Home / IB DP History / IBDP History HL Paper 3 – The USSR and Post-Soviet Russia (1945–2020)- Exam-Style Questions
Discuss the successes and failures of Stalin’s regime in the Soviet Union from \(1945\) to \(1953\). \([15]\)
Detailed solution
Stalin’s post-war regime achieved rapid industrial recovery and strengthened Soviet control, but it also created major economic inefficiencies and hardship.
Industrial recovery was significant. Production expanded in petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, mining and defence.
Stalin also established Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe through satellite states. At home, he remained unchallenged, sidelining possible rivals such as Zhukov.
His control over the party increased through renewed purges, including the Leningrad Affair. However, agriculture remained underproductive and was harmed by ideas such as Lysenkoism.
Nuclear development placed pressure on industry, while Eastern European commitments burdened the economy. The Fifth Five-Year Plan produced inefficiency and shortages, causing social and economic hardship for many Soviet citizens.
To what extent was Khrushchev’s foreign policy successful in the years \(1953\) to \(1964\)? \([15]\)
Detailed solution
Khrushchev had some foreign-policy successes in maintaining Soviet superpower status and avoiding nuclear war, but many of his actions increased Cold War tension.
He aimed to maintain the USSR’s position as a superpower while pursuing peaceful coexistence. He attended summit meetings, agreed to the Test Ban Treaty and supported the establishment of a hotline.
However, he was unwilling to allow Soviet security to be challenged. He crushed the Hungarian Uprising in \(1956\), continued the arms and space race, and confronted the US over the U2 Crisis.
The building of the Berlin Wall in \(1961\) and the Cuban Missile Crisis in \(1962\) further increased international tension. The Cuban crisis threatened world peace.
The U2 Crisis ended the Paris Summit and increased distrust, while the arms race produced a situation of Mutually Assured Destruction. Therefore, Khrushchev avoided direct nuclear war but achieved only limited success in reducing Cold War hostility.