Economy Flashcards
What was Lenin’s primary aim?
Holding on to power.
But he inderstooof the need for Russia to became a modern, industrial state before it could become a truly socialist state.
In 1917, Lenin spoke of the dangers of moving towards ‘socialism’ too quickly- he envisaged a long transition period.
Veshenka
December 1917 the Veshenka was set up.
This was seen by some of the Party as a move towards nationalisation of industry but Lenin did not want to alienate workers and peasants.
Which two social groups was Lenin afraid of alienating
Peasants and workers
What did his initial decree on factories lead to
Factories were organised inefficiently and output decreased.
Some workers gave themselves pay rises and others helped themselves to stocks and equipment (slices of conveyor belts used to make shoes)
They lacked managerial skills
What did a shortage of goods lead to
High inflation.
Peasants started to hoard their produce rather than sell for worthless money.
Thus, food shortages grew worse. (already bad due to the loss of the Ukraine to Germany by Brest-Litovsk)
Food shortages by February 1918
In Petrograd people were existing on 50 grams of bread a day by Feb 1918.
In other places, there were food riots.
Bolsheviks control was threatened to be undermined.
Why was war communism necessary
By May 1918 Russia was in a state of collapse.
It was essential they Red Army was supplied with weapons and food.
What was war communism
Involed grain requisitioning and nationalisation of key industries.
No evidence Lenin intended to radicalise the economy so quickly- he was pushed into this by the demands of the Civil War and the state of the Russian economy.
Who spoke out against war communism
Trostsky.
he put forward his own mixed socialist/capitalist schemes in 1920 but these were rejected (he accepted War communism measures and spoke of building communism by force)
This suggests he came to appreciate the desperate situation and need for radical measures.
What measures were taken in agriculture
Draconian.
Spring 1918 another grain crisis.
What happened to food under war communism
It was to be requisitioned, this meant taking grained other food stuffs from peasants at a fixed rate to keep the urban populations supplied. The rate paid to the peasants did not take into account harvests and local conditions.
What did Lenin hope would happen on farms
Hope to encourage the setting up of collectives.
If resources were pooled, the peasants would farm more efficiently.
Only a tiny minority joined collectives.
May 1918
Organised detachments of soldiers and workers from large towns into the countryside to ensure grain was delivered to the State.
The peasants were supposed to receive a fixed price but the reality was grain, livestock, carts and firewood were often brutally confiscated. (many peasants were left with scarcely anything to live on.)
Detachments also kept a share for themselves as a reward.
Peasant groups
- Poor
- Moderately Poor
(both of which were regarded as allies of the proletariat) - Kulaks.
Wealthy but regarded as ‘enemies of the people’
(they could have become the much needed consumed class needed to kick start an industrial revolution
Reaction to war communism
Kulaks- found their entire stocks seized
Peasants- resisted. They hid crops, grew less and killed requisition squad members.
The Cheka had to be used extensively to protect detachments and force peasants to hand over produce.
