#The Post-Stalin Era: A Study Guide for Exam Success

Welcome! This guide is designed to help you confidently navigate the complex period following Stalin's death. Let's break down the key events and figures, ensuring you're fully prepared for your exam.

#1. The Shadow of Stalin:

• Death of Stalin (1953): Joseph Stalin's death marked a turning point. Remember his legacy:

  • Industrialization: Rapid, but brutal.
  • Holodomor: Famine in Ukraine, a tragic example of his policies.
  • Secret Police: Used to maintain power through fear and oppression.
  
  Stalin's death created a power vacuum and a need for change.

#2. De-Stalinization Under Khrushchev:

• Nikita Khrushchev: Stalin's successor, initiated de-Stalinization.

  • "Secret Speech": Condemned Stalin's purges and cult of personality. 💡
  • Reforms: Renamed Stalingrad to Volgograd, closed gulags.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: A major international crisis during his leadership.

  <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Nikita_Khrushchev_...