Stalin

Question 1

Why did Stalin make the ‘Great Turn’?

Answer 1

• Stalin’s main aim was to industrialise and modernise the USSR as quickly as possible and become a major world power
• In the 1930’s Stalin became increasingly paranoid of foreign invasion and needed to be prepared for war
• He wanted to make the USSR self sufficient and much less dependent on Western manufactured goods

Question 2

Why did Stalin abandon NEP?

Answer 2

• The private market was becoming too strong which caused the rise of ‘nepmen’
• Urban workers were suffering from high unemployment and low wages and peasants weren’t producing enough grain
• The majority of party members accepted NEP but did not like it as it was failing economically and was ideologically opposed to communism

Question 3

Why was collectivisation introduced?

Answer 3

• The policy can be seen as an emergency decision in response to the grain crisis
• Larger units of land could be farmed more efficiently through state provided mechanisation as result of modernisation

Question 4

What were the three main types of collective farms?

Answer 4

• Toz: peasants own their own land but share machinery
• Sovkhoz: owned and run by the state
• Kolkhoz: all land held by a commune (elected)

Question 5

What was the process of dekulakisation?

Answer 5

• Kulaks were either shot, sent to forced labour settlements, deported or expelled from farms
• A decree was issued which sent 25,000 urban party activists to the countryside to enforce dekulakisation

Question 6

What were the successes of collectivisation?

Answer 6

• Aim of raising grain exports was achieved (1.5 million tonnes in 1932 and 33)
• By 1936 90% of peasant households were said to be in collectives

Question 7

What were the failures of collectivisation?

Answer 7

• The expulsion of successful farmers contributed to a huge drop in grain
• Due to the above, and drought, famine developed (1932-34) leading to a estimated 10 million deaths
• The ‘law of seven eighths’ enforced strict grain requisitioning

Question 8

First Five Year Plan (1928-32)

Answer 8

• Heavy industries were successfully increased but consumer goods were neglected making living standards were quite low
• Quality was prioritised over quantity as unrealistic targets set by gosplan had to be met which led to forgery and corruption

Question 9

Second Five Year Plan (1933-37)

Answer 9

• Heavy industry was still prioritised as they became self-sufficient in machine making and metalworking
• Chemical industry was improved

Question 10

Third Five Year Plan (1938-41)

Answer 10

• Resources were diverted to defence and armaments due to building tensions of war
• Heavy industry continued to grow but things such as steel output grew insignificantly

Question 11

How did quality of life improve under Stalin?

Answer 11

• Primary and secondary education was made necessary and by 1939 only 4% of males were illiterate
• Hospitals and clinics were built across the country
• Stadia were built in all large towns and cities to accommodate ice hockey, football and athletics

Question 12

How did quality of life decline under Stalin?

Answer 12

• Real wages fell by over a half during the first five year plan and millions of farmers fled to the cities due to collectivisation
• Overcrowding became a terrible problem in towns and cities
• Religion was suppressed: 1 in 40 churches remained by 1939