COLD WAR: Nikita Khrushchev

Early Years Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was born in 1894 to an illiterate peasant family in Kalinovka. Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was born in 1894 to an illiterate peasant family in Kalinovka. At a young age he worked in various factories and mines. At a young age he worked in various factories and mines. Being poor his father had to work to jobs to support the family. Being poor his father had to work to jobs to support the family. In 1908 his family moved to the Ukraine. In 1908 his family moved to the Ukraine. At the age of 18 Khrushchev had joined a group of workers who had organized a strike protesting work conditions. He got fired from this job. At the age of 18 Khrushchev had joined a group of workers who had organized a strike protesting work conditions. He got fired from this job. He found another job but continued his activism, helping to organize strikes, after the Russian Revolution, Khrushchev joined the Bolshevik forces of the Red Army in the Russian civil war, serving as a political commissar. He was now a dedicated communist He found another job but continued his activism, helping to organize strikes, after the Russian Revolution, Khrushchev joined the Bolshevik forces of the Red Army in the Russian civil war, serving as a political commissar. He was now a dedicated communist

Later on In the 1930’s Khrushchev was promoted from one political position to the next, until finally in 1935 he became 2 nd in command of the Moscow Communist party. In the 1930’s Khrushchev was promoted from one political position to the next, until finally in 1935 he became 2 nd in command of the Moscow Communist party. In Moscow, Khrushchev oversaw construction of much of Moscow's subway system, and in 1939 he became a full member of the Politburo. In Moscow, Khrushchev oversaw construction of much of Moscow's subway system, and in 1939 he became a full member of the Politburo. Khrushchev rise to power came in one of the darkest periods in Soviet History the Great Terror. Khrushchev rise to power came in one of the darkest periods in Soviet History the Great Terror. During the Great Terror Stalin led bloody attacks on political officials and Khrushchev was part of it, saying that many of his fellow students and workers were “the enemies of the people” and took part in their extermination. During the Great Terror Stalin led bloody attacks on political officials and Khrushchev was part of it, saying that many of his fellow students and workers were “the enemies of the people” and took part in their extermination.

Rise to Power After Stalin died in 1953 Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin won a power struggle against Stalin's successor, Georgi Malenkov, and secret police chief Lavrenti Beria. After Stalin died in 1953 Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin won a power struggle against Stalin's successor, Georgi Malenkov, and secret police chief Lavrenti Beria. Beria was executed, and Malenkov was forced to resign. Bulganin became the leader but Khrushchev was in charge of the Communist Party and soon became the dominant figure. Beria was executed, and Malenkov was forced to resign. Bulganin became the leader but Khrushchev was in charge of the Communist Party and soon became the dominant figure. He made speeches to the 20 th Party Congress attacking Stalin about the crimes he made. He made speeches to the 20 th Party Congress attacking Stalin about the crimes he made.

Cold War In his tenure Khrushchev oversaw many major situations that happened during the Cold War these include, the U2 affair, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The U-2 affair happened on May 1,1960 when the Soviets shot down a U.S. plane which was trying to gather Soviet intelligence data. The Berlin Wall was built on August 13,1961 and it divided East and West Berlin On October 14,1962 a U.S. plane say revealed that missiles were being built in Cuba. This was the closest they got to using Nuclear weapons in the Cold War.