The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union begins in Moscow. On the last night of the meeting, Premier Nikita Khrushchev condemns Joseph Stalin's crimes in a secret speech.

The Landmark 20th Congress of the CPSU: A Turning Point in Soviet History

Held from 14 to 25 February 1956, the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) represented a pivotal moment, marking a significant departure from the brutal legacy of Joseph Stalin. This extraordinary gathering is predominantly remembered for First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev's groundbreaking "Secret Speech," a dramatic and unprecedented denouncement of Stalin's personality cult and the vast abuses of power characteristic of his dictatorship. This event sent shockwaves not only through the Soviet Union but also across the global communist movement, initiating a period known as De-Stalinization.

The Context: Post-Stalin USSR and the Thaw

By 1956, three years after Stalin's death in March 1953, the Soviet Union was navigating a complex transition. The initial period saw a collective leadership emerge, but First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev was gradually consolidating his power. There was a growing internal recognition among some Party elites of the need to address the systemic issues and human cost of Stalin's era, including the widespread terror, purges, and the suppression of dissent that had led to millions of deaths. This desire for a "thaw" in the political and cultural climate, alongside strategic considerations for Soviet foreign policy and ideological influence, set the stage for the dramatic revelations to come.

The Unveiling of the "Secret Speech"

The "Secret Speech," officially titled "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences," was delivered by Khrushchev in a closed session on the final day of the Congress, 25 February. It was a blistering critique, detailing Stalin's grave errors, his paranoid excesses, his role in the Great Purge, the targeting of loyal Party members, and the distortion of Leninist principles through the creation of an all-encompassing personality cult. Khrushchev exposed Stalin's responsibility for military blunders, his tyrannical rule, and the systematic repression that had characterized his three-decade leadership. This was a radical break from decades of official adoration and unquestioning loyalty.

The speech was deemed "secret" because it was delivered at an unscheduled, closed-door session of the Congress, with no foreign delegates present and the press excluded. While not immediately published in the Soviet media, copies were distributed to Party organizations throughout the USSR and later to Eastern Bloc countries, often read aloud at Party meetings. Its contents were quickly leaked to the West, most notably by the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, who obtained a copy via Poland, leading to its publication in the *New York Times* in June 1956. This public exposure amplified its global impact.

Delegates' Perplexity and Gradual Revelations

The delegates attending the 20th Congress were given no prior indication of the monumental shift that was about to occur. The proceedings commenced with what appeared to be business as usual. Khrushchev, in his opening remarks, called for all to stand in memory of the communist leaders who had passed since the previous Congress, notably mentioning Stalin in the same breath as Klement Gottwald, the former President of Czechoslovakia who died shortly after Stalin. This initial gesture, far from a denunciation, was merely a subtle de-emphasis of Stalin's singular, revered status. Over the subsequent ten days, hints of a new direction emerged gradually, delivered through less direct criticisms and policy shifts, which left those present in a state of growing perplexity and unease about the true intentions of the new leadership. The full, brutal truth was reserved for the shocking climax of the "Secret Speech."

Immediate and Long-Term Impacts of De-Stalinization

The immediate aftermath of the 20th Congress and the "Secret Speech" saw a period of "De-Stalinization" begin in earnest across the Soviet Union. This involved the removal of Stalin's statues, the renaming of cities and institutions bearing his name, and a degree of rehabilitation for some victims of his purges, though full accountability for the crimes was never pursued. The revelations severely damaged the prestige of the Soviet Union as the undisputed leader of the international communist movement and contributed to internal unrest, such as the Hungarian Revolution and Polish October in 1956, as satellite states sought greater autonomy. In Poland, the communist leader Bolesław Bierut died in Moscow shortly after attending the 20th Congress, with some speculating that the shock of Khrushchev's speech contributed to his demise, underscoring the profound psychological impact of the revelations on the old guard. Globally, it spurred some communist parties to distance themselves from Moscow's totalitarian past, while others, like China under Mao Zedong, condemned it as revisionism, leading to the Sino-Soviet split.

Congress Outcomes: New Leadership and Direction

Beyond the "Secret Speech," the 20th Congress also conducted its routine business, which included the election of the 20th Central Committee of the CPSU. This process solidified Khrushchev's power base and brought in new members who were generally more aligned with his reformist agenda, or at least amenable to a departure from Stalinist rigidity. The Congress also laid the groundwork for new economic policies aimed at improving living standards and initiated a shift in foreign policy towards "peaceful coexistence" with the capitalist West, signalling a significant reorientation for the Soviet state.

Frequently Asked Questions about the 20th Congress of the CPSU

What was the primary significance of the 20th Congress of the CPSU?
The 20th Congress is primarily significant for initiating De-Stalinization within the Soviet Union and the global communist movement. It marked a public, albeit initially "secret," repudiation of Joseph Stalin's dictatorial rule, his personality cult, and the widespread abuses of power that characterized his regime.
Who delivered the famous "Secret Speech" and what was its main message?
First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev delivered the "Secret Speech." Its main message was a comprehensive denunciation of Joseph Stalin's crimes, including his mass purges, military blunders, the suppression of internal party dissent, and the fostering of an extreme personality cult that distorted true Leninist principles.
Why was Khrushchev's speech called "secret"?
The speech was delivered in a closed session of the Congress on the final day, with no foreign delegates or press present. It was not immediately published in the Soviet media but circulated internally within the Party, creating a sense of secrecy around its explosive contents until it was leaked to the West.
What was the "cult of personality" denounced at the Congress?
The "cult of personality" referred to the excessive, unquestioning veneration of Joseph Stalin, where he was portrayed as an infallible, god-like leader. Khrushchev's speech exposed this as a tool for consolidating Stalin's absolute power and suppressing any opposition or criticism, deviating from collective leadership principles.
How did the 20th Congress affect the broader Communist world?
The 20th Congress had profound effects, leading to unrest in Eastern Bloc countries (e.g., the Hungarian Revolution and Polish October), causing divisions within international communist parties, and contributing to the ideological split between the Soviet Union and China. It forced many communist parties worldwide to re-evaluate their relationship with Moscow and the legacy of Stalinism.