Nikita Khrushchev

Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: Никита Сергеевич Хрущёв

15 April 1894 – 11 September 1971) was a Soviet politician who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1958 to 1964. Khrushchev was responsible for the De-Stalinization of the Soviet Union, for backing the progress of the early Soviet space program, and for several relatively liberal reforms in areas of domestic policy.

Early Life

Khrushchev was born in Kalinovka, a small village in the Russian Empire, now part of Russia. He worked as a metalworker during his youth and joined the Bolsheviks in 1918. During the Russian Civil War, he served in the Red Army.

Rise to Power

Khrushchev's political career began in earnest when he became involved with the Communist Party in the 1920s. He rose through the ranks, becoming a close associate of Joseph Stalin. After Stalin's death in 1953, Khrushchev emerged as a key figure in the power struggle that followed, eventually becoming the First Secretary of the Communist Party.

Leadership and Policies

Khrushchev's tenure was marked by a series of significant reforms and events. He initiated the policy of De-Stalinization, which sought to dismantle the repressive mechanisms of Stalin's regime and promote a more open and liberal society. This included the release of political prisoners and a relaxation of censorship.

Khrushchev also played a crucial role in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, a major confrontation with the United States that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. His decision to place nuclear missiles in Cuba was seen as a bold move to counteract U.S. missiles in Turkey and Italy.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1964, Khrushchev was removed from power in a party coup and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev. He spent the rest of his life in retirement, writing his memoirs. Khrushchev's legacy is mixed; he is credited with easing the oppressive atmosphere of Stalin's rule but criticized for his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and other foreign policy issues.

See Also

• Cold War
• Soviet space program
• De-Stalinization
• Cuban Missile Crisis

References

William,

 Khrushchev: The Man and His Era, 
  
 W.W. Norton & Company, 
 2003, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0-393-32484-6,

Nikita Khrushchev Full text,

 Encyclopaedia Britannica,

External Links

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Nikita Khrushchev
• History.com: Nikita Khrushchev