Who is this man?

Nikita Khrushchev Lesson Objectives  To identify the key features of Destalinisation.  To produce a clear definition of the concept Destalinisation.  To establish why Khrushchev denounced Stalin.  To discuss reasons why Khrushchev emerged as leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Stalin.

But First, an overview of Khrushchev… Create a rough mindmap with the headings: De-stalinisation & the Thaw, Agriculture, Industrialisation, Rise to Power, Foreign Policy & Fall from Power Create a rough mindmap with the headings: De-stalinisation & the Thaw, Agriculture, Industrialisation, Rise to Power, Foreign Policy & Fall from Power Take rough notes as you watch the next few slides, you will be translating them into neat notes later after we have finished the unit. Take rough notes as you watch the next few slides, you will be translating them into neat notes later after we have finished the unit. Make sure you leave space to add more rough notes later. Make sure you leave space to add more rough notes later.

Nikita Khrushchev Fast facts that you need to know! Fast facts that you need to know!

Stalin dies! Stalin died March 1953 Stalin died March 1953 The period sees a ‘collective leadership’ of 10, from which emerged 3 key rivals for power: Khrushchev, Beria & Malenkov The period sees a ‘collective leadership’ of 10, from which emerged 3 key rivals for power: Khrushchev, Beria & Malenkov

The contenders

Khrushchev Secretary of of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, he has the power to appoint large numbers of committee members Secretary of of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, he has the power to appoint large numbers of committee members

Malenkov Head of the Government Head of the Government

Beria Minister of Internal Affairs. Control of the security police Minister of Internal Affairs. Control of the security police

1956 Khrushchev has outmaneuvered his rivals and becomes effectively the leader of the USSR Khrushchev has outmaneuvered his rivals and becomes effectively the leader of the USSR

His Actions & Policies

De-Stalinisation Secret speech given in 1956 Secret speech given in 1956 Criticizes Stalin and accuses him of crimes against the Communist Party Criticizes Stalin and accuses him of crimes against the Communist Party Exposes some of Stalin’s crimes Exposes some of Stalin’s crimes Greeting with a mixture of shock, disbelief and relief! Greeting with a mixture of shock, disbelief and relief!

The Thaw Generally greater openness, freedom and less censorship Generally greater openness, freedom and less censorship Didn’t extend to the Eastern European countries under USSR control: these were kept in a tight grip Didn’t extend to the Eastern European countries under USSR control: these were kept in a tight grip

Agricultural Reform Khrushchev was an ex-peasant Khrushchev was an ex-peasant He really focused on the problems in agriculture in the USSR He really focused on the problems in agriculture in the USSR Mixed success Mixed success

Virgin Lands The USSR had millions of square kilometers of unused land The USSR had millions of square kilometers of unused land Idea was to bring this land into use Idea was to bring this land into use Especially in what is now known as Kazakhstan Especially in what is now known as Kazakhstan

Initial success In the beginning grains harvests up spectacularly In the beginning grains harvests up spectacularly

Setbacks However the land was often unsuitable for the crops used and the amount they produced reduced rapidly However the land was often unsuitable for the crops used and the amount they produced reduced rapidly

Industry Increased focus on consumer goods Increased focus on consumer goods Some successes, but still far behind the western countries Some successes, but still far behind the western countries

The Space Race Soviet Union took the lead Soviet Union took the lead First human space flight in 1961 (first dog as well before this!) First human space flight in 1961 (first dog as well before this!) Expensive Expensive Boosted prestige of the USSR, seemed to be ‘beating’ the USA. Boosted prestige of the USSR, seemed to be ‘beating’ the USA.

Relations with China Chinese Communist Party disagreed with Khrushchev’s criticism of Stalin Chinese Communist Party disagreed with Khrushchev’s criticism of Stalin Khrushchev refused to help China develop its own Nuclear Bomb! Khrushchev refused to help China develop its own Nuclear Bomb!

Eastern Europe States under USSR control thought that ‘De- Stalinisation’ meant freedom for them too States under USSR control thought that ‘De- Stalinisation’ meant freedom for them too Khrushchev crushed rebellions with the Red Army Khrushchev crushed rebellions with the Red Army Built the Berlin Wall. Built the Berlin Wall.

Downfall - removed from power 1964 Personal Style: banging shoe on the table during UN meeting! Personal Style: banging shoe on the table during UN meeting! Cuban Missiles crisis: had to back down Cuban Missiles crisis: had to back down Handling of Eastern Europe Handling of Eastern Europe

In his own words “I am old and tired. I’ve done the main thing. Relations among us, the style of leadership, has changed drastically…The fear’s gone. That’s my contribution.” Khrushchev “I am old and tired. I’ve done the main thing. Relations among us, the style of leadership, has changed drastically…The fear’s gone. That’s my contribution.” Khrushchev

You need to know about: Rise to Power Rise to Power De-stalinisation De-stalinisation Agricultural and Industrial Policies Agricultural and Industrial Policies Downfall including Eastern Europe and foreign affairs Downfall including Eastern Europe and foreign affairs

Khrushchev’s rise to power Beria: Controlled powerful NKVD Controlled powerful NKVD Disliked by army as he helped purge it in the late 1930’s Disliked by army as he helped purge it in the late 1930’s Didn’t fight in the ‘Great Patriotic War’ Didn’t fight in the ‘Great Patriotic War’

What happened to Beria? Soviet Commander in Chief (head of the army) Marshall Zhukov admired Khrushchev Soviet Commander in Chief (head of the army) Marshall Zhukov admired Khrushchev Khrushchev was able to get the support of the army Khrushchev was able to get the support of the army Surrounded his house, arrested him, put on trial and shot. Surrounded his house, arrested him, put on trial and shot. This was the exception rather than the rule: from now on leaders tended to be demoted or removed from power rather than shot from this point forward, but Beria was never likely to ‘go quietly’! This was the exception rather than the rule: from now on leaders tended to be demoted or removed from power rather than shot from this point forward, but Beria was never likely to ‘go quietly’!

Malenkov Soviet ‘Premier’ (Prime minister/head of government) Soviet ‘Premier’ (Prime minister/head of government) Able organiser and began some of the relaxation in terror and improvement in relations with the outside world Able organiser and began some of the relaxation in terror and improvement in relations with the outside world But Khrushchev controlled the PARTY and had a forceful personality But Khrushchev controlled the PARTY and had a forceful personality Malenkov was undermined by Khrushchev who travelled the country criticising the government (and therefore Malenkov) Malenkov was undermined by Khrushchev who travelled the country criticising the government (and therefore Malenkov) In 1955 Malenkov resigns and gives up any hope of becoming the next leader In 1955 Malenkov resigns and gives up any hope of becoming the next leader Replaced by Bulganin for a time, but he is very much dominated by Khrushchev Replaced by Bulganin for a time, but he is very much dominated by Khrushchev

Khrushchev Controlled the Party Controlled the Party Popular with the army and Zhukov in particular Popular with the army and Zhukov in particular Forceful personality Forceful personality Traveled the country widely Traveled the country widely By late 1955 / early 56 we can really talk about Khrushchev as the ‘leader’ of the USSR. By late 1955 / early 56 we can really talk about Khrushchev as the ‘leader’ of the USSR.

Destalinisation The Secret Speech

Crimes Mass Repression Mass Repression Brutality / Violence Brutality / Violence Intolerance towards colleagues Intolerance towards colleagues Moral and physical annihilation Moral and physical annihilation Illegal means illegality Illegal means illegality Stigmatized people Stigmatized people Liar Liar Falsehoods Falsehoods Abuse of power Abuse of power