Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was born on the 15th of April 1894 in Kalinovka, a small village in western Russia. His parents were poor peasants who struggled to make ends meet. The family moved frequently between rural areas and industrial towns like Yuzovka. At age fourteen, Nikita began working as a metal fitter's apprentice. He later joined a factory but lost that job for collecting money for victims of the Lena Goldfields massacre. He then worked underground mending equipment at a mine where his father served as union organizer. During World War I, he organized strikes demanding better pay and an end to the war. In 1914, he married Yefrosinia Pisareva, daughter of a lift operator at the Rutchenkovo mine. They had two children before the Russian Civil War erupted. When the Bolsheviks took power, Khrushchev became chairman of a worker's council in Rutchenkovo. He did not join the Communist Party until 1918, citing confusion among many political factions. By late 1918 or early 1919, he was mobilized into the Red Army as a political commissar. His duties included indoctrinating recruits and boosting morale. Many stories from this period focused more on cultural awkwardness than actual combat. After the civil war ended in 1921, he returned to civilian life as commissar to a labor brigade in the Donbas region. Conditions were dire, with widespread famine affecting the area. Tragedy struck when his wife died of typhus while he was away serving in the army. He refused to let her coffin enter the local church, lifting it over the fence instead.
Khrushchev met Lazar Kaganovich in 1917, who would become his main patron. In 1925, Kaganovich rose to lead Ukraine's party apparatus and quickly promoted Khrushchev. Within nine months, Khrushchev helped oust his superior Konstantin Moiseyenko. He moved to Kharkov as head of the Organizational Department of the Ukrainian Party's Central Committee. By 1929, he followed Kaganovich to Moscow and enrolled at the Stalin Industrial Academy. Though he never completed his studies, his career flourished rapidly. He became Party secretary for the Bauman district and later the Krasnopresnensky district. By 1934, he led the entire Moscow city organization. His rise coincided with Stalin's Great Purge beginning in 1934. During this campaign, thousands were executed or sent to labor camps. In June 1937, the Politburo set a quota of 35,000 enemies to be arrested in Moscow province, with 5,000 executions required. Khrushchev requested that 2,000 wealthy peasants known as kulaks be killed to meet part of the quota. Two weeks after receiving the order, he reported arresting 41,305 individuals, of whom 8,500 deserved execution. Of 38 top officials in Moscow city and province, only three survived. Of 146 secretaries outside Moscow city, just ten remained. In 1937, Khrushchev confessed his own past association with Trotskyism to Kaganovich. Stalin accepted the confession and allowed him to remain in power. In January 1938, he became a candidate member of the Politburo and full member by March. That same year, Stalin appointed him head of the Communist Party in Ukraine. He left Moscow for Kiev in January 1938. The pace of arrests accelerated dramatically upon his arrival. Almost all government officials and Red Army commanders were replaced. During the first few months after his arrival, almost everyone arrested was executed.
When Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, Khrushchev remained in Kiev as political commissar. He served as an intermediary between military commanders and Moscow's political leadership. Stalin used him to keep generals under tight control while commanders tried to influence policy. As German forces advanced, Khrushchev worked to defend Kiev despite orders forbidding evacuation. The Red Army soon found itself encircled. While Germans claimed 655,000 prisoners taken, Soviet sources stated only 150,541 escaped out of 677,085 total troops. In May 1942, Khrushchev proposed a massive counteroffensive near Kharkov. Stalin approved only part of the plan involving 640,000 soldiers. Within five days, German forces drove deep into Soviet flanks, cutting off entire divisions. The USSR lost about 267,000 men including over 200,000 captured. Stalin demoted Timoshenko and recalled Khrushchev to Moscow. Though he faced potential arrest or execution, Stalin sent him instead to Stalingrad. Khrushchev reached the front in August 1942 shortly after the battle began. His role was not major according to General Vasily Chuikov who mentioned him only briefly in later memoirs. Yet Khrushchev remained proud of his presence throughout the rest of his life. He visited Stalin occasionally but stayed at Stalingrad for much of the fighting. At least once during the campaign, he nearly died from enemy fire. He proposed a counterattack but discovered Georgy Zhukov had already planned Operation Uranus secretly. Before that operation launched, Khrushchev spent time checking troop readiness and morale while interrogating Nazi prisoners. Soon after Stalingrad, personal tragedy struck when his son Leonid appeared shot down on the 11th of March 1943. No fellow pilots witnessed the crash nor was any plane recovered. Some historians suggest Leonid survived and collaborated with Germans before being executed by Stalin despite Khrushchev's pleas. In mid-1943, Leonid's wife Liuba was arrested for spying and sentenced to five years in labor camps. Their daughter Yulia grew up under Nikita and Nina's care.
Stalin suffered a massive stroke on the 1st of March 1953 and died three days later. A power struggle immediately erupted among surviving leaders. Georgy Malenkov became Chairman of the Council of Ministers while Lavrentiy Beria consolidated control over security agencies. Khrushchev initially lost his position as Party head for Moscow. The New York Times listed him last among ten Presidium members. However, Malenkov resigned from the secretariat on the 14th of March due to concerns about accumulating too much power. This made Khrushchev the major beneficiary. His name appeared atop revised lists indicating he now controlled party affairs. The Central Committee formally elected him First Secretary in September. Beria launched reforms including freeing over one million non-political prisoners through amnesty. He also proposed releasing East Germany into neutral status which Khrushchev opposed. Khrushchev allied with Malenkov to block many of Beria's initiatives. They lured two deputy ministers away from Beria allowing them to arrest him during a Presidium meeting on the 26th of June 1953. Beria was tried secretly and executed in December along with five associates. The struggle continued between Malenkov controlling state apparatus and Khrushchev strengthening party influence. Malenkov sought public support by lowering retail prices but Khrushchev gained ground by appointing loyalists locally. In February 1954, Khrushchev replaced Malenkov at the seat of honor during meetings. By June, Malenkov ceased heading the list of Presidium members organized alphabetically instead. At a January 1955 Central Committee meeting, Malenkov faced accusations involving atrocities and facilitating Beria's rise. He was demoted in favor of Bulganin though remained Minister of Electric Power Stations. By early 1957, Malenkov, Molotov, and Kaganovich plotted against Khrushchev. An emergency Party Congress forced leadership to allow a session where conspirators were expelled as Anti-Party Group. Marshal Zhukov supported Khrushchev initially but was dismissed later that October after learning plans against him. Khrushchev completed consolidation of power in March 1958 when he became Premier himself.
The 20th Party Congress opened on the 14th of February 1956 with delegates hearing Stalin's crimes discussed privately. On the 25th of February, Khrushchev delivered what became known as the Secret Speech to closed sessions limited to Soviet attendees only. Over four hours he demolished Stalin's reputation completely. The congress listened silently; one could have heard a pin drop according to his memoirs. He told delegates: "Everyone lived in fear... People not to Stalin's liking were annihilated." Though the speech did not fundamentally change society immediately it had wide-ranging effects. Unrest followed in Poland while revolution broke out in Hungary later that year. Stalin defenders rioted for four days in Georgia calling for Khrushchev's resignation. Copies circulated widely despite being marked "not for press" rather than top secret. By the 5th of March mailings reached throughout the USSR marking copies distributed nationally. An official translation appeared within a month in Poland where locals printed 12,000 extra copies. One copy eventually reached Western hands proving the term misnomer since Eastern European delegates heard it too. Forty years after the event Mikhail Gorbachev praised Khrushchev's courage taking huge political risks showing himself morally capable afterward. Despite widespread circulation Stalin's portrait remained visible everywhere from airports to Kremlin offices until long after his death. Anti-Khrushchev minorities augmented opposition through decentralization proposals striking at Malenkov's power base directly. During first half of 1957 three main conspirators worked quietly building support dismissing him entirely. At an the 18th of June Presidium meeting plotters moved Bulganin chair proposing other moves effectively demoting Khrushchev putting themselves control instead.
Khrushchev became hyper-enthusiastic crusader growing corn maize across Soviet Union establishing institutes Ukraine ordering thousands hectares planted Virgin Lands Campaign. In 1955 he advocated Iowa-style corn belt sending delegation visiting U.S state summer chief approached farmer Roswell Garst persuading visit large farm. Iowan visited Soviet Union becoming friends selling seed corn warning planting southern part ensuring sufficient stocks fertilizer insecticides herbicides done not Khrushchev sought plant Siberia without necessary chemicals resulting discredited silage crop so was I. He abolished Machine-Tractor Stations owning most agricultural machines transferring equipment functions kolkhozes sovkhozes quickly within three months over half closed requiring purchase no discount older dilapidated machines creating shortage skilled operators fleeing cities impoverishing many farms lacking repair stations market fell apart. In 1959 announced goal overtaking US production milk meat butter farmers slaughtered breeding herds purchasing reselling artificially increasing recorded production causing public discontent escalating strike revolt Novocherkassk killed 22 wounded 87 according official accounts convicted 116 executed seven spread through Samizdat damaging reputation West drought struck 1963 harvest grain down peak 1958 shortages bread lines kept from Khrushchev exhausted hard currency reserves gold stockpile purchasing foodstuffs.
Khrushchev's time in office saw tensest years Cold War culminating Cuban Missile Crisis 1962. Despite cuts conventional forces hoped relying missiles national defense enjoyed considerable popularity late 1950s successful launching Sputnik 1957 favorable outcomes Suez Crisis 1956 Syrian Crisis 1957 U-2 incident 1960. By early 1960s hold power significantly weakened domestic policy failures mishandling Cuban Missile Crisis rivals consolidated support nomenklatura oust the 14th of October 1964. He authorized World Festival Youth Students Moscow summer involving over three million Moscovites joining thirty thousand young foreign visitors events discussion groups Kremlin shattered propagandist clichés Westerners allowing seeing themselves. In 1962 impressed Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn One Day Ivan Denisovich persuaded Presidium allow publication renewed thaw ended December Manezh Gallery viewing exhibit including avant-garde works exploding anger describing artwork dog shit proclaiming donkey smear better tail week Pravda issued call artistic purity writers filmmakers defended painters extending anger none arrested exiled remained open experienced rise attendance article Pravda. Political reform abolished special tribunals troikas ignoring laws procedures no prosecution political crime regular courts approved local Party committee rarely happened major trials several hundred prosecutions overall sanctions imposed loss job university position expulsion Party forced hospitalization socially dangerous introduced Roy Medvedev wrote analysis political terror everyday method replaced administrative means repression.
Rivals consolidated enough support among nomenklatura to oust him from Soviet leadership on the 14th of October 1964 following years of growing discontent. After forced retirement spent much time composing series lengthy memoirs smuggled West published part 1970 died next year dacha. His domestic policies aimed bettering lives ordinary citizens often ineffective especially agriculture. Virgin Lands Campaign initially successful eventually became tremendous disaster Soviet agriculture. Corn crusade failed due planting Siberia without necessary chemicals resulting discredited silage crop so was I. Food prices raised June 1962 meat butter 25, 30% causing public discontent escalated strike revolt Novocharkovsk killed 22 wounded 87 according official accounts convicted 116 executed seven spread through Samizdat damaging reputation West. Drought struck 1963 harvest grain down peak 1958 shortages bread lines kept Khrushchev exhausted hard currency reserves gold stockpile purchasing foodstuffs. Education reforms proposed moving agricultural programs rural areas unsuccessful resistance professors students never actually disagreed premier but did not carry out proposals founded several academic towns Akademgorodok generally successful attracting younger scientists unwilling older ones leave Moscow Leningrad restructuring high schools vocational training links nearby enterprises students work one two days organizations disliked teaching families complained little choice trade learn longer-lasting change related establishment specialized high schools modeled foreign-language schools established Moscow Leningrad beginning 1949 Novosibirsk Maths Science Boarding-School first permanent residential school specializing math science early 1970s over hundred specialized schools mathematics sciences art music sport preschool education increased leaving office about twenty-two percent Soviet children attended preschool half.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was Nikita Khrushchev born and where did he grow up?
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was born on the 15th of April 1894 in Kalinovka, a small village in western Russia. His parents were poor peasants who struggled to make ends meet while moving frequently between rural areas and industrial towns like Yuzovka.
How did Nikita Khrushchev rise to power within the Communist Party after Stalin's death?
Stalin died three days after suffering a massive stroke on the 1st of March 1953, triggering a power struggle that allowed Khrushchev to become First Secretary by September 1953. He consolidated control by allying with Malenkov to arrest Lavrentiy Beria during a Presidium meeting on the 26th of June 1953 and later becoming Premier in March 1958.
What major policy failures led to Nikita Khrushchev being removed from office?
Khrushchev was ousted on the 14th of October 1964 following years of discontent caused by agricultural disasters including the Virgin Lands Campaign and corn crusade failures. Food prices rose significantly in June 1962 causing public unrest and the Novocherkassk strike where 22 people were killed according to official accounts.
When did Nikita Khrushchev deliver his Secret Speech denouncing Stalin's crimes?
The 20th Party Congress opened on the 14th of February 1956 and Khrushchev delivered the Secret Speech to closed sessions on the 25th of February 1956. Over four hours he demolished Stalin's reputation completely while copies circulated widely throughout the USSR despite being marked not for press.
How many executions occurred under Nikita Khrushchev's supervision during the Great Purge in Moscow province?
In June 1937 the Politburo set a quota of 35,000 enemies to be arrested in Moscow province with 5,000 executions required. Two weeks after receiving the order Khrushchev reported arresting 41,305 individuals of whom 8,500 deserved execution.