Jewish
   -Allowed to have a periodical printed in Yiddish for the first time in 1948

Question 29

What evidence suggests that he was a ‘courageous failure’ towards the minorities, satellite states and Asia?

Answer 29

1. Relations with China deteriorated
   -Mao saw de-stalinisation as a betrayal of Stalin’s legacy
   -Mao claimed that Khrushchev was scared of the USA
   -Kennedy retaliated by supporting India in China’s border war with the country
2. Immigration and deportation of Latvians and Lithuanians continued under Khrushchev, showing that they were not treated with a liberal policy
3. The treatment of Jews remained poor under Khrushchev
   -Initially appeared to denounce Stalin’s treatment and anti-semitism
   -Remaining synagogues were closed
   -‘Jewish Individualism’ was used to blame the failure to establish an autonomous area for Jews to live in
   -Large proportion of the Jewish community were wrongly executed for ‘economic crimes’

Question 30

JUDGEMENT: How valid is the assessment of Khrushchev as a ‘courageous failure’?

Answer 30

-Valid
-Despite offering some concessions to a minority of states such as Ukraine, the large proportion of Jews living in Russia at the time continued to be persecuted and had little improvements made to their position

Question 31

What criticisms were levelled at Khrushchev that led to his downfall?

Answer 31

1. Failure of his economic policies e.g. Virgin Lands Scheme
2. Said to have an overbearing attitude and wouldn’t cooperate with his advisors
3. Criticised for how he handled the Cuban Missile Crisis- appeared weak by backing down to Kennedy
4. Decision to grant autonomy to local party leaders as this weakened the Party’s control of the economy

Question 32

What were Khrushchev’s positive achievements?

Answer 32

1. Improvement in living standard particularly when compared to Stalin
2. Lay the groundwork for future policies such as Glasnost
3. Liberal ideas allowed people of Russia to enjoy greater freedoms, as well as relaxing controls on cultural life e.g. art, music