Russia - Pretext to Stalinism

Question 1

War Communism (1918-1921)

Answer 1

Full on communism to supplement the Bolsheviks in the Civil War

• Nationalisation of all industries (banning private)
• Forced grain requisition from peasants
• Food rationing

Why?

• Supplied Red Army with food and weapons
• A step towards communism and national control of industries
• Make Bolsheviks seem communist
• Defeat the Whites

Question 2

Communist Crisis

Answer 2

War Communism had huge negative effects on the country economically, socially.

• Peasants refusing to plant crops for fear of confiscation, resulting in a famine taking 5 million lives by 1922
• Peasants alienated by confiscations of grain, felt no real link to the Bolsheviks
• Internal party split up, with some preferring more party democracy, a planned economy, etc.

Kronstadt Revolt, Peasant Uprisings because of this.

Question 3

NEP (1921-1924)

Answer 3

One step backward to take two steps forward; opposite of communism

• A small free market for peasants to sell surplus (taxation instead)
• Small businesses de-nationalised
• Purge of party membership, or ‘class enemies’

NEP was never supposed to be a permanent feature, just to alleviate the economic burden.