KHRUSHCHEV'S RISE TO POWER & DESTALINISATION

Question 1

What was the significance of the 19th party congress?

Answer 1

First since 1939.

Question 2

When did Stalin’s health begin to decline?

Answer 2

1952.

Question 3

What health issues was Stalin experiencing in 1952?

Answer 3

He had a series of strokes.

Question 4

Why did Stalin dismiss doctor’s help?

Answer 4

He believed the doctors were plotting to murder him.

Question 5

Who was with Stalin on the 28th February 1953?

Answer 5

Beria, Khrushchev, Malenkov and Bulganin.

Question 6

When did everyone leave Stalin? When was he found dead?

Answer 6

Left: 4am
Found: 10pm the next evening.

Question 7

What leadership was assumed to follow Stalin’s death?

Answer 7

A collective leadership consisting of Malenkov, Molotov, Bulganin, Khrushchev and Beria.

Question 8

What position did Malenkov hold?

Answer 8

Prime minister.

Question 9

What position did Beria hold (until June)?

Answer 9

Minister of the Interior and Head of the Secret Police.

Question 10

What position did Molotov hold?

Answer 10

Foreign Minister.

Question 11

What position did Khrushchev hold from September?

Answer 11

First party secretary.

Question 12

Why did the other men fear Beria?

Answer 12

Ambitious and head of the secret police.

Question 13

What did Beria appear ready to accept? How did this help to build support for his removal?

Answer 13

Appeared ready to accept a unified, neutral and non-communist Germany. When there was a rising in East Berlin, he was blamed.

Question 14

Who did Khrushchev have the support of that was beneficial in the arrest of Beria?

Answer 14

The army.

Question 15

What was the consequence for Beria?

Answer 15

Denounced in Pravada, before being later executed.

Question 16

What did Malenkov announce?

Answer 16

Agricultural taxes would be halved.

Question 17

What was the issue with Malenkov’s announcement regarding harvest?

Answer 17

The harvest in 1953 was poor, and he was blamed.

Question 18

When was Malenkov forced to resign as prime minister?

Answer 18

February 1955.

Question 19

When was the 20th Party Congress?

Answer 19

February 1956.

Question 20

What did Khrushchev deliver at the 20th congress?

Answer 20

His ‘Secret Speech’.

Question 21

What are three of the main criticisms made of Stalin in the secret speech?

Answer 21

1. Blamed personally for purges.
2. Failures in agriculture/war.
3. Cult of personality/the individual.

Question 22

Why did Khrushchev also include praise of Stalin despite the speech being overwhelmingly negative?

Answer 22

He had to show the strength in communism.

Question 23

What reasons does Khrushchev give for why nobody in the party stood up to Stalin?

Answer 23

Stalin had later plans to finish off the old members of the political bureau.

Question 24

What was destalinisation?

Answer 24

Getting rid of Stalin’s influence in the USSR.

Question 25

What did Khrushchev intend to do?

Answer 25

‘Thaw’ harshness from policy.

Question 26

What was the key motive for destalinisation?

Answer 26

Blacken Stalin’s name, but not the reputation of the communist party. Exposing errors and crimes made by Stalin.

Question 27

How did Stalingrad show evidence of destalinisation?

Answer 27

Renamed Volgograd.

Question 28

What did Khrushchev do to labour camps?

Answer 28

Large numbers of political prisoners released, millions had convictions squashed.

Question 29

What happened to Stalin’s mausoleum?

Answer 29

Stalin’s body was dug up and buried in a concrete pit.

Question 30

What impact did destalinisation have on Hungary?

Answer 30

Hungary: Nagy allowed to return, but when his government began tolerating anti-soviet demonstrations, Khrushchev ordered invasion.

Question 31

What impact did destalinisation have on Yugoslavia?

Answer 31

1956: Khrushchev emphasised the way Stalin mistreated communists, and they were allowed their own brand of communism under Khrushchev.

Question 32

What impact did destalinisation have on Poland?

Answer 32

Gomułka was allowed a prominent position, but Poland had to sign the Warsaw Pact.

Question 33

How much did membership of the Communist party increase from 1954 to 1964?

Answer 33

From 1954 to 1964, membership of the Communist Party increased from 6.9 million to 11 million

Question 34

What did de-Stalinisation mark a move back to?

Answer 34

A form of democratic centralism.

Question 35

What did Khrushchev transfer power from?

Answer 35

The Soviet central government to the fifteen republics of the USSR.

Question 36

What is your argument regarding Khrushchev?

Answer 36

Changed aspects of the political system, not the system itself.