5. War Communism and the New Economic Policy

Question 1

What was war communism

Answer 1

• Introduced June 1918 and ended March 1921
• Placed the needs of the army and industrial workers first.
  This meant sacrifices for everyone else
• The state/government was put in control of the economy
  The state decided:
• What products factories were to make
• What farmers were to grow or produce
  How supplies would be divided across the country

Question 2

What were the key characteristics of war communism

Answer 2

Food rationing in cities - soldiers and workers got more food than others
* Peasants were not allowed to sell crops. States requisitioned crops and left peasants the bare minimum they needed. Peasants often hid grain - anyone caught would be shot.
- Supreme Economic Council made all decisions about targets. Soviets no longer made decisions for their factories
- Factories with more than 10 workers nationalized and production targets set by government
* Workers worked for government. Strikes banned. Introduced labour conscription - everyone old enough to work forced to work.

Question 3

What is meant by the term central planning

Answer 3

Central planning decided what each nationalised factory should produce and organised the supply of raw materials

Question 4

Why were there increased food shortages in 1917

Answer 4

Russia lost a lot of farmland due to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Whites were controlling a number of important farms

Question 5

How did the government use grain redistribution to improve the food supply.

Answer 5

The state decided how much of their crops peasants should be allowed to keep to live and took the rest. The Bolsheviks promised compensation in the future.

Question 6

What was it like for the workers under war communism

Answer 6

It was extremely difficult for the workers as most of them were malnourished and had to work under hard conditions to meet the state targets

Question 7

Explain the events of the Kronstadt Mutiny

Answer 7

• The Kronstadt sailors were huge supporters of the Bolsheviks but they started to rebel as they were also angry about food shortages and lack of freedom
• The Bolsheviks response was to use violence and Trotsky organised 50,000 Red Army soldiers to storm their Naval base and around 500 soldiers were executed

Question 8

What were the consequences of the Kronstadt mutiny

Answer 8

• It added to the Bolsheviks concerns as they were facing significant opposition from the countryside
• The mutiny led to Lenin abandoning War communism

Question 9

What were the economic causes of the New Economic Policy

Answer 9

• Peasants could not produce enough food
• Crop failure in 1920 led to famines
• The economy was barely functioning

Question 10

What were the political causes of the New Economic Policy

Answer 10

• The Bolsheviks could no longer blame the Whites for everything
• Three quarters of Petrograd factories were on strike
• Peasant unrest against food requisitioning
• Members of the Bolshevik party were unhappy

Question 11

What were key features of the NEP that affected ordinary peasants and workers

Answer 11

• Grain requisitioning ended and free market was introduced so peasants could sell produce and pay 10% tax
• Russians could open shops and sell goods these were called “Nepmen”

Question 12

What were key features of the NEP that affected businesses and factories

Answer 12

• State kept control of big factories
• Businesses with under 20 workers could be privately owned and make profit
• 20,000 well paid foreign experts brought into improve factory productivity

Question 13

What were the 4 key economic effect of the NEP

Answer 13

• Agricultural output increased
• Food supply increased
• Industrial growth increased
• Foreign powers friendlier to Russia

Question 14

Why were communists unhappy with the NEP

Answer 14

• Went against communist ideology
• Increased inequality
• Favoured peasants over workers
• Created a richer class