Economy 1928-1953

Question 1

The Grain Procurement Crisis 1928

Answer 1

Peasants reluctant to grow more food as their tax would increase, Confirmed Stalin’s view that peasants needed to be forced to increase food production. Stalin temporarily brought back grain requisitioning as argued certain peasants were hoarding food. The main target of grain requisitioning were the Kulaks

Question 2

Collectivisation

Answer 2

Started in 1928, in phases. Provided with machinery and experts to train peasants, Collective seized all surrounding land and farm animals as its property. Propaganda used to find sign ups

Question 3

Dekulakisation

Answer 3

Those who wouldn't join a collective, AKA class enemies and were deported to Siberia. Rather than join collectives, peasants from wealthy agricultural areas set fire to farms & destroyed livestock
Even murdered CP officials when they visited villages. formed ‘Dekulakisation squads’ – killed kulaks or sent them to prison camps. 62% of farms were collectives by 1932, rising to 93% by 1937

Question 4

Famine 1932-3

Answer 4

Killed approx. 7m, Dekulakisation led to 3m deaths

Further 10m forced into labour camps.

Question 5

Success of collectivisation 5 reasons

Answer 5

Fed workforce, Provided rapid industrialisation funds, Passports enforced political control, Established CP and Stalin’s authority

Question 6

5 Features of collectivisation which was Unsuccessful

Answer 6

3m of 10m in labour camps died, loss of expertise, 7md died due to famine, lifestock reduced by a half, grain production less than the Tsars

Question 7

Socialism in One country

Answer 7

50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries, catch up in 10 years.

Question 8

GOSPLAN

Answer 8

State planning authority, set production targets, allocate resources,

Question 9

First Five Year Plan 1928-32 stats

Answer 9

Focus on Heavy industry. Economy grew by 14% a year. Electricity tripled, coal iron steel doubled, 18,000 to 80,000 tractors builtþ

Question 10

3 Failures of First 5YP

Answer 10

Only 17% of workers skilled, Use of slave labour (White Sea Canal Project: 180,000 prisoners in 1932;10,000 of these died. 12FEET deep instead of 22) Gosplan targets unrealistic 8/500 tractors built a month. led to exaggerated stats.

Question 11

Magnitogorsk

Answer 11

Largest steel producing city, 250,000 workers there 1929. Harsh conditions, 40,000 prisoners brought in from the labour camps to act as slave workers.Produced 850,000 tonnes of steel in 1929
Produced 2,500,000 tonnes by 1930

Question 12

Second Five Year Plan 1933-37

Answer 12

Focus on Heavy industry, steel tripled, iron coal doubled, electricity 16 to 36. Consumer goods neglected (cloth rose 10%)

Question 13

Third Five Year Plan 1938-41 successes

Answer 13

Focus on re-arnament due to Nazi Germany, Armament industries expanded rapidly: 860 aeroplanes in 1938, but 8,800 in 1940; 740 tanks in 1938, but 2,600 by 1940. By 1940 30% of government finances diverted to military industries.

Question 14

Third Five Year Plan failures

Answer 14

Continued neglect of consumer goods led to a crisis in housing, clothing and necessities
Quality of armaments very poor – Winter War against Finland in 1939. When Nazi Germany invaded in 1941, Russian tanks, planes and guns proved inferior

Question 15

How transformative was the five year plans?

Answer 15

In 1926, 18% lived in cities, but by 1939 almost 35% lived in the cities, Average economic growth was astounding 17% per year between 1928-41. Millions died in slave labour and most experienced declining living conditions. Pressure from Gosplan created widespread corruption, bribery and poor quality