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Nikita Khrushchev
Никита Хрущёв
A portrait shot of an older, bald man with bifocal glasses. He is wearing a blazer over a collared shirt and tie. In his hands, he is holding a set of papers.
First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
In office
September 14, 1953 – October 14, 1964
President Kliment Voroshilov
Leonid Brezhnev
Anastas Mikoyan
Premier Georgy Malenkov
Nikolai Bulganin
Himself
Preceded by Joseph Stalin
Succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev
Premier of the Soviet Union
In office
March 27, 1958 – October 14, 1964
First Deputies Frol Kozlov
Alexei Kosygin
Dmitriy Ustinov
Lazar Kaganovich
Anastas Mikoyan
Preceded by Nikolai Bulganin
Succeeded by Alexei Kosygin
Personal details
Born (1894-04-15)15 April 1894
Kalinovka, Dmitriyevsky Uyezd, Kursk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died September 11, 1971(1971-09-11) (aged 77)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Soviet
Political party Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Spouse(s) Yefrosinia Khrushcheva (1916–1919, died)
Marusia Khrushcheva (1922, separated)
Nina Khrushcheva (1923–1971, survived as widow)
Signature A scrawled "Н Хрущёв"
Nikita Khrushchev
Никита Хрущёв
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-B0628-0015-035, Nikita S. Chruschtschow.jpg
First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
In office
September 14, 1953 – October 14, 1964
President Kliment Voroshilov
Leonid Brezhnev
Anastas Mikoyan
Premier Georgy Malenkov
Nikolai Bulganin
Himself
Preceded by Joseph Stalin
Succeeded by Leonid Brezhnev
Premier of the Soviet Union
In office
March 27, 1958 – October 14, 1964
First Deputies Frol Kozlov
Alexei Kosygin
Dmitriy Ustinov
Lazar Kaganovich
Anastas Mikoyan
Preceded by Nikolai Bulganin
Succeeded by Alexei Kosygin
Personal details
Born (1894-04-15)15 April 1894
Kalinovka, Dmitriyevsky Uyezd, Kursk Governorate, Russian Empire
Died September 11, 1971(1971-09-11) (aged 77)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Soviet
Political party Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Spouse(s) Yefrosinia Khrushcheva (1916–1919, died)
Marusia Khrushcheva (1922, separated)
Nina Khrushcheva (1923–1971, survived as widow)
Signature A scrawled "Н Хрущёв"

Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (15 April 1894 – 11 September 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. He ruled from 1953–1964.

Early life

Nikita was born in the town of Kalinovka in Russia. He later moved to Ukraine. He worked in mines, and became part of the Bolshevik movement. He was a political commissar in the Red Army in the Russian Civil War and again in World War II and moved his way up in the Communist Party, eventually becoming trusted by Joseph Stalin. When Stalin died, Georgy Malenkov and several others including Khrushchev shared power. Eventually Khrushchev became the leader.

He died of heart disease on 11 September 1971 in Moscow, aged 77.

"De-Stalinization"

When Nikita became the leader of the Soviet Union, he began something he called "De-Stalinization". He made a secret speech, in which he denounced Stalin as a man who committed many murders of innocent people. In early 1956, he took down all posters and statues of Joseph Stalin. Also, he moved Stalin's grave to a place where people could not see it.

Relations with the "West"

He also had better contacts with the western countries like the USA, Britain, and France. This means the USSR and the western world were friendlier. He visited America in 1959. During this visit, Khrushchev spoke at the United Nations and visited where he wanted, including destinations such as New York and Hollywood. However, his visit to Disneyland was cancelled for security reasons.

But the USSR and the US still did not trust each other. In 1962 America and the USSR had a Cuban Missile Crisis which could have led to nuclear war but didn't. Khrushchev had bargained with the Americans to get rid of the missiles they had placed in Turkey, for the missiles in Cuba were the only way for withdrawal.

Relations with China

Also, during this time, the Soviet Union became a lot less friendly with China. Because the Chinese leader Mao Zedong liked Stalin, he did not like it when Khrushchev became friendlier with the west, and when Nikita Khrushchev began a "destalinization" campaign.

Preceded by
Josef Stalin
First Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party
1953–1964
Succeeded by
Leonid Brezhnev
Preceded by
Nikolai Bulganin
Prime Minister of the Soviet Union
1958–1964
Succeeded by
Alexey Kosygin

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