Russia (1922-1933) - Stalin's rise, with few things from Bols revolution etc Flashcards
hdh approach
1
Q
Some details of the ‘Triumvate’…
A
- (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.
2
Q
Aims/details of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
(By Stalin)
A
- 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.
3
Q
Results of the First Five Year Plan:
A
- 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
4
Q
John Nettl’s view of ‘the economy under Stalin’
A
- Stalin’s industrial revolution of 1928 gave the Soviet Union its modern character.
- The second revolution completed the work of Lenin + Old Bolsheviks.
5
Q
Some details on Stalin’s Great Turn…
A
- ‘Great Turn’ saw the change from the NEP to the Five Year Plans + collectivisation of agriculture.
6
Q
Some details of Stalin’s cult of personality…
A
- Compared to the sun + seen as infallible
- Heavily mentioned in the press
7
Q
The political structure of the communist state under Stalin…
(Some things on Lenin)
A
- 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)
8
Q
Aims/details of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
(By Stalin)
A
- 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.
9
Q
Results of the First Five Year Plan:
A
- 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
10
Q
John Nettl’s view of ‘the economy under Stalin’
A
- Stalin’s industrial revolution of 1928 gave the Soviet Union its modern character.
- The second revolution completed the work of Lenin + Old Bolsheviks.
11
Q
Some details on Stalin’s Great Turn…
A
- ‘Great Turn’ saw the change from the NEP to the Five Year Plans + collectivisation of agriculture.
12
Q
Some details of Stalin’s cult of personality…
A
- Compared to the sun + seen as infallible
- Heavily mentioned in the press
13
Q
The political structure of the communist state under Stalin…
(Some things on Lenin)
A
- 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)
14
Q
Impacts on society under the Bolsheviks (1917-1924)
(National minorities and propaganda)
A
- 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’.
15
Q
Impacts on society under Stalin…
‘Class warfare’
A
- 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)
16
Q
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Proletarianisation)
A
- 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.
17
Q
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Effects on women)
A
- (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
18
Q
Impacts on society under Stalin…
(Education)
A
- 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.
19
Q
Class warfare things…
A
- Burzhui (those in professions e.g. merchants, officers) v peasent prosperity
- During Civil War, allocations depended on ‘work-value’
- (1921) NEP bought in
20
Q
Proletarianisation things…
A
- This is the idea of turning the mass populace into urban workers - The idea of a ‘socialist man’
- Labour discipline tightened
- (1921) Workers could be improsioned or even shot if they failed to meet their targets + Unions made a means for keeping workers under control
- Harsh working and living conditions continued throughout NEP
- This perhaps worsened in Stalin’s early years, with things like collectivisation
(1935) Rationing phased out
21
Q
Changes in Stalin’s polcies towards women…
A
- Weddings rings re-introduced + New-style wedding certificates
- (1936) Adultery criminalised + Contraception banned and only permitted for medical reasons + Tax exemptions for families with 6 or more children with every additional child to ten in the family + Large fees introduced to deter divorce
- (1928-1940) Female industrial workers rose from 3m to 13m
22
Q
Cultural change, propaganda and national minorities’ things…
(Bolshevik revolution)
A
- (From 1932) All writers had to belong to the ‘Union of Soviet Writers’
- (1920s) ‘Silver age’ of Russian literature and poetry
- Soviet aviators and Arctic explorers highly promoted in press
- (1939-40) 2m jews incorporated into USSR (due to invasion of eastern Poland and the Baltic republics)
23
Q
Stalin and opposition to 1932…
A
- Shakhty show trial saw 53 engineers accused of ‘counter-revolutionary activity’ + 5 executed and 44 got long prison sentences
- Yagoda put in charge to see how to better use labour camps, and discovered corrective labour camps + Prisoners would work by extracting metals etc + People beleived this would aid economic growth
(Shakhty show trial showed how Stalin wanted to scapegoat issues)
24
Q
Crisis of 1932…
(Stalin)
A
- (Nov 1932) Stalin’s wife committed suicide + Left a note criticising Stalin’s policies
- Two opposition groups emerge from Party elite (‘old Bolsheviks’ and the rightist ‘Ryutin Platform’) + They disapproved of Stalin’s politics + Stalin called for their execution but Kirov in particular refused
- 24 expelled from Party + Ryutin imprisoned for ten years + (1937) Stalin had Ryutin shot + 18% of Party labelled as ‘Ryunites’
25
1934 Kirov Affair...
- At 17th Party Congress, Stalin announced anti-Leninist opposition had been defeated.
- At Central Committte elections, split occured with some wanting collectivization to continue and some wanting it to stop (including Kirov)
- Kirov and others given title 'Secretary of Equal Rank' (Stalin may have done this to spread responsibility of economic crisis)
- (Dec 1934) Kirov murdered by Nikolayev + Yagoda had 6.5k people arrested from this
- However, Nikolayev did not seem to be linked with left opposition upon question + Kirov's bodyguard and some NKVD men mysteriously killed in car accident before they could give evidence + (1938) Yagoda pleaded guilty for allowing Nikolayev to get to Kirov (this may have been under duress)
26
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.
27
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
28
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.
29
Some details of Stalin's cult of personality...
- Compared to the sun + seen as infallible
- Heavily mentioned in the press
30
Some details on Stalin's Great Turn...
- 'Great Turn' saw the change from the NEP to the Five Year Plans + collectivisation of agriculture.
31
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)
32
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'.
33
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
## Footnote
(A paradox with ideology was perhaps when workers' rights were lowest priority)
34
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.
35
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
36
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.
37
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
38
Proletarianisation things...
- This is the idea of turning the mass populace into urban workers - The idea of a 'socialist man'
- Labour discipline tightened
- (1921) Workers could be improsioned or even shot if they failed to meet their targets + Unions made a means for keeping workers under control
- Harsh working and living conditions continued throughout NEP
- This perhaps worsened in Stalin's early years, with things like collectivisation
| (1935) Rationing phased out
39
Changes in Stalin's polcies towards women...
- Weddings rings re-introduced + New-style wedding certificates
- (1936) Adultery criminalised + Contraception banned and only permitted for medical reasons + Tax exemptions for families with 6 or more children with every additional child to ten in the family + Large fees introduced to deter divorce
- (1928-1940) Female industrial workers rose from 3m to 13m
40
Cultural change, propaganda and national minorities' things...
| (Bolshevik revolution)
- (From 1932) All writers had to belong to the 'Union of Soviet Writers'
- (1920s) 'Silver age' of Russian literature and poetry
- Soviet aviators and Arctic explorers highly promoted in press
- (1939-40) 2m jews incorporated into USSR (due to invasion of eastern Poland and the Baltic republics)
41
Stalin and opposition to 1932...
- Shakhty show trial saw 53 engineers accused of 'counter-revolutionary activity' + 5 executed and 44 got long prison sentences
- Yagoda put in charge to see how to better use labour camps, and discovered corrective labour camps + Prisoners would work by extracting metals etc + People believed this would aid economic growth
| (Shakhty show trial showed how Stalin wanted to scapegoat issues)
42
Crisis of 1932...
| (Stalin)
- (Nov 1932) Stalin's wife committed suicide + Left a note criticising Stalin's policies
- Two opposition groups emerge from Party elite ('old Bolsheviks' and the rightist 'Ryutin Platform') + They disapproved of Stalin's politics + Stalin called for their execution but Kirov in particular refused
- 24 expelled from Party + Ryutin imprisoned for ten years + (1937) Stalin had Ryutin shot + 18% of Party labelled as 'Ryunites'
43
1934 Kirov Affair...
- At 17th Party Congress, Stalin announced anti-Leninist opposition had been defeated.
- At Central Committte elections, split occured with some wanting collectivization to continue and some wanting it to stop (including Kirov)
- Kirov and others given title 'Secretary of Equal Rank' (Stalin may have done this to spread responsibility of economic crisis)
- (Dec 1934) Kirov murdered by Nikolayev + Yagoda had 6.5k people arrested from this
- However, Nikolayev did not seem to be linked with left opposition upon question + Kirov's bodyguard and some NKVD men mysteriously killed in car accident before they could give evidence + (1938) Yagoda pleaded guilty for allowing Nikolayev to get to Kirov (this may have been under duress)
44
Signs of improvement in 1930s...
| (Leisure things)
- (1930s) 30k cinemas + sports facilities
- 'kul'turnost' encoruaged personal hygiene conditions and not spitting on the floor + Workers' hair properly cut
- State paternalism enforced the idea that the populace were like children + (Mar 1936) Komsomol press launch campaign condemning 'dirty talk' + People more kind (perhaps lower denounciation to swerve NKVD)
45
Stalin's economy...
| (By 1941)
## Footnote
Alongside other similar things
- (1926-1939) No. of town residents rose from 17% to 33%
- (By 1940) USSR overtook Brits in iron and steel production, not far from overtaking Germany
- (1939) 9 aircraft factories made + (1938-1941) Rearmament spending rose from 27.5bn roubles to 70.9bn roubles
- FYPs
- HOWEVER consumer goods more scarcer than they had been under the NEP + despite high growth in heavy industry, perhaps light industry somewhat neglected + (Consumer goods more scarcer than they had been under the NEP)
46
Stalinist society...
- Massive changes in arts, fashion, culture, music etc
- (1932) All writers had to belong to the 'Palace of Soviets'
- White Sea Canal built in Ukraine -> 300k people built it -> 30k died
47
Warfare expenditure and other things ...
| (Just before Op Barborossa)
- (1937-1940) Defence spending rose from 16.5% to 32.6%
- Lack of military initiative seen with the war with Finland
- Deficiencies in quality and quantity of equipment
- (By 1941) USSR manufacturing 230 tanks, 700 military aircraft + Over 100k rifles monthly + Due to high military expenditure -> Insufficient investment into state farm still not producing enough to feed populace
48
How Lenin laid the foundations for Stalin's terror...
- 'Old Bols' arrested
- (Dec 1917) Cheka
- Gulags
- (1921) Factions banned
