The Secret Report of Nikita Khruschev and Its Effects in Romania

Abstract

In the present study, our goal is to analyze the Romanian echoes of the secret speech delivered by Nikita Khrushchev at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (February, 1956). The speech denounced the personality cult of Stalin, and at the same time proved Khrushchev's will to reorganize on new bases the structures of power. One of its aims was also to get rid of Stalin's henchmen in the satellite countries. In these very countries, the personality cult was denounced, and some of the leaders were substituted by new officials who appraised the reform. In Romania, Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej delivered a speech concerning the talks in Moscow with the occasion of the Session of the Central Committee of the Romanian Party of the Workers (March, 23-28, 1956). He accused Ana Pauker, Vasile Luca and Teohani Georgescu of Having introduced the personality cult in Romania.