Five Year Plans Flashcards
What factors brought about the five year plans?
- Failure of the NEP (this caused discontent within the proletariat and exacerbated distance between workers and peasantry)
- War Scare (Russia needed to industrialise to be able to compete with foreign powers)
- Collectivisation (Industrialisation was to go hand in hand with this process)
- Political strategy (so Stalin could remove rightist elements of the party who still favoured NEP)
Why were some elements of the Five Year Plans not entirely new to the Soviet government?
Upon coming to power in 1917, the Bolsheviks brought the control of railways and heavy industry under Vesenkha. Likewise, under War Communism, the state controlled trade and industry. Even under the NEP, the state maintained influence over heavy industry.
When was the first five year plan instructed to be made by Gosplan?
At the 15th PC in 1927
When was the first five year plan in place? What did it focus on? Why did it only last 4 years?
1928-32
It focussed on heavy industry, electricity, chemical production and engineering. It lasted 4 years due to successes quicker than thought.
When was the second five year plan in place? What were its key features?
1933-37
It devoted more attention to manufacturing and consumer goods but continued to focus on heavy industry. After 1934, more was spent on armaments. There was a big expansion of railways and transport under this program with factories being built east of the Ural Mountains.
When was the third five year plan in place? What were its key features? When was it disrupted?
1938-41
Strong focus on armaments production and heavy industry due to the war. Ended as a result of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
How were the five year plans presented in propaganda?
As battles against capitalism
What evidence of success of the propaganda is there?
Volunteers went to the most inhospitable regions of Russia to help industrialisation and even volunteers and workers from the West came (e.g. John Scott)
What was forced labour especially used for? Who made up the forced labour? How many prisoners worked on the Baltic-White Sea Canal?
Forced labour was used for mass construction projects and timber production. These took place under extreme weather conditions and deaths were high. Kulaks and other enemies of the states made up the labour force. 300,000 prisoners worked on the Baltic-White Sea Canal
How was socialist competition introduced to the industrialisation program?
Regular meetings were held to urge workers to equal the advancements of a rival factory. Workers were given targets for production which they could attempt to beat.
What were Stakhanovites? How many of these were there within a year of their existence? What were shock workers? How much did expected norms from workers increase by in 1936?
Stakhanovites were workers who greatly exceeded their production targets. This was inspired out of the heroic efforts of Alexei Stakhanov. Within a year, ¼ of workers had achieved the honour. Shock workers were the rank below stakhanovites. In 1936, expected norms for workers increased by 10-15% which showed how each individual worker was more efficiently producing goods.
How did wage differentials encourage high industrial production?
Since the more of a product one was able to produce, the more one would earn. Hence there was financially incentive to produce more.
According to Jasny, what were relative wages in 1928? 1940? How did wage suppression and poor living standards help industrialisation?
1928 wages = 100 1940 wages = 56
Wage suppression and lower living standards led to more money to invest back into industrialisation and development.
How was fear used against managers and technicians of factories to get them to increase output as much as they could? What were the key industrial show trials carried out?
Managers and technicians of factories were made responsible for the work produced and if production targets were not met.
1928 - Shakty Show Trial (managerial and technical staff)
1930 - Industrialist Party Show Trial (professionals)
1933 - Metro Vickers Show Trial (British specialists)
What measures were brought in against absentee workers? What charge did causing damage or leaving without permission engender? What was introduced in 1938 to get a tight record of workers?
Absentee workers faced punishments such as dismissal, eviction or a removal of benefits
Causing damage or leaving without permission could lead to a prison sentence.
In 1938, internal passports were introduced.
