Nikita Khrushchev

Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchof (Khrushchev) (Russian: ??????? ?????????? ?????? {{IPA |/nʲiˈki.ta sʲerˈge.jeˌviʧ ˈxru.ʃʧʲof/}} {{Audio|Ru Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev.ogg|listen}}, April 17, 1894 – September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. He was First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964.

Rise to power

After Stalin's death in March 1953, there was a power struggle between different factions within the party. Khrushchev prevailed, becoming party leader on September 7 of that year, and his main rival, NKVD chief Lavrenty Beria, was executed in December. Khrushchev's leadership marked a crucial transition for the Soviet Union. He pursued a course of reform and shocked delegates to the 20th Party Congress on February 23, 1956 by making his famous Secret Speech denouncing the "cult of personality" that surrounded Stalin, and accusing Stalin of the crimes committed during the Great Purges. This effectively alienated Khrushchev from the more conservative elements of the Party, but he managed to defeat what he termed the Anti-Party Group after they failed in a bid to oust him from the party leadership in 1957.

Related Topics:
March - 1953 - September 7 - NKVD - Lavrenty Beria - 20th Party Congress - February 23 - 1956 - Secret Speech - Cult of personality - Great Purges - Anti-Party Group - 1957

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In 1958, Khrushchev replaced Georgy Malenkov as prime minister and established himself as the undisputed leader of both state and party. He became Premier of the Soviet Union on March 27, 1958. Khruschev promoted reform of the Soviet system and began to place an emphasis on the production of consumer goods rather than on heavy industry.

Related Topics:
1958 - Georgy Malenkov - Premier of the Soviet Union - March 27

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In 1959 during Richard Nixon's journey to the Soviet Union, he took part in what was later known as the Kitchen Debate. Khrushchev's new attitude towards the West as a rival instead of as an evil entity alienated Mao Zedong's China. The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, too, would later be involved in a similar "cold war" triggered by the Sino-Soviet Split in 1960.

Related Topics:
1959 - Richard Nixon - Kitchen Debate - Mao Zedong - Sino-Soviet Split - 1960

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