Khrushchev

Question 1

Khrushchev appointed first secretary

Answer 1

September 1953

Question 2

Policy differences between Malenkov and politburo due to

Answer 2

Unsuccessful FYP, poor agricultural output (little higher than in the tsar’s time), conciliatory approach to the west to avoid nuclear war

Question 3

Bulganin replaces Malenkov, but K. Most powerful due to

Answer 3

February 1955. Support of the army, Ukrainian CP and majority in the central committee

Question 4

Aim of destalinisation

Answer 4

To dismantle Stalin’s dictatorship, prevent the collapse of the system but also dissociate himself from his actions

Question 5

Denounced Stalin for

Answer 5

Personality cult, purges and repression since 1934, conduct of the war

Question 6

Secret speech (date and results)

Answer 6

February 1956. Broke down fear, caused unrest in Poland and Revolution in Hungary, discontent in USSR, further destalinization and contributed to sino-soviet split

Question 7

Examples of destalinization

Answer 7

Rotation of office, 1958 new criminal code, gulag conditions improved, 10,000 freed by 1955 and rehabilitated, security police downgraded MVD->KGB accountable to party and govt, may 1955 apologised to Tito in Yugoslavia, abolished unconstitutional and powerful private secretariat

Question 8

The thaw in art

Answer 8

Allowed Solzhenitsyn to publish ‘a day in the life of boris denisovich’ however condemned Pasternak for dr Zhivago and in 1962 set up ideological committee to regulate censorship.

Question 9

The second power struggle (1957)

Answer 9

Anti-K. Majority due to his policies, speed of destalinization, p.c and discontent.
Emerged on top as CC filled with his supporters, patron to 60% of them.
Molotov, Malenkov, Kaganovich removed from presidium, demoted to honourable but distant posts. Bloodless result and important stage in d.s

Question 10

P.c quote

Answer 10

1959 “we offer the capitalist countries peaceful competition”

Question 11

Examples of peaceful coexistence

Answer 11

Oct, Nov 1957 Sputnik however expensive arms race ensued.
1959 visited camp David, spoke with Eisenhower
However illegal spying, Gary powers, us refused to apologise at Paris summit 1960
1961 Vienna with JFK, Berlin Wall after
1962 Cuba, backed down
1963 nuclear test ban treaty, hotline established

Question 12

Agricultural domestic policies

Answer 12

• lighter industry, radios, TVs, washing machines
• profits not quotas
• Virgin lands Kazakhstan, by 1956, 1953 harvest was tripled, but failed to cultivate properly, desertification by 1960-5 half ruined
• 1957 livestock campaign to overtake US in meat, milk and butter within 4 years. Failed
• Ukraine maize production for cattle fodder. Only 20% harvestable, climate too wet
• 1962 food price rise, bread queues and riots
• 1963 had to import grain, showed failure

Question 13

Socio-economic policies

Answer 13

• housing stock doubled 1955-64
• citizens had right to join housing cooperatives and buy a home
• fees abolished for schools and secondary colleges
• good at first but failed because imbalances remained uncorrected, shortage of capital, higher military spending 1960-3
• Sovnarkhozy regional economic councils to reduce inefficiency and over centralisation didn’t work, judgements only maxed on info available to Moscow.

Question 14

Relations with China

Answer 14

China resented destalinization and the denunciation.
K. Reluctant to help against Taiwan
P.C. Vs ‘all out war against the imperialists’
Refused assistance to Chinese nuclear programme.
Soviets resented the independence of the Chinese Communist movement
Split evident in 1960 when soviet technicians were pulled out of China.

Question 15

Khrushchev’s fall

Answer 15

• unpopular with army due to neglect of conventional forces, cadres due constant reorganisation, economic downturn and agricultural failures, impetuosity and indiscretion embarrassed the elite
• went on holiday and was forced to resign October 1964