Khrushchev’s Succession of Stalin

Question 1

Who were the 3 contenders for power?

Answer 1

• Khrushchev
• Malenkov
• Beria

Question 2

Khrushchev’s background

Answer 2

• Ukrainian
• Leader of communist party in Ukraine 1935
• Secretary of Central Committee

Question 3

How did Khrushchev succeed Stalin?

Answer 3

• Poor background made him popular with ordinary Russians
• Replaced party officials with own supporters who would back his reforms

Question 4

Malenkov background

Answer 4

• Born into wealthy farming family
• Promoted to Politburo in 1941
• Premier of SU

Question 5

Why did Malenkov fail to succeed Stalin?

Answer 5

• Lost his position to Stalin’s ally Bulganin 1955
• Expelled from party, forced into internal exile 1961

Question 6

Beria background

Answer 6

• Head of Stalin’s secret police
• Deputy premier

Question 7

Why did Beria fail to succeed Stalin?

Answer 7

Fears of the use of MVD (formally NVKD) led Malenkov and Khrushchev to plot to have him arrested and executed

Question 8

Action taken for aim: Secure his own power over the party to gain support for reform

Answer 8

Replaced 1/2 regional party secretaries and 44% of Central Committee

Question 9

Action taken for aim: devolve more power to republicans governments

Answer 9

• Cut no. central soviet ministries from 55 - 25
• Amount of economic power exercised by republics increased
• Proportion soviet industry controlled by central gov dropped 68% - 44%

Question 10

Action taken for aim: devolve-Stalinise

Answer 10

• Plans to turn Stalin’s dacha into a museum celebrating his life were scrapped
• Annual Stalin prizes cancelled
• No official celebration of Stalin’s birthday

Question 11

Action taken for aim: reject cult of personality

Answer 11

Claimed Stalin had abandoned collective leadership and set himself up as a dictator

Question 12

Action taken for aim: reduce use of terror

Answer 12

• ‘Humanise Communism’
• 1956 51,000 prisoners/political prisoners released
• 1961 1/2 executed by Stalin were rehabilitated

Question 13

Action taken for aim: democratisation

Answer 13

• Allowed expansion of party membership 6.9 mil 1954 - 11 mil 1964
• Introduced fixed terms for communist leaders to ensure they were replaced regularly

Question 14

Action taken for aim: reduce centralised power of state but maintain party control

Answer 14

• Abolished some of the central ministries that oversaw economy
• Devolved power to 105 newly created economic councils