Table of Contents
Who led the Soviet Union during the Cold War?
In September 1953, Nikita Khrushchev emerged as leader of the Soviet Union upon becoming the First Secretary of the Communist Party. He consolidated his power further after becoming Chairman of the Council of Ministers on 27 March 1958.
What led to end of Cold War?
During 1989 and 1990, the Berlin Wall came down, borders opened, and free elections ousted Communist regimes everywhere in eastern Europe. In late 1991 the Soviet Union itself dissolved into its component republics. With stunning speed, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the Cold War came to an end.
Who is Stalin in history?
| Joseph Stalin | |
|---|---|
| 1937 portrait used for state publicity purposes | |
| General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union | |
| In office 3 April 1922 – 16 October 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Vyacheslav Molotov (as Responsible Secretary) |
Who was the Soviet leader during the Cold War?
Nikita Khrushchev Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) was leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. Lasting a little over a decade, his leadership spanned a crucial phase of the Cold War. Khrushchev was born in 1894 to a peasant family in Ukraine.
What did Khrushchev do during the Cold War?
The following year, Khrushchev approved the construction of the Berlin Wall in order to stop East Germans from fleeing to capitalist West Germany. Cold War tensions reached a high point in October 1962 when the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles stationed in Cuba.
Who was the leader of China during the Cold War?
One of the sharpest thorns in Khrushchev’s side was fellow communist Mao Zedong, the leader of China. Starting around 1960, the two sides engaged in an increasingly vindictive war of words, with Khrushchev calling Mao a “left revisionist” who failed to comprehend modern warfare.
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union in 1955?
By early 1955, he had become the most powerful figure in the Soviet government, dispensing with secret police head Lavrenti Beria and elbowing out premier Malenkov. While Georgy Malenkov retained the premiership, he was stripped of the Communist Party leadership and it was handed to Khrushchev.