19. Stalinism in wartime

Question 1

What is the ratio of people killed in WW2? (UK/US : German : Soviet)

Answer 1

1:20:85

1 Brit to every 20 Germans and 85 Soviets.

Question 2

What was the GKO?

Answer 2

The State Defence Committee. A CIVILIAN body to direct wartime organisation.

Question 3

What was Stavka?

Answer 3

A committee responsible for MILITARY planning. Made up of military leaders and experts.

Question 4

What were Orders 227 and 270?

Answer 4

227 - Those who retreat will be shot (“Not One Step Backwards”)
270 - fight to the last

Question 5

How many were executed under Order 227?

Answer 5

150,000 people

Question 6

What were the Nazis planning to do to the Belarussians?

Answer 6

Kill 75% and enslave the rest.

These ideas led to the growth of partisan groups which used guerrilla tactics to fight the Nazis.

Question 7

How many people were left living in wooden huts in 1945?

Answer 7

25 million

Question 8

How many Soviet citizens (civilians & soldiers) died in total during WW2?

Answer 8

~28 million

Question 9

How many towns and villages were destroyed during WW2?

Answer 9

1200 towns
70,000 villages

Question 10

How many hospitals were destroyed during WW2?

Answer 10

40,000

Question 11

How many kolkhozes were wasted because of WW2?

Answer 11

100,000

Question 12

What was the Lend-Lease scheme?

Answer 12

A scheme under which the USA provided the Soviet Union with $11bn of aid during WW2.

Soviet citizens were exposed to Hollywood films, Western books and jazz music.

Question 13

By 1945, what proportion of vehicles in the USSR came from abroad?

Answer 13

Roughly two-thirds.

Question 14

How many entire factories (and their workforces) were moved from western Russia to further east (during WW2)?

Answer 14

1523

Question 15

How many Party members were soldiers in 1945?

Answer 15

About half - up from 15% in 1941

Question 16

What proportion of ammunitions were produced by gulag labour?

Answer 16

15%

Question 17

How were working conditions during WW2?

Answer 17

• 12 hour days
• Overtime obligatory
• Discipline tightened. Unauthorised absence could result in death. Severe punishments for lateness.

Question 18

What proportion of land workers were female by 1945?

Answer 18

Four fifths

Question 19

How many partisans were there by 1943?

Answer 19

300,000

Question 20

How many people from ‘suspect ethnic groups’ did Stalin deport during WW2?

Answer 20

1.5 million

Question 21

How much of the budget was spent on defence by 1942?

Answer 21

57%

Question 22

How many new industrial enterprises were built in the Urals during the war?

Answer 22

3500

Question 23

What was the death rate in the gulags in 1942?

Answer 23

25%

Question 24

How was the church used during WW2?

Answer 24

They were reopened but had to function as a tool of the government. Priests had to swear allegiance to the USSR, sermons praised Stalin and there were prayers for victory.

Effectively used as another tool for nationalist propaganda; not permitted any autonomy.