Nikita Khrushchev: The Red Tsar - Full Documentary

Nikita Khrushchev: A Complex Leader

In September 1959, Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet Premier and head of the Communist Party, visited the USA with his family. He aimed to showcase 'Communism with a human face' by engaging in typical political activities and touring various parts of America. During his visit, he interacted with prominent figures like Shirley MacLaine and Rockefeller.

The Provocative Nature of Nikita Khrushchev Nikita Khrushchev, known as Hurricane Nikita by the international media, was a voluble and provocative figure. His outbursts were met with dismay around the world, likened to Trump's emotional unpredictability. He initiated a policy of crisis that escalated until it culminated in the Cuban missile crisis.

Khrushchev's Legacy and Last Years Khrushchev spent his last years leading a withdrawn life outside Moscow where he recorded memoirs on tape. He revealed dangerous information about shipping missiles to Cuba without his successor's knowledge and expressed concerns about restoring Stalinism.

In March 1953, the news of Stalin's death brought a mix of emotions to the people. While some mourned his passing and saw him as a father figure and leader, others felt relief at the end of his iron-fisted rule. The event marked both mourning for their former leader and hope for a new direction in building socialism.

Born in 1894, Nikita Khrushchev grew up as a peasant in a poor hut on the border of Russia and Ukraine. At age 16, he worked as a miner but soon joined the Communist Party to pursue his ambitions despite minimal education.

Khrushchev quickly becomes a Stalinist after meeting him in Moscow and rises through the Party, gaining access to supreme power. His friendship with Stalin's wife and his role as a court jester help galvanize his career.

Nikita Khrushchev, while in charge, oversaw the construction of Moscow metro and magnificent buildings as a tribute to Stalin. Despite doubts about the validity of arrests and death sentences during Stalin's purges, Khrushchev was too afraid to confront the truth due to his respect for Stalin. He later admitted that he had signed death warrants for many people.

Khrushchev's Role in Eastern Poland After the Hitler-Stalin Pact of 1939, Khrushchev was responsible for annexing Eastern Poland, resulting in over 100,000 arrests and tens of thousands murdered. He never publicly or privately regretted his role.

Khrushchev's Involvement in Great Patriotic War During the Nazi Germany attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941, Khrushchev served as a political commissar at various fronts. Stalin accused him of cowardice and retreat but ultimately forgave him due to their close relationship.

Khrushchev's Return to Ukraine After the Great Patriotic War, Khrushchev returns to Ukraine and allows people to acclaim him for liberating the province from the Germans.

Stalin's Power and Fear During Stalin's rule, it was extremely dangerous to discuss him in any Soviet family. The fear of discussing Stalin at their level was even greater than speaking about it with family members.

During the 'High Stalinism' years, Joseph Stalin became increasingly paranoid and suspicious. He would gather a small group of close associates at his dacha outside Moscow every night, where he would force them to eat and drink until they were drunk and fatigued. This was an attempt to combat his loneliness but also to loosen their tongues in case of any conspiracies.

After Stalin's death, Khrushchev organizes a conspiracy to arrest Beria and neutralize other rivals. His ability to make deals and win allies pays off as he becomes the successful leader through intuition, decisiveness, and taking responsibility.

Nikita Khrushchev holds the first Party Conference since Stalin's death and denounces Stalin's crimes, apologizing to the nation for the mistakes made. This marks a historic moment in Soviet Russian history as it breaks with the past and attempts to de-Stalinize the Soviet Union.

A fresh wind of change sweeps through the Soviet Union as Khrushchev initiates important reforms, liberating the peasants and ending their brutal exploitation. Families are given their own apartments for the first time, marking a significant shift in socialist policies.

In 1957, the Soviet Union experienced a liberal moment during the Festival of International Youth. Foreigners mingled with Soviet people, leading to a remarkable renaissance in theater and film as new ideas were embraced.

Khrushchev's introduction of the concept of peaceful coexistence in dealings with the West, emphasizing living in peace and reforming society.

Khrushchev aims for peace and equality with the West, advocating socialism worldwide. He believes in maintaining a balance of arms to ensure peace and achieves propaganda success in the space race.

In 1958, Khrushchev demands the withdrawal of Western troops from West Berlin to stabilize East Germany. He seeks a permanent solution and faces resistance in pushing for negotiations due to lack of planning.

The White House gives Khrushchev a minor propaganda victory by inviting him to the United States.

Upon arriving in America, Khrushchev was surprised by the reserved reception and the lack of celebration. He expressed curiosity about how democracy worked and questioned Eisenhower about his decision not to run for a third term due to constitutional limitations.

Khrushchev visits a Hollywood studio during his 12-day visit to the U.S. He is accompanied by his son, Sergei, who captures the visit on camera. The movie stars pay big money for lunch with Khrushchev, and everyone wants to go except Ronald Reagan.

Khrushchev is annoyed by the protests, which are unfamiliar to him. He challenges others to compare notes and see how people under communism really live. Despite his determination to remain calm, he loses his temper several times and becomes a spectacle in his own mind.

At Camp David, Eisenhower agrees to a return visit to Moscow and a four-power summit in Paris. This is seen as an accolade for the Russians, signifying their status as a world power.

Khrushchev's Betrayal After the American reconnaissance plane is discovered in Soviet airspace, Khrushchev feels betrayed and orders it to be shot down. He has the pilot put on trial, feeling insulted by Eisenhower's planned visit.

Missed Opportunity Khrushchev missed a huge opportunity for foreign policy success as he was not taken seriously as a world power leader and let personal anger cloud his judgment regarding accommodating British and French offers regarding the Berlin question.

Khrushchev's Demands Khrushchev demands a public apology from Eisenhower at the Paris summit, but Eisenhower refuses. Khrushchev condemns West German journalists for booing him and issues a warning in response.

Storming Out of the Summit Amid tough negotiations, Khrushchev storms out of the summit meeting after being questioned and challenged. His behavior during this time is seen as intimidating and serious amidst Cold War tensions.

In September 1960, Khrushchev attended a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York. He displayed disruptive behavior, cursing and yelling at everyone. Referring to Franco as an executioner of his own people, he caused such disruption that the United Nations had to be closed.

The Shoe Banging Incident During a meeting in Washington, there was a dispute about whether Khrushchev banged his shoe on the table. Witnesses had conflicting accounts: one said he did bang it, another said he didn't, and a third person claimed that although Khrushchev held the shoe in his hand and banged the table with his hand, the shoe never touched the table.

Kennedy vs. Khrushchev Khrushchev reflects on how different he is from Kennedy - coming from opposing classes with irreconcilable aims of strengthening or destroying capitalism.

In June 1961, Khrushchev and Kennedy meet in Vienna to come together as people and understand the true nature of Kennedy. Khrushchev's derogatory remarks about Kennedy are a point of interest.

A peaceful summit with the wives present, everyone getting along fine.

On 13th August 1961, the Berlin Wall appeared overnight as a defensive step by Khrushchev to end the Berlin Crisis. He chose to build the wall when diplomatic negotiations failed, understanding that it was his only option to prevent war with the USA over Allied access to West Berlin.

The Tsar Bomb Khrushchev orders the test of an atom bomb 4,000 times more powerful than Hiroshima's. This was a demonstration of power during the Cold War to intimidate and assert dominance.

Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962, Khrushchev stationed soldiers and missiles in Cuba as a strategic move against the USA. The tension escalated with American forces on alert, leading to a potential nuclear war crisis that was narrowly avoided through Khrushchev's last-minute withdrawal order.

In 1964, Khrushchev was ousted due to alienating the military and Party leadership. His erratic leadership and mistreatment of others led to widespread dissatisfaction.

Nikita Khrushchev faced mounting opposition within the USSR's powerful Politburo. In 1964, a plot against him began to take shape, but he chose not to act on the warnings and may have subconsciously welcomed being forced out.

After being removed from party leadership, Khrushchev is allowed to keep a dacha outside the city. He refrains from commenting on contemporary politics due to his awareness of the extensive reach of the KGB.

Nikita Khrushchev, once a powerful figure, experienced public silence and erasure. Despite his significance at home, the world seemed to deny his existence through a great public silence around his name.

Khrushchev expresses concern about people who support Stalin despite his atrocities, fearing that it may encourage a repeat of such actions.

Leonid Brezhnev, a pupil of Khrushchev, became the new leader in the Kremlin. The peaceful transfer of power was attributed to Khrushchev's policies and his statement about being ousted by mere voting.

Nikita Khrushchev's leadership may have been considered a failure, but his role in ending mass murder establishes him as a great leader.