1929-1941 Flashcards
stalin was eager to build ‘socialism in…
one country
what was the emphasis on in all of the five year plans?
heavy industry- coal, iron and steel, oil, machinery and electricity
electricity output trebled by..
1932
what was neglected throughout the 1930s?
consumer goods
what were the positive benefits of the Dneiper Dam?
it increased soviet electricity production by five times when it was completed
what were the main features of collectivisation?
•the amalgamation of several villages into collective farms, with all equipment and livestock pooled
•the procurement of grain to feed the expending industrial workforce and pay for imports of industrial equipment
•thousands of party activists, backed up by soldiers and secret police, implemented the policy of forced collectivisation
•the destruction of the kulaks in order to force the peasantry into submission
•increase in control over the peasantry by the state, classifying all who opposed collectivisation as ‘kulaks’
by march 1930 what percentage of the peasants had been collectivised?
over half, 50%
what percentage of peasants had been collectivised by 1939?
90%
what were some of the results of collectivisation?
•massive opposition (eg burning crops and killing livestock rather than hand them over)
•many collectives were run ineffectively by managers who knew little of farming
•decline in food production, although state procurement and exports of grain increased
•famine in Ukraine (1932-33) leading to over 3 million deaths
•the soviet union did not recover pre-war levels of grain production until 1939
•millions were driven off the land, many forced into labour camps to build the new industrial soviet union
•stalin achieved his aim of feeding the industrial workforce and exporting grain
•destruction of traditional peasant way of life, based on family farm, the commune and the church
what type of living did Stalin encourage?
communal living, with families sharing kitchens and toilets
why was leadership so keen to engage in the purges?
because the attempt to abolish private life led to many hiding behind a mask of conformity in order to preserve their own identity. they were keen to unmask potential enemies.
how did stalin change the working conditions?
he implemented a seven day working week and longer working hours
what was introduced in the 1930s in terms of pay to increase productivity?
bonuses and payment by results were introduced to increase productivity
what did the Stakhanovite movement contribute to?
the emergence of a labour elite with higher pay and better housing
what happened to living conditions during collectivisation?
•living conditions in the countryside deteriorated dramatically
•overcrowding and poor sanitation characterised urban living
what did the communist revolution promise for women?
greater opportunities, such as access to a job and help with childcare
what happened to divorce and abortion?
divorce was made easier and abortion was legalised
what did propaganda at the time convey stalin and women as?
stalin was conveyed as a father figure and women as mothers rather than workers
what percentage of the soviet workforce was women in 1940?
43%
what were students encouraged to report to their parents?
any staff or other people holding ‘anti- soviet’ views
what percentage of people under 50 were literate by 1941?
about 90%
what did Stalin do to religion?
engaged the destruction of rural churches and the confiscating of bells, icons and relics aroused huge opposition and religious protesters were branded as ‘kulaks’
by 1940 how many churches were open for worship?
500 churches, 1% of the number in 1917
how did Stalin attempt to eliminate minorities?
he made the soviet union into a more centralised state and, from 1938, Russian had to be taught in all schools and became the sole language of the Red army
from what year was Russian taught in all schools?
1938
what purpose did Stalin say culture should serve?
he believed culture should serve a social and political role, above all to promote socialist values