Stalin's Policies Flashcards
Why did Stalin want to modernise the USSR?
1) to increase the military strength of the USSR
2) to rival the economies of the capitalist west
3) to increase food supply for the workers
4) to establish his reputation
What did Stalin say in 1931?
“We are 50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good the difference in 10 years or they crush us.”
How much of Russian society in 1928 was made up of workers?
One fifth
How would modernising the USSR strengthen communism?
1) would mean that the USSR was less reliant on the capitalist west for goods showing communism could rival capitalism
2) would increase the urban proletariat strengthening communism as most people had to be workers for communism to thrive as an ideal
What did WW1 demonstrate about industry?
Only a country with modern weapon art could triumph
What did the first 5 year plan target?
Heavy industries (coal, oil, electricity, iron and coal)
What happened to coal and iron under the first five year plan?
Both doubled their output
What happened to electrical power under the first five year plan?
Production almost trebled
How many new industrial plants were built under the first five year plan?
1,500
How many new towns were built under the first five year plan?
100
What were the dates of the first five year plan?
1928-1932
What were the dates of the second five year plan?
1933-1937
What were the dates of the third five year plan?
1938-1941 (interrupted by WW2)
What did the second five year plan focus on?
Gave heavy industry priority but also focused on communications as it became important to link cities and industrial centres
What did the third five year plan focus on?
Developing armaments (tanks, planes, weapons) as WW2 approached
How did the five year plans go against communism?
1) Left idea of workers’ control of the factories was left behind as Stalin reintroduced single managers
2) Single managers who did well were richly rewarded receiving large houses and motor cars
What was coal
(a) production in 1927, 1932 and 1937?
(b) production targets in 1932 and 1937?
1927: 35 million tonnes
1932: 64 million tonnes (target=75)
1937: 128 million tonnes (target=152)
What was oil
(a) production in 1927, 1932 and 1937?
(b) production targets in 1932 and 1937?
1927: 12 million tonnes
1932: 21 million tonnes (target=22)
1937: 29 million tonnes (target=47)
What was pig iron
(a) production in 1927, 1932 and 1937?
(b) production targets in 1932 and 1937?
1927: 3 million tonnes
1932: 6 million tonnes (target=10)
1937: 15 million tonnes (target=16)
Describe the Shakhty trial?
1) coal miners in the Donbas region fell behind targets
2) 53 engineers were accused of a conspiracy to wreck the Soviet coal-mining industry
3) 5 of the accused were shot
What was the effect do the Shakhty trial?
Workers were intimidated so they worked harder (they knew if they were not successful a bad fate awaited you)
Who did Stalin blame for targets not being met?
‘Wreckers’ and ‘saboteurs’
How did Stalin improve life for women in Russia?
1) set up thousand of new crèches and day care centres for children so women could work
2) provides women with an education
3) women entered the workforce in increasing numbers
4) prior to great retreat divorce was made easy and there was abortion on demand
What percentage of Soviet workers were women in 1935 compared to 1927?
1935: 42%
1927: 28%