★ Russia on the Eve of War Flashcards
★ Strengths of Russia on the eve of the war?
★ Progress towards true Socialism as there was social ownership of factories and fields
★ Communist control was strengthened in the countryside as Party officials were attached to each kolkhoz
★ Soviet economy grew 5-6% each year between 1928 and 1940
★ Protection against the exploitation of people in a Capitalist society
★ Spending on rearmament rose from 27.5 billion roubles to 70.9 billion roubles
★ Skilled workers benefitted, enjoying pay rises and incentives
★ 1940: Defence spending 32.6%
★ Had overtaken Britain in iron and steel production
★ Weaknesses of Russia on the eve of war?
★ High pressures put on management to maintain high amounts of quality production, managers still seen as expendable
★ Economy was not geared for imminent war
★ Women had a dual role which was difficult to balance
★ Resources used inefficiently due to unspecialised workforces
★ Economic developments uneven
★ Stalin’s reign of terror left many ground down, Baltic states tried to defect to the Nazis
★ Had created a hierarchical society dominated by privileged party elite
★ Bureaucracy hindered economic schemes and local organisations
★ Factory managers were subject to party control and workers were kept in strict order through internal passports
★ Religious leaders prosecuted
★ What was the Soviet Union’s Industry and Trade like in 1941?
★ The three FYPs had achieved rapid expansion of productive capacity in materials and heavy industry
★ Became increasing geared for war, machinery and engineering output increased by 59%
★ However, despite rapid urbanisation, supploy of labour remained insufficient
★ Mass terror caused the imprisonment and execution of thousands of trained technical experts and experience managers who were removed at a critical time
★ What was the Soviet Union’s Agriculture like in 1941?
★ In 1939, 2.5 million hectares of small private plots were confiscated and collectivised
★ Delivery quotas were increase
★ Between 1932 and 1940, area sown with grain increased only by 1%
★ Soviet government’s approach to agriculture and rural society was burdensome and neglectful
★ What was the Soviet Union’s Living and Working Conditions like in 1941?
★ Shift of the economy towards war production meant that the availability of consumer goods was quickly reduced
★ Unoffical rationing
★ Average wages continued to rise by 37%
★ Prices of goods in special shops rose by 75%
★ Working conditions and labour discipline became far more restrictive
★ Absenteeism became a crime
