5) Collectivisation

Question 1

What were the ideological factors for collectivisation?

Answer 1

• peasant attitudes remained conventional. They weren’t producing for the good of the community but for their own profit.
• communists realised collectivisation was needed to encourage capitalist peasants.

Question 2

When did mass collectivisation start? How did it start?

Answer 2

Mass collectivisation began in 1929 with the “liquidation of the kulaks”

Question 3

What was the consequences of the liquidation of the kulaks?

Answer 3

-there was no definition of who was a kulak. Thousands of people were killed and sent to labour camps.

Question 4

What was the response to collectivisation?

Answer 4

• the majority of peasants rebelled, choosing to destroy grain and livestock instead of surrendering it (100 million sheep and goats were destroyed 1929-33)
• same with machinery

Question 5

When did Stalin have to halt collectivisation? Why?

Answer 5

• Although Stalin disregarded the human suffering (‘Moscow does not believe in tears’), he had to halt in March 1930.
• “dizzy with success” -> accused local party officials of being ‘over enthusiastic’ with collectivisation. This is another example of him being tactile.
• he allowed peasants to go back to their own lands (only 1/4 remained by August)

Question 6

When did collectivisation resume? What did this result in?

Answer 6

Collectivisation resumed in 1931. This resulted in a famine greater than ever before. It was officially denied - western visitors were shown false images.
3-4 million people starved to death.

Question 7

Consequences of collectivisation on rural areas:

Answer 7

• 10 million people were exiled, this is 10% of peasants from a single village!
• unrealistic targets for those survived
• rather than achieving communist spirit= anger and resentment.
• failed to raise agricultural production: those excited were often most hardworking, the harvest of 1933 was 9 million tonnes lower than 1926
• HOWEVER, it can be seen as successful as by 1941 all farms were collectivised. Stalin had achieved his aim.

Question 8

What were the consequences of collectivisation on industry?

Answer 8

• more grain was exported (success)

- rose by 5 million tonnes 1928-31

Question 9

What were the political consequences of collectivisation?

Answer 9

• Stalin’s authority increased. Instead of criticising Stalin, the chaos united the party behind him.
• fearing another civil war, party leaders were fiercely loyal.

Question 10

What were the economic reasons for collectivisation?

Answer 10

• the winters of 1927-1929 poor harvests
• food requisitioning had to be used by the party to make up for the losses
• large farms would increase efficiency so fewer people would need to work on the farms. Extra manpower for industry.
• collectivisation also promised significant increase in production - more money so higher standard of living.