Collectivisation (under Stalin)

Question 1

When did Stalin decide to abandon NEP and what was it be replaced by

Answer 1

Stalin decided to abandon NEP in 1529, instead the state would take control over every aspect of economic life.

Question 2

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 2

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 3

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 3

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928

Question 4

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 4

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 5

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 5

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 6

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 6

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 7

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 7

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 8

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 8

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 9

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 9

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 10

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 10

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production.

Question 11

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 11

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 12

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 12

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 13

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 13

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 14

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 14

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production and to improve quality and lower price of industrial goods.

Question 15

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 15

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 16

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 16

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 17

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 17

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 18

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 18

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production and to improve quality and lower price of industrial goods.

Question 19

How did the grain procurement crisis in 1927-28 cause the Great Turn

Answer 19

Winter 1927-28

Question 20

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 20

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 21

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 21

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 22

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 22

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 23

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 23

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production and to improve quality and lower price of industrial goods.

Question 24

How did the grain procurement crisis in 1927-28 cause the Great Turn

Answer 24

Winter 1927-28

Question 25

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 25

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 26

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 26

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 27

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 27

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy. The party rejected the NEP and committed to rapid industrialisation under state control, along with the creation of collectivisation.
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when the 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; the 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of the NEP.
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism.

Question 28

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 28

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production and to improve quality and lower price of industrial goods.

Question 29

How did the grain procurement crisis in 1927-28 cause the Great Turn

Answer 29

Winter 1927-28

Question 30

Why had Lenin introduced NEP and what was it labelled

Answer 30

Lenin introduced NEP or the ‘compromise of 1921’ to rescue the economy from collapse, as the state didn’t have the resources to prevent the economy from collapse.

Question 31

What was the build up to the ‘Great Turn’

Answer 31

The Great Turn was forced through by Stalin, who had defeated Trotsky and the Left by 1927 and then defeated the right and Bukharin by 1928-29. NEP ended and Stalin won power struggle as a dominant leader ready to impose Stalinism.

Question 32

What was the ‘Great Turn’ and why was it so significant

Answer 32

The Great Turn was a radical change in economic policy. Party rejected NEP and committed to rapid industialisation under state control, along with the collectivisation of agriculture
The ‘turn’ began in 1925 when 14th Party Congress committed to industrialisation; 15th Party Congress in 1927 announced the end of NEP
The ‘Great Turn’ marked the start of Stalinism

Question 33

How did the slow pace of indusrialisation under NEP cause the Great Turn

Answer 33

By 1927 NEP was failing to produce growth many leading Communists expected. They were anxious to increase the USSR’s military strengthand develop its self-sufficiency.
Serious weakness in industrial mangement also had to be adressed. More efficiency need to increase production and to improve quality and lower price of industrial goods.

Question 34

How did the grain procurement crisis in 1927-28 cause the Great Turn

Answer 34

Winter 1927-28

Question 35

From which period where there intense debates within the party to decide to push through a massive acceleration of collectivisation

Answer 35

Between 1927 and Dec 1929

Question 36

When was the grain procurement crisis and what was this used as

Answer 36

1927-28
Was an important trigger for the decision to push through a massive acceleration of collectivisation and it was used as a justification for collectivisation.

Question 37

What was the cause of the Grain Procurement Crisis (1927-28)

Answer 37

Poor harvests had reduced the supply of grain, but the state had set a low grain price. There was a shortage of manufactured goods, meaning there was little for peasants to buy. There were few incentives for peasants to sell their grain.

Question 38

In which areas had harvest been good in 1928 and how did grain procurement compare to this

Answer 38

In 1928 in the Urals and western Siberia, the harvests has generally been good but grain procurement was down a third on the previous year. This convinced Stalin that kulaks we’re responsible for hoarding grain.

Question 39

How did Stalin react to the Grain Procurement Crisis and what did he believe about it

Answer 39

Stalin reacted to the Crisis by closing the free markets. He pressure local officials and police to seize the grain by force. He believed his brutal ‘Urals-Siberian method’ was successful and should be extended throughout Russia.

Question 40

Which social class was seen as an obstacle to the right Socialist path and how did Collectivisation help this.

Answer 40

Rich peasants (kulaks) were seen as an obstacle to the right Socialist path. Collectivisation allowed the Bols/Communists to remove and punish kulaks and stop their prosperity

Question 41

When did Satoin decide to abandon NEP and what would happen instead

Answer 41

1929, instead of NEP the state would take control over every aspect of economic life.

Question 42

When was the first 5 year plan agreed and when was it introduced

Answer 42

Agreed in 1928, but introduced in 1929.

Question 43

What were the aims of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)

Answer 43

Aimed to bring about rapid industrialisation and a programme of collectivisation.
Mains aims were to:
-Develop heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil and machinery)
-Boost overall production by 300%
-Improve the transport system
-Transform society and the economy by electrification; target was to generate 6x more electrical power by 1933 than in 1928
-Feed the expanding industrial workforce through big increases in agricultural production.

Question 44

What did Stalin have to do in 1932

Answer 44

Revise targets as they had proven to be unrealistic

Question 45

By how much did the first Five Year Plan increase Russia’s economy each year and by how much did the Urban population grow during these years

Answer 45

Increased economy by 14% each year.

Urban pollution grew 3x larger

Question 46

What had NEP allowed Russia to recover from. What hadn’t they been able to achieve by 1927

Answer 46

7 years of conflict (1914-1921) with WW1 and the Civil War. However by 1927 still hadn’t reached the industrial output level of pre-1914.

Question 47

Why did Stalin want to create larger, collective farms

Answer 47

• Allowed for state control of grain and by paying a set wage prevented the kulak class or other peasants from prospering
• Allowed Stalin to liquidate the kulaks and remove them (he saw peasants as the natural opposition to the Communists).
• Prevented selling of excess grain by peasants, Stalin an Bols have total control
• Believed larger farms would allow machinery to be used far more effectively, increasing both food/agricultural output and profit.

Question 48

What was required in order to industrialise the USSR

Answer 48

Required the purchase of new, modern, expensive machinery. This would be funded by the sale of agricultural produce. Stalin knew that agriculture most become more efficient before rapid industrialisation could occur.

Question 49

How would industrialisation effect the distribution of the population in Russia

Answer 49

Would increase the population of towns and cities, as people leave rural areas and move to cities in search of employment opportunities and higher wages (especially after agricultural investment lowered w/ first Five Year Plan 1528-1532).

Question 50

Would would be the effect of mechanisation on agriculture

Answer 50

Would reduce the number of workers required (less wages to pay=more profit), whilst also increasing agricultural production and efficiency.

Question 51

What was the situation for the kulaks under NEP

Answer 51

Had sold excess grain and become prosperous, hoarded grain when prices were low as no need to sell. Stalin believed gov had a responsibility to destroy kulak class

Question 52

How did Collectivisation allow for social control by the Bols

Answer 52

• Easier for state to manage fewer larger farms than thousand of smaller farms
• Hard for peasants to hide excess produce or sell it for profit as they were directly supervised by communist officials who could estimate production levels and take the maximum possible in surplus from collective farms.
• Took independence from the peasants, as they can no longer own land, allowing Stalin to remove peasant threat once and for all

Question 53

What was a typical collective farm

Answer 53

Collectivisation saw end of small, old-fashioned farms, owned by peasants.
Now owned and controlled by state.
Each family given an area to pool their lands, horses and tools and work together on the Kolkhoz (collective farm) or sovkhozy (State Farm)
Can’t sell excess grain for profit
Paid a set wage
Sell surpluses to gov for low prices.
Collective farms had 50-100 families, together farming around 450 hectares of land .
Intended to be more efficient
Machine Tractor Stations (MTS)= provides tractors and drivers to help with ploughing and harvesting. 1 for every 40 farms

Question 54

What was an MTS and how many were there

Answer 54

MTS= machine tractor stations
1 for every 40 farms
Provided tractors and drivers to help with ploughing and harvesting

Question 55

What was the difference between a sovkhoyz (State Farm) and a kolkhozy (Collective Farm)

Answer 55

A sovkhoz was directly owned and ran by the state, whilst a kolkhoz was in principle a voluntary cooperative of farmers pooling their resources and labour.
Voluntary yet many forces on to these collective farms. CC sent 25,000 industrial workers into countryside to promote it. These idealists forced peasants to collectivise and also worked to remove the kulaks

Question 56

What was the target for collectivisation of the first 5 Year Plan

Answer 56

To collectivise 15% of USSR’s farms. This was expected to lead to a 50% increase in agricultural production.

Question 57

How many people were there in kulak families in 1929

Answer 57

5 million people on kulak families by 1929

Question 58

What did a typical kulak family own

Answer 58

2 or 3 horses and had a larger than average farm. Richest of peasant class. Wealthy enough to hire other peasants to work for them during busy harvest periods.

Question 59

Who was most likely to oppose Stalins collectivisation

Answer 59

Kulaks as they had prospered under NEP, as they could hoard or sell surplus grain.

Question 60

How many farms were there and what did Stalin order this to be converted to. Why was this such a huge undertaking

Answer 60

Stalin ordered the conversion of 25 million peasant farms into 240,000 collective farms. Was a huge undertaking, involving 120 million people in 1929 and 1930

Question 61

When did Stalin announce his plan to liquidate the kulaks

Answer 61

December 1929

Question 62

Name the 3 types of kulaks and what Stalin did to ‘liquidate’/ remove them

Answer 62

1. ‘Actively hostile’ kulaks- These we’re handed over to distant areas such as Siberia
2. ‘Wealthiest’ kulak household were deported to other regions of the country
3. ‘Least harmful’ kulaks were allowed to stay in the region but were given the worst kind of land (least prosperous land)
   Property of the ‘wealthiest’ and ‘actively hostile’ kulaks was confiscated and given to local sovkhozy and kolkhoz
   Overall, around 300,000 kulak families were deported from their homes; roughly 1.5 million people. There were no proper arrangements made for them in areas they were sent to and the wee often left to fight for their survival.
   Around 1/4 of these kulaks died of starvation, disease, ill-treatment and cold.

Question 63

How did peasants respond to collectivisation

Answer 63

Attacked communist officials, burnt crops and killed their animals (so lees left for communists to profit from)
First 2 months of 1930: 14 million cattle were slaughtered.
From 1928-33 cattle numbers halved and they didn’t fully recover until 1953
Less food

Question 64

How did Collectivisation effect food production

Answer 64

Food production fell- less efficient at making profit.

Question 65

How did the Communists deal with those who opposed Collectivisation

Answer 65

• Sent in dekulakisation squads, made up of party members from the cities, to help forcibly organise collectives.
• Used OGPU (secret police) to round up kulaks and peasants who refused to co-operate and move to collectives. They were deported to remote regions of USSR, often to labour camps.
• On some occasions the Red Army was used to make arrests in countryside, some troublesome villages were bombed out of existence by the airforce. Countryside was in a state of virtual war

Question 66

What article was published by Stalin in March 1930 and what did he state in it

Answer 66

March 1930- Stalin published “Dizzy with success” in which he blamed local officials for using force- confused party activists but temporarily diffused crisis, this encouraged peasants to sell grain in spring. After this halt to campaign thousands of peasants left collectives.

Question 67

In March 1930 what percentage of households had been collectivised. How did this compare to the stat in August and then what was the stat in 1932 and what had it risen to in 1937

Answer 67

50% of household collectivised by March 1930.
However, in August it had fell to 21% of households
After the programme began again: 62% of households collectivised by 1932
By 1937 this had risen to 93% of households being collectivised (independent agricultural no longer exists).

Question 68

Results of Collectivisation on villages

Answer 68

• Collectivisation removed old elements of old villages, eg village priests.
• In 1930s the Mir (or village commune), made up of village elders, was abolished.
• The Mir was replaced by the kolkhoz administration, headed by a chairman who was a party member, usually from the towns
• Party control extended by employing teenagers as lookouts. Also, members of the Communist Young Pioneers organisation spied on peasants in the field to ensure they didn’t steal food to feed their own families.

Question 69

How many peasants died

Answer 69

5-10 million

Not surprising peasants cheered German invading forces in 1941

Question 70

What goal was Stalin able to achieve with Collectivisation

Answer 70

The removal of the Kulak class from Russian society.

Question 71

What happened to grain production between 1928 and 1934. What impact did this have

Answer 71

1928- 73.3 million tonnes of grain produced
Fell to 66.6 million tonnes in 1934
Not disastrous but had big impact on countryside as more grain seized by guv to feed industrial workers.
Peasants moved to towns for food, where as towns and Red Army Gad sufficient food by taking supplies from countryside.
Rural population starved in order to export grain to industrial workers.
1932-33=widespread famine

Question 72

In which years was there widespread famine and why. Which areas were greatly effected

Answer 72

1932-1933
Rural areas starved as grain was requisitioned to feed industrial workers in towns and cities, due to fall in grain production.
Mainly effected Ukraine, Kazakstan and Caucasus region.

Question 73

How may people died in from famine-related deaths in 1933 alone

Answer 73

4 million

Question 74

When was the new passport system introduced by gov and what did it do

Answer 74

Introduced in 1933
Made it near impossible for peasants to get a passport so they were effectively tied to collectives. This system resembled serfdom, from which peasants err supposed to have been liberated in 1801
Some peasants relied on eating their own children to survive

Question 75

Why did many collectives fail

Answer 75

Often talk large, with too much centralised control, with party officials in Moscow giving orders to collectives which took little account of conditions on the ground.
Mass movement of peasants to cities before 1933 passport system introduced deprived collectives of able-bodied young workers. This proved to be a limitation of collectivisation

Question 76

When did machinery use become wide-spread

Answer 76

Mid-1930s

Question 77

Why did many peasants despise Machine Tractor Stations (MTS)

Answer 77

Represented central control and gave lectures in the benefits of socialism. This and collectivisation in General caused more division between towns and countryside and generated hostility. Needs of those in countryside sacralised for those in cities.