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[[File:Nikita_Khrushchev_in_1959Nikita_Khrushchev_in_WW2.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Nikita Khrushchev in 1959during World War II]]Nikita Khrushchev assumed leadership of the Soviet Union during the period following after the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953. Khrushchev served as a General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as a Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964. When in 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was forced to leave his post and the Party leadership, a special “troika” representatives consisting of Alexey Kosygin, Leonid Brezhnev and Anastas Mikoyan initially replaced him. Brezhnev eventually assumed the central role among the three and, under Brezhnev’s rule, the Soviet expanded its sphere of influence to include much of Southeast Asia, Africa, parts of Central America and the Caribbean. Until his death, in 1971, the government closely monitored Khrushchev. Khrushchev became famous and mostly recognized for his rejection of the “personality cult” that Stalin had fostered during his own thirty-year rule. Khrushchev also attempted revival of the Communist campaign to suppress all remnant religious institutions in the Soviet Union. Furthermore, Khrushchev supported the invasion and crackdown on Hungary in 1956, the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and the deployment of Soviet weapons in Cuba in 1962.

In this regardRemarkably in 1964, Nikita Khrushchev is something of an enigma and complex personalitywas forced to leave his post. In terms The Party leadership comprised of his foreign policy and his position on religion and on Marxist-Leninist doctrine, he was clearly a hardliner. Howeverspecial “troika” representatives, he was a reformer in the sense that(Alexey Kosygin, although not allowing any criticism of Marxist-LeninismLeonid Brezhnev, and Anastas Mikoyan) deposed Khrushchev did allow criticism against Stalin . Eventually, Brezhnev assumed the central role among the three and even permitted some anti-Stalinist literature to be published and disseminated in USSR’s society. Khrushchev did hope to raise under his rule the Soviet citizens’ standard Union expanded its sphere of living so they could benefit from the transference influence to include much of the ownership Southeast Asia, Africa, parts of “the means of production” to Central America and the StateCaribbean.

His De-Stalinization policies reduced Why was Khrushchev deposed? How did Khrushchev fall from power? How had he alienated the powers Communist Party leadership? Khrushchev was seen as enough of the secret police and opened up new academic and cultural freedoms. Historians believe a concern that Khrushchev’s efforts in these areas provided a context for the reformist policies of Mikhail Gorbachev later. Khrushchev’s downfall largely resulted from until his lack of clear ruling strategydeath, true diplomatic skills and the complex multifaceted aspects of domestic and international destabilization that occurred during his tenure in office. Without Khrushchev being removed from office1971, it is unlikely that the Soviet Union could have experienced the revival and the growth of its sphere of influence that occurred during the Brezhnev eragovernment closely monitored him.<ref>"Nikita This article will explore how Khrushchev: Rise to power, personality & legacy" http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nikita_Khrushchev</ref>==Struggle for power and assuming leadership lost the confidence of the Soviet Union==Communist Party and was removed from office.

====De-Stalinization and domestic policies==== [[File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-B0628-0015-035,_Nikita_S._ChruschtschowNikita_Khrushchev_in_1959.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Khrushchev in 1959]]By the end of 1955, due to the policy, pursued by Khrushchev, thousands of political criminals had returned home, and shared their experience in the Soviet labor camps. With several million political prisoners newly released, Khrushchev eased and freed the domestic political atmosphere. Continuing investigation into the abuses further revealed Stalin’s crimes to his successors. Khrushchev believed that once he successfully removed the stain of Stalinism, the Party would inspire even greater loyalty among the people. Beginning in October 1955, Khrushchev insisted on revealing Stalin’s crimes before the delegates to the upcoming 20th Party Congress. Some of his colleagues opposed the disclosure and managed to persuade him to make his remarks in a closed session. <ref>Nikita Khrushchev: Consolidation of power & his Secret Speech - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev#Consolidation_of_power.3B_Secret_Speech</ref> The 20th Party Congress opened in 1956 , and Khrushchev delivered his so-called “Secret Speech” to a closed session of the Congress and strictly limited to a number of many Soviet delegates. The speech was the nucleus of a far-reaching de-Stalinization campaign intended to destroy the image of the late dictator as an infallible leader and to revert official policy to an idealized Leninist model. Observers outside the Soviet Union have suggested that Khrushchev’s primary purpose in making the speech was to consolidate his own position of political leadership by associating himself with reform measures while discrediting his rivals in the Presidium (Politburo) by implicating them in Stalin’s crimes. The secret speech, although subsequently read to groups of party activists and “closed” local party meetings, was never officially published. Nonetheless, it caused shock and disillusionment throughout the entire Soviet Union, harming Stalin’s reputation and the perception of the political system and party that had enabled him to gain and misuse such great power. It also helped give rise to a period of liberalization known as the “Khrushchev thaw,” during which censorship policy was relaxed, marking a Soviet literary renaissance. Thousands of political prisoners were released, and thousands more who had perished during Stalin’s reign were officially “rehabilitated.”

The secret speech, although subsequently read also contributed to groups of party activists the revolts that occurred later that year in Hungary and “closed” local party meetingsPoland, was never officially published. Nonetheless, it caused shock and disillusionment throughout further weakening the Soviet Union’s control over the entire Soviet Union, harming Stalin’s reputation bloc and temporarily strengthening the perception position of Khrushchev’s opponents in the Presidium. Furthermore, through his Secret Speech, Khrushchev effectively denounced the political system and party "cult of personality" that had enabled him to gain surrounded Stalin and misuse such great poweraccused Stalin of the crimes committed during the Great Purges. It also helped give rise to a period This denunciation effectively alienated Khrushchev from the more conservative elements of liberalization known as the “Khrushchev thaw”party. Moreover, during which censorship policy was relaxed, marking it also resulted in a literary deepening wedge between the Soviet Union and China that led to the so-called Asian Cold War and the Sino-Soviet renaissancesplit later in 1960. Thousands of political prisoners were released, <ref>Khrushchev’s Secret Speech and thousands more who had perished during Stalin’s reign were officially “rehabilitated”its effects - http://www.britannica. com/event/Khrushchevs-secret-speech</ref>

The speech also contributed ====First unsuccessful attempt to the revolts that occurred later that year in Hungary remove Khrushchev and Polandhis further policies====In June 1957, Khrushchev was almost overthrown from his position, further weakening the Soviet Union’s control over the Soviet bloc and temporarily strengthening the position of Khrushchev’s opponents , although a vote in the Presidiumwent against him. FurthermoreStill, through his Secret Speech Khrushchev effectively denounced he managed to reverse this by replacing Bulganin as prime minister and establishing himself as the "cult clear leader of personality" that surrounded Stalin both the Soviet state and accused Stalin of the crimes committed during the Great PurgesCommunist party. This denunciation effectively alienated Khrushchev from With the more conservative elements help of the party. MoreoverMarshal Georgy Zhukov, it also resulted in a deepening wedge between the Soviet Union and China Khrushchev managed to prevent what he referred to as an Anti-Party Group that led attempted to oust him from the so-called Asian Cold War party leadership, and he became Premier of the Sino-Soviet split later Union in 1960. <ref>Khrushchev’s Secret Speech and its effects - http://wwwMarch 1958.britannica.com/event/Khrushchevs-secret-speech</ref>

==First unsuccessful Confirmed in power and his new role, Khrushchev promoted and set a new policy of “Reform Communism” throughout the Soviet Union. In an attempt to remove humanize the Soviet system – but without sacrificing its ideology – he placed greater emphasis on producing consumer goods, in contrast to the Stalinist emphasis on heavy industry. Khrushchev began seeing the US and the West much more as a rival instead of an evil entity. He aimed at showing off the superiority of Soviet over American and his Western products. This position further alienated Mao Zedong. As the Chinese Cultural Revolution proceeded, there was no worse insult than to be scorned for being a "Chinese Khrushchev," the equivalent of an ideological turncoat. Unsurprisingly, during the following years, all this also led to further policies==alienation with the People’s Republic of China and what would soon become their own "Cold War" triggered by the Sino-Soviet Split in 1960.

In June 1957====Liberalization, Khrushchev was almost overthrown from his positionpolitical, military andagricultural reforms====During Khrushchev’s time in office, although a vote in for the Presidium actually went against himfirst time, he managed the Party leadership permitted Soviet tourists to reverse this by replacing Bulganin as prime minister go overseas, and establishing himself as the clear leader of Khrushchev often seemed amenable to widening exchanges with both the Soviet state socialist and Communist partycapitalist countries. With the help of Marshal Georgy ZhukovFurthermore, by 1954 Khrushchev effectively managed to prevent what he referred to as an Anti-Party Group that attempted reform the Stalinist security apparatus by subordinating it to oust him from the top party leadership . He divided Stalin’s Ministry of Internal Affairs into criminal police and he became Premier security services – KGB (now Federal Security Service – FSB), which in turn reported directly to the U.S.S.R’s Council of Ministers. The head of KGB was also Khrushchev’s nominee. However, the Soviet Union military bitterly resisted Khrushchev’s desire to reduce conventional armaments in March 1958favor of nuclear missiles. His attempted decentralization of the party structure begun antagonizing many of those who had previously supported his rise to power. According to various authors, political terror as an everyday method of government was replaced under Khrushchev by his administrative means of repression.

Confirmed in power and in his new role, Khrushchev promoted and set a new policy of “Reform Communism” throughout the Soviet Union. In an attempt to humanize Soviet system – but without sacrificing its ideology – he placed greater emphasis on producing consumer goods, in contrast to Stalinist emphasis on heavy industry. Khrushchev begun seeing the US and the West much more as a rival instead of an evil entity. He aimed at showing off the superiority of Soviet over American and Western products. This position further alienated Mao Zedong. As the Chinese Cultural Revolution proceeded, there was no worse insult than to be scorned for being a "Chinese Khrushchev," the equivalent of an ideological turncoat. Unsurprisingly, during the following years all this also led to further alienation with the People’s Republic of China and what would soon become their own "Cold War" triggered by the Sino<dh-Soviet Split in 1960.ad/>

==LiberalizationIn 1958, politicalKhrushchev for the first time opened a public Central Committee meeting to hundreds of Soviet officials. This expansion of the Central Committee allowed Khrushchev even greater control. Anyone who dissented from him would have to make their case in front of a large, military disapproving crowd. By this time, after all, the Communist Party had solidified into the so-called nomenclature – 10 million-strong elite of bureaucrats, managers, and technicians intending on guarding their power and agricultural reforms==prerogatives at all cost. <ref>Nikita Khrushchev: Domestic policies - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev#Domestic_policies</ref>

During The central crisis of Khrushchev’s time in officeadministration, for the first timehowever, was agriculture. He optimistically based many plans on the Party leadership permitted Soviet tourists to go overseascrops in 1956 and 1958, and Khrushchev often seemed amenable which fueled his repeated promises to widening exchanges with overtake the United States in both socialist agricultural and capitalist countries. Furthermore, by 1954 Khrushchev effectively managed to reform the Stalinist security apparatus by subordinating it to the top party leadershipindustrial production. He divided Stalin’s Ministry opened up more than 70 million acres of Internal Affairs into criminal police virgin land in Siberia and security services – KGB (now Federal Security Service – FSB)send thousands of laborers, but this plan was unsuccessful, which in turn reported directly and the Soviet Union soon had to import wheat from Canada and the UUS once again.S.S.R’s Council of Ministers. The head of KGB Khrushchev was also Khrushchev’s nominee. However, convinced and believed that he could solve the Soviet military bitterly resisted Khrushchev’s desire to reduce conventional armaments in favor of nuclear missiles. His attempted decentralization Union’s agricultural crises through the planting of corn on the same scale as the party structure begun antagonizing many of those who had previously supported his own rise United States, though failing to power. According to various authors, political terror as an everyday method of government was replaced under Khrushchev by his administrative means of repressionrealize that the differences in climate and soil made this strongly inadvisable.

In 1958, ====Khrushchev for foreign and defense policies: on the first time opened a public Central Committee meeting to hundreds brink of Soviet officialsnuclear war====[[File:Nikita_Khrusjtsjov. This, however, actually allowed jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna in 1961]]<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Russian History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div>When Khrushchev even greater took control, since any dissenters would have to make their case in front the outside world still knew little of a largehim, disapproving crowdand he was initially not highly recognized. By this timeShort, after allheavyset, and wearing ill-fit suits, he was commonly seen as very energetic but not intellectual, and was dismissed by many as a buffoon who would not last long. Although his attacks on world capitalism were virulent and primitive, his outgoing personality and peasant humor were in sharp contrast to the Communist Party image introduced by all earlier Soviet public figures. He also had solidified into abysmal diplomatic skills, giving him the so-called nomenclature – 10 million-strong elite reputation of bureaucratsbeing a rude, managers uncivilized peasant in the West and technicians intending on guarding their power and prerogatives at all costan irresponsible clown in his own country. <ref>Nikita Khrushchev: Domestic policies His methods of administration, although efficient, were also acknowledged as erratic since they threatened to abolish a large number of Stalinist- https://enera agencies.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev#Domestic_policies</ref>

The central crisis In foreign affairs, Khrushchev widely asserted his doctrine of Khrushchev’s administration, however, was agriculture. He optimistically based many plans on peaceful co-existence with the crops in 1956 and 1958non-communist world, which fueled he had first proclaimed in his repeated promises to overtake public speech at the United States in both agricultural and industrial production20th Party Congress. He opened up more than 70 million acres of virgin land in Siberia and send thousands of laborersIn 1959, but this plan was unsuccessfulKhrushchev conferred with President Eisenhower, and the which brought Soviet Union soon had -American relations to import wheat from Canada and the US once againnew highs. Notwithstanding these hopeful developments, Khrushchev was convinced as a diplomat remained irascible and believed that blunt. Back to Moscow reception, he could solve directed his famous “We will bury you!” comment at the Soviet Union’s agricultural crises through the planting of corn on the same scale as the United States, though failing to realize that the differences in climate and soil made this strongly inadvisablecapitalist West.

==Khrushchev foreign and defense policies: on A long-planned summit conference with Eisenhower in Paris in May 1960 broke up with Khrushchev’s announcement that a U.S. plane (a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft) had been shot down over the brink of nuclear war==[[File:Nikita_KhrusjtsjovSoviet Union with its pilot captured.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Nikita Khrushchev repeatedly disrupted the proceedings in Vienna the United Nations General Assembly in 1961]]When Khrushchev took control, the outside world still knew little of him, and he was initially not highly recognized. Short, heavyset, and wearing illSeptember-fit suits, he was commonly seen as very energetic but not intellectual, and was dismissed October 1960 by many as a buffoon who would not last long. Although pounding his attacks fists on world capitalism were virulent the desk and primitiveshouting in Russian. At one of the United Nations conferences, his outgoing personality and peasant humor were in sharp contrast he even reacted to the image introduced by all earlier a comparison between Soviet public figures. He also had very poor diplomatic skills, giving him the reputation control of being a rude, uncivilized peasant Eastern Europe and Western imperialism in one of the West most surreal moments in Cold War history, by waving his shoe and an irresponsible clown in banging it on his own country. His methods of administration, although efficient, were also acknowledged as erratic since they threatened to abolish a large number of Stalinist-era agenciesdesk.

In foreign affairs1961, Khrushchev widely asserted his doctrine of peaceful co-existence blustering Vienna conference with the non-communist worldnew U.S. president, John F. Kennedy, which he failed to achieve a substantial agreement on the pressing German question; the Soviet Union built the infamous Berlin Wall shortly after that. Increased missile buildups had followed Soviet success in lofting the world's first proclaimed space satellite in his public speech at the 20th Party Congress1957. In 1959Khrushchev made a dangerous gamble in 1962, Khrushchev conferred with President Eisenhowerover Cuba, which brought Soviet-American relations to new highs. Notwithstanding these hopeful developments, Khrushchev as almost made a diplomat remained irascible and bluntThird World War inevitable. Back He secretly attempted to Moscow reception, he directed his famous “We will bury you!” comment at the capitalist West. A longdeploy Soviet medium-planned summit conference with Eisenhower range missiles in Paris in May 1960 broke up with Khrushchev’s announcement that a UCuba.S. plane (a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft) had been shot down over Once detected by the Soviet Union with its pilot captured. Khrushchev repeatedly disrupted US, and during the proceedings following tense confrontation in October 1962, when the United Nations General Assembly in September-October 1960 by pounding his fists States and the Soviet Union stood on the desk and shouting in Russian. At one brink of the United Nations conferencesnuclear war, he even reacted Khrushchev agreed to a comparison between Soviet control of Eastern Europe and Western imperialism in one of remove the most surreal moments in Cold War history, by waving his shoe and banging it missiles on his deskthe promise that the United States would make no further attempt to overthrow Cuba’s communist government.

In 1961Nevertheless, his blustering Vienna conference with the new U.S. president, John F. Kennedy, failed to achieve a solid agreement on the pressing German question; Chinese communists unfavorably and harshly criticized the Soviet Union built the infamous Berlin Wall shortly thereafterfor mishandling this settlement. The Sino-Soviet success split, which began in lofting 1959, reached the world’s first space satellite stage of public accusations in 1957 had been followed by increased missile buildups1960. Khrushchev made a dangerous gamble in 1962China’s ideological insist on all-out “war against the imperialists, over Cuba, which almost made a Third World War inevitable. He secretly attempted ” and Mao Zedong’s annoyance with Khrushchev’s co-existence policies was exacerbated by Soviet refusal to assist the Chinese nuclear weapon buildup and to deploy Soviet mediumrectify the Russo-range missiles in CubaChinese border. Once detected by The Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty reached between the US, Soviet Union and during the following tense confrontation United States in October 19621963, when although generally welcomed throughout the United States and world, intensified even further Chinese denunciations of Soviet “revisionism”.<ref>Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev: Premier of Union apparently stood on the brink of nuclear war, Khrushchev agreed to remove Soviet Socialist Republics & Leadership of the missiles on the promise that the United States would make no further attempt to overthrow Cuba’s communist governmentSoviet Union: http://www.britannica. com/biography/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev</ref>

Nevertheless====Khrushchev’s forced removal from office====[[File:RIAN_archive_159271_Nikita_Khrushchev,_Valentina_Tereshkova, Chinese communists unfavorably and harshly criticized the Soviet Union for mishandling this settlement_Pavel_Popovich_and_Yury_Gagarin_at_Lenin_Mausoleum. The Sino-Soviet splitjpg|thumbnail|left|350px|Khrushchev, Valentina Tereshkova, which began Pavel Popovichm and Yury Gagarin in 1959, reached the stage of public denunciations 1963]]Khrushchev’s rivals in 1960. China’s ideological insist on all-out “war against the imperialists” Communist party deposed him largely due to his erratic and Mao Zedong’s annoyance with Khrushchev’s co-existence policies were exacerbated cantankerous behavior, regarded by Soviet refusal to assist the Chinese nuclear weapon buildup and to rectify party as a tremendous embarrassment on the Russo-Chinese borderinternational stage. The Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty reached between the Soviet Union and the United States failures in 1963agriculture, although generally welcomed throughout the worldquarrel with China, intensified even further Chinese denunciations and the humiliating resolution of Soviet “revisionism”.<ref>Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev: Premier of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics & Leadership the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis added to the growing resentment of Khrushchev’s own arbitrary administrative methods, were the Soviet Union: http://wwwmajor factors in his downfall.britannica.com/biography/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev</ref>

==Khrushchev’s forced removal from office==[[File:RIAN_archive_159271_Nikita_Khrushchev,_Valentina_Tereshkova,_Pavel_Popovich_and_Yury_Gagarin_at_Lenin_Mausoleum.jpg|thumbnail|250px|Khrushchev, Valentina Tereshkova, Pavel Popovichm and Yury Gagarin in 1963]]Khrushchev’s rivals in the Communist party deposed him largely due to his erratic and cantankerous behavior, regarded by the party as a tremendous embarrassment on the international stage. The failures in agriculture, the quarrel with China, and the humiliating resolution of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, added to growing resentment of Khrushchev’s own arbitrary administrative methods, were the major factors in his downfall. On October 14, 1964, after a palace coup orchestrated by his “loyal” protégé and deputy, Leonid Brezhnev, the Central Committee forced Khrushchev to retire from his position as the party’s first secretary and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union because of his “advanced age and poor health”. The Communist Party subsequently accused Khrushchev of making political mistakes, such as mishandling the Cuban Missile Crisis and disorganizing the Soviet economy, especially in the agricultural sector. However, Khrushchev considered his own forced retirement a major breakthrough and successful achievement. He was did not to opposeafter he left office, there were no executions after his coup, and his retirement was “negotiated” as between equals.<ref>Khrushchev’s last days in power - http://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/23/world/son-tells-of-khrushchev-s-last-days-in-power.html?pagewanted=all</ref> Following his ousting, Khrushchev spent seven years under house arrest. He died at his home in Moscow on September 11, 1971.

Despite all, for the Soviet Union and indeed for the entire world communist movement, Nikita Khrushchev was the great catalyst of political and social change. In his seven years of power as first secretary and premier, he broke both the fact and the tradition of the with Stalin dictatorship and established a basis for liberalizing tendencies within Soviet communism. His experience with international realities confirmed him in his doctrine of peaceful co-existence with the noncommunist world – in itself , a drastic break with established Soviet communist teaching, was somewhat successful. He publicly recognized the limitations as well as the power of nuclear weapons, and his decision to negotiate with the United States for some form of nuclear-testing control was of vast importance.  Despite his repression of the Hungarian uprising in 1956, his acceptance of “different roads to socialism” led to growing independence among European communist parties, but his Russian nationalism and his suspicion of Mao Zedong’s communism helped create an unexpectedly deep gap between China and the Soviet Union. By the time he was removed from office, he had set up guidelines for and limitations to Soviet policy that his successors were hard put to alter. ====References====

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