Khrushchevs destalinisation

• 1956 Khrushchev denounced Stalin's leadership in 1956 at the 20th party congress
• This itself angered international leaders such as Mao as theire new regime was based of of Stalins and they idealised his leadership
• Denouncing was his attempt to distance himself from stalin as he revealed the horrific crimes and reality of what happened which much of the public was unaware of
• Denouncing and revealing crimes was a good way for him to increase his power and gain support from the public and gov leaders
• He revealed Stalin was not in line of succession after Lenin's death
• He already gained support and popularity through the Virgin Land scheme in 1954
• However this action created a bad reaction form many as riots starte din gulags and in countries under USSR control such as hungary
• Was a huge shock as to the population stalin was seen as a sain and a hero but now he was seen as the enemy
• Stalins body was removed from where Lenin's was places which was on display shows the power Khrushchev was gaining and how it could have just been a publicity stunt
• Elements like public and political prisoners being released from gulags
• And secret police use was hugely decreased and barely use by him especially to Stalin's extent
• Removal of Stalins cult of personality from soviet society, including removal of his statues and rename of Stalingrad
• Implemented new policies and moved away from stalin emphasise on heavy industry and forced collectivisation focusing on consumer goods production
• Closed gulags and they were no longer in use
• In a way this was a good way to gain popularity howver leaders and public now had dislike to leadership rule due to knowing the extent of terror that was national
• It provided soviet people to voice their grievances
• Reducing tensions with foreign countries helped reducing likehood on war and arms race