Stakhanovites, Working and Living Conditions etc

Question 1

Why was the term Stakhanovite coined? How much coal did the original Stakhanov mine in just 6 hours?

Answer 1

Aleksei Stakhanov mined 102 tonnes of coal in 6 hours. 14x more than what was expected. Lad.

Question 2

What was a Stakhanovite seen as?

Answer 2

A Soviet Hero. Someone who epitomised the meaning of Communism.

Question 3

What did Stakhanovites receive that average workers didn’t? Why?

Answer 3

Superior Accommodation and other Material Benefits.

Question 4

What was the Stakhanovite movement? What was its goal?

Answer 4

A propaganda campaign which aimed to increase productivity by encouraging teamwork and selfless sacrifice for the Soviet State.

Question 5

Why was it difficult to be a manager during the five-year plans?

Answer 5

Managers had the difficult job of ensuring that quotas were met whilst having no control over prices, resources and wages.

Question 6

What was the highest bonus the manager could get for surpassing output targets?

Answer 6

They could get a 40% bonus on top of their income.

Question 7

What would happen to manager who failed to meet targets?

Answer 7

They could be put on trial, imprisoned, or executed.

Question 8

What was ‘wrecking’?

Answer 8

Acts of economic or industrial sabotage, Such as failing to meet targets, lowering morale in the workplace, or lack of effort/incompetence.

Question 9

What to wear ‘work norms’?

Answer 9

How much your work was expected to do and how to deal with things like absenteeism.

Question 10

By how much were ‘work norms’ increased in 1936?

Answer 10

50% at the most.

Question 11

Why could Stakhanovites be a problem?

Answer 11

Because if they worked too hard then the factory output targets would be raised.

Question 12

Why were improved conditions in collective farms and issue for industrial production?

Answer 12

Fewer people migrated to the cities and instead stayed to work in the country.

Question 13

Why did military demands prove to be a problem during the five-year plans?

Answer 13

Supplies such as coal oil and wood were in short supply when they were in demand the most.

Question 14

How many days was the working week in the USSR during the five-year plans?

Answer 14

Seven day working weeks.

Question 15

If you arrived late to work or missed work what could be your punishment?

Answer 15

Dismissal, eviction, and loss of benefits.

Question 16

In 1931 wage differentials were introduced, what were these?

Answer 16

These meant that those who worked harder and stayed for longer in their job earned more money. They were rewarded for their efforts.

Question 17

Which jobs/professions did Stalin’s purges affect the most?

Answer 17

White collar jobs such as a doctor or a lawyer.

Question 18

What were 3 awful issues with living conditions?

Answer 18

Cramped communal apartments, poor sanitation and unreliable water supply.

Question 19

The Belomor Canal was constructed between 1931 and 1933, how many workers on average died a day?

Answer 19

700

Question 20

Which percentage of the workforce did females make up in 1929?

Answer 20

29%

Question 21

Did women receive the same wage as men?

Answer 21

Obviously not.

Question 22

Which percentage of the industrial workforce did females make up by 1935?

Answer 22

42%

Question 23

Why did more women get jobs in the 1930s? Which jobs did they typically get?

Answer 23

Prices for goods rose so they needed the money to support their families. They typically got jobs in healthcare, education and administration.

Question 24

Was there an institution for fighting inequality in the workplace for women? What sort of inequality did women face?

Answer 24

There was one called Zhenotdel until 1930 when it was abolished. Lower wage, less likely to be employed, less likely to be promoted, physical assault, sexual assault etc.

Question 25

On average, how much less did women earn compared to their male counterparts?

Answer 25

40% less.