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Unmasking the Cult of Personality: Khrushchev's Secret Speech and its Revelations

Essay Instructions:

Please just do the Part II and Part III , for Part II use number 4 and 5 and their readings and for Part III answer number 5.


Dear all, Please find below the final exam for From the Defeat of Fascism to the Fall of Communism: Europe since 1945. As mentioned in the instructions and in the syllabus, it is worth 25% of the total grade. It consists of three parts: In Part -I- (30%), you will have to choose five (5) key terms or names – out of a list of fourteen (14) – and explain their significance to the history of Europe (1945-present). Each answer should be about 100 words long. In Part -II- (30%), you will find excerpts from the primary source readings and will be asked to choose two (2) of these and to identify the works from which they were drawn and explain (in about two pages, double-spaced) what the passages you chose tell us about the past. Finally, Part -III- (40%) will consist of a list of essay questions and statements. You will be asked to answer one (1) of these questions/statements in the course of a two-and-ahalf/three-page essay (double-spaced). Remember to articulate a clear argument, based on your knowledge of the texts you have read for class. Since this is a take-home, open-book assignment, you are strongly encouraged to cite your sources for Part -II- and Part -III-. As for Part -I-, the short answers should provide more than brief summaries or bibliographies. Your answers should be sophisticated, more than skin-deep. In other words, you are expected to explain, in your own words, why a person, a concept, or an event matters. It’s been a pleasure teaching you this summer. Good luck on the exam (not that you need any!).

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History Exam

Number 2

Unmasking the Cult of Personality: Khrushchev's Secret Speech and its Revelations

Introduction

Amid the Cold War, behind the Iron Curtain's thick veil, a tremor of candor reverberated, revealing insights into the opaque world of the Soviet Union. This tremor was Nikita Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" delivered at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party in 1956. Though clandestine in its inception, the ramifications of the speech transcended national borders, rippling across the global political arena. The passage at hand is a treasure trove, laying bare the Soviet Union's intricate internal dynamics and the fissures within the facade of its leadership.

The All-Encompassing Shadow of Stalin's Cult

Stalin's image, almost godlike, had persisted for over two decades, casting an inescapable shadow over the Soviet realm. The passage candidly uncovers this formidable cult of personality that stood juxtaposed against the principles of the Communist Party. Khrushchev's audacity in addressing this phenomenon was groundbreaking, for he challenged the foundations of recent Soviet memory. The bravado of his critique becomes evident when one considers the proximity of Stalin's allies in his audience—men who had thrived under the same shadow that Khrushchev was now dissecting.

Lenin's Vision vs. Stalin's Dominance

One cannot help but ponder the curious dynamics between Lenin and Stalin. Khrushchev vividly depicts Lenin's democratic leadership, rooted in patience, persuasion, and the collective will. On the other hand, Stalin emerges as a contrast with an insatiable lust for power and control. This juxtaposition becomes even more complex when one considers that Stalin's rise to prominence occurred under Lenin's leadership. By amplifying Lenin's concerns about Stalin's potential misdirection, Khrushchev highlights the dilemmas and power struggles within the early Soviet leadership.

The Chilling Semantics of Stalin's Rule

A significant aspect of the Soviet regime was its masterful utilization of language. The term "enemy of the people" was more than just a label; it was a death knell. This phrase showcased Stalin's cunning use of semantics to suppress opposition, fostering an environment teeming with 

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