The Khrushchev era

Question 1

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1953

Answer 1

March: Death of Stalin
June: Arrest of Beria
December: execution of Beria

Question 2

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1955

Answer 2

Malenkov resigns as Prime Minister

Question 3

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1956

Answer 3

February: Khrushchev’s 20th Party Congress speech
October: Hungarian uprising

Question 4

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1957

Answer 4

Khrushchev defeats the attempts to oust him. Malenkov, Molotov and Kaganovich are removed from influence.

Question 5

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1958

Answer 5

Khruschev replaces Bulganin as Prime Minister.

Question 6

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1959

Answer 6

21st Party Congress
Khruschev visits USA

Question 7

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1960

Answer 7

Khrushchev bangs shoe at the UN General assembly

Question 8

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1961

Answer 8

Khrushchev attack on Stalin at 22nd Party congress leads to removal of Stalin from the Lenin Mausoleum

Question 9

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1962

Answer 9

Khrushchev divides the Party between parallel hierarchies responsible for agriculture and industry
Cuban missile crisis

Question 10

Political developments and de-Stalinisation events of 1964

Answer 10

October: Khrushchev deposed

Question 11

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1953

Answer 11

Khrushchev and Malenkov clash on agricultural policy

Question 11

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1954

Answer 11

First harvest in Virgin Lands Campaign
The thaw published

Question 12

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1956

Answer 12

Bumper grain harvest and the Virgin Lands campaign contribute over 50% of the total.
Dr Zhivago rejected by the Novy Mir

Question 13

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1957

Answer 13

Khrushchev launches a programme to end the housing shortage in the next 10-12 years.
Dr Zhivago published in Italy
First Satellite - the Sputnik- launched into space

Question 14

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1958

Answer 14

Pasternak awarded the Nobel Prize for literature and forced to renounce it

Question 15

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1959

Answer 15

Seven-year plan launches

Question 16

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1961

Answer 16

Programme of the Communist party launched: unrealistic goal of introducing a 35 hour working week and overtaking the US in per capita production by 1970

Question 17

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1962

Answer 17

One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich published in Novy Mir

Question 18

Economic, social and cultural developments of 1963

Answer 18

Disastrous harvest, grain and fodder imported