1956 - Episode 1.5: Broken Springs

[PATRONS]

PATRONS! Out now is episode 5 of 1956! Those supporting us at $5 and above can avail of the special perks which enable them to feast on this exclusive series – have you signed up yet? Why not join us at www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails and discover why 1956 has become one of our most popular series yet!

Episode 5, Broken Springs examines the implications for the Soviet people, as Khrushchev’s speech is disseminated through the sprawling empire. The questions which many citizens had were to be restricted and constrained by the specific parameters set down by the Soviet authorities. In short, as we’ll see in this episode, there was a fine line between debate and dissent – and the difference was often a matter of what had been decided, on that day, to be within the realm of discussion. Pravda liked to distinguish between dissent and debate by presenting discussion of the secret speech in the spirit of party-mindedness, and discussion of the speech outside of this spirit, from a cynical or wholly critical perspective. As always, it was a matter for Khrushchev to determine the difference between debate and dissent, as he attempted to deal with the mess his speech had created.

We look at the example of the response given in Moscow’s Thermal Technical University, where three technicians gave their views and planned in grandly ambitious, optimistic ways, only to discover when they returned to work on Monday that their words and phrases had gone too far. Nobody could deny the central truths that they spoke, but everyone remained too afraid to actively challenge the post-Stalin order. This background of the social implications of the secret speech are important if we are to fully grasp what occurred in Poland – the first and most troubling dissenter in the Soviet camp. 

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History friends, WDF is tackling something special in 1956 – we are taking a pivotal year in human history and unpacking its fascinating events for YOU! From the streets of Budapest to the Suez Canal, 1956 was a year of great and grave events, and it’s up to us to examine them and bring them to all Patrons of this podcast! You of course are more than welcome to join in with this party – simply head over to www.patreon.com/WhenDiplomacyFails Thanksss!