Policies And Ideology, And De-stalinisation Flashcards
What did the meet not of the party congress Feb 1926
-the reversal of Stalinist policies
What was happening before this party congress started
-Khrushchev already begun reversal of Stalinist policies
How was Khrushchev already doing this
-those accused in doctors plot released
-Beria, police + gulag system all attacked with cultural ‘thaw’ underway
What was the impact of this reversal
-painted K in a good light as ending Zhdanovschina + indicating my following same path as Stalin as doctors plot ultimate example of Stalinist power
How was the presidium divided
-most welcomes the end of the terror
-some concerned about Khrushchev’s change in direction as were involved in oirges + didn’t want re-opening of past 1933-38
What did the sceptical hardly of the presidium insist upon
-uneasy at though of delegates debating Stalins rule so persuaded Krishchev speak out in ‘closed session’ where 1400 delegates could attend by not ask questions as silence showed agreement
What did this closed session become known as
-the secret speech called ‘on the cult of personality and its consequences’
What did the secret speech include
-attack in Stalin accusing him being responsible for purges, terror, torture, mass arrests, executions + gulags causing ‘tremendous harm to the cause of socialist progress’
What was the ultimate attack on Stalin involving
-the quoting of Lenin’s testament regarding Lenin’s view of Stalin
-accusing Stalin betraying Leninist principles
What else was Stalin blamed for
-the murder of Kirov who was seen as Stalins only successor
What did the speech call for
-the rehabilitation of Trotsky
-the questioning of Stalins war leadership
How did this impact Khrushchev
-easy win for K as Trotsky + other old B’viks dead so can’t challenge his power
What was the speech met with
-resounding applause
-although supposed be secret copies sent to foreign parties + content filtered through party ranks in USSR
How did younger communists respond
-younger communists incl Gorbachev demanded those responsible for Stalinist ‘crimes’ be brought to justice
-although K never commented on this
How did satellite states respond
-led to uprisings in favour of reform in Hungary, Poland + Georgia
-Kchev ordered use of form to crush uprisings showing limitations of reformist policies - these states would have wanted independence
What did the speech fail to do
-failed pay attention to purging of ordinary citizens
What did the speech accept
-econ controls, strong leadership, single party + elimination of factions as legitimate
What did the speech justify
-continuity while distancing leadership from Stalinist mistakes
-no wish incriminate those benefitted from Stalinist system incl Kchev + some supporters
