1961 Stalin's body was taken out of the Mausoleum
55 years ago, on October 31, 1961, in pursuance of the decision of the XXII Congress of the CPSU, the body of Joseph Stalin was removed from the Mausoleum on Red Square. Late in the evening, under the pretext of a rehearsal of the November 7 parade, the square was cordoned off. The entrance to the Mausoleum, as well as the dug grave, were covered with plywood shields. Only the funeral team, numerous guards and the reburial commission were present.