Russia 1.2 Flashcards
What was the state of the economy when the Bolsheviks came to power?
unsophisticated and backward economy - not industrialised - and shattered by WW1
What did Lenin believe about a Socialist economy?
A socialist economy would be highly efficient with highly disciplined workers who found fulfilment in their work and so needed no time for leisure - reflected in his economic policies.
What key measures did the Bolsheviks introduce when coming to power?
The Land Decree 1917 - land reform which abolished private ownership of land - church and aristocratic land broken up and peasants could own the land which they worked - popular with peasants.
Decree on Workers’ Control Nov 1917 - placed control of factories into the hands of the workers.
27 Dec - all private banks nationalised, along with the State Bank being amalgamated into the People’s Bank of the Russian Republic.
Why was giving power to the workers and peasants detrimental to the economy?
Workers’ councils gave themselves pay rises - little improvement in production + led to inflation. Managers and those with technical expertise were dismissed (sometimes violently) by workers (revenge).
Why was Vesenkha introduced?
The Bolsheviks realised further state control was needed. Vesenkha would ensure factories were properly managed (controlled by well-paid specialists) and would coordinate economic production.
Why was State Capitalism unpopular?
In many ways there was little difference between state capitalism and life before revolution.
Why was War Communism introduced?
To ensure the Red Army was supplied with enough food and resources to emerge victorious.
It also enabled some aspects of communist ideology - abolishment of private enterprise and capitalism.
What were components of War Communism?
Nationalisation of industry without compensation.
Reintroduction of hierarchical structures in industry.
Labour Discipline : working day extended to eleven hours (1918), work made compulsory for all able-bodied aged between 16 and 50 - the unemployed were forced to join ‘Labour armies’ set up to work on projects (e.g. road building and woodland clearance). Death penalty introduced for workers who went on strike and all workers expected to volunteer (unpaid) on ‘Communist Saturdays’ - days designated for service to the Party.
All Private trading and money was banned.
Forced requisitioning.
Rationing.
How many Bolshevik volunteers were used to seize grain?
150,000
(Consequences of War Communism)
Economic collapse - Stats?
grain requisitioning led to lower rates of agricultural production as unpaid peasants had no incentive to work. Industrial production declined significantly - few incentives to work hard and hungry workers left cities to work on farms - higher chance of being fed. 3 million workers (1917) to 1.2 million (1922). Agricultural production at 60% of 1913 level in 1920 and Industrial production at 21% of the 1913 level in 1920.
(Consequences of War Communism)
Growth of the Black market - Stats?
60% of food consumed came through black markets
(Consequences of War Communism)
Mass Poverty and famine - Stats?
By 1921 there were shortages of all kinds of commodities and by late 1920 workshops in cities were closing because of a lack of fuel - fuel in such short supply that the government ordered wooden buildings in Petrograd to be destroyed and used for fuel. Unemployment rose and harvests declined further - 1921 only 46% of 1913 harvest - rural areas a famine began - 6 million deaths + army soldiers had to resettle to civilian life. Lack of food - in the 1920s over 20 million died from famine and disease.
Was War Communism successful?
Overall war communism led to a military and ideological victory but economic ruin - Lenin believed War Communism was the foundation for a new society. Bukharin even welcomed the economic crisis - argued the destruction of capitalism needed to be complete before building socialism - senior Communists didn’t see a reason to stop the policy but the political tensions (rebellions) forced Lenin to accept an economic crisis.
Why was the NEP introduced?
War Communism was abandoned because the economic and social situation led to a deteriorating Bolshevik political position after the civil war because of the failures (above) of War Communism.
Lenin needed the NEP to retain political power.
What measures were taken in Agriculture?
Requisitioning replaced by a system of taxation (10% on profits) - peasants could sell food at a profit.
What measures were taken in industry?
NEP returned small-scale industry (fewer than 20 people) to private industry but the state retained control of heavy industry, transport and banks.
In state-owned factories, bonuses (incentives) were used to try to raise production.
What measures were taken in money and trading?
Reintroduction of a currency in 1921, for paying wages - Lenin emphasised the need for a stable currency and all factories and workshops to make a profit.
Legalisation of private trading to stop the black market and with the growth of private trading - rise in the ‘nepmen’, people who grew rich under the NEP - nepmen accounted for 75% of trade in 1922.
Why were Left-wing Bolsheviks hostile to the NEP?
They saw the NEP as a retreat to capitalism but Lenin saw it as securing the revolution.
What coincided with the introduction of the NEP?
The arrests of Mensheviks and all political parties (except Bolsheviks) were outlawed. Economic compromise clearly did not extend to political relaxation.
(Consequences of the NEP)
By how much did food production increase and why?
End of grain requisitioning encouraged peasants to grow more food - famine ended as food production more than doubled between 1921 (37.6 mil tons) and 1926 (76 mil tons).
(Consequences of the NEP)
Industrial growth - Statistics?
market stimulated production and government invested money gained from taxing peasants. Lenin authorised a major electrification campaign (GOELRO - aim to reach 8.8bn KwH of electricity up from 1.9bn (1913) achieved in 1931) which revived an industry destroyed by the civil war. End of 1921 - Lenin claimed the NEP was the best way to industrialise the Soviet Union and was a form of state capitalism. By 1926, industrial production largely recovered to 1913 levels.
(Consequences of the NEP)
What was the Scissors Crisis?
Agriculture recovered quickly, supply increased and so prices fell. Industry recovered much more slowly. A gap opened up between prices. By 1923 it reached a crisis point where farmers were disincentived from producing food (low prices) and could not afford insdustrial goods. In December 1923 the government had to subsidised the price of industrial products - less money available to improve the economy.
(Consequences of the NEP)
Inequality and Corruption
Nepmen spotted gaps in the market and would travel the country transporting highly desirable goods from factories + farms to markets. The Communist Government saw nepmen as parasites as they produced nothing. Nepmen sometimes arrested by the Cheka for profiteering. Corruption grew - Gambling, prostitution and drug dealing all took place under NEP.
What percentage of firms were in private hands by 1923?
85%
Was the NEP successful?
It did stabilise the economy and replace an unpopular policy thus preventing another rebellion and ensuring Communist control.
But it did lead to slow industrial growth, an unbalanced economy, inequality, crime, and factionalism within the Party.
What were the aims of the Five-Year Plans?
Primary objective was to industrialise the USSR by combining centralised planning with large-scale investment - industrialisation.
Eliminate the inefficiencies of the NEP.
To assert Stalin’s personal authority.
To make the USSR be self-sufficient.
Despite being 100 years behind advance economies, how quickly did Stalin say the USSR could catch up in, and how?
In 10 years - through planning.
Who oversaw Industrialisation and how?
Gosplan - set targets for industries the government saw as a priority for modernisation and resources were allocated accordingly.
Why were party officials used at a factory level?
To ensure orders from the centre were carried out.
What were elements of the massive propaganda campaign that was implemented?
Campaigns focused on the heroic objectives of the plans, celebrated successes of the plans, claimed plans had led to the destruction of capitalism and described the modern, industrial future (Socialist utopia) the plans would create.
Who did the Five-Year Plans see a drive against?
Against Nepmen and ‘bourgeois experts’. built on prejudices of industrial workers and rank and file communists and was probably encouraged by the experts’ spectism that the aims of the Plans could never be achieved. Removal of experts would open up job opportunities to more loyal (possibly less-trained) communist members. 1928 - series of show trials against bourgeois experts accused of deliberate sabotage, often in collaboration with foreign agents. Part of the old world disappeared and was replaced by a stronger socialist order. Loss of experts hindered progress.
When was the First Five-Year Plan and what did it focus on?
1928-32
Concentrated on rapid growth of heavy industry (coal, steel, iron) - approach recommended by super industrialists.
Give an example of a large industrial centre built.
1929, only 25 people in Magnitogorsk - 1932 increased to 250000. Facilities at these centres were primitive - workers housed in tents and temporary huts - material rewards limited and work was hard.
By 1933 what percentage of the Moscow workforce was skilled?
17%
Who was Alexei Stakhanov?
Coal miner from the Donbass region who could mine 15 times the average amount of coal.
Statues of who were built to inspire workers?
Lenin
White Sea Canal Project
Employed 180,000 prisoners by 1932 - winter of 1931-32 10,000 prisoners died. Completion of the projection was hailed as a propaganda triumph by the government. Despite the depth being reduced from 22 to 12 feet - useless for all except small barges. Illustrates Stalin’s attitude that human cost and quality were of no consequence as long as aim was achieved.
Why were factory managers under severe pressure?
Set with unrealistic targets (occasionally included ambushing resources destined to other factories). Bribery was useful to factory managers - corruption which the USSR became infamous for had roots in the 1930s. Rush to fulfil targets meant quality was often sacrificed. A Stalingrad factory was meant to be producing 500 tractors a month (1930), in June it only produced 8 - most of which broke down in 3 days.
When was the Second Five-Year Plan and what did it focus on?
1933 to 1937.
The Second Five-Year Plan learnt from the chaotic planning of the first plan and made more use of technical expertise. New industrial centres started production - results were impressive
Most successful plan.
When was the Third Five-Year Plan and what did it focus on?
1938 to 1940.
Initially set higher targets for production but rise of Hitler and Stalin’s own paranoia + isolationism redirected focus onto needs on defence - heavy industry prioritised. The Third Five-Year Plan geared more directly to arms to respond to growing international tension.
(Overall Achievements)
How much electricity in 100 milliard KwH was there in:
1927
1932
1937
1940
1927 - 5.0
1932 - 13.4
1937 - 36.2
1940 - 48.3
(Overall Achievements)
How much coal was produced in:
1927
1932
1937
1940
1927 - 35.4
1932 - 64.3
1937 - 128.0
1940 - 165.9
(Overall Achievements)
What was the growth rate overall for the period 1928-41?
17%
(Overall Achievements)
What were the increases in steel and coal production?
Four-fold increase in steel production and a six-fold increase in coal production.
(Overall Achievements)
What growth was there in transport?
Moscow metro’s first train lines opened in 1935. Moscow-Volga Canal constructed (1932-37) - transportation of goods more efficient. 30,000 km of rail lines built in the 1930s and rail traffic increased by 400%.
(Overall Achievements)
The Dnieper Dam
Started producing electricity in 1932. Biggest dam in Europe - publicised through propaganda posters. Dam provided power for steel and aluminium industries in surrounding regions.
(Overall Achievements)
Why was labour productivity low in the beginning?
How did the government try to improve it?
Significantly less productive than workers in Western Europe - explained by a lack of incentives (at least in the First Five-Year Plan).
Nationwide initiative in 1935 to address low productivity - higher payments and rewards for most productive workers.
Additionally Stakhanovites (exceptionally productive) were able to reorganise workplaces to ensure they were efficient. Campaign launched in 1936 - as Stakhanovites educated other workers to be more efficient - productivity gains (1936-40): Chemicals - 34% and Electricity - 51%. Stakhanovite workers often were resented by colleagues or management because they received higher pay.
(Overall Achievements)
By 1940 how much of government spending went to rearmament?
How many military aircraft factories were built between 1939 and 1941?
1/3
9
(Overall Problems)
What problems were caused by the command economy?
Production quality often low - plans set targets for production not for quality - factory managers rewarded for producing larger quantities regardless of quality.
Plans did not specify what materials should be used for and there was little coordination between different factories. Materials produced were often stored at factories and left decaying rather than being used. Problem made worse due to a lack of transport during the First Plan. Some industries wasted up to 40% of what was produced.
(Overall Problems)
How was Stalin’s terror problematic?
Stalin’s terror led to purge of industrial managers and officials at the Gosplan - the economic planners who made the Plans work. During the Plans, the USSR had a planned economy but no plan.
(Overall Problems)
Why was the Gosplan’s unrealistic targets a problem?
Industrial managers under pressure to ensure high levels of production and would therefore falsify production figures - falsified data made economic management difficult as effective planning requires accurate data.
(Overall Problems)
Was rationing an issue?
The government could not supply minimum levels of rations apart from the “three good years” where rationing stopped.
What did internal passports do?
They stopped workers moving from town to town in search of better paying jobs.
