5 Year Plans Flashcards
Industrialization through 5 Year Plans
Industrialization accompanied collectivisation. It was based on the idea of central state planning of all industry
The state planning body,Gosplan, drew up targets and saw that they were met
The first five year plan was drawn up in 1928. It set targets for the expansion of heavy industry. In 5 years electric power was to grow by 335 %, iron production by 200% and coal by 111% . Little attention played to consumer goods
Targets were not met but the results were still impressive, electric power grew 160%, iron 100%, coal 80%
The second plan 1932-1937 was more successful, many sectors doubling production, railways and airports were built. It placed more emphasis on consumer goods
With Hitler becoming a growing threat tanks factories were set up beyond the Urals
The third plan began in 1937, but it was interrupted by the purges, then by the German invasion in 1941
It continued to emphasis military expansion
Workers
Workers were set individual targets. There were prides for those who exceeded their targets and punishment for those who failed
Propaganda about building a better world or making the Soviet union great also encouraged workers to try harder
A big problem was the shortage of skilled workers . It was solved by giving extra pay and prizes for good workers.
Internal passports were introduced to stop skilled workers moving from job to job. Some skilled workers were recruited from abroad
Living conditions were poor. Huge apartment complexes were built with a room for just one family. Rents were low, cheap entertainment was provided, education and healthcare were free
In remote difficult areas like Siberia, where workers were reluctant it go the state had hundreds of slave Labour camps where millions of “enemies of the people “worked in mines or built roads, railways without pay
What were the results?
The 5 year pains produced spectacular results. By 1939 USSR became Europe’s second largest industrial power after Germany
Industrialisation produced urbanisation. In 1926 on 15%of Russians in cities by 1940 30% did
Development of industry helped USSR defeat Hitler
