Five-year Plans and collectivisation

Question 1

Explain why Stalin introduced Collectivisation.

Answer 1

Stalin introduced Collectivisation in order to successfully industrialise the Soviet Union and he was determined to gain control of the peasants and the countryside.

More workers needed feeding in the cities and the inefficient methods of farming couldn’t sustain huge quantities of workers. The government also wanted to sell surplus crops abroad to spend on developing industry.

Question 2

Identify the effects of Collectivisation on the Soviet Union.

Answer 2

• Opposition from peasants meant that some burned their farms and slaughters their animals. As many as thirty million cows died.
• Squads were sent to round up opponents of collectivisation, leading to possibly ten million kulaks being sent to labour camps.
• Agriculture didn’t produce enough surplus grain to sell abroad. Food production fell from 73 million tonnes of grain in 1928 to 67 million in 1934.
• Food shortages caused famine and the tractors that the collectives used regularly broke down, with many peasants not trained in using them.
• The MTS were successful in improving mechanisation for farming and Stalin was able to successfully control the countryside and remove the opposition of the kulaks. He also ensured that the towns and cities were fed and Collectivisation succeeded in feeding the Red Army.

Question 3

Explain why Stalin introduced the Five-Year Plans.

Answer 3

• He believed the USSR would be attacked
• he wanted to successfully make the Soviet Union a communist state
• he wanted total control of industry
• in order to improve agriculture the farms would need machinery which would then make farming efficient and feed industrial workers.

Question 4

Outline how industrialisation changed the Soviet Union.

Answer 4

• By 1940, the USSR was the world’s second largest industrial power.
• Huge towns and industrial centres were built deep inside the USSR
• Vast construction projects were completed such as the Belomor Canal.
• Between 1929 and 1939, the population of the USSR’s cities rose by 29 million.
• Between 1929 and 1937 investment in education and training schemes created a skilled workforce.

Question 5

Outline the three Five-Year Plans: their goals, and how successful they were.

Answer 5

• The First Five-Year Plan focused on heavy industry. All Soviet industries made advances. Huge towns and industrial centres were built and vast construction projects were completed. The urban population increased and an investment in education and training schemes created a skilled workforce.
• The Second Five-Year Plan, 1933-8, set more realistic targets, the Plan proceeded more smoothly. Manufacturing of machinery saw a massive increase and the Soviet Union became less dependent on foreign imports. Although some areas, such as oil and textiles, saw a decline.
• The Third Five-Year Plan started in 1938. The production of armaments became the key priority.

Question 6

Explain the Stakhanovites.

Answer 6

Stakhanovites were outstanding workers. They were given extra pay, free holidays and received medals from Stalin in the Kremlin. Their achievements increased pressure on other workers and they were shunned and resented as a result.