Tag #146091 - Interview #100586 (Riva Smerkoviciene )

The ХХ Party Congress [23] was like a bolt of lightning amidst blue skies, as well as Nikita Khrushchev’s speech [24], where he revealed Stalin’s cult of personality. We couldn’t believe that as all our ideals were shattered. I remember one night when Stalin’s monument was dismantled in Vilnius central square. On the way to work everybody was shocked that the square was empty. It was horrible. However, my husband and I found the strength to understand and correctly assess what was going on. The fact that Stalin turned out to be an enemy, didn’t diminish the attractiveness of Communist ideas. We were still members of the Party. At that time I wasn’t involved in social life, but my husband was an active party member.