Section 2: Khrushchev as Leader Flashcards
(20 cards)
How would you describe Khrushchevs personality and leadership style?
- impulsive - announced “hare-brained schemes”
- arrogant - like Stalin, trusted his intuition to solve problems
- uncultured - didn’t have much of an education, wasn’t sophisticated
*populist - looked for popular solutions that oversimplified problems.
How was Khrushchevs character an improvement from Stalins?
- anti-terror - apart from Beria, Khrushchevs rivals were not murdered and he sincerely regretted his part in the Great Terror
- internationally minded - was open to creating a bridge between socialist and capitalist countries
- open to new ideas - travelled and spoke to ordinary people about their opinions
- power sharing - not a dictator like Stalin, willing to share some power and reduce centralisation.
Khrushchevs aims?
- believed USSR would become Communist state through Stalins “socialism in one country” route
- believed in centrally planned economy but more efficient and for food to be from collective farms but with better technology
- party maintain monopoly power but with less bureaucracy
- introduce reforms to motivate the people
How were his aims dangerous and against Stalinism?
- By criticising Stalin, he undermined achievements through him
- By reducing central control he was opening the risk of dissent against Soviet rule
*By seeking closer relations to the West, the USSR appears weaker - Criticisms meant he claimed the Party was not perfect.
When was the Secret Speech?
February 1956.
What was the Secret Speech?
Khrushchevs speech at the Twentieth Congress of the CPSU. He set out justifications for his future reforms by highlighting failures of Stalin.
Why is it called the ‘Secret Speech’?
It was unpublished speech to CPSU members. Came as shock to members.
What did the speech start?
Real de-stalinisation.
What criticisms did the Secret speech include?
- Lenin never trusted Stalin as he was too rude and too much power
- Stalin held responsible for the false imprisonment of many party members
- Stalins incompetence nearly cost the USSR WWII
- Stalins mania also led him to persecute several ethnic groups due to groundless suspicions.
Was the Secret speech really ‘secret’?
Details were leaked to local party organisations and read out at thousands of meeting in March 1956. Many say Khrushchev didn’t plan to hid it for long, as he authorised details of the speech to a BBC reporter.
Limitations of the Secret Speech?
No discussions of:
* Repressions before Stalins rule
* millions of kulaks who were purged - Khrushchev didn’t want to undermine collectivisation
* how the purges of old Bolsheviks led to his senior position for Stalin
* involvement in Stalins excesses.
Why did Khrushchev make the Secret speech?
- Distance himself and the party from Stalin
- clear way for economic reform
- allow for better foreign relations.
What were public reactions to the Secret Speech?
Delegates were shocked as 30 fainted, some had heart attacks, some became unwell.
Khrushchevs legal reforms?
- release and rehabilitation of millions from gulags
- The court instead of the KGB had the powers to sentence people
- people couldn’t be accused of intending to commit a crime or be tortured to admit
- comradely courts brought back.
How were changes by legal reform limited?
The Party still controlled every aspect of peoples lives. People were not free to do what or go where they wanted.
How did the KGB find new ways to control and intimidate?
Committed political troublemakers to psychiatric hospitals.
Khrushchevs political reforms?
- 1957 - 105 sovnarkhozy controlled industrial resources
- Stopped bonuses towards senior bureaucrats
- Technical experts were brought in to help make key decisions so it could relay to problems facing the USSR.
Sovnarkhozy definition
System of regional economic councils across the USSR.
Khrushchevs changes to party organisation
- 1962 - split the party into rural and urban sections
One focussed on agriculture and one focussed on industry. Was aimed to drive economic production however was more for Khrushchev to maintain power over policies if they were criticised.
