Section 4 Flashcards
On what date did Nazi Germany invade the Soviet Union? Who was taken by surprise?
22nd June 1941
Stalin
Who was unprepared for war? Why?
Stalin’s government
Many senior officers were purged in the 1930s
How many Soviet aircrafts were destroyed in the first 24 hours of war?
1,200
How many Russian troops were killed after 3 weeks of war? How many were now living under German rule?
A million
20 million
What danger was posed to Stalin’s regime? What was feared?
It might collapse in defeat
It would mirror the fall of Tsarism
What happened once the Soviet Union was roused to war? Why?
It was ruthless
It was a highly centralised regime
What was an advantage of Stalin’s regime in wartime? What Committee conducted the war?
It was a highly effective government
State Defence Committee
Who was in charge of military command? Who did he leave alone to sort out military campaigns?
Stalin
Generals
Who did Stalin address in his first wartime speech? What land did Stalin appeal to?
“Brothers and sisters”
The “motherland”
What idea did Stalin appeal to over loyalty? What did the war become known as in Russia?
Russian nationalism
“Great Patriotic War”
What did Hitler hope that non-Russian national minorities would rise up against? What are 2 examples of national minorities?
Stalin’s regime
Ukrainians and Baltics
Who did thousands of national minorities collaborate with after suffering? How did Stalin respond to this?
German forces
To transfer a million minorities out of fear of disloyalty
What are 3 examples of national minorities that Stalin transferred East?
Ukrainians
Germans
Chechens
What Stalinist procedure continued in wartime? What else was also exploited in wartime?
Purges
Terror
What did Stalin order after Stalingrad was on the verge of defeat in 1942? How many people died as a result of these “crimes”?
Deserters and “cowards” were to be shot
13,000
Who else came under suspicion for “crimes” in 1945? Why were they feared to be disloyal?
Prisoners of war
They had become tainted by Western values in captivity
Where were many prisoners of war transferred?
Soviet labour camps
How did Stalin address the grievances of army officers? What badges did he restore?
He reduced the role of political commissars attached to army units
Special badges of rank
What were vast numbers of the armed forces encouraged to join? How many members were from the army/navy by the end of the war?
Communist Party
Half
What was emphasised in wartime propaganda? What did Stalin claim Russia’s victory in war was politically?
Nationalism
A victory for communism over fascism
What wartime idea was played down? What wartime idea was hailed as a victory?
“People’s war”
“Great Patriotic War”
What does Historian D. Volkogonov state about Stalin’s wartime rule?
“He ruled like an absolute monarch”
when did the nazis invade russia
22 june 1941
why was stalin caught by surprise by nazi invasion
he had ignored intelligence reports and seems to have miscalculated as to when the germans would turn east
what evidence is there that stalin was not entirely unaware of the impending attack from nazi germany
defence spending increased 16.5% 1937- 32.6% 1940
was the soviet union ready for war in 1941
no
what had sapped the strength of the red army between 1936-38
the purges of the red army removed most senior officers
what had soviet fighting capacity been affected by
inadequate training and the removal of those who had promoted more advanced military theories, such as mikhail tukhachevsky
when had a lack of military initiative already been seen
in winter war with finland 1939-40 when no commander dared try anything new
what was the effect of the reestablishment of dual command of military units
increased party control but hindered actual combat capabilities
what deficiencies were there economically despite the move towards rearmament in the third 5yp
deficiencies in quantity and quality of equipment
how many tanks, military aircraft and rifles was the soviet union producing per month by 1941
230 tanks
700 military aircraft
100,000 rifles
what had happened as a result of increased expenditure of the military
insufficient investment in the collective and state farm system, still not producing enough to feed population
how was the soviet union psychologically unprepared to fight
having withdrawn anti-fascist propaganda and praised soviet german friendship since 1939, soviet troops suddenly expected to fight former allies
what was the name of the operation that launched the german attack
three pronged attack- operation barbarossa
wht was stalins initial reaction to the invasion
he suggested that someone contact hitler in berlin because he suspected the troop advance to be a limited act of provocation
what was stalins first wartime order when he met his politburo
demand that german air force be destroyed and invading forced annihilated
who did stalin leave the public announcement of hostilities to
molotov
why did stalin possibly leave the announcement to molotov
he couldnt bring himself to make it
how did molotov end his informing of the people
‘our cause is just, the enemy will be smashed, victory will be ours’
how long did stalin take to establish a defined structure of governmental and military authority
a week- whether this was deliberate or he was affected by depression is unknown
what was stalins speech on 3 july 1941 designed to do
establish his leadership and unite the nation, rekindling patriotism and mollifying all those who opposed his politices in 1930s
what did stalins interestingly appeal to in his war speeches
his peoples love for their country and played on the threat of their culture rather than the threat to socialism
what did the people fight for instead of communism
russia
what did stalin order as a result of the germans coming dangerously close to moscow in october 1941
evacuation of the government to Kuibyshev on the Volga
what display of resistance did stalin insist on despite ordering the evacuation of the government in moscow
the annual red square parade should take place as normal
what did stalin realise as a result of the disastrous opening to the war
the need to let his military commanders plan campaigns- running of war increasingly left to general staff but removed if they displayed incompetence
examples of marshals replaced by men brought back from gulags
Voroshilov and budyenny
who did stalin rely heavily on in the war
georgi Zhukov
what had hitler nurtured some hope that the invasion would spark
an anti Stalinist revolt
how did those in national minority areas approach the germans in the wake of invasion
they welcomed the german soldiers as liberators after the harsh Stalinism of the 1930s and thousands became collaborationists
what movement was formed in the Ukraine under vlasov
the Russian liberation movement who fought against their former red army comrades
what did winning the war rely on in the greater part of the unoccupied ussr
on the continuation of pre war terror tactics
what did stalin issue in july 1942 when the germans threatned stalingrad
order 227- not one step backwards
what was the fate of any soldier who fell behind/tried to retreat
shot on sight
how many were sentenced to death under order 227
150000
who were penal battalions created from
those who broke discipline
what happened to those who broke discipline
sent to front to undertake most dangerous jobs eg clearing minefields =- supposedly to redeem themselves
casualty rates of those who were given most dangerous jobs
50%
what were added to the NKVD units to prevent desertion/retreat
blocking units equipped with machine guns
political impact: why did stalin take action to prevent political disintegration
the multinational nature of the empire seen as a potential threat to state security
political impact: what happened to the Volga german autonomous republic
dissolved as early as august 1941 and peoples sent to east
political impact: who were deported away from their homelands
‘suspect’ ethnic groups such as the chechens
political impact: how many in total were forced to uproot
1.5 million
political impact: what did stalin address within the party to win the way
former grievances of army officers
political impact: what was the result of stalin putting emphasis on the political education of the troops
increasing numbers of military chose to join party
political impact: how many candidate members and how many new members joined the party during the war
5 million candidate members
3.6 million new members
political impact: what percentage of those in the armed forces were communist and what percentage were Komsomol members by 1945
25% communist
20% members of komsomol
political impact: wat did the war help to strengthen the belief in
the communist system
political impact: what could stalin claim that the war had shown by may 1945
the war had shown the superiority and resilience of the socialist system
political impact: what was the war a victory for
communist over fascism
economic impact: what had hitler intended to seize in the wake of his invasion
Russian farmland and industry to use to german advantage
economic impact: to what extent had nhitler achieved his goal of seizing Russian farmland and industry by the end of 1941
german occupied soviet territory contained 63% of countrys coal, 68% iron, 58% steel, 45% railways and 41% arable land
economic impact: what measures did the soviets take during the war to ensure their economic survival
the establishment of a wartime economy on 30 june 1941
economic impact: which policy rendered most of farmland useless
scorched earth
economic impact: how many soviet factories were transplanted from western Russia and Ukraine to east in july-nov 1941
1523
economic impact: what happened to the industrial growth that had already taken place in 5 year plans
capitalised upon
economic impact: ho were industrial bases rapidly linked to front line
new railways built/redirected
economic impact: how did managing a wartime economy prove easier for USSR than western allies
existing centralised, planned economy
economic impact: what were established to supervise different sections of wartime production
wartime commissars
economic impact: what did compulsory state orders allow for
changes to take place in a very short timeframe
economic impact: what effect did the redistribution of national expenditure have on militaryshare of budget by end of 1942
risen from 29% to 57%
economic impact: how many new industrial enterprises were built during course of war in the urals
3500
economic impact: how was USSR military economy better than Germany by mid 1943
industrial output exceeded that of Germany and quality of weapons superior
economic impact: why did food problems take longer to solve
grain harvest of 1942 only 1/3 of that of 1940
economic impact: how was survival ensured despite food problems
strict rationing and demanding quotas on collective farms
economic impact: who was farm output maintained by
women, elderly men and children
economic impact: why was the use of foreign aid never advertised to the soviet people
they were encouraged to believe that their efforts were ignored by the west
economic impact: what war materials did the uk and usa supply
essential war materials which the ussr had limited production of
economic impact: when was the lend lease scheme and what was provided under it
1941- 11 billion dollars of aid provided by usa
social impact: what did the announcement of the german invasion see recruitment stations flood with
volunteers keen to fight for the motherland
social impact: how many signed up from Moscow alone
120000
social impact: what did people fight for
some believed they were following tradition of pioneers that fought in civil war and others fought for community and locality
social impact: what did the panic induced by the german attack help to reunite
Russian society and provide cohesion that had been threatened in the 1930s
social impact: what did the central authorities step in to manage
society in the same way they directed agriculture and industry
social impact: what did the law introduced in December 1941 mobilise
all undrafted workers for war work
social impact: what became obligatory in the workplace and what was suspended
overtime became obligatory and holidays suspended
social impact: what was the working day increased to
12 hours
social impact: what was the average working week
70-77 hours
social impact: what were there severe punishments for in the workplace
negligence, lateness or absenteeism
social impact: what was unauthorised absence from work classed as
desertion punishable by death
social impact: what were confiscated from a soldier whilst he was in captivity
his familys military ration cards
social impact: what did stalin see the lives of red army soldiers as expendable in
the interests of the greater good
social impact: how many soldiers killed between 1941-45
8.6 million
social impact: what percentage of deaths suffered by ussr in war caused by starvation
25 million
social impact: why did health problems escalate
housing and fuel shortages as well as food shortages
social impact: why was there a housing shortage
priority was factory building first, accommodation second
social impact: what was used to maintain supplies
gulag labour
social impact: what was the death rate in the labour camps in 1942 and why was this not regarded as a problem
25%
slave labour regarded as endlessly renewable
social impact: what did stalin play on the connotations of to harness society for the war effort
great patriotic war
social impact: what were people encouraged to sacrifice themselves in the interests of
the holy mother Russia against the godless invaders and child killers
social impact: what were the non Russian nationalities told to join
join in with you Russian brothers- the home of a Russian is also your home
social impact: what were published in Pravda to inspire heroism and self sacrifice
deeply patriotic and violently anti german letters
social impact: what was the international (socialist anthem) replaced by in 1943
a new nationalistic song of the motherland
social impact: what did artists enjoy more freedom in the interests of
fostering an atmosphere of national reconciliation
social impact: on what terms were previously banned individuals allowed to work again on
so long as they avoided direct criticism of Marxist Leninism
social impact: what happened to churches
they were reopened and there was a respite in the persecution of them
social impact: developments involving the clergy
Russian patriarch restored and clergy released from camps
social impact: what happened to priests and bishops
they were officially vetted and had to swear an oath to the soviet state
social impact: what did stalin want to use the church for
to lift morale and strengthen the peoples resolve- attendance was encouraged
social impact: what did church services become
patriotic gatherings with sermons and prayers calling for victory and defiance of the germans
social impact: what did priests bless
troops and tanks and restored feelings of devotion to the motherland
social impact: how was the church not allowed any real autonomy
all Christian denominations placed under control of orthodox church- turned relgion into an arm of the gov
social impact: what did the war bring a reaffirmation of the importance of
the family
social impact: what were the new measures introduced in july 1944 trying to combat
falling birth rate and the deaths brought about by the war
social impact: who were taxes increased for
those with fewer than two children
social impact: what were restrictions tightened on
divorce
social impact: what was forbidden
abortion
social impact: what right was re-established
right to inherit family property
social impact: what were mothers of more than two made
heroines of the soviet union
social impact: why did womens burdens increase in wartime
they became essential members of the workforce and were expected to raise large families
social impact: what percentage of all soviet workers were women by 1945
50%
social impact: what percentage of land workers were women by 1945
4/5
social impact: what were recruited from women
local defence units and fire wardens
social impact: how many women fought in the soviet armed forces as pilots, snipers etc
over 500,000
social impact: what happened to womens pay rates between 1930 and 1945
they fell
social impact: why were some soviet citizens and red army soldiers forced to live in occupied territory
they found themselves left behind the german lines in the rapid advance of 1941
social impact: what tactics did partisan groups use to harass the enemy and sabotage operations
guerilla tactics
social impact: why was zoya kosmodemyansanka made a hero of the soviet union
partisan who refused to betray her comrades when caught by germans as she cut telephone cables
social impact: who, other than partisans, were liable to be the victims of harsh punishments at german hands
innocent villagers also massacred in reprisals because of partisan activity
stalin: what effect did the war have on stalins reputation
his reputation soared- turned into a national superhero
stalin: what soon adorned all public buildings to celebrate his image
paintings portraying him as the great wartime leader
stalin: what effect did the war have on stalins personality
he became more paranoid
suspicions of real/imagined enemies had grown
stalin: when was stalins increased paranoia most apparent
in his attitude to returning prisoners of war- stalin regarded them as tainted with western values
stalin: where were returning prisoners of war transferred to
from german to soviet labour camps
stalin: what was the fate of collaborationist soviet citizens who had fought for Germany against the USSR
THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED AND THEIR COMMUNITITES MADE TO SUFFER
stalin: example of those who were wiped out due to their support of german armies
the cossacks
stalin: where were servicemen returning to the ussr interrogated by the nkvd
in filtration camps
stalin: where were servicemen returning to ussr from abroad sent if they were believed to have potentially subversive views
gulags
stalin: what were servicemen with good war records given access to
higher education and rapid promotion to better jobs
government: what did stalin claim that the war had allowed the Stalinist system to prove
its unquestionable vitality
government: what did the soviet union emerge from the war as internationally
a great military power
government: what did the soviet union do as well as retaining all the regions occupied under Nazi-soviet pact and what effect did this have
took more which created a band of satellite states in eastern europe
government: how was victory portrayed
as a victory for the system, not the people
government: did stalin change his style of government at all after the war
no
retained positions of head of gov and party secretary
government: what did the last years of stalins life see a return to
the methods of the 1930s
people: how many people in the western provinces at the end of the war had nothing but wooden huts to live in
25 million
people: how were the war years in some way easier for some people
they offered ordinary people more opportunity for individual initiative and helped to bring state and people closer
people: what gave people new hope for change now the war was over
the sense of collective endeavour for their country, their gov and stalin
people: what helped to spread new liberal thinking
the comradeship among soldiers
people: what did army officers emerge from the war at the forefront of
the movement for greater liberalisation
people: what opened the eyes of ordinary soviet citizens and disproved the propaganda image of the dismal west
access western influence
when did stalins authority over state and party and his cult of personality reach its pinnicle
1945-53
how to describe stalins leadership in high Stalinism
undisputed
political high Stalinism: what was stalins approach to post war government
back to the future
political high Stalinism: what effect did stalin think increased party membership under lax wartime rule had
made party unwieldly and potentially unreliable
reputation of soviet military too high
political high Stalinism: what happened to wartime institutions
dismantled
political high Stalinism: when was the GKO dissolved
4 sept 1945
its functions returned to various commissariats
political high Stalinism: what happened to the military hierarchy
it was downgraded
political high Stalinism: who took the role of minister of defence
stalin
political high Stalinism: why was Zhukov demoted
seen as potential rival for popular adulation
political high Stalinism: what happened to zhukv
sent to military command in Odessa, losing his position on central committee of party
K’s rise to power: what was it announced on 6 march 1953 that Malenkov would combine roles of
secretary of central committee and chairman of council of ministers
K’s rise to power: why had Malenkov been forced by rivals to step down from party secretary
to concentrate on his governmental role
K’s rise to power: who took post of party secretary after Malenkov
khrushchev
K’s rise to power: who was a collective leadership established between in 1953
Molotov (foreign minister) and beria (head of MVD)
K’s rise to power: who did Khrushchev immediately begin appointing to important party posts when he became p secretary
his own proteges
K’s rise to power: where did Kh build himself a strong support network despite underestimation from others
in partys administrative machinery
K’s rise to power: who emerged as leader who was most anxious to depart from Stalinist policies
beria
K’s rise to power: what did the popularity of berias pronouncements and power of his office cause alarm
at the top of party hierarchy
K’s rise to power: who conspired against beria
Malenkov and other presidium members including Khr
K’s rise to power: who did presidium members arrange berias arrest at hands of in June 1953
military
K’s rise to power: what was beria accused of in the anti beria campaign
criminal anti party and anti state activites
K’s rise to power: what was the fate of beria
he was secretly tried and executed on 24 December 1953
K’s rise to power: what happened to berias supporters
they were purged
K’s rise to power: what was the leadership divided on
foreign policy, industrial and agricultural policy and the role of the party
K’s rise to power: what did Malenkov place above the party
government
K’s rise to power: what did Malenkov attempt to launch with molotovs backing
to use his influence to launch a new course
K’s rise to power: what did Malenkov want to change in his new course
collective farm policy, reduce peasant taxes and put more investment into consumer goods
K’s rise to power: who did khruschev place party before
government
K’s rise to power: what did khrushchevs proposals include
a less radical proposal for the parallel development of heavy and light industry and sold himself as an agricultural expert- launching virgin lands scheme
K’s rise to power: what did the early success of the VLS help
to rally the party behind Khrushchev
K’s rise to power: why was Malenkov forced to step down as chairman of the council of ministers in fb 1955
he found himself isolated
K’s rise to power: what role did Malenkov sake after stepping down as chairman
minister for power stations
K’s rise to power: who was Malenkov succeeded by as chairman of the council of ministers
bulganin
K’s rise to power: until when did khr and Bulganin act as joint leaders
1958
K’s rise to power: when was there an attempt to unseat Khrushchev
in 1957 when himself and Bulganin were on a visit to finland
K’s rise to power: how did Khrushchev prevent himself being unseated 1957 despite majority vote in presidium
he insisted the matter be put to central committee
ensured those favourable were brought to Moscow to vote in his favour
K’s rise to power: how did krushchev benefit from the support of Zhukov
he’d been brought back into power as deputy minister for defence and thus brought red army support
K’s rise to power: who did Zhukov speak out against
Malenkov, Molotov and their supporter kaganovich
K’s rise to power: what did the plotters become known as
the anti party group
K’s rise to power: what happened to the plotters
duly outvoted by central committee and accused of conservatism and involvement in purges of 1930s
K’s rise to power: where were plotters sent after being expelled from central committee
sent to jobs far from Moscow
K’s rise to power: how were Zhukov and others rewarded for their support to Khrushchev
seats in the presidium
K’s rise to power: why was Zhukov dismissed in October 1957
Khrushchev was not content to be reliant on others
K’s rise to power: what was Zhukov accused of in the propaganda campaign against him
hindering party work in the army and creating his own personality cult
K’s rise to power: what was Bulganin accused of in march 1958
encouraging anti party group
forced to step down and krushchev took over
destalinisation: how had Khrushcehv began to reverse Stalinist policies before first party congress since stalins death
released those accused of doctors plot, beria police and gulag system attacked and cultural thaw was underway
destalinisation: what did the congress offer an opportunity to explain
the change in direction
destalinisation: who didn’t want reopening of past despite most of presidium welcoming dismantling of terror
those who had been involved in purges
destalinisation: how was Khrushchev speaking out against stalin to be held
in secret and none of 1400 delegates were allowed to ask questions
destalinisation: what did khruschev use when preparing his speech
material that had been assembled by a secial commission of the central committee into the abuses under stalin
destalinisation: when did khrushcehv accuse stalin of in his speech
responsibility for purges, terror, torture, mass arrests executions and gulags
destalinisation: how was the speech met
with restounding applause
destalinisation: how were copies sent out despite it being in secret
copies sent to foreign parties and its cotent filtered down through party ranks in ussr
destalinisation: what did gorbachev demand
that those responsible for Stalinist crimes be punished- Khrushchev avoided comment
destalinisation: what did the speech pay limited attention to
purging of ordinary soviet citizens and accepted economic controls, strong leadership, single party and elimination of factions as legit
destalinisation: what did speech try to justify
a good deal of continuity
political and party change: what did both party and state gov institutions become under stalin
mere rubber stamping organisations dependent on one man
political and party change: why did party and state gov institutions assume a renewed importance as centres for debate and decision making
as a result of power struggle
political and party change: what happened to the police after berias arrest and execution
in 1934 they were under authority of party and gov
secret police reduced in size
political and party change: what marked a move away from police influence in state matters
political amnesties and a partial revival of an independent judicial system
political and party change: who gained most from berias fall
the party
political and party change: what was Khrushchev returning to when he sought the support of the central committee in 1957
the traditional hierarchy of power, as advocated by lenin
political and party change: what effect did it have that Khruschev reverted back to traditional hierarchy of power
helped restore position of party back to something like 1920s
political and party change: what 2 other goals were sought by Khrushchev iin 1957
- democratisation- weakening bureaucracy more responsibility to people
- decentralisation- more initiatives to localities
political and party change: what was the party split into in 1962 to fulfil Khrushchevs twin goals
urban and rural sections at all levels
political and party change: what new rules were introduced in order to fulfil khrushchevs twin goals
limited how long party officials could serve
political and party change: what was membership expanded from 1956-1964
7 million 1956
11 million 1964
political and party change: what effect did widening of membership have on party
broadened party’s popular base as it brought more working class members
reduced power of higher level bureaucrats
political and party change: what happened to local soviets and comrade courts as a result of khrushchevs twin goals
role of local soviets augmented and comrade courts to handle minor offences revived
political and party change: what were non party members encouraged to do under khrushchevs twin goals
to take supervisory roles
some invited to party congresses
political and party change: why did Khrushchev visit villages and towns
showed personal desire for first hand contact with people
political and party change: what was pursued economically under khrushchevs twin goals
decentralisation
political and party change: what was the autocratic terror state of stalin replaced by in this era
the central gov system that was similar to that of mid 1920s
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: how much of the USSRs industrial capacity had been destroyed by ww2
70%
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: what effect did ww2 have on the ussrs workforce
severely reduced it
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: why did the USSR face a huge defence budget
as it policed its new satellite states and met the costs of the emerging cold war
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: what did stalin refuse to allow territories under soviet influence to receive in 1947
US marshall aid
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: why did stalin establish cominform
to counter western propaganda
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: why did stalin establish comecom
to link the eastern European countries that formed the soviet bloc economically
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: why did the redistribution of industry in the war years provide a broad base for industrial recovery
expanded eastern industrial areas permitted exploitation of new sources of raw materials and energy
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: what was essential to rebuild
the devastated western areas
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: what did gosplan coordinate to meet soviet needs
two more 5yp following the same target setting methods that had been used before the war
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: fourth 5yp
1946-50
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: aims of fourth 5yp
- catch up with USA
- rebuild heavy industry and transport
- revive Ukraine
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: detail of 4th 5yp
- use of extensive reparations from East Germany
- maintenance of wartime controls on labour force- long hours, low wages etc
- ‘grand projects’- canals and HEP plants
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: results 4th 5yp
- USSR became second to USA in industrial capacity
- most targets in heavy industry met
- prod doubled and urban workforce increased
- by end 1947, Dnieper Dam power station in action again
- industrially stronger than pre war
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: 5th 5yp
1951-55
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: aims 5th 5yp
- continuation of development of heavy industry and transport
- post 1953, under Malenkov, consumer goods, housing and services received stronger investment
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: detail 5th 5yp
- continuation 4th 5yp but resources diverted to rearmament during Korean war
- after stalins death, Malenkov reduced expenditure of military and heavy industry
industrial development under stalin 1945-53: results
- most growth targets met
- national income increased 71%
- Malenkov’s changes met opposition resulting in hi loss of leadership 1955
industrial development under Khrushchev 1953-64: which issues were one of most hotly debated areas during leadership struggle after 1953
economic issues
industrial development under Khrushchev 1953-64: which Malenkov proposal did Khrushchev initially oppose
to move the economic focus away from heavy industry to light industry
industrial development under Khrushchev 1953-64: what effect did the industrial changes that K introduced when in power have
went some way to changing rigid Stalinist planning system that he inherited and also took steps towards developing new industrial areas
decentralisation and industrial planning: issues with Stalinist system: ministers in moscow
set different industrial targets for each enterprise
decentralisation and industrial planning: issues with Stalinist system: administrators
too few to make the system work properly
decentralisation and industrial planning: issues with Stalinist system: exceeding targets
- enterprises judged and given bonuses according to success in fulfilling output targets
- exceeding targets would mean targets raised next year
- managers preferred to play safe, hide productive capacity of their enterprises and avoid too much innovation and improvement
decentralisation and industrial planning: issues with Stalinist system: disincentive to modernisation
- output targets assessed usually by weight
- heavy goods favoured over lighter ones
- regardless of what consumers wanted
decentralisation and industrial planning: issues with Stalinist system: why were increasing amounts of capital investment needed to even stand still
resources not being efficiently used
decentralisation and industrial planning: when was the 6th 5yp introduced
1956
decentralisation and industrial planning: why was the 6th 5yp abandoned after 2 years
its targets were over optimistic
decentralisation and industrial planning: what took place in 1957 related to ministries
60 Moscow ministries abolished
decentralisation and industrial planning: what took place in 1957 division of USSR
USSR divided into 105 economic regions each with own economic council (sovnarkoz) to plan and supervise economic affairs
decentralisation and industrial planning: what ulterior political motive did the reforms in 1957 have
removed Malenkov’s men and extended Khrushchev’s patronage network in the localities
decentralisation and industrial planning: what was set up to supervise new 7 year plan
state committees and a new supreme economic council
when was 7 year plan announced
1959
industrial change: what did the 7yp of 1959 have an emphasis on
improving standards of living for ordinary people
decentralisation and industrial planning: what was promised of the 7yp by 1965
40% wage rise and 40 hour week
decentralisation and industrial planning: what were the targets laid down by the 7yp plan merged into
a 7th 5yp 1961-65
decentralisation and industrial planning: what slogan were the 7yp and the 7th 5yp trumpeted with
‘catch up and overtake the USA by 1970
decentralisation and industrial planning: what was there a slight shift in priorities to in the 7yp and 7th 5yp
from old heavy industries to previously neglected modern industries
decentralisation and industrial planning: what industry was there a vast expansion in under the 7yp and 7th 5yp
chemicals industry
decentralisation and industrial planning: what were housing factories to produce under 7yp and 7th 5yp
prefabricated sections for new flats
decentralisation and industrial planning: what industry was production increased in under 7yp and 7th 5yp
consumer industries
decentralisation and industrial planning: what was there greater exploitation of 7yp and 7th 5yp
USSRs resources
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed the world at the Brussels World Fair in 1958
impressive displays of Soviet technology
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair railways
had been electrified/ had engines converted to run of diesel
network also greatly expanded
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair air transport
expanded and Aeroflot corporation subsided to offer cheap long distance passenger travel
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair- what did USSR launch in 1957 space
earths first artificial satellite- sputnik
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair when did sputnik ii take laika into orbit
1957
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair when was a red flag placed on the moon and pictures of dark side of moon taken
1959
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair what was the worlds first nuclear powered ship called and when was it launched
1959- called Lenin
decentralisation and industrial planning: what amazed at Brussels world fair how did space science make continuous advances
-test flight brought two dogs back to earth alive
-April 1961- Yuri Gargarin became first human in space
1963- Valentina Tereshkova became first female cosmonaut
results of industrial change: how successful did Khrushchev appear statistically
very successful;
results of industrial change: what was Khrushchevs ambition greater than
his achievement
results of industrial change: what effect did his decentralisation measures have
added another layer of bureaucracy
results of industrial change: when was Khrushchevs system rapidly abandoned
in 1965, shortly after his fall from power
results of industrial change: what were there still limitations on despite living standards improving
limitations on quality of life
results of industrial change: heavy spending on what distorted the economy
armaments and space race
results of industrial change: did USSR come near to overtaking its rival USA in economic growth
narrowed gap between them but no where near to overtaking
results of industrial change: from when did industrial growth begin to slow down significantly
1958
from 10% per annum for prev decade to 7.5% in 1964
results of industrial change: which industry was industrial decline particularly marked in
consumer industries- 2% growth 1964
results of industrial change: what was success in space race owed to
excessive risk taking
Laika died in orbit
results of industrial change: despite good soviet rocketry
instrumentation unsophisticated and inferior to USA
results of industrial change: gap between state supported industries and what widened
others
results of industrial change: what did shop assistants use in ussrs first supermarkets
abacuses rather than cash registers
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: what state had soviet agricultural been left in by the war
a desperate state
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: what effect had the ‘scorched earth’ policy had on western regions
destroyed it
1/3 farms left operational
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: what did the 2 post war 5yp promote
revival
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: 4th 5yp aims
- force kolkhozes to deliver agricultural products
- revive wheat fields of Ukraine
- transform nature and revitalise barren land
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: 4th 5yp detail
- massive state direction: high quotas for grain and livestock/ low peasant wages
- higher taxes on produce from private plots and private land absorbed in war returned to kolkozes
- tree plantations, canals and irrigation ditches to make more land usable
- followed Lysenko ideas
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: 4th 5yp results
- state procured 70% 1946 harvest, leaving peasants with little
- output kolkhozes increased but not to 1930s levels
- incentives remained low
- almost half of output came from private plots
- lagged behind industry
- Lysenko’s ideas perpetuated inaccurate theories which held farming back
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: 5th 5yp aims
-continuation of 4th 5yp aims plus Kh initiative to develop virgin lands and build agrocities from 1953
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: detail 5th 5yp
- high procurement levels maintained
- expansion of agriculture in formerly uncultivated areas
agriculture under Stalin 1945-53: results 5th 5yp
-ag prod still behind industry and not yet level of 1940
agriculture under Khrushchev: what did Khrushchev pride himself on
his agricultural expertise
agriculture under Khrushchev: what suggested he was interested in farming matters
- from peasant background
- enjoyed spending time in countryside talking to peasants
agriculture under Khrushchev: what did Khrushchev tell central committee about limitations of agricultural production under stalin
they had been concealed by unreliable statistics and grain output and number of livestock reared less than last years of tsarist russia
agriculture under Khrushchev: what was stalins encouragement of particular farming methods criticised as
counter productive
agriculture under Khrushchev: whos ideas did Khrushchev favour
Lysenko- his ideas were scientifically dubious
agriculture under Khrushchev: who did Khrushchev place the implementation of reforms in the hands of
local party organisations
agriculture under Khrushchev: whos powers were reduced under Khrushchev
the ministry of agricultures
agriculture under Khrushchev: what were several measures produced to incentivise peasants to do
produce more
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to the price paid for state procurements of grain and other agricultural goods
raised
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to state procurement quotas
reduced
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to taxes
reduced
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to quotas on peasants private plots
cut
agriculture under Khrushchev: which peasants were no longer required to deliver meat to the state
those who didn’t own animals
agriculture under Khrushchev: what were collectives allowed to do
set own production targets and choose how to use lands
agriculture under Khrushchev: for which 2 purposes did Khrushchev implement agricultural change
to incentivise peasants to produce more and to increase production
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to the number of farms connected to electricity grid
increased
agriculture under Khrushchev: when was the campaign for increased use of feritiliser
1962
agriculture under Khrushchev: what happened to usage of farm machinery
increased
agriculture under Khrushchev: where were collectives able to buy farm machinery from
machine tractor stations
agriculture under Khrushchev: what were the encouragements to merge collective farms to create
larger farms
agriculture under Khrushchev: what was the result of the encouragement to merge collective farms
number of collectives halved 1950-60 and number of ‘state farms’ increased
virgin lands scheme: in which areas did Khrushchev believe that grazing lands that hadn’t been used should be ploughed
western Siberia and northern Kazakhstan
virgin lands scheme: how did the first scheme of 1953 prove
successful
virgin lands scheme: what happened as a result of the first scheme proving successful
cultivated area extended and huge campaign launched to attract farmers to settle in these parts
virgin lands scheme: who were encouraged to spend time on new farms and help to build settlements
members of Komsomol
virgin lands scheme: how many hectares of virgin lands had been ploughed by 1956
35.9 million
agriculture under Khrushchev: why did Khrushchev launch campaigns for new crops
thought it would be answer to ussrs food shortages
agriculture under Khrushchev: why did Khrushchev think maize would be answer to food shortages
produced a high tonnage per hectare
animal and human consumption
agriculture under Khrushchev: what was the idea of agrocities
huge collective farms/towns in an attempt to replicare urban conditions of work and living on land- greater efficiency
agriculture under Khrushchev: how successful were agrocities
never got beyond the visionary stage
agriculture under Khrushchev: how successful were the new measures to encourage peasants to put more effort into their work
failed
agriculture under Khrushchev: why did attempt to get peasants to spend more time on communal farms as opposed to private plots fail
private plots provided half of peasants income and contributed over 30% of produce sold in USSR
agriculture under Khrushchev: why did the new pricing system prove a failure
state officials kept altering prices so farmers found it difficult to plan ahead
agriculture under Khrushchev: why was the selling of tractors less effective than it might have been
too few farmers capable of carrying out repairs and peasants not prepared to pay repair stations to service the machinery
agriculture under Khrushchev: why was the virgin lands scheme less successful in longer term than it seemed at first
- climactic conditions not taken itno account
- land work so intentionally and without rotation that land erosion took place and soil became infertile
agriculture under Khrushchev: who was ussr forced to import grain from following bad harvest in 1963
north America
agriculture under Khrushchev: what was there a limited rise in the production of
milk
agriculture under Khrushchev: did khrushchevs cornflakes go down well
no
agriculture under Khrushchev: what did the soviet controlled press donate many pages to
exalting new initiatives and commenting on carefully massaged statiatics
agriculture under Khrushchev: whydid it ultimately fails
too many different initiatives carried out with insufficient thought
What city was surrounded by the end of August 1941? Where were German forces on the outskirts of?
Leningrad
Moscow
How much of Russia’s heavy industry was in German hands? What country’s fate was hung in the balance?
50%
Soviet Union
What massive effort was required to halt the Nazi onslaught? What needed to be mobilised?
Military effort
All economic resources
What had the Russian economy been put on a war footing by? What 2 concepts were emphasised in this plan?
FYP
Heavy industry
Armament
What part of the regime was of great value during the war effort? What couldn’t have been achieved without this?
Centralisation
Triumph
What evacuation was one of Russia’s greatest achievements? Who were these people beyond the reach of?
People being evacuated to the Ural mountains
German forces
Where was Russia’s planned economy triumphant? How did Historian Orlando Figes describe the revolution present in Russia?
Ural mountains
“The revolution won the war”
How many factories were moved East or newly built? Who was nearly all industrial production geared to?
Thousands
Military
What 2 things did built railways connect together?
Industrial bases to the war fronts
What 2 reasons were factories placed under martial law?
Labour discipline
Labour productivity
What were 2 reasons harsh punishments were given?
Poor work
Lateness
How many weekly working hours became the norm? What kind of rationing was introduced?
72 hour-weeks
Strict rationing
By what year did Russia’s production exceed Germany?
1943
How many vehicles, planes and tanks did the US provide for Russia? How many million tons of food were provided?
Thousands
5 million tons
What 2 things did prison camp labour produce?
Weaponry
Uniform
To what extreme were prisoners worked? Where was this similar disregard also shown?
Until death
Human lives in the army
What didn’t the military’s strategic aims take into consideration? How many troops died during the war?
Human lives
8.6 million
How many people lost their lives during the war? How did many people die?
25 million
Starvation
How long was Leningrad besieged for? What 3 things were unavailable?
Over 2 years
Heating, lighting and water
How many people died in cities during the winter of 1941-42? What 2 countries does this total exceed during the whole war?
800,000
UK/US combined
What emphasised patriotism in order to drive the invader out of Mother Russia? How did many people respond to this?
Propaganda
They were willing to face extreme hardship
During what time period had many soldiers in the war previously faced harsh conditions? Why were they willing to do this again?
1930s
Hope for a better future
How many collective farmers were women during the war? How would they often pull ploughs?
4/5
By hand
Why were churches allowed to reopen? What did they support the defence of?
To boost morale
“Holy Mother Russia”
What feeling did government propaganda exploit? What memories were invoked by it?
Nationalism
Tsarism
What 2 groups did the war bring together? Who emerged as the nation’s saviour, but more feared than ever?
Government and people
Stalin
What does Historian J. P. Netti say that Stalin thanked the Russian people for?
Stalin “thanked the Russian people for their confidence in their government”
What had most Soviet people made in the hope for a better future? What happened to these hopes?
Huge sacrifices
Dashed
Who became Russia’s new enemy post-war? What War did Russia have to prepare for?
USA
Cold War
What didn’t take place in Russia after 1945? Where was Russia sealed off from?
Reform
The West
What was increased in Russia? What force was strengthened?
Censorship
NKVD
Whose rule appeared to be stronger after victory in war? Who did he still fear?
Stalin’s rule
Rivals
What Committee did Stalin abolish to strengthen his control? What group was demoted?
State Defence Committee
High-ranking army generals
Who was posted far away from Moscow? Why?
Zhukov
Stalin saw him as a rival
What role did Stalin make himself? Who did he become more suspicious of?
Defence Minister
Those around him
What 2 organisations did Stalin dispense with?
Central Committee
Politburo
When was the first post-war party congress? Who did Stalin rely on to bypass his party and assert authority?
1952
Private advisers
What did Stalin revive as a political weapon? What didn’t this reach post-war?
Terror
Pre-war levels
How many people were executed for “counter-revolutionary” activities? What are 2 of the more significant purges?
Thousands
“Leningrad Affair”
“Doctors’ Plot”
Who did Stalin turn on in 1949? What did the organisation’s leaders show?
The Leningrad Party organisation
Independence and solidarity
Who were 2 leaders of the Leningrad Party seen as successors of? What did Stalin do to these people?
Stalin
Shot
What did the Cold War breed an intense fear of? What could Soviet citizens be arrested for?
Foreigners
Contact with a foreigner
Who was Stalin particularly fearful of? How many lived in the Soviet Union?
Jews
2 million
What had Stalin supported the created state of in 1948? What did he become afraid of when it turned out to be pro-American?
Israel
Jewish support
What did Stalin falsely announce about Kremlin doctors in 1952? How many of these “white-coated assassins” were Jewish?
They tried to kill him and others
7 out of 9
How many Kremlin doctors were arrested? What were they tortured into?
Hundreds
Confessions
What happened to thousands of Jews after they were forced into making false confessions? What camps did they enter?
They were deported
Labour camps
What anti-religious feeling was hyped up by Stalin and the press? When did Stalin die, at the height of the hype?
Anti-semitism
5th March 1953
What was Stalin portrayed as before and during the war in Russia? What did he embody?
Leader
The nation
What was Stalin increasingly recognised as after victory in 1945?
“The father of the peoples of the USSR”
What was Stalin the Georgian portrayed as? Who were 3 heroes he was portrayed as following?
A great Russian
Ivan the Terrible
Peter the Great
Lenin
Whose birthday was the biggest in the Soviet calendar? What was carried around in Red Square, Moscow?
Stalin’s
Flags with his image on
When did Stalin’s “cult of personality” reach its height? What was Stalin portrayed as?
Post-war
A “man of the people”
What was suspended in the sky over Moscow on Stalin’s 70th birthday? How was it lit up at night?
Stalin’s portrait
Search lights
When was Stalin’s death announced? Who would’ve rejoiced at this?
March 1953
Prisoners in labour camps
What was present in Russia following Stalin’s death announcement? What was considered to be alarming about Stalin’s death?
Widespread and genuine grief
Future prospects without Stalin
Who had been Russia’s saviour during the war? What did he represent in Russia?
Stalin
Stability
What did poet Yevtushenko write about Stalin’s death?
“All Russia wept. So did I.”
What was Sakharov overcome by following Stalin’s death? What did he become critical of later on?
“The great man’s death”
Soviet regime
What did Sakharov realise about the Stalinist system post-Stalin? Who was Stalin buried next to?
The extent of the system’s deceit
Lenin
Who became increasingly frail in their later years? What had they not attempted to prepare?
Stalin
A successor
Who did Stalin continue to have play off one another for the Party leadership? What did Stalin encourage?
Ministers
Rivalry
When was a Party Congress finally called? What 2 members of the Politburo made speeches?
1952
Malenkov and Khrushchev
What was announced about the Politburo in the 1952 Party Congress?
It would be replaced with a larger Presidium
What did many suspect Stalin was preparing for? Why?
More purges
New members got senior positions
What wasn’t ready when Stalin died? Who were the 3 main contenders for power?
A successor
Beria
Malenkov
Molotov
What does Historian Robert Service state about the “several problems left behind by Stalin”?
“The several problems left behind by Stalin complicated and aggravated each other”
What type of leadership followed Stalin’s death? What 2 factors presented a power struggle behind the scenes?
Collective leadership
Policy
Rivalry
Who was the dominant contender for leadership? What did he present himself as?
Beria
A reformer
Who issued an amnesty to present himself as a reformer? How many prisoners were released?
Beria
A million
What consequence followed Beria’s amnesty?
Most prisoners were criminals, not political
What 2 leadership groups feared Beria? What were they suspicious of?
Senior party leaders
Military leaders
His intentions
Who conspired and carried out Beria’s arrest? What was Beria accused of and shot for?
The military
The worst excesses of Stalinism
Whose downfall saw a coup? Who organised the coup?
Beria’s
Khrushchev
What did Khrushchev emerge from the Beria coup with? Why didn’t other leaders see him as a threat?
Political authority
His peasant background
What position did Khrushchev use to build up party power? Which previous figure also did this?
General Secretary
Stalin
Who proposed popular economic measures as PM? What 2 things did he want to boost?
Malenkov
Agriculture and consumer goods
Who was blamed for the 1953 poor harvest? What did Khrushchev propose because of this?
Malenkov
Virgin Lands scheme
What was the Virgin Lands scheme met with by critics originally?
Success
Which 2 groups of leaders did Khrushchev ally himself with? What didn’t they like about Malenkov?
Heavy industry and army
His policies
When was Malenkov forced out as PM by leaders?
1955
When did Khrushchev give his “secret speech”? Where was the speech delivered?
February 1956
20th Congress of the Communist Party
Who did Khrushchev want to break the hold of in Soviet Russia in his “secret speech”? What did he want new leadership to do?
Stalin
Make changes and move on
Who did Khrushchev want to absolve of complicity in terror during his “secret speech”?
Party leaders
What did Khrushchev criticise Stalin for? What did he blame him for personally?
“Abuses of power”
Terror
What complex did Khrushchev attack about Stalin? What did he imply death was a result of?
“Cult of personality”
Stalin’s “mania for greatness”
Why didn’t Khrushchev’s killing list of innocents go back before 1934? Who didn’t he blame for the murders?
He only wanted to blacken Stalin’s reputation
The Party
What did Khrushchev want to restore faith in with his “secret speech”?
The party of Lenin
What did some observers see de-Stalinisation as the start of? How many prisoners were released by 1960?
A new era of tolerance and freedom 2 million (some never got home)
What was eased due to de-Stalinisation? What rule was the Soviet Union still under?
Censorship
One-party rule
What happened to secret police power under Khrushchev? What were they known as?
Diminished
KGB
What did many Party members ask post-“secret speech”? What were the more critical members expelled and labelled as?
Why leaders didn’t speak out on Stalinism
“Rotten elements”
What did most Russians hope for after the hardship and suffering experienced in wartime? What Plan was returned?
Better quality of life
Five-Year Plans
What did Russia want to rebuild after 1945? Why did they want to rearm?
The economy
For the Cold War
What 2 areas were given priority in the Five-Year Plans?
Heavy industry
Defence
What 2 areas were ignored in the new Five-Year Plan?
Consumer goods
Infrastructure
How many towns had the War destroyed? How many villages?
1,710 towns
70,000 villages
How many factories had the War destroyed? How many collective farms had stopped working?
30,000 factories
100,000 farms
What 2 industries were rebuilt after 1945? What reopened?
Factories
Steel works
Mines
What 2 areas of production passed 1940 levels post-war?
Coal
Steel
What weapon was tested by Russia in 1949? Who did this show that the Soviet Union was catching up with?
Atomic bomb
US
In what 2 factors was the new Five-Year Plan achieved?
Longer hours
Harsh discipline
What did the prison camps provide for the workforce? How much did the population rise from 1945 to 1950?
Unpaid labour
500,000 to 1 million
Where did peasants continue to be squeezed of their resources?
Countryside
How much of peasants’ grain did the state take? Why was this an issue?
70%
They could barely feed themselves
Who paid low prices for grain? What 2 things saw grain exports increase so they could be paid for?
Peasants
Industry
Military
Where did famine take place again in 1946-47? Approximately how many people died?
Countryside
Over a million
What standards did Khrushchev recognise needed to be raised? What did he need to tackle?
Living standards
Poverty
What shortage was present in Russia? What advancement did Khrushchev want to bring to Russia that previous leaders promised?
Housing shortage
Material advancement
What pay did Khrushchev increase for peasants? What did he cut?
Grain payments
Taxes
What was the name of the big house-building programme Khrushchev developed?
The “Virgin Lands” scheme
What shortages did the Virgin Lands scheme want to solve? What would be developed to do this?
Chronic food shortages
Developing uncultivated land in Siberia and Kazakhstan
How many people were mobilised to go East and and become pioneers of the Virgin Lands scheme? Who were most of these people?
300,000
Young party enthusiasts
How did the Virgin Lands scheme appear initially? How much did grain production rise from 1954 to 1958?
Successful
75%
What was an issue with most of the uncultivated land in the Virgin Lands scheme? What was it subject to?
It was on the edge of deserts
Drought
What was an issue with the soil used in the Virgin Lands scheme?
It wasn’t properly prepared or fertilised
What happened to the top soil used in the Virgin Lands scheme? What erosion was it subject to?
It became arid
Wind erosion
How could the planning of the Virgin Lands scheme be described? How was it implemented?
Poorly
Too hastily
How could the management of the Virgin Lands scheme be described?
Ineffective and inefficient
Who suffered with poor housing during the Virgin Lands scheme? What happened as enthusiasm waned?
Volunteers
Many drifted back to the comfortable city life
Why did the Soviet Union have to import large amounts of grain from North America in 1963?
To avoid famine
What did Khrushchev recognise the need for within Russia’s industry? What development was emphasised?
Modernisation
Technological development
Who did Khrushchev want the Soviet Union to “catch up with and overtake” in industry? What ideology did he want to prove worked?
“Catch up with and overtake America”
Communism
In what 2 industrial resources did investment increase? What goods production increased?
Oil
Natural gas
Consumer goods
Whose economy was Russia’s economy growing faster than by the late 1950s? What did the Soviets launch into orbit in 1957, the first ever?
US
Satellite
Why was Soviet prestige increased in 1961? What was the name of this man?
Russia launched the first man to space in history
Yuri Gagarin
Who gained more control from Khrushchev’s reorganisation of management? How many factories were transferred from central government to regional government?
Producers
11,000
What did regional devolution measures strengthen? What did this come at the expense of?
The Communist Party
Economic ministries in Moscow
Whose power and control was strengthened by devolution? What did increasing costs in defence and space cause in the early 1960s?
Khrushchev’s control
Slow growth
What does Historian Edward Acton believe the growth in agricultural production leave behind?
“The growth in agricultural production left the stagnation of Stalinism behind”
What standards were there very little improvement of in social life under Stalin?
Living standards
What 2 areas remained few, poor and in short supply during social life under Stalin?
Consumer goods
Housing
How many working hours per day remained the norm within social life under Stalin?
12 hours a day
How much smaller was the pay of a Kolkhoz worker compared to a factory worker?
1/6 smaller
What was Stalin determined to make Soviet culture superior to? What did this anti-Westernism shape in Russia’s art?
Liberal Western culture
Policy
What values were workers and artists attacked for showing?
“Bourgoisie”, non-Soviet values
What ideology was Khrushchev a “true believer” in? What was he determined to show?
Communism
It could achieve a better life for people
What 2 areas did Khrushchev give priority to? Why did he especially do this?
Consumer goods
Housing
To show the Soviet Union compared with the West
What 2 consumer goods began appearing in Russian homes?
Fridges
TVs
Why were wage differences reduced? What wage was increased?
To ease the gulf between managers and workers
Minimum wage
What 3 groups did pensions expand to?
Elderly
Sick
Disabled
For what 2 reasons was pension expansion important?
Many were permanently injured from war
There were many one-parent families
What construction increased? How many people moved into homes from 1956-65?
Housing construction
108 million
What was an issue with the quality of housing construction? Why did this still change lives?
They were poorly made
People no longer shared accommodation
What 3 groups and facilities increased in society?
Doctors
Hospitals
Students in higher education
Who still only received privileges? What are 3 things they got access to?
Senior party officials
Special healthcare
Holidays
Cars
What propaganda was stepped up? How many of all religious places of worship had been closed down?
Anti-religious propaganda
3/4
What nationalities came under more control from Moscow? Who were the top jobs reserved for?
Non-Russian nationalities
Russians
From where did it become easier to access news from? Where did many people tune into for trustworthy news despite its proscribition?
The West
Foreign radio stations
What book was published in 1962? Who authored it?
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
How long had Solzhenitsyn spent in a labour camp? Why did his book strike a chord with those who were recently released from camps?
8 years
It was a fictional account of his own experiences
How many copies of Denisovich were sold in 6 months?
A million
Who authored Dr Zhivago? Why didn’t it pass the censors?
Boris Pasternak
It was critical of the October Revolution
When was Dr Zhivago published abroad? What Prize did Pasternak gain, but not allowed to accept?
1957
Nobel Prize
What book circulated illegally around the Soviet Union? How many attended the author’s funeral in 1960?
Dr Zhivago - Pasternak
Thousands
To whom was the Soviet Union now open to?
Western tourists
What Festival did Moscow host in 1957? How many people attended from 131 different countries?
World Festival of Youth
34,000
What was one aim of the World Festival of Youth? What were the youth won over by that the foreigners brought over?
To win over the youth with the Soviet way of life
The Western way of life - jeans and jazz
Why was Western culture more appealing than Soviet culture?
It wasn’t as conformist as Komsomol
Why was Khrushchev particularly keen to engage young people? What was the most ambitious idea he came up with?
To reawaken the enthusiasm of the early Revolution years
Mobilising the youth into the Virgin Lands scheme
What does Historian Orlando Figes say the regime could no longer count on?
“It could no longer count on fear”
What does Historian Martin Sixsmith say the target of “beating the Americans” was intended to do?
“The target of ‘beating the Americans’ was intended to boost production”
What kind of freedom did the “thaw” allow? What kinds of “dissidents” emerged?
Artistic and intellectual freedom
“Cultural dissidents”
What 2 ideas did cultural dissidents want to promote?
Human rights and greater democracy
What kind of state did the Soviet Union remain as? What network was present?
Highly authoritarian state
Spies and informers
What was used to express political views that would be published abroad? What 2 ways could this be smuggled into culture?
Written word
Through the country or Samizdat
What did Samizdat entail? What did this practice become?
Rewriting literature to be spread through personal contacts
Underground press
What 2 things would be spread through the underground on Soviet politics and society?
Information
Opinions
What were several writers imprisoned for? What were thousands more writers condemned for?
Criticising the regime
Their “anti-social, parasitic way of life”
What scene was present “underground”? What were 3 genres that were played on tapes?
Music scene
Jazz
Rock ‘n’ roll
Western pop
What speech did many of Khrushchev’s colleagues never forgive him for? What did hard-line Stalinists, like Molotov, believe the speech undermined?
“Secret speech”
Unity and authority of the Party
What group of people tried to force Khrushchev from power in 1957? Who did they secure a majority from?
Hard-liners
Presidium
Who did Khrushchev appeal to over Presidium in 1957? What other 2 groups supported him?
Central Committee
Army and KGB
Who was sent a long way from Moscow after the 1957 leadership challenge to work insignificant jobs? What did they avoid?
Khrushchev’s opponents
Execution
When was Khrushchev’s 70th birthday? Who praised him and his achievements?
April 1964
Leonid Brezhnev
What did Brezhnev lead a few months after praising Khrushchev on his birthday? Who else was involved in this?
Opposition in the Presidium and CC
Former Khrushchev supporters
What was Khrushchev forced to do after Brezhnev’s opposition took off? What reason did the press give for this action?
Resign
“Age and ill health”
What did the press later denounce Khrushchev for?
“Hare-brained schemes, half-baked conclusions, hasty decisions”
Where was Khrushchev given a flat after he resigned? Where else did he gain a house?
Moscow
In the country
What other 2 perks was Khrushchev given after his resignation?
Car
Pension
What didn’t happen to Khrushchev after he stepped down? Who fell victim of this after Khrushchev gave him wide powers?
Purge
Son-in-law
What had Khrushchev aroused the resentment of by 1964? What “style” of ruling was he criticised for?
Many different groups
“One-man style”
What behaviour was Khrushchev criticised for? What did he fail to take?
Arrogance
Advice
What did the failure of the Virgin Lands scheme lead to shortfalls of? What 2 countries did grain have to be imported from?
Food supplies
US and Canada
What controls did Khrushchev decentralise? Who did this anger?
Economic controls
Moscow party leaders
What goods did Khrushchev promote? What did his opponents want emphasis on?
Consumer goods
Heavy industry
What did the military dislike about Khrushchev’s focus? What did he develop these weapons at the expense of?
He focused on nuclear missiles
Conventional weapons
What increasingly took place by workers? What price rise in 1962 especially caused this?
Protests and strikes
Food price rise
What policy was criticised under Khrushchev? Who did he give a lot of power to?
Foreign policy
Son-in-law
What does Historian John Gooding argue about “toppling a Soviet leader”?
“Toppling a Soviet leader was unprecedented”
Who did Khrushchev not fight against following demand for his resignation in 1964?
Colleagues
What question did Khrushchev ask his colleagues upon his resignation? What did he say Stalin would’ve done?
“Could anyone have dreamt of telling Stalin that he didn’t suit us anymore?”
“He would’ve annihilated them.”
How did Khrushchev leave Russia by 1964? What was society like?
Freer, happier and more prosperous
More open and less fearful
How many prisoners had been released from labour camps? What Terror and state powers had ended by 1964?
Millions
Red Terror and state coercion
What was never the same after Khrushchev’s “secret speech”? What would never be returned to that took place in the Stalin years?
Soviet Union
Mass terror
What had Khrushchev’s “secret speech” shaken up? What became more stable after the dust settled?
Soviet Union
Russia
How did most people feel by 1964?
Content
What was the Soviet Union no longer governed by? What rule remained?
Autocracy
One-party rule
Who had the political elite risen to power under? What control were they never going to relinquish?
Stalin
State control
What 3 things did the political elite depend on with state control?
Their lives
Their careers
Privileges
What method of government disappeared? What was emphasised so that support was maintained and socialism worked?
Terror
Improving material conditions
For what 2 things was the military budget cut in the 1960s for?
To pay for food imports
To start a big housing programme
What kind of economy did the Soviet Union become? What standards improved?
Consumer-based economy
Living standards
What was the economy subject to a high degree of? What was this not conducive to?
Central planning
Initiative and innovation
What was a priority for Khrushchev with the economy? How did this remain by 1964?
Increases in agricultural productivity
Backwards
In what 2 sectors was there no significant increase in output by 1964?
Farms
Factories
Why did many young people leave villages? What kind of society was the Soviet Union by 1964?
To move to cities
Urban society
Who formed the backbone of the Russian economy?
Women
What 2 developments were impressive by 1964? Who was instrumental in these developments?
Military
Space technology
Khrushchev
What reputation did the Soviet Union maintain?
Its reputation as a great military power
What was tightened in the 1960s? Why?
Censorship
Rise of “thaw”
What kind of publishing increased? What rigid controls did Khrushchev start to relax in cultural life?
Samizdat
Censorship
What was there an undoubted flowering of in Russia by 1964?
Russian art and culture
