Soviet Union by 1941 Flashcards
By 1941, how did the Party reflect its original Leninist iteration?
One-Party State
Lenin had fought against a coalition government in 1917 and forced the closure of the Constituent Assembly in 1918. Lenin’s Constitution only permitted the existence of one party.
Stalin’s purges ensured that the Communist Party was the only party that would be able to run for office.
What system rewarded loyal officials in the Bolshevik Party?
Nomenklatura - loyal officials could claim higher privileges. The effect of this was that it concentrated decision-making into fewer hands.
What was it suggested that the Soviet Union had become by 1941?
A ‘personal dictatorship’ instead of a ‘one party state with a powerful leader’.
How was the bureaucracy in 1941?
The purges emanated from the centre but were taken further by local officials.
Corruption: lower officials often lied, falsified statistics and presented inaccurate reports. Local officials would protect one another against central demands and non-compliance with central orders was widespread.
How many Party members were expelled in 1921?
150,000
How were Stalins political attacks more brutal than Lenin’s?
Stalin attacked anyone he saw as a potential threat to power. Stalin had millions of ordinary citizens arrested and 600,000 Party members executed.
Lenin never executed another Bolshevik, nor was made to stand and give a public confession of his crimes.
How had the Five Year Plans transformed Russia by 1941?
A highly industrialised and urbanised nation, while all Russian farms had been collectivised and the free market ended. An actual change had taken place, with 33% of people living in towns by 1939 and by 1940 the USSR had overtaken Britain in iron and steel production and was not far behind Germany.
How had the Five Year Plans laid the foundation for Soviet victory in WW2?
Coal and oil production were vastly stepped up, 9 aircraft factories constructed in 1939 and spending on rearmament increased from 27 billion roubles to 70 billion roubles.
What were the crucial weaknesses of the Soviet Union economically by 1941?
Economic development was uneven and there was massive growth heavy industry but consumer production had been ignored so consumer goods were scarcer in 1941 than 1921.
The central planning was inefficient and organisation was chaotic - not helped by Stalins purges.
What was the agricultural output in 1941?
Still producing less grain than under the NEP - a major crop failure which produced a yield even smaller than that of 1941 weakened reserves There was insufficient implementation of modern farming techniques or agricultural machinery.
How had socialist communal values been implemented in the countryside?
Peasants were living and working in the kolkhoz and firmly under the supervision of Party officials, and therefore subject to constant propaganda. They were also watched by NKVD units at each MTS.
What was the new ‘mass culture’ being developed?
Through education, propaganda, COP, public celebrations, arts culture and show trials it was claimed that the fulfilment of socialist values was well underway. It can be true that Stalinism never entirely reshaped public opinion in the USSR, because there was some support for strong policies but a feeling of resignation to lifes hardships.
Did quality of life increase substantially under Stalin?
In the Leninist era, the demands of the Russian civil war made poor living standard excusable - low rations, poor housing and lack of consumer foods were standard. Internal passport restricted freedom of movement, strict censorship and propaganda everywhere.
In what way was society different to the ideals of the October Revolution?
Rather than a classless society, there was a hierarchal society dominated by a privileged elite in the Party. Urban and rural working classes were ruthlessly driven by their Soviet masters and the State had become more formidable, extensive and brutal.
In what way was the USSR not caught out by Barbarossa?
Defence spending had increased from 16.5% in 1937-32% in 1940 but did ignore intelligence reports and miscalculated when the Germans would turn east.
