Hello and welcome history friends, patrons all to 1956 episode 1.5.

Last time, Nikita Khrushchev had delivered his speech to a closed section of the 20th Party Congress

over the evening to early morning of 24th to 25th February, without apparently

thinking much of the consequences, Khrushchev had several motives for denouncing Stalin and

the cult of personality which he had spawned. In this episode, we delve into some of the

consequences which emerged from his speech. Last time we saw how the reactions of some citizens and of Georgians

in particular wasn't exactly what Khrushchev had wanted to see, but over the summer of 1956,

discontent and confusion over what the speech actually meant reigned supreme. These were the first

signs something was looming on a scale Moscow had never faced before.

The iron grip of the Soviet Union on its reluctant eastern satellites

was not yet being called into question, but grumbles and rumbles were rising,

and these were soon to escalate into a crisis far beyond anything which the first secretary could have imagined.

Let's take a look then,

as we resume 1956.

Comrade Stalin, the genius of our party, rallied the peoples of our country and led them to the triumph of socialism.

Stalin stood at the cradle of each Soviet Republic, protected it and paternally helped it to grow and flourish.

This is why all the peoples of our country, with extraordinary warmth and filial love,

called a great leader Stalin their dear father and genius teacher.

Today the peoples of the Great Soviet Union and all advanced progressive mankind wholeheartedly greet our dear Comrade Stalin, inspireer of the indissoluble friendship

of peoples, glory to our dear father, the genius leading the party, the Soviet people and the

working people of the whole world, Comrade Stalin. In such a way, did Nikita Khrushchev heap praise

upon Joseph Stalin upon the occasion of the latter's 70th birthday in December 1949. At this point,

...