In this excerpt of khrushchev s secret speech, he compares the leadership of lenin and stalin, calling into question the techniques and even morality of his predecessor. Khrushchev s socalled secret speech at the 20th party congress in 1956 had farreaching effects on both foreign and domestic policies. This clip emphasizes the impact that nikita khrushchevs denunciation of stalin at the twentieth party congress of the communist party in february 1956 had on. Anastas ivanovich mikoyan mentioned that khrushchev must have been right. Khrushchevs tireless activity confirmed that it was possible to change soviet society from the top, given support from below. The speech attacked stalin for his arbitrary arrests and executions. Telling the story of krushchevs antistalin tirade fifty years ago, soviet leader nikita khrushchev gave a startling speech to communist party delegates, denouncing his predecessor josef stalin. Secret speech khrushchevs secret speech the specific purpose of khrushchevs 1956 secret speech before the twentieth party congress of the communist party of the soviet union was to denounce the cult of personality surrounding stalin and to begin a process of cleansing within the soviet union. Khrushchevs speech to the 20th party congress represented a partial and very carefully framed denunciation of some aspects of the stalin regime. First signs of thaw the first glimmers of glasnost occurred with khrushchevs secret speech of 1956.
The crimes of the stalin era, special report to the 20th. Quotations from the classics of marxismleninism which denounced the cult of an. Nikita khrushchev, the secret speech, 1956 talking back. Russia is marking the 50th anniversary of khrushchev s secret speech, in which he denounced crimes committed under josef stalin and the cult of personality surrounding the deceased soviet leader. Khrushchevs secret speech denouncing stalinism 1956. Khrushchevs secret speech, february 25, 1956, in russian history, denunciation of the deceased soviet leader joseph stalin made by nikita s. The real secret of khrushchevs speech world news the. Dec 16, 2014 this clip emphasizes the impact that nikita khrushchev s denunciation of stalin at the twentieth party congress of the communist party in february 1956 had on international relations, especially.
Khrushchevs secret speech on stalin 1956 internet archive. Project muse how khrushchev leaked his secret speech to the. In a sensational speech to the 20th congress of the communist party mr khrushchev painted a graphic picture of a regime of suspicion, fear, and terror built up under the former dictator who died three years ago. Khrushchevs socalled secret speech at the 20th party congress in 1956 had farreaching effects on both foreign and domestic policies. It was only years afterwards that it became clear that the party leadership was still arguing about the text of the speech to be made by khrushchev the next morning to a secret session of party. Fredrich engels and i first joined the secret society of communists on the.
On the cult of personality and its consequences also popularly known as the secret speech. Khrushchev was the first official publicly to denounce stalins policies. Richard cavendish published in history today volume 56 issue 2 february 2006. Khrushchevs secret speech remembered after 50 years. Nikita khrushchev delivered a speech denouncing stalin for his transgressions. Khrushchevs speech helped change soviet society and government for the better. Khrushchev secret speech flashcards and study sets quizlet. Jun 26, 2010 nikita khrushchev denounces stalin s paranoid persecution of doctors in his secret speech to the 20th congress of the communist party this january 1953 cartoon from the soviet humor magazine krokodil crocodile shows a doctor being unmasked as a poisoner of the soviet political and military leadership. This book is an expression of the most dissolute flattery, an. In february 1956 khrushchev, by now established as leader, delivered a speech titled on the cult of personality and its consequences to the communist party congress. The speech was a spoken report to the twentieth party congress of the communist party of the soviet union on 25 february 1956. Why did khrushchev denounce stalin after his death.
Answer by nobude it wasnt healthy to denounce stalin while he was alive. Khrushchev and the twentieth congress of the communist party, 1956 in february, 1956, soviet leader nikita khrushchev made a keynote address to international communist leaders at the twentieth congress of the communist party of the soviet union. It was the first since the death of josef stalin in 1953, but almost nothing was said about the dead leader until, in closed session on the 25th, 1,500 delegates and many invited visitors listened to an amazing speech by nikita khrushchev, first secretary of the party, on the personality cult and its consequences. Khrushchevs speech was sharply critical of the reign of joseph stalin. Party congress with his midnight speech denouncing stalins cult of personality and manifold crimes russia. In the draft text of stalins book appeared the following sentence. Nov 30, 2016 this is the true meaning of the emphasis he gave the cult of personality, which allowed him to reverse the old dichotomy of praising stalin for everything and blame stalin for all the errors and distortions, and why, while he criticized the excesses of the purges, khrushchev endorsed their essence as a onesided civil war waged by stalin. As is known, the short course of the history of the allunion communist party bolsheviks was written by a commission of the party central committee. Leos nationalism evolves as a microcosm of the countrys social revolution. Stalin denounced by nikita khrushchev the soviet leader gave his famous speech on the personality cult and its consequences in a closed session on february 25th, 1956. The cult of the individual acquired such monstrous size chiefly because stalin himself, using all conceivable methods, supported the glorification of his own person.
Feb 24, 2006 his khrushchevs secret speech in 1956 took four hours to deliver and the full text not published in the soviet union until 1989 was 26,000 words long. Congress of the communist party of the soviet union and its. The book features a repeat appearance of leo stepanovich demidov, the protagonist of smiths first book, child 44 2008. Of course, with his predecessor stalin, the bar wasnt set all that high to begin with. Congress of the communist party of the soviet union and. When khrushchev denounced stalin socialist alternative. This was so traumatic that it is now said some delegates had heart attacks during the speech, and others committed suicide afterwards. February 25, 1956 khrushchevs secret speech, on the cult of. The speech was shocking in its day as khrushchev, in a gamble to solidify his ascent to power, attacked the memory and record of stalin, the man who was until then a. This speech would ultimately trigger a worldwide split.
Choose from 140 different sets of khrushchev secret speech flashcards on quizlet. Incidenally, the secret speech was khrushchevs impromptu address that was later recorded. Texts excerpts from the secret speech full text of the speech related texts purges repudiated varga remembers bela kun the incidents in georgia, march 1956 criticism of student behavior. Khrushchevs secret speech texts seventeen moments in. But khrushchev and the other leaders had participated in all stalins purges and in his other crimes. The secret speech that changed world history world news. Khrushchev charged stalin with having fostered a leadership cult of. Through its denunciation of stalin, it substantially destroyed the infallibility of the party.
Nikita khrushchev delivers the secret speech historian simon hall. Nikita khrushchev denounces stalins paranoid persecution of doctors in his secret speech to the 20th congress of the communist party this january 1953 cartoon from the soviet humor magazine krokodil crocodile shows a doctor being unmasked as a poisoner of the soviet political and military leadership. Incidenally, the secret speech was khrushchevs impromptu address that was later recorded and heavily edited. Nikita khrushchev, the secret speech, 1956 talking. The speech was secret in the sense that it was read in a closed session without discussion and was neither published as part of the congress proceedings nor reported in the soviet press. Get indepth analysis of eisenhowers farewell address, with this section on khrushchevs secret speech.
Worn dust jacket has short tears to chipped edges, booksellers marks, page edges tanned. The book serves as a good illustration of the internal conflict the citizens felt under stalins reign. Telling the story of krushchevs anti stalin tirade fifty years ago, soviet leader nikita khrushchev gave a startling speech to communist party delegates, denouncing his predecessor josef stalin. The brief documentary clip above from the site british pathe suggests that khrushchev was on a charm offensive at home and abroad.
Khrushchevs speech to the 20th party congress introduction. The secret speech that changed world history world news the. Khrushchevs secret speech the rise and fall of world. On the cult of personality and its consequences russian. Feb 25, 2006 yet within weeks after the secret speech, at communist party meetings called to discuss it, criticism of stalin rippled way beyond khrushchev s, including indictments not just of stalin himself. The soviet leader, nikita khrushchev, has denounced joseph stalin as a brutal despot. It was whispered that nikita sergeyevich khrushchev, first secretary of the cpsu, had made a sensational speech denouncing stalin for heinous crimes including murder and torture. The khrushchev reports secret speech name came because it was. Thus, in his own handwriting, he changed it to read. Go here for more about khrushchevs secret speech it follows the english translation of an excerpt transcript of nikita khrushchevs secret speech, delivered at moscow february 25, 1956. But khrushchev and the other leaders had participated in. But it causes shock and disillusion to many who believed in stalin and unity of the communist party.
In addition, he revealed that stalin had rounded up thousands of people and sent them into a huge system of political work camps gulags. The congress also formulated ideological reformations, which softened the partys hardline foreign policy. Translated into english, possibly by russian speakers working in west germany for the cia, it was disseminated widely outside the soviet bloc. Khrushchev, it was said, had made a shattering report to a secret session, openly denouncing stalin by name as a murderer and torturer of party members. This revelation was met with astonishment by many present for the speech. As it was a mere three years since stalin s death, this seemed barely credible. At the twentieth congress of the cpsu february 2425 1956, khrushchev delivered a report in which he denounced stalins crimes and the cult of personality surrounding stalin. Soviets, after 33 years, publish khrushchevs antistalin speech. But he could not justify that to the party, without first revealing why and how stalins regime had been so bad.
The evidence that every revelation of stalins and berias crimes in nikita khrushchevs infamous secret speech to the 20 th congress of the communist party of the soviet union on february 25. And one additional fact from the same short biography of stalin. Why did khruschev denounce stalin in the secret speech in. Text, background and meaning of khrushchevs secret report to the twentieth congress on the night of february 24. Khrushchev charged that stalin had a cult of personality where every success was credited to him and every defeat blamed on the vile sabotage of someone else. The secret speech is the second novel in a trilogy by british author tom rob smith.
Feb 25, 2006 it was only years afterwards that it became clear that the party leadership was still arguing about the text of the speech to be made by khrushchev the next morning to a secret session of party. Go here for more about khrushchev s secret speech it follows the english translation of an excerpt transcript of nikita khrushchev s secret speech, delivered at moscow february 25, 1956. Krushchevs secret speech was the speech in which nikita krushchev denounced joseph stalin after the latters death. Yet within weeks after the secret speech, at communist party meetings called to discuss it, criticism of stalin rippled way beyond khrushchevs, including indictments not just of stalin himself. By nikita sergeyevich khrushchev, first secretary, communist party of the soviet union western intelligence agencies had no difficulties obtaining the secret speech shortly after it was delivered. Khrushchev to a closed session of the 20th congress of the communist party of the soviet union. Apr 22, 2016 the western capitalist press tried to explain khrushchevs speech as an act of personal hatred of stalin which certainly existed, or even due to some latterly discovered moral revulsion at stalins atrocities. Opinion how a speech won the cold war the new york times. Why did khruschev denounce stalin in the secret speech. But a period called the khrushchev thaw starts with release of prisoners from the gulag camps and less repression. Concerning stalins merits, an entirely sufficient number of books, pamphlets and. From nicolas ii to vladimir putin, historian robert service wrote. Eisenhowers farewell address criticized the american establishment in a subtle and indirect way, all the while singing the praises of american ideals and rhapsodizing about the land of the free and the home of the brave. On the cult of personality and its consequences wikipedia.
Apr 06, 1989 the speech was shocking in its day as khrushchev, in a gamble to solidify his ascent to power, attacked the memory and record of stalin, the man who was until then a towering patriarch in the. Learn khrushchev secret speech with free interactive flashcards. Speeches on the next fiveyear plan were applauded and stalin s pet agronomist lysenko made his customary appearance to denounce bourgeois genetics. In this excerpt of khrushchevs secret speech, he compares the leadership of lenin and stalin, calling into question the techniques and even morality of his predecessor. The speech to the 20th party congress of the soviet union aka on the cult of personality and its consequences, was a report the new soviet leader, nikita khrushchev, made on february 25, 1956. In addition, he revealed that stalin had rounded up.
Excerpts from nikita khrushchevs speech to the xxth congress of the communist party of the u. Although, compared to stalin, khrushchev dealt gently with most of his enemies in the party. His khrushchevs secret speech in 1956 took four hours to deliver and the full text not published in the soviet union until 1989 was 26,000 words long. The speech is read to groups of communist party activists, but not printed until 1989. Khrushchevs secret speech soviet history britannica. In a secret speech before a closed plenum of the 20th congress of the cpsu, khrushchev denounced stalins cult of the personality. As it was a mere three years since stalins death, this seemed barely credible.
Khrushchevs secret speech simple english wikipedia, the. The short answer is that khrushchev with the rest of the leadership was convinced that stalin caused immense damage to the ussr between the late 1920s and 1953, and that the damage to the political system could still be fixed. The title refers to soviet leader nikita khrushchevs 1956 address admitting stalins crimes. Mike haynes writes on how 50 years ago khrushchevs secret speech began the demolition of stalinism. Ed since these words were written we have learned that khrushchev had for this the approval of the central committee, or rather of its majority a large minority, consisting of stalinist diehards, was opposed to his coming out with the revelations. In this address, dubbed the secret speech, khrushchev condemned stalin s use of oppression and brutality. Russia is marking the 50th anniversary of khrushchevs secret speech, in which he denounced crimes committed under josef stalin and the cult of personality surrounding the deceased soviet leader. Project muse how khrushchev leaked his secret speech to. This is easily the most intriguing question ive answered on quora for a while, and it is timed to the 60year anniversary of the xx congress of the cpsu.
For an english translation of khrushchevs speech, see speech to 20th congress of the c. In a secret speech before a closed plenum of the 20th congress of the cpsu, khrushchev. A secret speech composed by stalins successor khrushchev is distributed to. Soviets, after 33 years, publish khrushchevs antistalin. Why did khrushchev denounce josef stalin after his death. This book, parenthetically, was also permeated with the cult of the individual and was written by a designated group of authors.
The crimes of the stalin era, special report to the 20th congress of the communist party of the soviet union. Stalin denounced by nikita khrushchev history today. The book continues to develop the theme begun in smiths first work. By first admitting that stalin acted in excess of his political mandate, khrushchev set about. Its title was on the cult of personality and its consequences. The secret speech is a further exploration of the soviet union joseph stalin created. Jun 10, 2017 first signs of thaw the first glimmers of glasnost occurred with khrushchevs secret speech of 1956. The spring of 1956 tony kempwelch stalins physical demise had little immediate impact on poland. The western capitalist press tried to explain khrushchevs speech as an act of personal hatred of stalin which certainly existed, or even due to some latterly discovered moral revulsion at stalins atrocities.
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