The USSR and the Soviet Empire, 1953–2000 (A-level only) –…

The idea

In 1953, the USSR was defined by the Stalinist legacy: a highly centralised command economy, and a society paralysed by terror and Stalin's intense paranoia, exemplified by the Doctors' Plot. Stalin's sudden death created a dangerous power vacuum. A collective leadership initially emerged, featuring key contenders: Georgy Malenkov (Premier), Lavrentiy Beria (MVD head), Vyacheslav Molotov (Foreign Minister), and Nikita Khrushchev (Party Secretary). Khrushchev's ultimate success stemmed from his strategic control of the party apparatus. By orchestrating Beria's arrest in 1953, and later outmanoeuvring the 'Anti-Party Group' of Malenkov and Molotov in 1957, Khrushchev consolidated supreme power.

What earns the marks

• Identify the key features of the Stalinist legacy in 1953, specifically the reliance on state terror, the secret police, and strict economic centralisation.
• Analyse the immediate political crisis and power vacuum triggered by Stalin's death, noting the absence of a clear succession plan.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the main contenders: Malenkov's state position, Beria's control of security (MVD), Molotov's prestige, and Khrushchev's party influence.
• Explain the tactics used by Khrushchev to achieve success, including his alliance with Zhukov to eliminate Beria and his use of the Central Committee to defeat his rivals.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that Khrushchev immediately became the sole leader upon Stalin's death in 1953.

  Put it right: Emphasise that there was a period of 'collective leadership' and Khrushchev did not fully consolidate power until 1957.

• Confusing the roles of the contenders, such as claiming Malenkov controlled the secret police or referring to Beria as the head of the NKVD in 1953.

  Put it right: Accurately assign their power bases: Beria controlled the MVD (the NKVD ceased to exist in 1946), Malenkov the state bureaucracy, and Khrushchev the Party apparatus.

• Ignoring the economic aspect of Stalin's legacy.

  Put it right: Ensure you discuss the rigid economic centralisation (Gosplan) and the imbalance between heavy industry and consumer goods.

Exam tips

• Contrast the power bases of the contenders to explain why Khrushchev's control over the Party machinery ultimately proved more decisive than Malenkov's control of the state.
• Use the arrest of Beria as a key turning point to demonstrate how the contenders temporarily united out of shared fear before turning on each other.
• Link the atmosphere of terror and paranoia directly to the difficulty of the succession, as no official heir could be groomed under Stalin's watchful eye.