Khrushchev delivered a historic speech during the 20th Communist Party of the Soviet Union Congress held in February 1956 (Hornsby). In his speech, Khrushchev denounced Stalin; he argued that Stalin was leading a cult of personality within that country. Khrushchev’s speech shocked many people and enlightened them about the situation in their country. The main purpose of Khrushchev’s speech was to denounce Stalin’s cult personality which, according to Khrushchev, had brought problems in the former Soviet Union.
Khrushchev strongly condemned Stalin, saying that he (Stalin) had a spirit of individuality and he was selfish as the ruler of Soviet Union. Khrushchev was bitter because Stalin was behaving as if he had superhuman power above his party and the masses of Soviet Union. In his speech, Khrushchev mentioned that the evil from which all the Soviet people had suffered for long came from Stalin. Khrushchev further stated that it was unfair for one person (that is Stalin) to exercise so much influence in the Soviet Union (Hornsby). According to Khrushchev, the real makers of Soviet Union were the masses and the militant Bolshevik Party that had been inspired by Lenin.
Khrushchev questioned why the militant party and the masses had allowed Stalin to impose his will above the whole Soviet Union. Khrushchev urged the masses to be heroic and the militant party to embrace the Leninist spirit in order to overcome Stalin’s way of ruling their nation. Khrushchev disclosed that Stalin came up with the concept of “enemy of the people” so as to suppress anybody who disagreed with him (Hornsby). Khrushchev’s speech was significant in the Russian history because it marked the beginning of the end of the oppressive Stalinist era.
Works Cited
Hornsby, Rob. Protest, Reform And Repression In Khrushchev's Soviet Union. Cambridge, U.K.:
Cambridge University Press, 2013. Print.
