Destalinisation

A Mnemonic

   

This mnemonic was sent to me by a reader called Riva, who wrote that it had helped her to remember the different aspects of destalinisation, and hoped it would help other students do the same. Thank you, Riva.

  

  

Describe the key features of Khrushchev's policy of destalinistion

  

bullet

Destroyed the cult of Stalin and the perception that he was a legend starting with the secret speech of 25 February 1956

bullet

Stalin’s statues and portraits were removed from public places

bullet

The secret police were given less power

bullet

Abolition of the death penalty

bullet

Laws of censorship were relaxed so there was more freedom in the media and the arts

bullet

Increased freedom was given to writers and artists

bullet

No elimination of his rivals, as Stalin had done, they were just given unimportant jobs instead

bullet

Indication of a less brutal control of the party      

bullet

Stalingrad was renamed to Volvograd

bullet

Also erased Stalin from history by taking his 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.

bullet

Thousands of political prisoners were released from Gulags which were closed.

bullet

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

bullet

Other places and buildings named after Stalin were renamed

bullet

Nevertheless, the basic elements of the Soviet system, including the dominance of the Communist Party, remained intact

 

  

Link

 

For more on destalinisation, see askwinston