chapter 12

Question 1

reasons for industrialisation

Answer 1

• 5 year plans introduced after 1928
• ‘those who lag behind are beaten’
• convinced that surrounding capitalist countries would invade
• wanted to modernise agriculture, so he had to speed up mechanisation of farming
• wanted to restore state direction of industry after nep

Question 2

first 5 year plan

Answer 2

• 1928-32
• focused on heavy industry (coal/steel/iron)
• new industries (cars/electricity/rubber) still targeted, consumer goods neglected
• new industrial centres built - magnitogorsk
• grew from 25 to 25k people from 1929-32
• pressure to meet targets led to absenteeism - would be sent to siberia
• people were enthusiastic despite conditions, thought socialism would improve ussr

Question 3

second 5 year plan

Answer 3

• 1933-37
• set targets for consumer goods
• avoided making targets too high
• increase in coal/chemicals/electricity/mineral mining/transport
• oil production remained low
• fear invasion led to heavy industry again

Question 4

third 5 year plan

Answer 4

• 1938-41
• abandoned in june 1941 when germany invaded
• concentrated on consumer goods then switched to heavy industry
• difficulties due to the purges

Question 5

successes of industrialisation

Answer 5

• by 1940, ussr was the second largest industrial power
• industrial output greatly increased
• 1929 - lack of skilled workforce
• 1929-37 - investments in education and training created a new elite (teachers/engineers/scientists etc)
• enjoyed a quality of life as stalin used incentives
• between 1929-39, population of cities rose by 29 million

Question 6

failures of industrialisation

Answer 6

• targets were too ambitious and not met - decrease in textiles and shortage of consumer goods during first 5 year plan
• peasants couldn’t use the machines, led to a decline in quality
• 50k tractors produced in first plan, 170k goal due to shortage of skilled workers
• working conditions were similar to before the revolution
• millions died due to conditions