Russia (1922-1933) - Stalin's rise, with few things from Bols revolution etc Flashcards
hdh approach
Some details of the ‘Triumvate’…
- (Dec 1922) Stalin forms alliance with members such as Kamenev, Zinoviev and Stalin.
- Stalinist-Bukharin Politburo formed, which may have been a bureacratic move on Lenin’s behalf.
-> (Jan 1925) Due to Stalin giving Trotsky the wrong date for Lenin’s funeral, as wells as Trosky’s ideas being rejected, Trotsky publishes ‘Lessons of October’. - (Jul 1926) Stalin + Bukharin have similar views on econ policy + Zinoviev and Kamenev attack Stalin and fail to get a vote of no confidence as delegates mostly Stalinists.
- (Nov 1926) Stalin accuses Kamenev + Zinoviev pf factionsim after they joined Trotsky’s ‘United Opposition’ + Zinoviev removed from Politburo and Kamenev removed from Central Committee + ‘United Opposition’ collapses.
- (Dec 1929) Stalin officially Soviet leader.
Aims/details of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
(By Stalin)
- Boost production by 300% + Boost electricity production by 300%
- Develop heavy industry.
- Double light industry output (e.g. chemicals).
-> Positive public reception however, Stalin may have been over-enthusiastic with claiming these things would be achieved in FOUR yrs.
Results of the First Five Year Plan:
- Electricity output trebled
- Coal + iron output doubled
- Steel production rises by 1/3 + New railways, engineering plant, hydroelectric power schemes
HOWEVER… - Chemical industry targets missed + food-processing and other consumers industries neglected
-> Low no. skilled workers + ineffective central control for efficient development.
-> Industrial works small
John Nettl’s view of ‘the economy under Stalin’
- Stalin’s industrial revolution of 1928 gave the Soviet Union its modern character.
- The second revolution completed the work of Lenin + Old Bolsheviks.
Some details on Stalin’s Great Turn…
- ‘Great Turn’ saw the change from the NEP to the Five Year Plans + collectivisation of agriculture.
Some details of Stalin’s cult of personality…
- Compared to the sun + seen as infallible
- Heavily mentioned in the press
The political structure of the communist state under Stalin…
(Some things on Lenin)
- Party congresses called less frequently (perhaps few days 2x yearly)
- Nomenklatura + dual membership (party and govt. officials) ensured party control.
- Stalin used ‘apparat’ to control important appointments + ‘apparat’ controlled Nomenklatura, giving Stalin important roles throughout Soviet society.
- Lenin’s enrolment party membersip 2x to 1m (1930-1933) + New members mostly young who saw the benefits of Stalin’s policies, as wells as being attracted by ‘nationalist’ policies.
(1922 - Stalin was General Secretary)
Aims/details of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
(By Stalin)
- Boost production by 300% + Boost electricity production by 300%
- Develop heavy industry.
- Double light industry output (e.g. chemicals).
-> Positive public reception however, Stalin may have been over-enthusiastic with claiming these things would be achieved in FOUR yrs.
Results of the First Five Year Plan:
- Electricity output trebled
- Coal + iron output doubled
- Steel production rises by 1/3 + New railways, engineering plant, hydroelectric power schemes
HOWEVER… - Chemical industry targets missed + food-processing and other consumers industries neglected
-> Low no. skilled workers + ineffective central control for efficient development.
-> Industrial works small
John Nettl’s view of ‘the economy under Stalin’
- Stalin’s industrial revolution of 1928 gave the Soviet Union its modern character.
- The second revolution completed the work of Lenin + Old Bolsheviks.
Some details on Stalin’s Great Turn…
- ‘Great Turn’ saw the change from the NEP to the Five Year Plans + collectivisation of agriculture.
Some details of Stalin’s cult of personality…
- Compared to the sun + seen as infallible
- Heavily mentioned in the press
The political structure of the communist state under Stalin…
(Some things on Lenin)
- Party congresses called less frequently (perhaps few days 2x yearly)
- Nomenklatura + dual membership (party and govt. officials) ensured party control.
- Stalin used ‘apparat’ to control important appointments + ‘apparat’ controlled Nomenklatura, giving Stalin important roles throughout Soviet society.
- Lenin’s enrolment party membersip 2x to 1m (1930-1933) + New members mostly young who saw the benefits of Stalin’s policies, as wells as being attracted by ‘nationalist’ policies.
(1922 - Stalin was General Secretary)
Impacts on society under the Bolsheviks (1917-1924)
(National minorities and propaganda)
- Self-determination permitted, however, this encouraged nationalistic movements.
- This impacts reverberated around the USSR.
- With propaganda, Soviet aviators + Arctic explorers given good account in the press + Stalin’s ‘cult of personality’.
Impacts on society under Stalin…
‘Class warfare’
- Under Stalin, campaigns against bourgeiosie intensified -> New socialist man would serve the state
- Stalin halted NEP
- Class-based attacks began in the countryside
(A paradox with ideology was perhaps when workers’ rights were lowest priority)
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Proletarianisation)
- Proletariat diversified, partyl perhaps due to Stalin’s purges.
- Proletariat had to be motivated ideologically, perhaps rather than financially.
- Metallurgy, textiles, carpentry production rose significantly
- Harsh living + working conditions persisted throughout NEP
- Rise in working hrs with 6-7 days working.
- Stakhanovite movement perhaps made bonuses for pay.
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Effects on women)
- (1928) Weddings rings banned
- (1930s) Stalin said traditional family was the way
- Divorce + abortion discouraged
- (1936) Contraception banned + Fines for divorce
- (1940) 13m women in industrial works
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Education)
- Quota system, many working-class children’s secondary school places in (1935).
- Core subjects were Russian language + literature
- (By 1941) 94% of 9-49 year olds literate.
- Encouraged physical work + vocational work.
- Teachers could be blamed and purged for peasants’ failure.
- Nationalism promoted
- Education may have provided social mobility.
Class warfare things…
- Burzhui (those in professions e.g. merchants, officers) v peasent prosperity
- During Civil War, allocations depended on ‘work-value’
- (1921) NEP bought in