Communist Independence of Yugoslavia
Kate Dastur
- Postwar communist government came to power without the help of the Soviet Union
- Marshal Tito (1892-1980) ruled the federation of Yugoslavia
- Ruled from 1945 until death
- Wanted to declare his nation’s independence
- He resisted against Joseph Stalin causing tension between Yugoslavia and the Soviets
- In 1948, expelled Yugoslavia from the Soviets
- Tito wanted to be on good terms with eastern European communist states to maintain effective foreign affairs
- Established strong ties with nonaligned nations
- After Stalin’s death, a few communist leaders openly verbally attacked Stalin, questioning his ruling
- Stalin’s successor, Nikita Khrushchev, made a secret speech during Twentieth Party Congress in February 1956
- De-Stalinization: “the end of the rule of terror and the partial liberalization of Soviet society”
- Government officials destroyed photos of Stalin, renamed institutions depicting him, and commissioned historians to rewrite textbooks
- De-Stalinization period lasted from 1956-1964
- Resulted in a significant release in prisoners
- The Soviet Union’s new political stance encouraged other communist leaders to experiment with domestic reforms and create independence from Soviet take over
What is de-stalinization?