Khrushchev

Question 1

Rise to power 1
March to June 1953

Answer 1

Beria reduced powers of secret police to reduce fears of Khrushchev and
Malenkov

Khrushchev and Malenkov still did not trust Beria and plotted against him.
They feared a return to
the use of terror against the Party and the State.
Khrushchev was the main organiser of the plot.

Beria underestimated Khrushchev & was arrested at meeting of the Presidium in June. He was executed in December

Question 2

Rise to power 2
July 1953 to February 1955

Answer 2

From mid-1953 to late-1954 Khrushchev & Malenkov ruled together. Malenkov underestimated Khrushchev as Khrushchev carried out reforms to increase his own power & reduce Malenkov’s

Khrushchev increased his grip on the party. During 1953-6 he replaced half of Regional Secretaries & 44% of the Central Committee

Mid-1954 Khrushchev cut the number of central Soviet ministries from 55 to
25. Central government control of industry dropped from 68% to 44%

Khrushchev’s reforms reduced the power of the state (Malenkov’s powerbase). In Feb.
1955 he was replaced as
Premier by Bulganin, Khrushchev’s ally!

Question 3

Beria reforms

Answer 3

Reduced power of the secret police (MVD)

March 1953 amnesty issued for. Non political prisoners on short term sentences → 5 years or less

Control mining + construction transferred to economic ministries

Question 4

Secret speech 1956

Answer 4

20th party congress

Khrushchev claimed Stalin had:
Abandoned collective leadership and ruled as a dictator
Purging red army before WW2
Ordered the deaths of hundred of thousands of people

Question 5

Limits to destalinisation

Answer 5

• Khrushchev had not intended to undermine the state, party, foreign affairs or ideology.
• An attempt in Hungary to break free from Soviet control (October-November 1956) was crushed.
• On New Year’s Eve 1956,
Khrushchev declared “When it comes to combating imperialism, we are all Stalinists!”.
But a new generation was heavily influenced by the Secret Speech, including Mikhail Gorbachev.

Question 6

1957 crisis

Answer 6

• The Secret Speech had gone too far some, and there was a reaction.
• In June 1957, a small group led by Malenkov & Molotov tried to oust Khrushchev at a Presidium meeting.
• Khrushchev survived with the help of support from the Central Committee and Marshal Zhukov.
• Malenkov, Molotov & Kaganovich were sent away from Moscow.

Question 7

Destainisation reboot

Answer 7

• Khrushchev reinvigorated the de-Stalinisation process at the 22nd Party Congress, October 1961.
• He accused Stalin of involvement in Kirov’s murder; Stalin’s body was removed from the Lenin Mausoleum.
• A new Party Programme was introduced, with emphasis on the idea of an ‘All People’ State’.
• Limited terms introduced - 16 years maximum for the Central Committee.

Question 8

Changes to gulags

Answer 8

In June 1956, over 51,000 prisoners were released, incl.
26,000 political prisoners; 2
million released, 1953-60

Question 9

Changes to party membership

Answer 9

Increased from 6.9 million
(1954) to 11 million (1964). By 1964, 60% of party members were workers or peasants

Question 10

Decentralisation

Answer 10

Mid-1954: cut central Soviet ministries from 55 to 25. 1957: devolved power to 105 regional economic councils (sovnarkhozy)

Question 11

Changes to terms in office

Answer 11

Fixed terms introduced (1961). including 16-year maximum for Central Committee. However,
Khrushchev = Premier from 1958

Question 12

Change in party specialisms

Answer 12

1962 party reforms split the Party in two: one half
responsible for agriculture, the other responsible for industry

Question 13

Changes in reaction to opposition

Answer 13

June 1957 plot was thwarted as Khrushchev claimed that only the
CC could oust him. The plotters were sacked but not executed