AHC: Have Crimea return to Russia WHILE the USSR is STILL Around

So with a POD of 1955, how could you get Crimea to return to Russia before the USSR collapses or the USSR reforms its economy early during the 60s and democratizes later on?
 
I think it's simple - what would need to happen is that the leadership realizes the USSR is going to collapse (possibly a failed Perestroika that, instead of plunging the country into chaos with the events of 1991, just fails and the country slowly continues to spiral into decline, at the expense of the peripheral SSRs especially), and thus they launch (real or fake) referenda in Crimea, Russian-majority territories in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Baltic states (if they still control them by that point) etc. about joining the Russian SFSR. Essentially, to try and get the most out of the Union before it falls (such a move would definitely accelerate the process). I think this is doable with quite a late POD - I'm not sure whether you mean the POD must be on 1955 or any time later, but the general principle applies at any rate.
 
Best I can think of - Brezhnev played cards with Scherbitsky one night after one too many shots of gorilka...
That POD is somewhere between 1972 and 1980.

On more serious note - but still quite implausible:
Referendum on future of the USSR 17 March 1991 done with genuine aims to determine popular opinion instead of getting wanted results. General vote is NO. So USSR must be dissolved. Assuming good will of governments who interested in providing best for their peoples, additional local referendums are provided to determine which state each area with mixed national population want to join. Then it is possible for Crimea to return to Russia.

Even in that case it is unlikely. In referendum for Ukrainian independence both Crimea and Sevastopol voted yes even if with much thinner majority then in Ukraine in general. Very likely Crimea would chose to stay in Ukraine because in that time Russia was essentially a failed state.
 
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The other OP is the USSR successfully reforming its economy under Kosygin, and in the 80s Gorbachev deomcratizes. In this case, would it be possible?
 
The other OP is the USSR successfully reforming its economy under Kosygin, and in the 80s Gorbachev deomcratizes. In this case, would it be possible?

Unless democratization leads to dissolution of the Union, which after successful Kosygin reforms is not likely, there is no point of returning Crimea. It was doing fine in Ukraine as long as it and Russia stays as one country.
 
As transfering Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 was done in a whim, Khruschev's succesor could have simply reversed that. I can't really fathom why they haven't. The last chance was really in 1991, Crimea DID has a referendum about sovereignity in January, though i'd like to read more details rather than just wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_sovereignty_referendum,_1991

It is spuzzling that they were not allowed to become a fully independent soviet republic even if they voted overwhelmingly for.
 
As transfering Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 was done in a whim, Khruschev's succesor could have simply reversed that. I can't really fathom why they haven't. The last chance was really in 1991, Crimea DID has a referendum about sovereignity in January, though i'd like to read more details rather than just wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_sovereignty_referendum,_1991

It is spuzzling that they were not allowed to become a fully independent soviet republic even if they voted overwhelmingly for.

There was no desire to and no need really. Transferring Crimea to Ukraine did smooth some administration problems. Crimea has land connection to Ukraine but not to mainland Russia, electricity and water supply was and still partly is coming from Ukraine.

As for the referendum in 1991, Ukrainian authorities was in no mood to let Crimea leave, and Moscow was in no position to force the issue. It is true even for soviet times - transferring Crimea back to RSFSR would have met resistance from Ukrainian SSR and it's representatives in Politburo.
 
Really sneaky 'OTL' way:

1991 rolls around, all republics EXCEPT the RSFSR leave the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union changes it's name to 'Russian Federation'.

Then OTL.

Voila! The (now renamed) 'Soviet Union' retakes the Crimea in 2014 under the leadership of Putin.
 
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I see no reason why while the soviet union existed that administration couldn't be transferred back. however it doesnt make sense as ITS ALL THE SOVIET UNION.. and for administrative purposes just makes sense.

Crimea is rather diverse and also home to the Russian Black sea Fleet. This alone, not counting that since it has been apart of "Russia" it has always belonged to RUSSIA.. makes it vitally important to Moscow.

Now the rest of the issue is do you tear a nation apart to regain this land. I would say the best option was to simply offer to purchase the land back ( thats the area around Sevastopol and forget a land corridor .. only problem with that is that the area is dependent on mainland Ukraine.

soooo.. that leaves russia needing to build a bridge, and infrastructure to fix this issue. or at the least maintain decent relations with Ukraine. The only problem with that.. well.. Russia is rather like the USA .. it sucks up everything around it and throws its weight around with out regard. add to the fact that Russia considers Ukraine ITS sphere of influence .. this makes for a crap ton of complications that are hard to resolve.

so best bet reverse right after Khrushchev.. this wont happen though.. its all the soviet union.. republics are like states.. as long as the central government says this is the way it is .. well. that's the way it is.. they are the final arbitrator. and well.. you don't just LEAVE the Soviet Union.. .. like states leaving the USA.. makes for a messy time.. Especially one as important as Ukraine .. it would be like New York or California deciding to leave. would love to see that happen.. (rolls eyes)

even in the worsts during the late 80's NO ONE thought the Soviet Union would go away.. at the most even after 89, the Baltic states go their way, but the rest would remain. you can blame Yanayev and Yazov and Yeltsin for that disaster. Other wise the Soviet Union would still exist ( changed.. and different.. but it would still exist in some fashion )

so that leaves negotiated settlement in 1991-92, maybe as part of the Nuclear deal.. maybe Russia offers up some other land a few draft picks and cash considerations and a player to be named later to compensate. ( guess next question is .. who is on first :) )
 
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