19.2 The political, economic and social effect of the war Flashcards
How did Stalin view the ethnic variety in Russia and what did he do as a consequence?
++Where did he start?
+++How many survived the uprootment
Stalin saw the multinational nature of the Russian empire as a threat and started from August 1941 to disperse these groups
++ Starting with the dissolvement of the Volga German autonomous republic sent these people to the East and others like the Karachai, Kalmyks to around 1.5m were deported
+++ Only 1/3 survived the uprootment.
How did WW2 change the composition of the Party and why?
++ stats
++ composition by 1945 vs 1941
There was greater influence on political education within the military and ranks were reintroduced - led to an increase in military members joining the party
++ 5m candidate members and 3.6m new members joined the party
+++ By 1945 ¼ of those in the armed forces were communists and 20% were in the Komsomol versus 15% in 1941
What impact did the war have on communist ideology?
The war had a positive impact on reinforcing communist ideology despite nationalism being promoted more than the communism. By May 1945 Stalin could declare that the socialist system had worked.
What % of German seizure of Russian assets?
- Iron
- Coal
- Steel
- Railways
- Arable land
Iron = 68
Coal = 63
Steel = 58
Railways = 45
Arable land = 41
Since when had Russia been transitioning into a wartime economy?
30th June 1941
Methods in which Russia had prepared industry in the event of war (4)
- ‘Scorched earth’ policy had rendered lots of land useless
- 1523 Soviet factories including workers had moved from Western Russia (Ukraine) to the East (Urals) between June-November 1941
- Industrial growth had been capitalised upon during the 5 year plans with production geared towards the military
- New railways were built to the frontlines and from industrial areas
Methods in which Russia had advantage over most Western countries (4)
- The existing framework of a central planning economy meant that there was little change as used to it
- People’s Commissars created to supervise different sections of wartime production
- Compulsory state orders allowed for changes to occurs in a short time
- The population was ready and maximum efficiency was ensured through tight labour controls
What were positive economic impacts of the Great Patriotic War? (4)
- National expenditure shifted towards the military – by 1942 it had risen 28%
- Munitions manufacturing was 76% of all production
- 3,500 new industrial enterprises
- 1943 industrial output had surpassed Germany’s and the goods were of a better quality – some best ever
What were negative impacts of the Great Patriotic War? (2)
- Food problems were not solved as quickly especially since the 1942 grain harvest had only been 1/3 of 1940’s
- Stalin aimed to resolve this through harsh requisitioning, rationing and quotas
What kind of goods were provided through Western Aid to Russia during WW2?
- 1.75m tonnes of military equipment and food was shipped from the West - 94% from America
- $11bn under the Lend-Lease scheme
- 1/2 of cards in the USSR by 1945 came from overseas
What was the impact of WW2 on Soldiers and workers? (6)
- Wave of patriotism through the shock announcement of the invasion – 120k signed up for the military in Moscow alone
- Marshal control over labour to survive the harsh conditions imposed by war BUT this had been normalised in the 1930’s purges so little resistance
- December 1941 a law was passed in which all men 16-55 and women 16-45 had to work towards the war effort. Overtime was obliged and holidays suspended. 12 hour working days were normal
- 8.6 million soldiers were killed between 1941-45
- Food shortage accountable for 1/4 of 25m deaths
- Gulag labour was used producing 15% of all Soviet ammunition
What was the law passed in December 1941 to help labour during the war?
All men 16-55 and women 16-45 had to work towards the war effort. Overtime was obliged and holidays suspended. 12 hour working days were normal
How many soldiers were killed between 1941-41
8.6m
What was the impact of WW2 on propaganda and culture? (4)
- Deeply patriotic and violent Anti-German articles were published in the Pravda
- 1943 the national anthem was replaced
- Artists were given more freedom in the interest of national reconciliation
- Musicians were allowed to perform and Maria Yudina was even flown in to Leningrad during the siege in 1943
What was the impact of WW2 on the Church? (3)
- Persecution on the church was halted
- Stalin manipulated the church to gain morale with prayers called for victory and praise of Stalin
- The church had little autonomy like before and was effectively an extension of the Government
