Khrushchev politic

Question 1

When did Stalin die

Answer 1

1953

Question 2

Why was there a power vacuum upon Stalin’s death

Answer 2

He left no clear successor or Testament, used his personal authority which was based on Terror

Question 3

Who were the contenders for power upon Stalin’s death

Answer 3

Malenkov (power base=gov)- Stalin’s rumoured choice, Premier of Soviet Union
Beria(powerbase= secret police)- head of MVD (secret police), implemented Terror
Khrushchev(powerbase= Party)- Secretary of Central Committee

Question 4

What reforms were introduced to make the republics more represented

Answer 4

All party officials had to speak the language of the republic they worked in
All official publications should be available in the languages of the republics + Russian

Question 5

What reforms did Beria introduce to the MVD in 1953

Answer 5

Amnesty for non-political prisoners serving short sentences
Commissions set up to investigate past executions

Question 6

How many Communists were rehabilitated during the investigations into past executions

Answer 6

4620 Communists

Question 7

What did the Gulag population change from and to in 1956

Answer 7

2.4 million to 1.6 million

Question 8

How was Beria removed

Answer 8

Khrushchev accused Beria of handing Soviet secrets to Britain + using the MVD against the Party

Question 9

From when to when did Khrushchev and Malenkov rule as a duumvirate + what did they agree on

Answer 9

Both Leninists
Rejected cult of personality
Humane Communism

Question 10

How did Khrushchev try to strengthen the Party as Secretary of the Central Committee

Answer 10

Replaced 1/2 of the regional Party secretaries
Replaced Stalin’s supporters with his own
Replaced 44% of the Central Committee

Question 11

How did Khrushchev weaken the gov (Malenkov’s powerbase)

Answer 11

Cut bureaucracy by devolving Soviet gov to republic govs
Restructured the gov
Reduced the no. of Soviet Ministers from 55 to 25
Republics had more economic power

Question 12

When did Malenkov lose the Premiership due to Khrushchev’s reforms

Answer 12

February 1955

Question 13

Khrushchev wanted deStalinatio, what did this include

Answer 13

Wanted to end Terror
Improve living standards
Enrich culture
End personality cult round Stalin
Focus on achievements of Soviet people and Party

Question 14

What was a step towards dismantling Stalin’s cult of personality

Answer 14

Not celebrating his birthday

Question 15

When did Khrushchev want to present criticisms of Stalin
What did it inlcude

Answer 15

Secret Session of 20th Party Congress 1956
Criticism for Terror + purging of Red Army

Question 16

What were some further steps of deStalination

Answer 16

Terror cases reviewed resulted in 51,439 prisoners released in June 1956
By 1961 over 1/2 of those executed were rehabilitated

Question 17

What were the political reforms in 1957 aimed at

Answer 17

To reduce the size + power of the central party