Who is this man?

1. Who is this man?

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

3. 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 • 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.

4. Nikita Khrushchev • Fast facts that you need to know!

5. Stalin dies! • Stalin died March 1953 • The period 1953-56 sees a ‘collective leadership’ of 10, from which emerged 3 key rivals for power: Khrushchev, Beria & Malenkov

6. The contenders 1953-56

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

8. Malenkov • Head of the Government

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

10. 1956 • Khrushchev has outmaneuvered his rivals and becomes effectively the leader of the USSR

11. His Actions & Policies

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

13. The Thaw • 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

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

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

16. Initial success • In the beginning grains harvests up spectacularly

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. 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

24. You need to know about: • Rise to Power 1953-56 • De-stalinisation • Agricultural and Industrial Policies • Downfall including Eastern Europe and foreign affairs

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

26. What happened to Beria? • Soviet Commander in Chief (head of the army) Marshall Zhukov admired Khrushchev • Khrushchev was able to get the support of the army • 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’!

27. Malenkov • 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 • 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) • 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

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

29. Destalinisation The Secret Speech

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