<P> On 6 March 1953, Stalin's death was announced, as was the new leadership . Malenkov was the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers, with Beria (who consolidated his hold over the security agencies), Kaganovich, Bulganin, and former Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov as first vice-chairmen . Stalin's funeral was conducted on 9 March . Those members of the Presidium of the Central Committee who had been recently promoted by Stalin were demoted . Khrushchev was relieved of his duties as Party head for Moscow to concentrate on unspecified duties in the Party's Central Committee . The New York Times listed Malenkov and Beria first and second among the ten - man Presidium--and Khrushchev last . </P> <P> However, on 14 March, Malenkov resigned from the secretariat of the Central Committee . This came due to concerns that he was acquiring too much power . The major beneficiary was Khrushchev . His name appeared atop a revised list of secretaries--indicating that he was now in charge of the party . The Central Committee formally elected him First Secretary in September . </P> <P> Even before Stalin had been laid to rest, Beria launched a lengthy series of reforms which rivalled those of Khrushchev during his period of power and even those of Mikhail Gorbachev a third of a century later . Beria's proposals were designed to denigrate Stalin and pass the blame for Beria's own crimes to the late leader . One proposal, which was adopted, was an amnesty which eventually led to the freeing of over a million prisoners . Another, which was not, was to release East Germany into a united, neutral Germany in exchange for compensation from the West--a proposal considered by Khrushchev to be anti-communist . Khrushchev allied with Malenkov to block many of Beria's proposals, while the two slowly picked up support from other Presidium members . Their campaign against Beria was aided by fears that Beria was planning a military coup, and, according to Khrushchev in his memoirs, by the conviction that "Beria is getting his knives ready for us ." </P> <P> On 26 June 1953 Beria was arrested at a Presidium meeting, following extensive military preparations by Khrushchev and his allies . Beria was tried in secret, and executed in December 1953 with five of his close associates . The execution of Beria proved to be the last time the loser of a top - level Soviet power struggle paid with his life . </P>

Who opposed the bolsheviks once they took power