khrushchev's attempts to reform government and de- stalinisation

when did stalin die

1953

when was the politburo renamed the presidium

1952

what did the members of the politburo form after his death

a collective leadership

who were the main players

beria, malenkov, khrushchev

who seemed to be initially making developments

beria

what was his current job

head of secret police

despite this, what did he move quickly to do

reduce the use of terror

what was issued on 27th march 1953

an amnesty which released 1 million prisoners from prison camps

who were these prisoners largely

criminals on short sentences

what was denounced as false and what happened consequently

the doctor’s plot- doctors from the kremlin were released

what happened to beria in june 1953

arrested, accused of being a british spy, and excecuted

though illegal, why did the members of the poliburo find it necessary

to uphold ‘socialist legality’

what was this

the principle that the action of the government and party organisations was subject to the law

what happened in september 1953

khrushchev became the first secretary of the communist party

what did this title replace

general secretary

what did he immediately use his position to do

place his allies in the presidium

what did he give more authority to

the central committee- given more authority over both the government and party structures

what fraction of those elected to the central committee in 1952 were removed

over 1/2

which congress in which year did k conduct his secret speech

20th congress in 1956

what did he accuse him of

acting as a tyrant, having a cult of personality, using unnecessary terror, and making economic mistakes

what did k believe the system needed to return to

the legality of khruschev

what were these reforms known as

de- stalinisation

what was k careful to make them directed to

stalin and not the soviet system itself

what did he want to reform in terms of the presidium and central committee

resume regular meetings

moves were made to decentralise what

and how

decision- making

giving more power to organisations at regional level

what did party and government officials no longer face

prison for failing to meet targets

what was brought firmly under party control

the secret police

what did this mean

they could no longer be used by an indiividual for personal motivations

what did the secret police lose control over

labour camps

how many political prisoners were released between 1953-1960

2 million

what was wrong with the process

it was slow

what percent of those who appealed for release had returned to regular civillian life by 1955

4%

why did fear not dissipate after these measures

heavy punishment remained for corruption, and criticism outside the boundaries laid by party leadership could result in internal exile or removal to a psychiatric hospital- the secret police had developed more sophisticated methods of surveillance