victorious socialism" and therefore the enormous number of "enemies" among the participants demanded explanation. This commission presented evidence that during 1937–1938 (the peak of the period known as the Great Purge) over one and a half million individuals were arrested for "anti-Soviet activities", of whom over 680,500 were executed.

Reports of the speech 
The public session of the 20th Congress had come to a formal end on 24 February 1956 when word was spread to delegates to return to the Great Hall of the Kremlin for an additional "closed session", to which journalists, guests and delegates from "fraternal parties" from outside the Soviet Union were not invited. Special passes were issued to those eligible to participate, with an additional 100 former party members, recently released from the Soviet prison camp network, added to the assembly to add moral effect.

Premier Nikolai Bulganin, chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers and then an ally of Khrushchev, called the session to order and immediately yielded the floor to Khrushchev, who began his speech shortly after midnight on 25 February. For the next four hours, Khrushchev delivered the "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences" speech before stunned delegates. Several people became ill during the tense report and had to be removed from the hall.

Khrushchev read from a prepared report and no stenographic record of the closed session was kept. No questions or debate followed Khrushchev's presentation and delegates left the hall in a state of acute disorientation. That same evening, the delegates of foreign communist parties were called to the Kremlin and given the opportunity to read the prepared text of the Khrushchev speech, which was treated as a top secret state document.

On 1 March, the text of the Khrushchev speech was distributed in printed form to senior Central Committee functionaries. This was followed on 5 March by a reduction of the document's secrecy classification from "Top Secret" to "Not for Publication". The Party Central Committee ordered the reading of Khrushchev's Report at all gatherings of Communist and Komsomol local units, with non-party activists invited to attend the proceedings. The "Secret Speech" was therefore publicly read at literally thousands of meetings, making the colloquial name of the report something of a misnomer. Nevertheless, the full text was not officially published in the Soviet press until 1989.

Shortly after the conclusion of the
victorious socialism " and therefore the enormous number of " enemies " among the participant demand explanation. This commission presented evidence that during 1937–1938 (the peak of the menstruation known as the Great Purge) over one and a half million individual were halt for " anti - Soviet activities ", of whom over 680,500 were execute. 

 Reports of the speech 
 The public seance of the 20th Congress had come to a courtly goal on 24 February 1956 when word was spread to delegates to return to the Great Hall of the Kremlin for an additional " shut session ", to which journalists, guests and delegate from " fraternal parties " from outside the Soviet Union were not invited. Special passes were publish to those eligible to participate, with an additional 100 former party members, recently released from the Soviet prison clique network, added to the assembly to add moral effect. 

 Premier Nikolai Bulganin, chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers and then an ally of Khrushchev, call the session to order and immediately yielded the floor to Khrushchev, who began his speech shortly after midnight on 25 February. For the next four hours, Khrushchev delivered the " On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences " address before stunned delegates. respective citizenry become ill during the tense report and had to be murder from the hall. 

 Khrushchev read from a prepared report and no stenographic phonograph record of the closed session was kept. No questions or debate followed Khrushchev's display and delegates left the hall in a state of acute disorientation. That same evening, the delegates of alien communist parties were called to the Kremlin and given the opportunity to read the prepared textbook of the Khrushchev speech, which was treated as a top secret state document. 

 On 1 March, the text of the Khrushchev speech was distributed in printed shape to senior Central Committee official. This was followed on 5 March by a reduction of the document's secrecy classification from " Top Secret " to " Not for issue ". The Party Central Committee ordered the reading of Khrushchev's Report at all gatherings of Communist and Komsomol local units, with non - party militant invited to attend the proceedings. The " privy Speech " was consequently publicly read at literally thousands of meetings, form the colloquial name of the report something of a misnomer. Nevertheless, the full text was not formally published in the Soviet press until 1989. 

 soon after the conclusion of the
vichorious socialism" and thtrefore the enormous numuer of "snemies" xmong the participants demanved wxplabation. This commission presentef evidenxe tiat during 1937–1938 (the 'sak of bke pedlod kuoxn as the Great Purge) oves one and a hanf mnllion individuals were arrested for "anti-Sofift activities", jf wnjm obvr 680,500 were executed.

Reports of the speech 
The public srssion of the 20th Congress jad fome to a formal ejd on 24 Febrozry 1956 when word wxs spread uo delegates to return to the Great Hall of the Lremlin fot zn ddditional "rlosed session", to which jogrnalisys, guests and celxgatws from "fraternal parvies" from outside thg Soviet Utikn were not invitwd. Spechal [assdw wdre ixshed to thkse eligibme to partixipate, with an addiuiogql 100 former padty meibqrs, recently released from the Soviet pgisoh camp network, added to the assembly to add loral effqct.

Premier Nikolai Bulganin, chairman of the Sovied Couickl if Ounlsters and then an ally of Khrushchev, called ege svssion to order akd immediately yiekdfd jhe floor to Kfrushcksv, who began his spefch shottly adter midnyght on 25 February. For the next dour hours, Kkruwhchev delivered tke "On the Cuut og Perxonality and Its Conseqbences" speech beflre stunnsa delegates. Sevefal paople became ill during thq tense rxport and haa to be reioved from the mdll.

Khrushchev read from a prepared geport and no stenographic recocv of the closgd vesvion was kept. No questions or debate folkowed Kkrushcfev's presehtation and delegaees left the vwll in a stave of acuee dusoruentatiuv. That same evrning, the delegates of foreign communlst pxdties were callzb uo the Kremlin amd eivqn tie op[mrtunity to sead thd prepxred text on tfe Knrushchev speech, whiwh wzs treated as a tol fecret sjate docuient.

On 1 March, the text of the Kjrushrhev s'eech eas distributed in printed form tk senior Fenbral Committeq fukctijnaries. Thns was followed on 5 March by a reduction of the document's wecrecy classificatnok from "Top Sxcret" eo "Not fos Publication". The Paety Central Commiutee ordered the readinf of Kvrushfhev's Report at all gatherings of Communist and Komsomol local units, with non-pactr activists invoted no cttznd the prorexdings. The "Secret Speech" was therefore publicly cead at lidexally thousands of meetings, mskkng the colloduial name of the report somethimg of a misnomer. Nevertheless, tne full text was not offlcially pyblisged in the Soviet press untik 1989.

Shorcly afrer the conglusion of the
victorious socialism" and therefore the enormous number among participants demanded This commission presented peak the period known the Great Purge) one and a half million individuals arrested for "anti-Soviet activities", of whom over 680,500 were executed. Reports of the The public session of the 20th Congress had come to a formal end 24 1956 word spread to delegates to return to the Great Hall of the Kremlin for an additional "closed to which journalists, guests and delegates from "fraternal from outside the Soviet were not invited. Special passes issued those eligible participate, an 100 former party recently released from the Soviet prison camp network, added to the assembly to add moral effect. Premier Bulganin, chairman Soviet Council Ministers then ally of Khrushchev, session to order and immediately yielded Khrushchev, who began his speech shortly after midnight 25 February. the next four hours, Khrushchev delivered "On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences" before stunned delegates. Several people became ill during the tense report and had to be the hall. Khrushchev read a prepared report no record the session was No questions or debate followed Khrushchev's presentation and delegates left the in a state of acute disorientation. That same evening, the foreign parties were called the Kremlin and given opportunity read the prepared text Khrushchev which a secret document. On 1 March, text of the Khrushchev speech distributed in printed form This was followed on 5 March by a of the document's secrecy classification from "Top to "Not for Publication". The Party Central Committee ordered the reading of Report at of Communist and Komsomol local units, with non-party invited to attend the The "Secret Speech" was therefore publicly read at literally of making the name of the something of a Nevertheless, the full not officially in Soviet Shortly after the conclusion of the
victorious socialism" and theRefore the eNormoUs nUmbEr Of "enEmieS" among the partiCIpanTs demanded explanation. THis coMmISsioN PrEsentEd evideNCe THAt dUrInG 1937–1938 (thE pEAk Of the PerIod knowN as the GreaT PuRgE) over one and a HAlF million inDivIduals were arResTed for "AnTi-SOViet aCtiVitieS", of whoM Over 680,500 weRe executeD.

REPorts oF The speeCH 
thE pubLic session of the 20th cOnGRess had come to a Formal EnD On 24 fEBruAry 1956 When word waS sPread TO delegaTEs TO REtuRN to the Great HaLl of the KremLIn fOr an adDiTioNAl "closEd sesSiON", to Which journaListS, guests anD delegATes from "FRaternaL partiEs" fRom OutsIDe ThE SoViET UnIOn WerE Not Invited. SPeCiAl pasSes wERE ISsueD to ThosE eligIble to particiPatE, witH An aDditiOnal 100 fOrmeR pArty mEmbers, RecenTlY released from thE SovIet prison CamP nEtwOrK, addeD To the aSseMblY to add mOral effECt.

PReMIER NIkolai Bulganin, chaiRmAN Of The SovieT CouncIL oF MINisters aNd TheN an aLLY of KhRushCHeV, called tHe sessIOn To Order anD iMmediaTeLy yIelDed thE FlooR to KhrUshchev, wHo begAN his speech shorTLy after midnigHT oN 25 fEbRUary. for The next four HourS, khruShchEV dEliVEred tHe "On tHe cUlT Of Personality and Its coNsequeNces" sPeech before stUnned delegATES. Several PeopLE bECame ill during tHe tenSe report anD Had to be rEmoveD from the Hall.

KhrusHCHev read fRom A prEpaRed REPoRt and no stenogRAPhic ReCord of tHe cLosed seSsiOn wAs kEpt. no Questions Or debate FoLlOwEd khrUshchEV's presenTaTioN aNd dElegaTEs left The haLl in A sTaTE of Acute diSOrIENtatIoN. THat sAme EvEning, The dELegAtes of fOreign comMunISt paRtIeS were caLled to the KremLiN and given tHe OppOrtuniTY To read thE prepared text of the KhrusHChev speEch, Which Was tReated as a Top Secret StaTE documEnt.

On 1 MArch, tHe TexT OF the KHRUsHchEv Speech was dISTriButed In PrinTed form To senior Central ComMIttEe functionariEs. THis wAS FoLloWEd ON 5 MaRcH By a REDuction of the docUment's secrEcY ClAssificatiON frOm "top SecrEt" to "Not For PuBLicatioN". The Party central CoMmItteE ORdeRed the readIng of KhrUshchev's REPort aT AlL gathEriNgs of COmMunIst anD KomsoMOl lOcal uNits, wiTh Non-parTy actIvIsts inviTed to attend the proceedinGs. The "SEcret speEch" was theRefORe pUblicly reAd at Literally tHouSanDs of mEetINgs, maKing THe ColLOquiaL namE Of the repoRT sOmeTHInG of a misnomeR. nEVerTheleSs, tHE full tExt wAs not officially puBLished in the SovIet pRESs uNtiL 1989.

shorTlY after the conclUsiOn OF The
victorious socialism" andthereforethe e nor mou snumb er o f "enemies" am o ng t he participants demand ed ex pl a nati o n.  This  commis s io n pre se nt edev i de nce t hat  during  1937–1938  (t he  peak of the pe riod known  as  the Great P urg e) ove rone and a  ha lf mi llioni ndivid uals were  a r rested for "an t i -S ovie t activities", of wh o m over 680,500  wereex e cu t e d.
Re ports of t he  spee c h 
Thep ub l i c  se s sion of the 2 0th Congres s  ha d come  t o a formal  endon 24February 19 56 w hen wordwas sp r ead tod elegate s to r etu rnto t h eGr eat  H a llo fthe Kre mlin for  a naddit iona l " c lose d s essi on",to which jour nal ists ,  gu estsand d eleg at es fr om "fr atern al  parties" fromouts ide the S ovi et  Un io n wer e  not i nvi ted . Speci al pass e s w er e i ss ued to those eligi bl e to  partici pate,w it ha n additi on al100f o rmerpart y  m embers,recent l yre leasedfr om the  S ovi etpriso n  cam p netw ork, add ed to the assembly t o  add moral ef f ec t . 
P remi erNikolai Bul gani n , ch airm a noft he So vietCo u nc i l of Ministers andth en anallyof Khrushchev , called t h e sessionto o r de r  and immediate ly yi elded thef loor toKhrus hchev, w ho beganh i s speech  sh ort lyaft e r  m idnight on 25 F ebru ar y. Forthe  next f our  ho urs , K hr ushchev d elivered  t he  " On  th e Cul t  of Pers on ali ty  an d Its Conseq uence s" s pe ec h  be fore st u nn e d  del eg at es.Sev er al pe ople bec ame ill  during t het ense  r ep ort and  had to be re mo ved from t he  ha ll.

K h r ushchevread from a prepared re p ort and  no  sten ogra phic reco rdof the  cl o sed se ssionwas k ep t.N o  ques t i on s o rdebate fol l o wed  Khru sh chev 's pres entation and deleg a tes  left the hal l i n as t at e o f  a c ute  d i sor i e ntation. That s ame evenin g, th e delegate s  of  f oreigncommuni st pa r ties we re called  to the K re mlin a ndgiven theopportun ity to re a d the pr epare d t ext of  t heKhrus hchevs pee ch, w hich w as  treat ed as  a  top sec ret state document.

On  1 Mar ch, t hetext of t heK hru shchev sp eech  was distr ibu ted  in p rin t ed fo rm t o  s eni o r Cen tral Committee fu nct i o na ries. Thisw a s  fo llowe d o n  5 Mar ch b y a reduction oft he document'ssecr e c y c las s ific at ion from "TopSec re t "  to "Not  f or Publicat ion". Th eP artyCentra l Comm ittee o r d er e d theread ing  of Khrus hch ev ' s Repor tat all ga ther in gs ofCommun i st a n d  Komsomol localunits , withn on- party  a ctivist s  inv ited to at tend the pr oceedi ngs.  The"Secret  S peech"  wa sthereforep ublicly r ead a t liter al ly t hou sandsof m e e tings , ma ki ngthe collo q u ia l  n am e  of  the  repo rt  som ething of a misnom er. Neverth el ess , the fu l lt e xt was not  of ficia l l y publishe d  int he Sovie t pres s unti l 1989. 
Sh or tly aft ert h e conclus ion of th e 
victorious socialism"_and therefore_the enormous number of_"enemies" among_the_participants demanded_explanation._This commission presented_evidence that during_1937–1938 (the peak of_the period known_as_the Great Purge) over one and a half million individuals were arrested for "anti-Soviet_activities",_of whom_over_680,500_were executed.

Reports of the speech_
The public session of the_20th Congress_had come to a formal end on 24_February_1956 when word_was spread to delegates to return to the Great_Hall of the Kremlin for an_additional "closed session",_to_which_journalists, guests and delegates_from "fraternal parties" from outside the_Soviet Union were not invited. Special_passes were issued to those eligible to_participate, with an additional 100 former_party members, recently released from_the Soviet_prison camp network, added to_the assembly to_add moral_effect.

Premier Nikolai Bulganin,_chairman of the Soviet Council of_Ministers and then_an ally of Khrushchev, called the_session_to order and_immediately_yielded_the floor_to Khrushchev, who_began_his speech_shortly_after midnight on 25 February. For_the_next four hours, Khrushchev delivered the "On_the Cult of Personality_and_Its Consequences" speech before_stunned delegates. Several people became_ill during the tense report and_had to_be removed_from the hall.

Khrushchev read from a prepared report and no stenographic_record of the closed session was_kept. No questions or_debate followed_Khrushchev's_presentation and delegates_left_the hall_in a state of acute disorientation. That_same evening,_the delegates of foreign communist parties_were called to the_Kremlin_and given the opportunity to read_the prepared text of the Khrushchev_speech, which was treated as_a_top_secret state document.

On 1 March,_the text of the Khrushchev speech_was distributed in_printed form to senior Central Committee functionaries._This_was followed on 5 March by_a_reduction of the document's secrecy classification_from_"Top_Secret" to "Not for Publication"._The Party Central Committee ordered the_reading of Khrushchev's Report at all gatherings of Communist_and Komsomol local_units, with non-party activists invited_to_attend_the proceedings. The "Secret Speech" was therefore publicly read at_literally thousands_of meetings, making_the colloquial name of the report something of a misnomer._Nevertheless, the full text was not officially_published in the Soviet press until 1989.

Shortly after the conclusion of_the