2.2 IMPACT OF STALIN (Stalin's Soviet Union) Flashcards
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF STALIN’S RULE
- modernize soviet union to achieve same economic and military levels as western powers
- COLLECTIVISATION
- RAPID INDUSTRIALISATION
IMPACT OF RAPID INDUSTRIALISATION UNDER STALIN
- STRENGTHENED THE MILITARY (LONG TERM)
- WORKER’S CONDITIONS WORSENED (SHORT TERM)
- WORKER’S CONDITIONS IMPROVED (LONG TERM)
Economic impact
COLLECTIVISATION
MERGE SMALL INDIVIDUAL FARMS INTO LARGER COLLECTIVE FARMS (KOLKHOZY)
- FARMED MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH MECHANISATION
1928 ONWARDS
- LAND OWNED BY STATE
- CROPS DISTRIBUTED BY STATE
- EQUIPMENT STATE PROVIDED
- QUANTATIES OF CROP, WORKING HOURS, WAGES > FIXED BY STATE
IMPACT OF COLLECTIVISATION
MIXED RESULTS BUT OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF SOVIET AGRICULTURE SECTOR SEVERELY HAMPERED
> KULAKS BITTERLY RESENTED COLLECTIVISATION
- LOSS OF ANIMAL LIVESTOCK POPULATION WERE NOT RECOVERED UNTIL AFTER WW2 IN 1945
- MANY PEASANTS KILLED OWN ANIMALS, BURNT GRAIN AND PRODUCE, HID THEIR CROPS
- PREVENT THEM FROM BEING TAKEN BY STATE
- RUSSIA SUFFERED FROM BAD HARVEST WHEN KULAKS TAKEN AWAY
- DECLINE IN FOOD PRODUCTION + DROUGHT + FLOOD > WIDESPREAD FAMINE
ESTIMATE 10 MILLION PEASANTS DIED FROM FAMINE
Economic impact
RAPID INDUSTRIALISATION
- FIVE YEAR PLANS SOUGHT TO RAPIDLY INDUSTRIALISE SOVIET UNION
- FACTORIES PRODUCE EQUIPMENT FOR MECHANISATION OF FARMING
> FEWER FARM WORKERS NEEDED
> COULD GO INTO CITIES TO BE FACTORY WORKERS - EMPHASIS PLACED ON DEVELOPMENT OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES COAL IRON STEEL ELECTRICITY
FIVE YEAR PLAN - PROPEL SU FORWARD TO BECOME INDUSTRIAL BASE FOR A POWERFUL ARMS INDUSTRY
First 5 yr plan 1928 - 1932
Second 5 yr plan 1933 - 1937
Third 5 yr plan 1938 - 1942
FIRST 5 YEAR PLAN
1928 - 1932
- FOCUS ON HEAVY INDUSTRIES
> COAL IRON STEEL ELECTRICITY
- SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN INDUSTRIES EXCEEDED ORIGINAL TARGETS
- STALIN DEMANDED 200% INCREASE IN IRON PRODUCTION AND 335% INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY
> PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 15% TO 20%
SECOND 5 YEAR PLAN
1933 - 1937
- EXPANDED ON FIRST 5 YR PLAN
- PROVIDED CHILDCARE FOR WOMEN IN FACTORIES
- EMPHASIS ON PRODUCTION OF MILITARY ITEMS AND CONSUMER GOODS
THIRD 5 YEAR PLAN
1938 - 1942
DIVERTED ALL RESOURCES TO DEFENCE NEEDS OF USSR
- WAR INDUSTRY
- RESPONSE TO HITLER AGGRESSION IN EUROPE
Impact of industrialisation
STRENGTHENED MILITARY
- PLANS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING HEAVY INDUSTRIES
> BUILT NEW INDUSTRIAL CITIES FROM SCRATCH MAINLY USING FORCED LABOUR - MAGNITORSK
- INDUSTRIAL CITIES MOSTLY BUILT IN THE EAST BEYOND THE URAL MOUNTAINS
> GEOGRAPHICALLY STRATEGIC LOCATION, BEYOND REACH OF WESTERN INVADERS - ENSURE CRITICAL INDUSTRIES TO WAR EFFORTS NOT EASILY SABOTAGED
- STEADY SUPPLY AND PRODUCTION OF WAR RESOURCES
Impact of industrialisation
WORKER’S CONDITIONS WORSENED (short term)
WORKING CONDITIONS
- LIVED AND WORKED UNDER HARSH AND APALLING CONDITIONS
- WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK
- NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE AROUND THE FACTORY DURING WORKING HOURS
> SENT TO PRISON IF THEY BROKE ANY RULES IN THE FACTORY
LIVING CONDITIONS
- INDUSTRIES THAT PRODUCED BASIC GOODS NEGLECTED
- SHORTAGE OF BASIC GOODS > FOOD CLOTHES SHOES ITEMS RATIONED
> ESCALATING PRICES
Between 1928 and 1933 purchasing power of workers’ salaries fell by 50%
- POVERTY STARVATION PERVASIVE
Impact of industrialisation
WORKER’S CONDITIONS IMPROVED (long term)
CONDITIONS IMPROVED SLIGHTLY TOWARDS MID 1930s
- GOV IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM OF REWARDS AND INCENTIVES TO ENSURE TARGETS MET
- SALARIES CORRELATED TO PRODUCTIVITY OF A WORKER
> MORE HE PRODUCED MORE HE EARNED
- HARD WORK REWARDED WITH MEDALS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A HOLIDAY AT A DISCOUNT
Alexsei Stakhanovite a miner who had mined 102 tonnes of coal in less than 6 hours
- EXAMPLE TO ENCOURAGE WORKERS
LIVING CONDITIONS IMPROVED
> PRODUCTION OF BASIC GOODS INCREASED AND MORE SUPPLIES BECAME AVAILABLE ( RATIONING ENDED IN 1936 )
- WORKERS RECEIVED CHEAP MEALS AND FREE UNIFORMS
- FREE EDUCATION, SUBSIDISED HEALTHCARE, PROVISION OF EXTENSIVE LEISURE FACILITIES (cinemas gymnasium)
POLITICAL IMPACT OF STALIN’S RULE
1, PURGES AND SHOW TRIALS
2. ARRESTS AND INTERROGATIONS
3. LOSS OF INTELLECTUALS, SKILLED WORKERS AND OFFICERS
4. PROPAGANDA
GREAT TERROR
1934 - 1938
- SERIES OF CAMPAIGNS OF POLITICAL REPRESSION AND PURGES
- ELIMINATE ENEMIES REMOVE DOMESTIC OPPOSITION
KIROV AFFAIR TURNING POINT OF GREAT TERROR
- MURDER AS EVIDENCE OR WIDESPREAD CONSPIRACY AGAINST SOVIET GOV
- CONCLUDED MURDER PLOT TO KILL STALIN AND OTHER POLITBURO MEMBERS
> BLAMED DISCREDIT > ELIMNATE POLITICAL OPPONENTS
Political impact
PURGES AND SHOW TRIALS
- EXTENSIVE PURGE OF LENINGRAD PARTY
- THOUSANDS IDENTIFIED AND ACCUSED OF BEING TROTSKY SUPPORTER
> INVOLVED IN MURDER AND PLOT TO KILL OTHER MEMBERS - POLITICAL RIVALS ( Bukharin Kamenev Zinoviev )
> ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH TROTSKY TO OVERTHROW GOV
> TRIED IN SHOW TRIAL - STALIN SUS OF RED ARMY
> STRONG CONNECTION TO TROTSKY
> HIGH RANKING COMMANDERS AND OFFICERS ACCUSED OF TREASON
> TORTURED INTO CONFESSION AND KILLED - PLACED YOUNGER INEXPERIENCED MEMBERS OF PARTY IN ARMY POSITIONS
> OWED ALLEGIANCE TO STALIN (CRONYISM)
> ASSURED OF ARMY LOYALTY TO HIM, WOULD NOT RISE UP
Political impact
ARRESTS AND INTERROGATION
- SECRET POLICE QUESTIONED FORCED PEOPLE TO INFORM AGAINST THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
> VOICED OPPOSITION AGAINST STALIN - INTELLECTUALS PEASANTS FACTORY WORKERS
> KILLED OR SENT TO FORCED LABOUR CAMPS
1937 - 39 MILLION EXECUTED, 3 MILLION IMPRISONED
(died from overwork, poor living conditions and harsh treatment) - LIVED IN FEAR AND TERROR UNDER OPPRESSIVE REGIME
- STRENGTHEN HIS AUTHORITY OVER RUSSIA
