Russia 2 Flashcards
What were the economic reasons supporting collectivisation (1929)?
Wanted to industrialise and catch up with the west out of fear of invasion and war again.
Fewer people would be needed to farm the land so they could become workers in factories.
Between the peasants they would be able to afford machinery to produce a greater yield.
What were the food production reasons to support collectivisation?
More land would produce more food.
Could generate an excess of grain. Could use as an export and use to prevent more famine in cities like in War Communism.
Previous farms were smaller and less efficient, became smaller and smaller over generations.
There had been a poor harvest in 1928 they wanted to prevent again.
What were the political reasons to support the collectivisation?
Was happening during the power struggle.
Stalin adopts the lefts ideology after Trotsky and co. Removed from party so he can begin taking down the right.
Opposed Bukharin’s view of ‘Peasants enrich yourselves’
Would strengthen his control over the countryside which was weak before.
What were the ideological reasons to support collectivisation?
Collective ownership is a Marxist idea.
Puts priority of workers over peasantry (if there’s famine again it will not be in the cities)
More control of the country to the state.
Class war against Kulaks.
Collectivisation during the great turn (1927-1928)
Entirely voluntary
Encouraged with propaganda via posters, films, photos
Less than 5% of farms collectivised
When did Stalin announce is plans for ‘dekulakisation’?
December 1929
Wanted to ‘liquidate the kulaks as a class’
How did stage 1 of collectivisation (1929-1930) work?
Government enforced quotas of grain to be sold (cheaply) to them.
Those who could not keep up were punished.
Created propaganda campaigns against Kulaks.
1929 began forcing collectivisation.
How did forced collectivisation work?
Moved onto farms in a variety of ways by 25,000ers, OGPU and the Red Army
Who were the 25,000ers?
Groups of young party members usually students and from cities who volunteered to move peasants onto Kholkhoz.
What % of peasants were ‘Kulaks’?
4%
What made a ‘Kulak’?
Was no set quota or definition, anyone could be accused of it, someone who had more animals/money than most other peasants.
What happened to Kulaks in the collective farms?
We’re not allowed on them.
Party groups told to identify and export/execute any. Sometimes whole family sent.
Some escaped to cities, most sent to do labour in Siberia.
What happened with the collectivised farms in 1930?
Jan- Stalin aims to have 25% of farm collectivised.
By March 58% of households are moved.
Stalin blames his people being ‘dizzy with success’
Made voluntary again until next harvest (Oct).
What was a Kolkhoz?
Collective farms comprised of many peasants land.
Quotas of grain to be given to gov. Rest sold for profit which is split evenly.
50-100 families
Overseen by an inexperienced party member
Larger ones had clinics and schools.
What was a Sovkhoz?
State run collective farm.
Usually bigger
Worked for a wage.
Had ‘workers’ not peasants.
First dibs on machinery.
Poorer people worked on
On land of previous bourgeois estates
