2. Collectivisation And Industrialisation

Question 0

Ideological reasons for modernisation?

Answer 0

Stalin’s reforms in agriculture and industry replaced the communist critical free market with Central planning which reflected the Party’s ideological goals. Also many communists were concerned peasants preferred capitalism to communism and Stalin hoped his reforms would change this.

Question 1

Economic reasons for modernisation?

Answer 1

Industrialisation was a key goal along with agricultural reform. The NEP had failed exceed pre-1914 levels and this had caused a grain procurement crisis. Agricultural reform was needed for food so the industrial workforce could grow.

Question 2

How did the fear of war cause modernisation?

Answer 2

In the late 1920s Russian feared Germany were preparing for war and their industry far exceeded that of Russia, so to compete Russia needs a modern industry.

Question 3

What was collectivisation?

Answer 3

It was the merging of small farms into large farms where resources were shared, leading to greater efficiency. It was brought into place to try and fix the grain procurement crisis, this also went with the persecution of the Kulaks who Stalin believed were hoarding grain.

Question 4

Who were the Kulaks?

Answer 4

They were rich peasants.

Question 5

What were the emergency measures put into place in 1928?

Answer 5

Rationing was introduced into cities and requisitioning was introduced.

Question 6

What was Dekulakisation?

Answer 6

This happened in 1929 and compulsory collectivisation was introduced and Kulaks were rounded up and exiled by the Red army and the secret police.

Question 7

Who were the Twenty-Five Thousanders?

Answer 7

In 1929 27’000 volunteers were sent to the countryside to assist with Dekulakisation.

Question 8

How did the term ‘Dizzy with success’ come about?

Answer 8

Stalin halted the compulsory collectivisation because he believed the chaos in the countryside was being caused by party members being ‘dizzy with success’, so farmers returned to their own farms.

Question 9

When was collectivisation restarted at a slower pace?

Answer 9

1931.

Question 10

When were all games in Russia collectivised?

Answer 10

1941.

Question 11

How successful was collectivisation in general?

Answer 11

It was a disaster.

Question 12

What 4 factors led to the outbreak of famine in 1932?

Answer 12

• Dekulakisation removed the most successful peasants from farms
• Forced collectivisation led to the destruction of grain and livestock due to angry peasants in protest
• Unrealistic targets were set and farms that failed to meet their targets had all of their grain confiscated
• Less grain was produced but more was exported to raise money for industrialisation

Question 13

What were the effects of collectivisation on rural areas?

Answer 13

• Dekulakisation led to the exile of 10 million peasants
• The harvest of 1933 was 10 million tonnes less than that of 1926
• By 1932 machine tractor stations had supplied 75’000 tractors which made up for the decline of horses

Question 14

What were the effects of collectivisation on urban areas?

Answer 14

• The standard of living of the working class fell sharply, bread was rationed and protein consumption had fallen by 66% by 1932
• Famine in the country led to urbanisation and the population of some duties trebled between 1930 and 1940

Question 15

How far did Stalin say Russia was behind the west economically in 1928?

Answer 15

100 years, so he aimed to use Five-Year Plans to ensure Russia had caught up within 15 years.

Question 16

What was the nature of the first five year plan?

Answer 16

This planned economy was administered by Gosplan (responsible for Russia’s economy at the time) and the plan focused heavily on heavy industry (coal, oil, iron and steel). This was because the raw materials produced were needed for future economic growth and for rearmament.

Question 17

What were the successes in production of the first FYP?

Answer 17

Russia’s economy grew 14% each year which exceeded that of the NEP.

Question 18

What were the successes in social mobility of the first FYP?

Answer 18

Urban population trebled in the 1930s, promotions were available to experienced workers, also the government invested in technical education, and workers were courage to attend courses at Russian universities.

Question 19

What were the failures in quantity and quality of the first FYP?

Answer 19

Production was increased by the quality of what was produced was poor and the focus was on quantity, this pressured managers to meet targets so this led to lying about the extent of production.

Question 20

What were the failures in living standard of the first FYP?

Answer 20

Stalin introduced a seven day working week and long hours, consumer goods were extremely scarce and housing was often tents or huts. Stalin also made it illegal to be late for work or strike.

Question 21

How did the black market emerge?

Answer 21

The scarcity of consumer goods and the attempt to abolish the free market by Stalin led to the development of the black market which sold vodka, cigarettes, food and footwear at extortionate prices.

Question 22

Why was there slave labour during the first FYP?

Answer 22

Peasants who were arrested as a result of Dekulakisation were sent to labour camps and forced to work on industrial projects.

Question 23

What was the aim of the second FYP?

Answer 23

It was an attempt to develop the Russian economy in a more rounded way. It focused more on electrification, transport, new industries, labour productivity and consumer goods.

Question 24

Who put pressure on Stalin to prioritise consumer goods and living standards?

Answer 24

A faction of the Politburo, known as the Kirov Group, they believed this would increase the parties popularity. This increase in consumer goods led to 1933-1936 being described as ‘three good years’.

Question 25

What were the other 2 reasons the second FYP focused less on heavy industry?

Answer 25

• During the first FYP large quantities of raw materials were produced but there was no way of transporting them across Russia
• The first FYP produced a generation of workers who were able to perform complex industrial tasks

Question 26

Why did rearmament occur in 1936?

Answer 26

• Germany was rearming and Russian planners feared a war with Hitler
• Kirov had been assassinated in 1934 and his followers had been purged in the Great Terror

Question 27

What were the successes of the second FYP?

Answer 27

• In transport, the Moscow Metro was opened in 1935 and the Volga canal was finished in 1937
• In consumer goods, rationing ended in 1934 and between 1933-1937 the production of consumer goods doubled
• Labour productivity increased because of the Stakhanovite movement
• In heavy industry, steel output trebled and coal production doubled
• Spending in rearmament rose from 4% of GDP in 1933 to 17% in 1937

Question 28

What were the failures of the second FYP?

Answer 28

• In housing, houses lacked the basics and 650’000 people had no access to a public bath house
• In consumer goods, many Russians had a poor diet and new clothing was hard to obtain
• Senior communists had a higher standard of living and Stakhanovites were entitled to large financial rewards
• The same problems of quality and quantity that occurred in the first FYP also occurred in the second FYP

Question 29

What did the third FYP focus on?

Answer 29

Heavy industry and rearmament.

Question 30

What were the successes of the third FYP?

Answer 30

• In rearmament, total investment doubled between 1938-1940 and in 1939 nine new aircraft factories were constructed
• In heavy industry, coal production and oil production increased
• In worker discipline, internal passports were introduced to stop workers moving to another job with a higher wage

Question 31

What were the failures of the third FYP?

Answer 31

• Stalins purges removed the most experienced economic planners and industrial managers, the purrs also meant Gosplan was never able to publish a complete version of the plan making the plan highly chaotic
• The purges of industrial managers led to stagnation in the production of steel
• Food ration was introduced and consumer goods were impossible to buy, in 1941 there was only one shop per 476 people

Question 32

What did Stalins industrialised Russia with emphasis on rearmament mean of the WWII?

Answer 32

Laid the foundation down for victory but at the cost of living standards in Russia.

Question 33

How did the 1930s help for women in Russia?

Answer 33

The number of women working increased across Russia. In 1940 the government increased educational opportunities for women and the number of women in education doubled. However women earned 40% less than men.

Question 34

What were women encouraged to do by the communist party?

Answer 34

They were expected to run the home and the Communist party expected women to resign from their jobs once they got married.

Question 35

What happened in 1936 in relation to sex?

Answer 35

Homosexuality and adultery were criminalised as well as contraception and abortion. State provision was provided to women with more than 6 children.

Question 36

What were the views on marriage in 1930s Russia?

Answer 36

The importance of marriage was re-emphasised and divorce was made more expensive and complex, because of this marriage became the norm.

Question 37

What did soviet propaganda emphasise about family?

Answer 37

• The working class was ‘one big family’ with Stalin as the father
• Stalin was presented as a family man
• It demonised men who cheated on their wives and neglected their families

Question 38

What was the Komsomol?

Answer 38

It was a soviet youth organisation and it’s goal was to turn children not hardworking obedient citizens. Their newspaper instructed children to respect and love their parents. They also promoted sexual abstinence amongst young people. Also the police were allowed to arrest young women who dressed in a revealing manner.

Question 39

What was education in the 1930s like?

Answer 39

It focused on discipline, national tradition, literacy and numeracy and it’s aim was to produce disciplined and educated workers. It also taught the communist system to be better than any other.