RUSSIA 1894-1945

Question 1

The tsar was a ___

Answer 1

autocrat- a ruler with absolute power

Question 2

What was wrong with the russian empire?

Answer 2

the Russian Empire was politically, economically and socially backwards. There was little industry and the vast majority of the population were peasant farmers. Many people were
illiterate.

Question 3

What are serfs?

Answer 3

slaves under the control of wealthy landowners

Question 4

What is the tsarist state?

Answer 4

The Tsarist state system had developed over a long period. The Tsar’s authority was supported by several features. These are known as the ‘Pillars of Autocracy’.
This vast, diverse Empire was ruled by a series of Tsars. They ran the country as autocrats. This meant that the Tsar, and only the Tsar, governed Russia:

Tsars believed that they had a divine right to rule Russia, their position and power had been given to them by God.

Question 5

What were the nobility in the russian empire?

Answer 5

The nobility accounted for approximately 10 per cent of the population. This upper class owned all the land and was dependent on the Tsar. They also dominated the army command and civil service:

the civil service helped the Tsar run the Russian Empire
administrators and officials carried out the instructions of the Tsar and his ministers
they were appointed and paid by the Tsar
they owed their position to the Tsar and were very loyal to him
to oppose him would mean losing power and position

Question 6

How was the law designed in the empire?

Answer 6

The Tsarist legal system was designed to support autocracy and Tsarist authority. It was also intended to suppress opposition and increase fear among the population:

A standard punishment for opponents of the Tsar was exile to the remote region of Siberia. Many thousands of people viewed as enemies of the state were sent to Siberia. They were so far away that they had little chance of threatening Tsarist power.

The Empire did not have an elected parliament and there were no elections for positions in the government.

There were no legal or constitutional methods by which Tsarist power could be challenged.

Question 7

How did the okhrana work?

Answer 7

The Tsar’s will was enforced by a large police system that would report suspicious behaviour and destroy subversive groups:

the secret police had a vital role in identifying and spying on enemies
they had the power to arrest potential threats as required.
agents of the Okhrana worked undercover, infiltrating groups that might present a danger to the Tsar
they acted on the Tsar’s behalf, treating citizens how they saw fit
their methods included torture and murder

Question 8

How did religion influence Russian society?

Answer 8

Orthodox Church as a Pillar of Autocracy – The Russian Orthodox Church was tightly controlled by the state and promoted loyalty to the Tsar (“Divine Right”).

Persecution of Minority Faiths -minorities faced discrimination, restrictions, and pogroms.

Social Control – The Church enforced moral and political conformity, opposing dissent and revolutionary ideas.

Fuel for Discontent – Religious repression (e.g., of Old Believers) and ties to the monarchy weakened the Tsar’s legitimacy over time.

Question 9

What was wrong with working conditions in the urban areas?

Answer 9

Workers faced 14-16 hour days, low wages, dangerous factories, overcrowded slums, child labor, and brutal repression of strikes. Reforms were minimal and poorly enforced, fueling revolutionary anger.

Question 10

What was there a lack of at the time in pre civil war Russia?

Answer 10

Education

Question 11

The aristocracy ____________?

Answer 11

formed about 1.5 percent of society but owned 25 percent of the land.They were also loyal to the tsar?

Question 12

What is wrong with the Industry in Russia?

Answer 12

Backward Technology – Heavy reliance on foreign machinery and expertise, lagging behind Western Europe.

Poor Working Conditions – Long hours (14-16 hr days), low wages, child labor, and unsafe factories led to unrest.

Transport Bottlenecks – Limited railroads and poor infrastructure slowed industrial growth.

Dependence on Agriculture – Economy remained agrarian; industrialization was uneven and concentrated in cities.

Worker Exploitation – No unions, brutal repression of strikes (e.g., Bloody Sunday 1905), fueling revolutionary movements.

State Neglect & Inefficiency – Corruption, lack of investment, and weak policies hindered modernization.

Question 13

What was wrong with the Tsar

Answer 13

-obsessed with his past
- Not a strong leader
-avoided making important decisions, gave tasks to officials
-appointed family members to roles
-managed his officials poorly

Question 14

How did the Russo Japanese war influence the revolution of 1905?

Answer 14

In January 1905 the Russian held port of Port Arthur surrendered. This led to a great deal of resentment about the way the war was being conducted. Further defeats at Mukden and Tsushima embarrassed the Russian population and led to demands for reform. This contributed to the unrest and discontent which was building within the Tsarist Empire.

Question 15

Whose ideas started to rise in popularity in Russia?

Answer 15

Karl Marx-From the 1880s, Marxist ideas began to spread through Russia. Based on the theories of the German economist Karl Marx, they proposed that the proletariat - the underclass of society - would rise up in rebellion and seize power from the wealthy ruling class and establish a fairer society.

Question 16

Who were the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) and the Social Democrats (SDs)?

Answer 16

Srs:
A revolutionary party (1901–1917) representing peasants and agrarian socialists. Key features:
Focused on land redistribution (“Land and Freedom”)
Used terrorism (e.g., assassinations of officials)
Believed in a peasant-led revolution

Who were the Social Democrats (SDs)?
A Marxist revolutionary party (1898) split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks by 1903. Key features:
Focused on urban workers (proletariat)
Rejected terrorism, favored mass organizing
Followed Marxist theory of class struggle

Question 17

What was the 1905 revolution?

Answer 17

A wave of mass protests, strikes, and uprisings against Tsar Nicholas II, caused by:

“Bloody Sunday” (Jan 1905) – Soldiers shot peaceful protesters in St. Petersburg, sparking outrage.

Economic hardship – Poor wages, famine, and industrialization woes.

Military defeat – Humiliating loss in the Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) weakened the regime.

Political repression – No democracy, banned unions, and censorship fueled dissent.

Question 18

How was the 1905 revolution suppressed?

Answer 18

Fighting broke out between the army and strikers in Moscow. By the middle of the month, the army had suppressed the strike and killed over 1,000.

The Union of Russian People was established to fight against the revolutionary groups. It had the power to arrest, sentence and execute those who committed crimes against the state.

Question 19

What’s the october manifesto?

Answer 19

Sergei Witte was an influential policy maker. He persuaded the Tsar to pass his October Manifesto. Issued in 1905, it promised significant political reform, although most of these promises were open to interpretation:

A Duma (elected national parliament) was to be set up. No law was to be passed unless approved by the Duma.
Censorship would be loosened and more freedom of speech encouraged.
The people would have more rights to gather together for discussions and meetings

Question 20

What did peter stolypin do?

Answer 20

Redemption Payments (loans from the state) were abolished. Loans for peasants to buy land became available with the introduction of Peasants’ Land Banks.

Mirs (communities of peasant farmers) could no longer stop individuals from leaving to buy private land. Mirs that did not cooperate were to be dissolved. Peasants were also given financial incentives to move to remote areas of Siberia in an attempt to open up the countryside.
Agricultural output increased by a third, while peasant land ownership increased by 30 per cent. The number of Kulaks increased dramatically and they were increasingly supportive of the Tsar.

Question 21

What is Peter Stolypin’s carrot and stick approach?

Answer 21

The stick- He oppressed strikers and protestors
The carrot - he win over the peasants by giving them more land

Question 22

Why did the Tsar want to sack Stolypin?

Answer 22

He changed russia too much and their ideas clashed.

Question 23

When did the socDems split?

Answer 23

The Social Democrats split in 1903 after an ideological disagreement - the Mencheviks wanted revolution to occur naturally, whereas the Bolsheviks argued it should be pursued immediately.

Question 24

What did the Tsarina do during the War?

Answer 24

Leadership Role:
Took direct control of domestic policies (1915–17) while Tsar Nicholas II commanded the army.

Appointed incompetent ministers (often influenced by Rasputin), worsening government dysfunction.

Influence of Rasputin:
Relied heavily on Grigori Rasputin (a mystic) for political and medical advice (to treat her son Alexei’s hemophilia).

Allowed Rasputin to meddle in appointments, fueling elite resentment and scandals.

Question 25

How did the war influence the revolution?

Answer 25

Military Collapse: 8.5 million Russian casualties (killed/wounded/captured by 1917). 1.8 million soldiers dead (1914–17) → mass desertions (over 2 million by 1917). Economic Disaster: Inflation soared 400% (1914–1917); food prices quadrupled. Railways prioritized for war → food shortages in cities (Petrograd bread rations fell 50% by 1916). Government Crisis: 4 Prime Ministers replaced in 1916 alone → chaos. Tsar Nicholas II’s personal command of the army (1915) tied failures to the monarchy. Social Unrest: 1.5 million workers struck in 1916 (vs. 150,000 in 1914). Peasant revolts rose from 177 (1914) to 1,322 (1917).

Question 26

What were the economic problems surrounding Russia?

Answer 26

Agricultural Backwardness 85% of population were peasants, using outdated methods. Frequent famines (e.g., 1891–92 famine killed 500,000). Industrial Lag Produced 4x less steel than Germany (1913). Heavy reliance on foreign investment (33% of capital from France/Britain). Worker Exploitation 12-hour factory days, wages 50% lower than Western Europe. No unions allowed until 1906 (and even then tightly controlled). Fiscal Mismanagement Gold standard adopted in 1897 → deflation hurt peasants. 1.5 billion rubles in debt by 1914 (25% of budget to repayments). Land Hunger Nobles owned 30% of arable land; peasants demanded redistribution. 1,800+ peasant revolts (1905–07) after land reforms failed.

Question 27

What was wrong with Rasputin?

Answer 27

Corrupt Influence Controlled appointments (e.g., fired 21 ministers in 1916 alone). Took bribes for political favors, undermining government legitimacy. Sex & Scandal Lived as a "holy sinner" — preached repentance but hosted orgies. Rumored affair with Tsarina Alexandra (used by revolutionaries as propaganda).

Question 28

What were the reforms associated with The Provisional Govt

Answer 28

they abolished the Okhrana they removed Tsarist Governors they also allowed freedom of speech they abolished the death penalty they released political prisoners they gave an amnesty to opponents of the Tsar Although many of these changes were popular, they also made it easier for enemies of the provisional government to criticise them. There was little the government could do to prevent it.

Question 29

What is dual power?

Answer 29

The unstable power-sharing between two rival authorities from March–October 1917: Provisional Government: Official state authority (led by liberals like Kerensky). Recognized by Western powers but lacked popular support. Petrograd Soviet: Workers' and soldiers' council (dominated by SRs/Mensheviks). Controlled factories, railroads, and military orders (Soviet Order No. 1 undermined army discipline). Key Issues: Paralysis: Soviets blocked reforms (e.g., land redistribution, ending WWI). Credibility Crisis: Provisional Government delayed elections, kept fighting WWI. Bolshevik Opportunity: Lenin exploited the chaos with slogans like "All power to the Soviets!"

Question 30

What were reasons for the collapse of the Provisional Government?

Answer 30

Continued War Effort Refused to withdraw from WWI (disastrous June Offensive → mass desertions). Land Reform Delays Postponed redistribution to avoid angering landowners → alienated peasants (who seized estates anyway). Economic Crisis Hyperinflation (rubles lost 90% of value by October). Food shortages in cities (Petrograd bread ration cut to 300g/day). Dual Power Conflict Competed with the Petrograd Soviet (which controlled railroads/army via Order No. 1). Soviets blocked reforms, creating paralysis. Kerensky’s Weak Leadership Failed to suppress Bolsheviks after July Days. Appointed General Kornilov, then accused him of coup attempt (August), further discrediting the government.

Question 31

Who were the bolsheviks?

Answer 31

Radical Marxist faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP), led by Vladimir Lenin. Split from Mensheviks in 1903 over revolutionary tactics. Key members: Trotsky, Stalin, Lenin 1917 Strategy: April Theses: Lenin’s demands for "All power to the Soviets!" + immediate end to WWI. Won support with slogans: "Peace, Land, Bread" + "Worker Control of Factories." Gained majority in Petrograd Soviet by October. October Revolution (Nov. 7, 1917): Stormed Winter Palace, overthrew Provisional Government. Created new Bolshevik government

Question 32

What was the Kornilov affair?

Answer 32

After the failed June Offensive resulted in 200,000 Russian casualties, General Kornilov tried to seize power himself. He took an army to Petrograd, but workers went on strike and troops deserted. His attempts to seize power failed.

Question 33

What was declared in the April Thesis?

Answer 33

Lenin declared “All power to the Soviets”. This showed that the Bolsheviks did not believe in the existence of the Provisional Government or an elected national assembly. He also promised “Peace, Land and Bread” to the masses Peace - Lenin could see that the Russian people wanted an end to the war The Bolsheviks declared that they would make peace with the Germans. Land - Bolsheviks support was concentrated in the cities.They had very little support among the peasants who made up the vast majority of the population by offering them land, Lenin ensured that the peasants stayed neutral when the Bolsheviks made their bid for power Bread - Lenin claimed that the Bolsheviks could solve the food shortages that existed in the towns and cities

Question 34

What was Leon Trotsky's role in the revolution and civil war?

Answer 34

1. 1917 Revolution: Joined Bolsheviks (July 1917), became chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. Mastermind of the October Revolution—organized Red Guards and military strategy for seizing power. 2. Civil War (1918–21): As People’s Commissar for War, created the Red Army from scratch: Enforced conscription (5 million troops by 1921). Used ex-Tsarist officers (controlled by Bolshevik commissars). Ruthless tactics: decimation for deserters, no compromise. Saved Bolshevik regime by defeating White Armies (e.g., at Kazan, 1918). 3. Key Innovations: War Communism: Seized grain to feed army/workers. Armored trains: Mobile HQs for propaganda/battles. Propaganda: "Train of the Revolution" rallied support.

Question 35

How was the October revolution executed?

Answer 35

Planning: Lenin pushed for immediate revolt (against some Bolshevik hesitation). Military Revolutionary Committee (led by Trotsky) organized Red Guards & sympathetic soldiers/sailors. Key Events: Oct. 24–25 (Julian calendar): Bolsheviks seized bridges, telegraphs, train stations in Petrograd. Storming the Winter Palace: Provisional Government arrested (minimal resistance). Crucial Support: Kronstadt sailors & defecting garrison troops backed Bolsheviks.

Question 36

Why were the whites so unsuccessful?

Answer 36

The Whites had a number of weaknesses that led to their defeat. Divided leadership- lacking a single figurehead like Lenin, different generals had conflicting aims Whites became hated and feared for the brutality they showed towards local areas, stealing crops and livestock and torturing objecting civilians Low moral- their lack of a clear aim or plan was less enticing than the Bolshevik cause- the establishment and survival of the revolution and a communist Russia. Many feared that foreign intervention would bring an end to Russian independence in the event of White victory. Given the choice between the Bolsheviks and the Whites, it was hardly surprising that Bolshevik support increased dramatically.

Question 37

Why were the whites unsuccessful?

Answer 37

Lack of Unity: Whites were a disunited coalition (monarchists, liberals, SRs, foreign powers) with conflicting goals. No central command; regional generals (Denikin, Kolchak, Yudenich) acted independently. Poor Popular Support: Seen as restoring landlords/tsarism; peasants feared land seizures. National minorities (e.g., Ukrainians) distrusted White Russian nationalism. Bolshevik Advantages: Controlled industrial heartland (Moscow, Petrograd) and railways. Red Army (Trotsky) was disciplined and centrally led. Foreign Intervention Backfired: Allied support (UK/France/US) appeared imperialist, fueling Bolshevik propaganda. Western troops lacked commitment; withdrew by 1920. Brutality & Corruption: Whites terrorized civilians, alienating potential allies. Supplies mismanaged; soldiers often starved.

Question 38

What was the Kronstadt rising?

Answer 38

Sailors on the Kronstadt naval base were unhappy with some of the Bolsheviks new policies and sparked a mutiny and asked for 15 demands for the Bolsheviks. In response, Trotsky sent 60 000 troops to put down the uprising killing thousands of soldiers. Lenin realised he couldn't keep the emergency policies of War Communism. It was probably so because the sailors were the biggest supporters of lenin.

Question 39

What was the NEP?

Answer 39

The New Economic Policy (NEP) was Lenin’s temporary retreat from War Communism, allowing limited capitalism (private trade, small businesses, peasant grain sales) to revive Russia’s ruined economy. It caused splits because: Left Communists (e.g., Trotsky) saw it as a betrayal of socialism, fearing it would enrich "kulaks" (rich peasants) and create a new bourgeoisie. Pragmatists (Lenin, Bukharin) argued it was necessary to avoid collapse ("Two steps back, one step forward"). Stalin later exploited these divisions to attack rivals during his rise to power. Result: NEP saved the economy but deepened ideological rifts, paving the way for Stalin’s collectivization (1928).

Question 40

How well did the NEP work?

Answer 40

Mixed Results: ✔ Successes: Grain production ↑ from 37.6M tons (1921) to 72.5M tons (1926) – near pre-WWI levels. Industrial output doubled (1921–26); small businesses (nepmen) revived trade. Currency stabilized: Hyperinflation ended with 1924 chervonets reform. ✖ Limitations: "Scissors Crisis" (1923): Industrial prices ↑ 300% vs. farm goods, hurting peasants. Unemployment: 1M+ urban jobless by 1927 (state factories downsized). Political cost: 25% of trade controlled by nepmen – angered socialist hardliners.

Question 41

What happened at Lenin's funeral?

Answer 41

After Lenin’s death, Stalin organised his funeral. He also suppressed Lenin’s final testament. This meant that fewer people knew about Lenin's final criticisms. At the funeral, Stalin appeared close to Lenin and carried his coffin (pall-bearer). He positioned himself as Lenin’s loyal servant. Petrograd was named Leningrad that year. Trotsky was tricked by Stalin and supposedly told the wrong date of the funeral. Officially, he did not attend because he was 'ill'.

Question 42

What tactics did Stalin use to outmaneuver Trotsky in the Bolshevik leadership struggle?

Answer 42

Control of the Party Machine: As General Secretary (from 1922), Stalin appointed loyalists to key posts, stacking committees against Trotsky. Ideological Isolation: Branded Trotsky a "factionalist" for criticizing bureaucracy, violating Lenin’s 1921 ban on internal splits. Exploited Trotsky’s "Permanent Revolution" vs. Stalin’s "Socialism in One Country" – the latter appealed to nationalist sentiment. Alliances & Betrayals: Allied with Zinoviev/Kamenev to sideline Trotsky (1924–25), then turned on them (1926–27). Used the Lenin Cult to paint Trotsky as disloyal (downplayed his 1917 role). Bureaucratic Persecution: Removed Trotsky as War Commissar (1925), expelled from Politburo (1926), exiled (1928), then deported (1929).

Question 43

What was Stalin's great Terror?

Answer 43

A brutal purge to eliminate Stalin’s real/imagined rivals, marked by: Mass Executions: ~ 700,000 shot (NKVD records). Gulag Deaths: 1+ million died in labor camps (out of 1.6 million sent). Targets: Party elites (93 of 139 Central Committee members killed). Military (~30,000 officers purged, including 80% of high command). Ordinary citizens (arbitrary arrests for "counter-revolution"). Methods: Show trials (e.g., Bukharin, Zinoviev confessed under torture). NKVD Order No. 00447 (quotas for arrests/executions). Result: Totalitarian control cemented; USSR paralyzed by fear.

Question 44

What were the show trials?

Answer 44

Staged public trials where Old Bolsheviks (Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, etc.) falsely confessed to absurd charges (treason, sabotage, Trotskyism) after torture/blackmail.

Question 45

What key factors enabled the Bolsheviks to seize and consolidate power in 1917?

Answer 45

Weakness of the Provisional Government (PG): Unpopular for continuing WWI, delaying land reform, and failing to address famine. Lost authority after the Kornilov Affair (August 1917), exposing its instability. Effective Bolshevik Leadership: Lenin’s April Theses demanded immediate peace, land reform, and Soviet power. Trotsky organized the Red Guards and Military Revolutionary Committee for the October coup. Disunity of Opponents: Mensheviks/SRs hesitated; liberals lacked mass support. White Armies (Civil War) were divided and poorly coordinated. Control of Key Infrastructure: Seized railways, telegraphs, and banks during the October Revolution. Used Decree on Peace/Land to legitimize rule.

Question 46

How did Stalin construct and maintain his cult of personality in the USSR?

Answer 46

Propaganda Machinery: Portrayed as the "Father of Nations", genius leader, and Lenin’s heir (despite rivalry). Photoshopped images erased rivals (e.g., Trotsky vanished from Revolution photos). Rewriting History: Short Course (1938) – Official history book glorified Stalin, distorted events. Great Purges removed anyone questioning his narrative. Art & Culture: Poems, songs, films (e.g., The Vow, 1946) praised him endlessly. Stalin Prizes rewarded sycophantic artists. Omnipresent Symbols: Statues, portraits, and Stalin Cities (e.g., Stalingrad) reinforced loyalty. "Thank you, Comrade Stalin, for our happy childhood!" – Pioneer slogans. Fear & Devotion: Purges made dissent suicidal; public grief at his death (1953) was mandatory.

Question 47

How did Stalin use propaganda to control the USSR?

Answer 47

Cult of Personality: Portrayed as a god-like leader ("Father of Nations," "Genius of Humanity"). Media Control: Newspapers (Pravda), radio, and films spread only pro-Stalin messages. Socialist Realism: Art and literature glorified Stalin and Soviet achievements (no criticism allowed). Education: School textbooks rewritten to praise Stalin and erase rivals (e.g., Trotsky). By 1950, 100% of USSR media was state-controlled.

Question 48

Why did Stalin push for rapid industrialization and collectivization?

Answer 48

Military Strength – Fear of invasion (Nazi Germany, Japan); needed tanks, weapons. Economic rivalry– End reliance on Western imports and compete against USA economy ("Socialism in One Country"). Crush Opposition – Eliminate peasant resistance (kulaks) via collectivization. Ideological Proof and Reputation – Show communism could outproduce capitalism.Established his reputation Centralized Control – Urban workers easier to monitor than rural peasants.

Question 49

What was collectivization in the USSR?

Answer 49

Policy: Forced merger of small peasant farms into state-run "kolkhozes" (collective farms). Goals: Boost grain exports to fund industrialization. Eliminate kulaks (wealthy peasants) as a "class enemy." Control rural population. Methods: Dekulakization: 1.8M peasants deported/murdered (1929–32). Terror: NKVD confiscated grain, livestock; peasants who resisted shot or sent to Gulags. Results: Disaster: 1932–33 famine killed 5–7M (mainly Ukraine: Holodomor). By 1941, 90%+ of farmland collectivized, but productivity dropped. Agriculture modernised with motor tractor systems

Question 50

What were the goals and outcomes of the 1st FYP 1928-1932?

Answer 50

Focus: Heavy industry (coal, steel, electricity). Statistics: Coal ↑ 64% (to 64M tons). Steel ↑ 41% (to 6M tons). 25M peasants forced into kolkhozes. Human Cost: 5–7M famine deaths (1932–33, mainly Ukraine). Kulaks destroyed (1.8M deported). Quote: "There are no fortresses Bolsheviks cannot storm." — Stalin (1931).

Question 51

How did the 2nd FYP differ from the first?

Answer 51

Focus: Refine industry + infrastructure (e.g., Moscow Metro). Statistics: Electricity ↑ 250% (to 36B kWh). Stakhanovite movement boosted productivity (propaganda). Human Cost: Great Purge (1936–38) killed 700K+ "saboteurs." Gulags expanded (1.5M prisoners by 1937). Legacy: USSR became 2nd-largest industrial power (after USA).

Question 52

What shifted in the 3rd FYP?

Answer 52

Focus: Rearmament (Nazi threat). Statistics: Tank production ↑ 300% (1938–41). 1/3 of budget spent on military by 1941. Failures: Consumer goods neglected Nazi invasion (1941) forced abandonment.

Question 53

What was War Communism, and why was it implemented?

Answer 53

Policy: Extreme Bolshevik measures during the Russian Civil War to control economy/resources. Key Features: Grain Requisitioning: Forcibly seized crops from peasants, causing famine (5M+ deaths, 1921–22). Nationalization: All industry placed under state control; private trade banned. Labor Militarization: Workers drafted; strikes forbidden. Hyperinflation: Ruble collapsed; wages paid in food rations.

Question 54

What was the Holodomor, and why is it considered a genocide?

Answer 54

Definition: A man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine, killing 4–7 million (peaking in 1933). Causes: Stalin’s collectivization – Forced seizure of grain/seed stocks. Quota hikes – Impossible demands (e.g., 44% of Ukraine’s grain taken in 1932). Blacklists – Villages resisting collectivization were starved (e.g., no food imports allowed). NKVD repression – Executions/deportations of peasants hiding food

Question 55

What were the long-term impacts of the Five-Year Plans (1928–1941)?

Answer 55

1. Industrialization Achieved USSR became the 2nd-largest industrial power (after USA) by 1941. Heavy industry boomed: Steel (↑600%), coal (↑400%), electricity (↑800%). 2. Military Preparedness Tank/arms production surged, helping defeat Nazis in WWII (e.g., T-34 tanks). But purges weakened leadership (30,000 officers executed). 3. Human Cost Gulag labor: Millions died building projects like the White Sea Canal. Famines (e.g., Holodomor) killed 5–7M due to forced collectivization. 4. Economic Imbalance Consumer goods neglected (e.g., shoes, clothing shortages). Inefficient system: Quantity over quality (e.g., brittle steel). 5. Political Control Centralized economy became permanent, stifling innovation. Propaganda victory – Showed communism could industrialize rapidly. Quote: "We are 50–100 years behind the West. We must close this gap in 10 years—or be crushed." — Stalin (1931)

Question 56

Who were the Stakhanovites, and why did Stalin promote them?

Answer 56

Origin: Named after Alexei Stakhanov, a miner who allegedly mined 102 tons of coal in one shift (14x the norm, August 1935). Purpose: Boost productivity by encouraging workers to smash quotas. Propaganda tool to inspire "socialist competition." Justify wage cuts (norms raised for all workers).

Question 57

How did Stalin’s policies impact women’s lives?

Answer 57

Workforce Mobilization 5M+ women joined industry by 1940 (40% of workers). WWII: 800K+ served in military (snipers, pilots, nurses). Propaganda vs. Reality "Heroine" Ideals: Celebrated as workers/mothers (e.g., Mother Heroine awards for 10+ kids). Double Burden: Full-time jobs + household chores (male help rare). Education & Inequality Literacy ↑ 60% (1926–39), but women barred from top party roles. Wage gap: Paid 40–60% of men’s wages for same work.

Question 58

How did Stalin lead the USSR during World War II?

Answer 58

Early Failures Purges (1937–38) weakened military (30,000 officers executed). Ignored warnings of Nazi invasion (June 1941); USSR lost 4M troops by December 1941. Total War Mobilization Scorched earth: Factories moved east; 25M+ evacuated. Women & Gulags: 800K+ women fought; prisoners forced to produce arms. Ruthless Tactics Order No. 227 ("Not a step back!"): Deserters shot. Lend-Lease Aid: Used US/UK supplies but downplayed their role. Victory & Propaganda Won at Stalingrad (1943) and Berlin (1945) (27M USSR dead). Framed as "Great Patriotic War" to boost Stalin’s cult.

Question 59

Who was Georgy Zhukov, and why was he critical to the USSR’s WWII victory?

Answer 59

Key Achievements: Led Red Army at Moscow (1941), Stalingrad (1942–43), Kursk (1943), and Berlin (1945). Masterminded Operation Uranus (encircled Germans at Stalingrad). Tactical Brilliance: Combined scorched earth, armor, and artillery (e.g., Kursk – largest tank battle in history). First Soviet commander to defeat Nazis (Battle of Moscow). "In war, the simple is never easy." — Zhukov

Question 60

What were the main problems facing the USSR after WWII?

Answer 60

Human Catastrophe 27 million Soviet deaths (1 in 7 citizens) 25 million homeless Economic Ruin 70% of industrial infrastructure destroyed 1945 grain harvest only 60% of 1940 levels Agricultural Collapse 100,000 collective farms ruined Famine conditions in 1946-47 (1-1.5 million died) International Tensions Emergence of Cold War despite Allied victory USSR left diplomatically isolated by 1947 Legacy: War victory cemented Soviet superpower status but at unsustainable human cost.

Question 61

Who Were the Kulaks?

Answer 61

Definition: Wealthier peasants (pre-1917) who owned larger farms, hired labor, or sold surplus grain. Soviet View: Considered "class enemies" for resisting collectivization. Stalins Treatment: Dekulakization: 1.8M+ deported to Siberia/Gulags; 500,000+ executed. Grain seizures: Starved resisters (contributing to the Holodomor).

Question 62

Sources and quotes relating to tsarist russia

Answer 62

Marquis de Custine (1843): "A prison of nations… where fear is the only motive." Karl Marx: "The Tsar is the gendarme of Europe." British Ambassador (1905): "The regime is a giant with feet of clay." Sergei Witte’s reports (1890s): "The peasantry are a powder keg." Zemstvo statistics (local gov’t): 80% illiteracy in 1897. Gorky’s "Mother" (1906): Fictionalized but based on worker oppression. Lenin: "Tsarism is barbarism coated in bureaucracy." Trotsky’s "1905": "The Tsar’s whip was the midwife of revolution." SR Party leaflets: Called Nicholas II "Bloody Nicholas" after 1905. Quote: "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality" Source: Count Uvarov, Minister of Education (1833)

Question 63

Sources and quotes on leninist and civil war russia

Answer 63

"We are surrounded by capitalist jackals." Trotsky (1919) on Allied intervention. Foreign troops withdrew by 1920 after failed White support. "We took one step backward to take two steps forward." Lenin on the NEP (1921). Allowed private trade but caused Party splits. "Religion is opium for the masses." Marx, used in Soviet anti-church campaigns. 28 bishops executed by 1923. "The Whites had no land policy, no ideology—only hatred." Richard Pipes (1990). Their failure stemmed from alienating peasants/minorities. "A government of lawyers and professors, not men of action." Leon Trotsky on the PG’s liberal weakness. "All power to the Soviets—not the Bolsheviks!" Kronstadt sailors’ slogan (March 1921). Demanded true workers’ democracy. "War Communism was not socialism—it was robbery." Nikolai Bukharin (1921). Admitted the policy’s catastrophic failure. Primary Sources Lenin’s Writings/Speeches "April Theses" (1917): “All power to the Soviets!” + immediate revolution. "The State and Revolution" (1917): Blueprint for smashing bourgeois state. "Testament" (1922): Warned against Stalin’s “rudeness” and factionalism. Decrees Decree on Land (1917): Abolished private ownership (but later reversed under NEP). Decree on Peace (1917): Failed attempt to exit WWI unilaterally. Cheka founding decree (1917): Legalized Red Terror (“defend revolution by any means”). Opposition Voices Kronstadt Rebellion demands (1921): “Soviets without Bolsheviks!” Martov’s critiques (Menshevik leader): “Lenin trades democracy for dictatorship.” Secondary Sources Classic Histories E.H. Carr, "The Bolshevik Revolution" (1950s): Sympathetic to Lenin’s pragmatism. Richard Pipes, "The Russian Revolution" (1990): Blames Lenin for totalitarian roots.

Question 64

What was Magnitogorsk, and why was it significant in Stalin’s Five-Year Plans?

Answer 64

Purpose: Flagship steel city built from scratch (1929–32) to rival U.S. industry (modeled on Pittsburgh). Labor: 80,000+ workers, including forced Gulag labor (10,000+ prisoners). Stakhanovites pushed to meet impossible quotas (e.g., 14x norm). Propaganda: Symbol of Soviet modernity ("Socialist City"), but: Workers lived in mud huts ("We built socialism, but froze in barracks."). Pollution turned skies black ("The worst place on Earth" – John Scott, American worker). Output: By 1941, produced 16% of USSR steel (key for WWII tanks).