When Stalin Died in 1953, the Situation in the Soviet

When Stalin died in 1953, the situation in the Soviet Union and its satellites

A) became even more repressive because Communist officials feared potential unrest as citizens saw an opportunity for freedom in regime change.
B) turned extremely tense as the Western powers prepared to invade the Soviet bloc and take advantage of the power vacuum to break down the Communist system.
C) shifted as political prisoners and workers protested the repressive conditions under Stalinism and the Communist power structure, leading to political reforms.
D) turned anxious as hundreds of thousands prepared to seize the opportunity to flee to the West and escape the repression of the Soviet system.