Nikita Kruschev
Stalin died in 1953. He was hated all over eastern Europe and many people celebrated. After a short struggle for power, Nikita Khrushchev became the new ruler in Russia.
Peaceful Co-existence At first, the western powers hoped that Khrushchev would be the start of a thaw in the Cold War. Khrushchev often met western leaders at summit meetings
In 1955 Khrushchev went to Yugoslavia, telling their leader Tito that there are different roads to communism. Western leaders thought he would no longer insist that all communist countries take orders from Russia.
In a speech at the Twentieth Party Congress in 1956, Khrushchev attacked Stalin, saying that Stalin was a murderer and a tyrant. Khrushchev began to de-stalinise Russia - political prisoners were set free and Beria (Stalin s Chief of Secret Police) was executed.
DE-STALINIZATION Stalin s statues and portraits were removed from public places The secret police were given less power The death penalty was eliminated Laws of censorship were relaxed so there was more freedom in the media and the arts Increased freedom was given to writers and artists No elimination of his rivals, as Stalin had done, they were just given unimportant jobs instead
Stalingrad was renamed to Volvograd Stalin body from the Red Square where it was buried and buried it in a grave alongside the walls of the Kremlin with other Soviet leaders. Thousands of political prisoners were released from Gulags which were closed. Improved Khrushchev s image portraying him as good and Stalin as bad and disassociated himself from Stalin s crimes even though he had been responsible for thousands of deaths himself Other places and buildings named after Stalin were renamed Nevertheless, the basic elements of the Soviet system, including the dominance of the Communist Party, remained intact
Khrushchev said that he wanted peaceful coexistence with the West. Western leaders hoped this meant the end of the Cold War. Quote 1956 You do not like Communism. We do not like capitalism. There is only one way out peaceful co-existence. Khrushchev speaking on a visit to Britain in 1956.
Quote 1959 We may argue. The main thing is to argue without using weapons.
While denouncing Joseph Stalin in a speech one day, Khrushchev was interrupted by a voice from the audience: "You were one of Stalin's colleagues," the man declared. "Why didn't you stop him?" "Who said that!?" Khrushchev roared. This was followed by a terrified silence - only broken at last by Khrushchev himself. "Now..." he said in a quiet voice, "Now you know why."
Increasing Tension If the rulers of the West hoped that Khrushchev would bring an end to the Cold War, they were disappointed. By peaceful co-existence, Khrushchev really meant peaceful competition. He started to build up Russian power
'De-stalinisation did not mean a change back to capitalism, or freedom from Russian control. When communist countries went too far in their reforms, Khrushchev sent in the Red Army. He visited countries like Afghanistan and Burma and gave them economic aid if they would support Russia.
Russia began an 'arms race' and a space race with America. In 1955 Khrushchev set up the Warsaw Pact a military alliance of Communist countries to rival NATO. Pact countries had detailed plans of how to wage nuclear war against NATO if there was a war. Russia waged a propaganda war against America and Britain.
EIGHT Countries in the Warsaw Pact: USSR Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovakia East Germany Hungary Poland Romania.
AMERICAN REACTION In America, Senator McCarthy led a witchhunt for Communists in America. There was a propaganda war against Communism. America was determined to win the 'arms race' and 'space race' with Russia. The Americans used U2 planes to spy on Russia.
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