“High Stalinism”

1. “High Stalinism” Stalin on Drugs (Don’t write that)

2. What’s High Stalinism? • The ‘pinnacle’ of Stalinism • 1945-53 • A time when Stalin’s key policies could be pursued without minor worries like the one that the Germans may invade and wage a war of extermination on the Soviet Union.

3. Political Elements • Stalin favoured, and promoted, Andrei Zhadanov – leader of the Leningrad Party • Zhadanov started the Zhdanovshchina – the evil time of Zhdanov. • He promoted supporters of himself and Stalin

4. 1946: New Five Year Plan- heavy industry / transport. • (4th Plan) • Effects • Increased urban workforce • 6 day weeks, 12 hour days • Rationing

5. Zhdanovshchina • Zhadanov jammed all foreign radio broadcasts. • He put a TOTAL BAN on foreign travel. • Returning soldiers were sent to gulags if they had become ‘poisoned’ by foreign influences. • Returning PoWs were traitors and were shot! • 2.5 million in labour camps by 1953  300,000 in prison  2.75 million in settlements in Siberia • Stalin’s “cult of personality” was mainly the work of Zhadanov. He was to assume “supernatural characteristics, akin to those of a God”. • Stalingrad was joined by (other) Stalingrads, also Stalino, Stalinsk, Stalinogorsk and Stalinabad. • Stalin became a “superman possessing supernatural characteristics, akin to those of a God” (Khrushchev) • Zhadanov was demoted in 1948.

7. After Zhadanov • Zhadanov’s demotion, then death, gave Malenkov( State Defence Committee) and Beria (NKVD) an excuse to purge the Leningrad party. • Fearing that they may now get more powerful, Stalin promoted Khrushchev as a counterbalance to Malenkov. • He then conducted a purge in Beria’s home town, removing many of his supporters. • Stalin further secured his own power by getting rid of the Politburo (a decision-making body) and replacing it with the Presidium, which was bigger.

9. International Affairs • Stalin promised to respect democracy at the Yalta conference. • By the Potsdam conference, with the Red Army installed in most east European countries, he changed his mind. • He also declared that Germany must be divided. • Refused to allow communist nations Marshall Aid • Some have suggested he was forced into these actions because the U.S. President, Truman, threatened the USSR with the nuclear bomb.

11. Berlin Blockade • Germany and Berlin divided into Soviet, US, British and French zones. • Berlin deep in Soviet sector. • Stalin wanted the whole city. • Stopped supplies reaching west Berlin. • USA responded with Berlin Airlift, getting in supplies by plane. • Stalin angered but did not shoot down US supply craft.

12. The Doctors Plot • Stalin, who had already conducted two anti-Semitic purges, arrested 9 doctors in 1953 • “rootless cosmopolitans” • 6 were Jewish • They were accused of poisoning Zhadanov. • The Soviet press blamed “Zionists”. • A new purge was clearly on the way…

13. Death of Stalin • Stalin died during the “Doctors Plot”. • May have been poisoned by his doctor (oh, the irony!) • Malenkov emerged as the early favourite to take over, but he ruled as part of a triumvirate. • Shared power with Beria and Khrushchev

14. Khrushchev • Born 1894, Kursk. • Virtually uneducated (born a peasant) until 1918 (joins workers school.) • Communist since revolution. • Fought at Stalingrad and Kursk. • Assisted in some purges. • Reputation as a hard-working individual. • Known to be knowledgeable about agriculture.

15. Khrushchev in Power • In 1951 said that the USSR had less cattle than under Nicholas II. • In 1954 he introduced the “Virgin Land Campaign”, which would grow corn over 70m acres of unused land. • By 1956 Khrushchev had removed his rivals (although only Beria was killed) and was the new leader of the USSR.

16. Secret Speech • Secret to the west, not to the assembled journalists. • Denounced Stalin – an extract: “…Stalin showed in a whole series of cases his intolerance, his brutality and his abuse of power. Instead of proving his political correctness and mobilizing the masses, he often chose the path of repression and physical annihilation, not only against actual enemies, but also against individuals who had not committed any crimes against the Party and the Soviet government…”

17. Impact • The idea was that this would introduce a new era of “reform communism” (or ‘goulash communism’). • People didn’t want stories of rising production quotas. • They wanted houses and nice clothes. • It was also hoped that the USA and USSR could enter into “peaceful coexistence”.

18. Notable 1950s Events • 1956: Hungary rebels against USSR, encouraged by secret speech. Uprising crushed. • 1956: Workers conditions eased – you no longer go to prison for absence. • 1957: Greater authority given to local parties and state farms. • 1958: Machine Tractor Stations abolished as too cumbersome. Peasants given the tractors. • 1958: Best harvest ever. • 1959: Tractors begin to break down and cannot be repaired due to lack of tools/knowledge. • 1958: Death penalty extended, some gulags closed. • 1959: Khrushchev and Nixon have the ‘kitchen debate’ in which he claims, “history is on our side…we will bury you”. • 1959: Communist victory in Cuban Revolution. • 1959: Khrushchev declares there are ‘no political prisoners’ in the USSR. • 1959: A Seven-Year-Plan, with emphasis on consumer goods, is announced

19. Notable 1960s Events • 1961: “Economic crimes” can be punished by imprisonment. In practice, this law is used for political ends. • 1961: Stalin’s body removed from Lenin’s Mausoleum. • 1961: Donetsk and Volgograd renamed to their originals after being called Stalino and Stalingrad. • 1960s: Agricultural production rises, but small private holdings (3% of land) still producing 40% of the meat. • 1962: Soviet missiles found on Cuba. Cuban missile crisis brings real prospect of nuclear war. USSR withdraws the missiles, claiming they are acting for peace – but looking foolish. • 1963: Party divided into industrial and agricultural sections. • 1964: Khrushchev returns from holiday. He finds a letter telling him that his resignation has been accepted (he’d not offered one.)

20. Khrushchev’s Judgement • Khrushchev was not happy to be ‘retired’, but said, in private, “I'm old and tired. Let them cope by themselves. I've done the main thing. Could anyone have dreamed of telling Stalin that he didn't suit us anymore and suggesting he retire? Not even a spot would have remained where we had been standing. Now everything is different. The fear is gone, and we can talk as equals. That's my contribution.” • He later claimed that the only difference in history if he’d have been assassinated in 1963 rather than Kennedy was that “I don’t think Aristotle Onasis [who married Kennedy’s widow] would have married Mrs Khrushchev.”