apr 4, 1953 - The Death of Joesph Stalin

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Stalin died in March of 1953 which precipitated an intraparty struggle in the Soviet Union that lasted until 1956 when Nikita Khrushchev emerged as Stalin's successor. He startled communists around the world by denouncing Stalin and detailing his crimes and blunders. He went on to surprise many Americans when he called for "peaceful coexistence" with the West and dealing more flexibility with dissent in the Communist World. The death of Stalin was a relief to many and led to a temporary hold on Cold War tensions.

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