12 Changes In Industry

Question 1

What were Stalin’s motifs for rapid industrialisation?

Answer 1

• Fear of invasion: The Russian army would then need many weapons supplied by successful industry to fight.
• Collectivisation and changes in farming: Russia would need many more tractors
• Opposed the NEP: It allowed private enterprise and went against the ideals of communism. Wanted to restore state direction of industry, providing Stalin with complete control, so he could outcompete opponents such as Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky

Question 2

Who were Gosplan?

Answer 2

Gosplan were the state planning authority, which set targets for key industries and ensured they were given priority in allocation of manpower and raw materials

Question 3

What did the First Five Year Plan involve?

Answer 3

Took place from 1928-1932:
- Concentrated on heavy industry, such as coal, steel and iron
- ‘New’ industries such as electricity, motor vehicles and chemicals were also targeted
- Consumer industries, textiles and household goods, were neglected

Question 4

What was the impact of the First Five Year Plan?

Answer 4

Although workers had to endure extremely difficult working conditions and there was food rationing, workers still believed that socialism would bring a better society for the Soviet Union.

Industrial output was successful compared to the 1927-1928 targets, but underwhelming compared to Stalin’s revised targets as he heard of the success of the plans

Question 5

What did the Second Five Year Plan involve?

Answer 5

The Second Five Year Plan (1933-1937):
- Set targets to increase the production of consumer goods
- Some of the mistakes of the First plan, such as setting targets too high, were avoided
- Made greater use of technical expertise, there was great growth in many industries but oil output remained disappointing
- Heavy industry became the priority again as Nazi Germany threatened to invade surrounding countries

Question 6

What did the Third Five Year Plan involve?

Answer 6

The Third Five Year Plan took place from 1938 to 1941:
- Concentrated on the production of household goods and luxury items, like bicycles and radios
- Was abandoned when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941
- There were problems in the steel and oil industries. There were also problems because of the purges, as many senior workers and officials were removed

Question 7

What was Magnitogorsk?

Answer 7

• Was an industrial site in the Ural Mountains, and got its name from the iron deposits in the hills and mountains
• There were very low temperatures, equipment often froze and there were very dangerous working conditions. Homes were off very low quality, and there was scarce food
• However there was optimism around Magnitogorsk, many truly believed communism would succeed
• Magnitogorsk then started to succeed, 15,000 tonnes of iron ore were produced daily by 1936. Proper homes started to be built as wells as shops and cinemas. There was no need to steal.
• However fear was restored when Stalin began the show trials and those who made mistakes in industry started to be punished by being made slave labourers

Question 8

What were the successes of industrialisation?

Answer 8

• Became the world’s second largest industrial power, behind the USA, industrial output had increased drastically from 1927 to 1940
• The Soviet Union gained a skilled workforce, due to investment in education and training schemes
• Cities started to develop with large population growth, many construction projects took place

Question 9

What were the failures of industrialisation?

Answer 9

• Targets of the First Five Year Plans, especially the first one, we’re too ambitious. Figures were lied about regarding production, resulting in a shortage of consumer goods
• Lack of quality due to still having a shortage of skilled workers. This also contributed to the shortage of consumer goods
• Working conditions were atrocious and millions had died as a result of Stalin’s policies