Chapter 2: Stalin's Russia

Question 1

Rise of Stalin

Answer 1

1. Lenin’s intentions were not made known
2. Stalin pretended to be close to Lenin
3. Stalin used his position as Secretary-General of the Communist Party to his advantage
4. Stalin’s theory of ‘Socialism in One Country’ was more popular than Trotsky’s theory of ‘Worldwide Revolution’
5. Stalin played one opponent against the other

Question 2

Stalin’s 1st Five-Year Plan

Answer 2

1928 – 1932
 focus on heavy industries, especially iron and steel
 output doubled for iron and steel, electricity, chemicals, coal, oil to meet needs of industries and people.
 > 1500 factories and > 100 new cities built (e.g. Magnitogorsk: the largest industrial city in the SU built in 3 years)
 thought to be a great success  target: to complete plans in 4 instead of 5 years
 some targets not met

Question 3

Stalin’s 2nd Five-Year Plan

Answer 3

1933 – 1937
 new targets for heavy industries
 more attention to light industries e.g. clothing
 priority: industries related to military production, due to prediction of looming war
 factories built to the East  beyond the reach of Western invaders
 improvement in transport and communication networks to aid deployment and mobilization of soldiers

Question 4

Stalin’s 3rd Five-Year Plan

Answer 4

1938 - 1942
 plans to allow ‘luxuries’ e.g. bicycles and radios
 interrupted with German invasion in 1941
 main focus of industries: produce supplies to defeat Germans

Question 5

Reasons for the introduction of Five-Year Plans

Answer 5

1. To modernize and industrialize USSR
2. To improve the transportation and communication network and infrastructure
3. To increase the military strength

Question 6

Negative impact of Five-Year Plans

Answer 6

1. Lack expertise, skilled workers in industries in early years of FYP
2. Poor working conditions
3. Production of basic goods and consumer goods neglected
4. Lack of housing and sanitation facilities in industrial cities
5. Use of slave labour, labour camps set up

Question 7

Positive Impact of Five-Year Plans

Answer 7

1. Changing living conditions
2. The USSR was turned into a modern state
3. No unemployment
4. People were educated
5. Increased pace of industrialisation due to motivated workers

Question 8

Aims of collectivisation

Answer 8

1. Increase agricultural efficiency through modernization of farming methods to increase crop yield
2. Remove capitalism in society, and achieve socialism and control of people and agriculture industry
3. Keep food price low

Question 9

Negative impact of Collectivisation

Answer 9

1. Short term: Rejection of Collectivisation by the peasants
2. Short term: Forced Collectivisation
3. Long term: Success in producing more food with less manpower.

Question 10

How did Stalin control the Soviet Union

Answer 10

1. Politics (e.g. Photographs were doctored)
2. Economy (e.g. Official statistics published about the Five-Year Plans made up to make people believe that the plans were a success; Story of Stakhanov)
3. Society (e.g. State censorship)
4. Arts and culture censored: writing, art, music, plays
5. Education
6. Cult of Personality

Question 11

How did Stalin use fear to control the Russians?

Answer 11

1. Use of secret police (NKVD) and informers to find the opposition
2. Purges
3. political opponents
4. military
5. Religion
6. Rich peasants (Kulaks)
7. Professionals e.g. Scientists, teachers, writers were arrested and imprisoned