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Josef Stalin ruled the USSR until his death in 1953. Stalin believed that the USSR could recover from the war by reviving the system of Five Year Plans, which set high production goals for weapons factories and heavy industries. These strict policies resulted in a rise in production, but the lives of the peasants and workers was not improved.

The government controlled other areas of life as well. All books, plays and films were banned if they showed a hint of anti-Soviet influence. The security forces and police were given a lot of power. Those who were suspected of being anti-Soviet were sent to harsh prison camps, known as gulags.

After Stalin’s death, the USSR was ruled by a group of politicians in a "collective leadership". However, by 1953, Nikita Khrushchev emerged as leader. He made a series of attacks on Stalin’s reputation by describing as a tyrant, and one who had built up a "cult of personality" (making himself someone to be worshipped). Khrushchev policies, known as destalinization, led to more freedom in the USSR. More uncensored films and books were released. Still, any book or form of art that criticised the revolution or seemed Western in influence was banned.

Khrushchev concentrated on agriculture. Unused land was farmed on and new crops were introduced, but this still did not improve food supplies. He also tried to change the running of the Communist Party. This angered other politicians who thought that he was trying to build his own cult of personality. In October 1964, a group of rivals who had the support of the army, had Khrushchev removed.