On 25 February 1956 at the XX KPdSU Party conference Chruschtschow held his famous secret speech on the "personality cult" and crimes of Stalin. This triggered developments characterized by moderation in judgements, alleviation of power and more political freedom. The beginning of this political thaw forms the basis of this book. Situations in various communist satellite states are compared; global bloc confrontations and means to stabilize the system are discussed as well as key issues of the social policies and militarism.