High Stalinism Flashcards
When did the Presidium replace the Politburo?
1952- after the 19th Party Congress
What was the GKO?
A structure which, during the war, had power over all existing party and state bodies. It supervised the military, political and economic life of the country, and formally brought back centralised control.
When was the GKO dismantled?
4th September 1945, due to fear that the military had become too politically powerful.
When did the Cult of Personality reach its height?
1940s
How did Stalin re-assert centralised control after the war?
He played major figures off against each other eg. Zhadonov Vs Melankov in relation to the Berlin blockade
How much had party membership grown during the war?
Grown from 4 to 6 million members, with a large number under the age of 45
Who were the “faceless bureaucrats”?
The new party intake who had little knowledge of life outside the USSR, old revolutionary history or cultural traditions. They tended to follow orders without question, giving Stalin more control than ever.
How was industry mobilised during the war?
. Up to 1.5 million railway wagon-loads of plant and machinery, and hundreds of thousands of workers, up to 10% of the USSR’s productive capacity, were moved away from major cities.
How many new factories were built during the war?
3,500
What was “Scorched Earth Policy”
A policy of burning invaded land so that it could be of no use to the enemy- destroyed agriculture
How reliant was the USSR on “lend-lease programmes” from the Allies?
Lend-lease made up 10% of the USSR’s GDP in 1943-44
What successes did industry have during the war?
In 1942-43, Soviet factories were producing aircraft and weaponry faster than German factories
What was the state of agriculture like after the war?
Nearly 100,000 collective farms had stopped functioning
How much of the USSR’s total investment was put into heavy industry?
85%- the target was to exceed pre-war industrial levels
How was the population mobilised into industry after the war?
In Leningrad, workers had to contribute an extra 30 hours a month on top of their 8 hour working days. Citizens out of work had to contribute 60 hours, and students 10 hours.
What was the output of industry after the war?
Production of coal and steel passes pre-war levels and industrial production in general exceeded 1940s levels.
What was life like for the peasants?
. Grain procurement to feed the people in towns and cities took up 70% of a much reduced yield, leaving barely enough to feed the peasants and livestock.
. In 1946-7, up to 1.5 million peasants died from starvation
. During 1947, delivery targets and taxes on peasants were raised to new heights. eg. a tax on every fruit tree owned by a peasant.
. by 1952, the number of Kolkhoz’ reduced to 94,800 to increase production and government control
What was the Zhadanovschina?
Cultural purges launched in 1946 fearing increased Westernisation after the war
How was society mobilised during the war?
In December 1941, a new law was introduced which stated that all men aged 16-55 and women ages 16-45 had to dedicate themselves to the war effort.
Overtime became obligatory, holiday was suspended and the working day was increased to 12 hours.
How many soldiers were killed between 1941-45?
8.6 million
How many total casualties did the USSR suffer during the war?
25 million (over a quarter from starvation)
How many women were employed in agriculture by the end of the war?
80% of the agricultural workforce
How did women help on the frontline?
40% of doctors and 100% of the nurses working on the frontline were women
what was the “Central Women’s School For Sniping Training”?
A school which trained female snipers. It turned out 1,061 snipers and 407 instructors, its graduated killed 12,000 German soldiers.
