De-Stalinization
Soviet during Stalin’s reign
Stalin came to power in 1927.Use of “Terror” was the
main part of Stalin’s regime.Stalin’s Great Purge
killed thousands of opposed politicians,leaders of
army to strengthen the rule of Stalin.Stalin became
god of his people.His statues,propaganda
posters,pictures were everywhere.He also introduced
2 5 years plans to make Soviet Union a
strong,industrialised nation.But mass collectivisation
and industrialisation led to massive famine in Soviet
which caused 5 million people’s death.20 million
people sent to ‘gulags’ or executed during Stalin’s
rule.After WW2 he became more paranoid suspicious
to allies.Soviet became more powerful country with
satellite states in Eastern europe after WW2.Cold war
has begun during his reign.
Use of Terror
● One of Stalin’s key to keep his regime was the use of terror.By Great purge
he cleared his way by executing opponents politicians and disloyal army
leaders.
● Workers who didn’t reach to their ambitious targets for production were
executed or sent to gulags.Workers were working with fear of failure.
● NKVD secret police were arresting anyone who shown their disloyalty to the
party.
● Other ethnic and religion were persecuted in Soviet Union.Russification was
powerful in all Soviet union.
Rise of Khrushchev
Stalin died of a stroke in March 5th 1953.His
close assistant Nikita Khrushchev succeeded
him.He was very close to Stalin but after his
death,he started to denounce Stalin’s policies and
actions.In his “Secret speech” at the 20th
Congress of the Communist party,He criticized
Purges and Use of terrors which ordered by
Stalin.Khrushchev blamed Stalin for heavy
casualties of Soviet during WW2.He said it was
caused by Stalin’s decisions.He aimed to remove
god like status of Stalin and cult of
personality,Stalinism.By starting De-Stalinization
he set his base of rise of power.
Causes of De-Stalinization
● Stalin was still powerful after his death.
● Other members of the party and members of close
circle of the Stalin had no proof that they would
follow Khrushchev.
● Using Stalin’s mistakes and terrors was perfect
way to gain power for Khrushchev.
● Stalin’s heavy dictatorship style was needed to be
removed.
● Stalin was in the mind of every citizens of Soviet.
Process of De-Stalinization
● De-Stalinization ended cult of personality in Soviet.
● Khrushchev was heavily criticizing Stalin in front of
the many party members.
● De-Stalinization ended large scale of forced labour
and gulags.
● Khrushchev removed institutions that helped Stalin to
hold power.
● Khrushchev removed Stalin’s statues and
pictures,posters.
● He changed all things named
Stalin(Stalingrad-Petrograd).
● Policy of Coexistance was approved.
Consequences of De-Stalinization
● He increased his power in party and government.
● He criticized Terrors,Purges of Stalin to gain
more power for himself.
● He succeeded to strengthen his authority in
Soviet Union
● Cult of personality,god like status of
Stalin,Stalinization removed from Soviet.
● Stalin started to written on history as ruthless
and tyrant dictator.
● Unrest in Hungary and Poland begun.
● Citizens of satellite states of Soviet saw
De-Stalinization as a sign of big reform.So they
started uprisings to achieve their goals.
Participation of Khrushchev in Purges
Khrushchev was close to the Stalin.Under Stalin’s reign he had big participation in Great Purge of
Stalin.
Everyone who rejoices in the successes achieved in our country, the victories of our party led by the great Stalin, will
find only one word suitable for the mercenary, fascist dogs of the Trotskyite-Zinovievite gang. That word is execution
N.Khrushchev
Khrushchev arrested many of his fellow party members and friends who were not loyal to Stalin.He was
hunting everyone who suspected of disloyalty.After cleared every political opponents of Stalin ,he became
close assistant of Stalin.After Stalin’s death he succeeded him because of his powerful political position.
Comrades, we must unmask and relentlessly destroy all enemies of the people. But we must not allow a single honest
Bolshevik to be harmed. We must conduct a struggle against slanderers
N.Khrushchev at 14th Ukranian Communist party Congress
Word definitions
Gulag: Industrialisation:
Labour camps of Soviet Union from Industrialization is the process by which
1920s to 1950s.”Enemies of people”and an economy is transformed from a
victims of purge were sending to primarily agricultural one to one based on
gulags. the manufacturing of goods
Word definitions
Coexistence: Great Purge:
a Soviet policy of living peacefully with was a campaign of political repression in
Westerns. the Soviet Union that occurred from 1936 to
1938
