Five Year Plans

Question 1

Aims of first five year plan

Answer 1

Increase production by 300%
Focus on the development of coal, iron, steel, oil and machinery
Boost electricity production by 600%
Double the output from light industry such as chemicals

Question 2

First five year plan launch

Answer 2

Approved by sixteenth party congress in April 1929 but the plan was backdated to October 1928. It was extremely over ambitious e.g. target for coal was 75 million tonnes and actual production was 35.4 between 1927-1928.
While it is easy to criticise it was a great experiment and there was no other obvious example elsewhere to learn from. One major problem was that people were afraid to question anything about it as Stalin’s regime became more authoritarian

Question 3

Consequences of first five year plan

Answer 3

Publicity around launch provoked an enthusiastic response
Such was it was success that Stalin claimed that the targets had been met in four years rather than five but this was due to over enthusiastic reporting by local officials.
Electricity output trebled, coal and iron output doubled
Targets for chemical industry were not met and house building neglected. Too few skilled workers and too little effective central coordination for efficient development

Question 4

Second five year plans aims

Answer 4

Continue development of heavy industry
Promote the growth of light industries, such as chemicals, electricals and consumer goods
Develop communications to provide links between cities and other industrial areas
Foster engineering and tool making

Question 5

Success of second five year plan

Answer 5

The ‘three good years’ from 1934 to 1936
Moscow metro opened in 1935, Volga Canal in 1937 and Dnieprostroi Dam producing hydro electric power which had been completed in 1932 was extended with four more generators making it the largest dam in Europe

Question 6

Failure of second five year plan

Answer 6

Oil production failed to meet its target and despite some expansion in footwear and food processing there was still no appreciable increase in consumer goods
Emphasis on quantity not quality
Target for coal in 1937 was 152.5 million tonnes and actual production was 128

Question 7

Third five year plan aims

Answer 7

Renewed emphasis on heavy industry
Promote rapid rearmament
Complete transition into communism