Key Topic 4 - Economic And Social Change, 1928-39 Flashcards
Why did Stalin want changes in agriculture and industry?
He wanted to move the Soviet Union away from the NEP Policies, that allowed for capitalism, towards the original communism.
He wanted to be able to compete with the West and be self-sufficient to defend against any attempts to destroy communism.
He ordered these changes quickly, which put pressure on people as they weren’t experienced, but he felt threatened so wouldn’t slow down.
What was collectivization?
An attempt to get rid of the ownership of land by ordinary people, and solve the food problem in the Soviet Union. Machinery, such as tractors, were used for efficiency - they were borrowed from Machine and Tractor Stations.
All farms were united into two collective farms:
Kolkhozes - run by committees of peasants
Sovkhozes - run by the state
It was also an attempt to destroy the Kulaks (rich peasants that resisted control and made their own profits) - Stalin hated them
What were Sovkhozes?
State farms owned by the state, enforced in 1928. All the produce went to the state and workers were paid wages whether they worked badly or well. They were very expensive to set up so only a few were set up.
What were Kolkhozes?
Collective Farms that were run by a committee of peasants. The workers kept plots of land for themselves and had to supply the state with a fixed amount of food at a fixed price. Everyone worked a specific number of days and hours which were set by the state. The seed and machinery was also provided by the state.
The workers could keep any remaining crops, but if there was nothing left they would starve.
240,000 of these were set up by 1940
What were the successes of Collectivisation?
By 1937, near the end of collectivisation, wheat production was up by a third.
On some farms people adapted to using machinery, and production increased.
By 1935, the fall in grain production and the number of animals had risen.
By 1934, rationing (including bread) stopped - the state distributed surplus food stocks
What were the failures of Collectivisation?
Most peasants couldn’t use the machinery and many tractors didn’t work. The peasants didn’t like being told what to grow and which animals to breed - they didn’t want to work set hours and jobs, but were fined if they didn’t comply.
The Kulaks resisted and destroyed crops and animals - they had the most to lose as they worked hard under the NEP to build enough profit to own more land and hire workers.
A massive famine erupted from 1932-34 - 5,000,000 people died.
Peasants didn’t feel responsible for producing food for industrial workers so reacted badly by burning houses and killing their crops and animals - between 1929-1933 half of the pigs and quarter of the cows were dead.
What did Stalin do about the responses?
He sent officials to look for hidden crops, salted-down meat and tools - if they failed he sent in the army.
He purged the Kulaks, labeling them as the only opposition to Collectivisation.
From 1932 onwards, any peasant that objected was shot if they resisted arrest or purged if they were arrested.
He had to introduce a Charter to allow peasants an acre of land to grow their own crops and tend their animals.
What was Industrialisation?
An attempt to catch up with Western industry within 10 years - he feared they’d be ruined by capitalists if they took any longer than 10 years. He formed ‘Five Year Plans’ to carry out the changes in industry.
How did the Five Year Plans work?
Targets were set for the workers - these were constantly changed to encourage people that they were making progress. Many of the workers were people who’d been arrested in the Purges - Slave Labour.
Initially, the plans focused on heavy industry (building factories and industrial towns).
Charts were produced to monitor how well workers were doing and the best amongst the workers - worked as motivation to do better.
When was the First Five Year Plan? What were the aims?
1928-1932.
The targets were for the production of iron, steel, coal, oil and electricity. Posters urged workers to finish the Five Year Plan in four years, which they were said to have achieved but didn’t actually achieve the targets until the 1940s.
When was the Second Five Year Plan? What were the aims?
1933-37.
Targeted the same industries as the first plan, but set higher targets for tractors, combine harvesters and the extension of railways. It had lower targets, so met the targets within the years.
When was the Third Five Year Plan? What were the aims?
1938-41 (Interrupted by the Second World War)
First to include luxury consumer items, such as radios and bikes.
Who was Alexei Stakhanov?
A coal miner who became famous during the Second Five Year Plan. He was known for digging more than 100 tonnes of coal in one shift - but this was staged as much preparation was done before and others workers loaded and moved his coal. It was a propaganda trick to make workers work harder - they got more rations, better housing etc.
‘Stakhanovites’ were set up all over the country - competitions to see who could reach the highest targets. Stakhanovite workers were sent around to explain new production techniques, in attempt to mass produce and organize work more efficiently.
What were the achievements of the Five Year Plans?
- By 1941, Russia was strong enough to defend from a German invasion
- Unemployment dropped and many had a higher standard of living
- Industrial production rose by about 400% during the 1930s
- By 1939, 56 million were living in towns and cities
- By 1940, they were the second industrial power in the world - US was first
What were the failures of the Five Year Plans?
- The targets were ridiculously high - emphasis was on quantity rather than quality, so 50% of tractors in the First Five Year Plan didn’t work
- Many workers weren’t properly trained so most things were poor quality
- Factory chimneys poured out fumes that affected the health of the people living nearby
