Stalin's revolution

Question 1

Gosplan

Answer 1

State General Planning Commission

Set up 1921

Question 2

Problems with the NEP, 1926-27

Answer 2

1. By 1926, agricultural production under NEP was producing insufficient grain.
2. . By 1927 - fears of imminent war (Britain broke off diplomatic relations, relations with France & Poland were poor, Japan seemed threatening).
   - may believed rapid industrialisation necessary for USSR to cope w. invasion.
3. Grain crisis in agriculture (1927-28) persuaded Stalin to abandon NEP for rapid industrialisation.
4. By end of 1928 Stalin pushed for higher production targets from Vasenkha & Gosplan.

Question 3

Agriculture problems 1924-26 & Stalin’s reaction

Answer 3

1. Gradual increase in agricultural production, but state collections were 50% of what was expected.
   -Bec. as peasants prospered, they consumed more of produce.
2. 1928, problem continued - in Siberia, Stalin ordered officials to increase state grain collections.
   = seizing more grain, closing markets, arresting kulaks.
   -After this = serious riots in rural areas = bread shortages as grain was hidden to avoid collection.

Question 4

Main features of collectivisation & 5 year plans

Answer 4

1. Collectivisation of agriculture (high quotas, arrest/deport any peasant refusing to hand over quota)
2. Campaign against the kulaks - liquidation of kulaks as a class. (deporting to Gulag - forced labour camps)
3. Mass collectivisation
4. Industrialisation (First Five Year Plan 1928-32, Second Five Year Plan 1933-37), (concentration on heavy industry).

Question 5

How successful were Stalin’s economic policies?

Answer 5

2. Stalin intended to modernise USSR & adopted agricultural & industrial policies to do so, also he wanted to move from NEP (capitalism) to socialism after 1928.
3. Tremendous increases in production, especially heavy industry.
4. Reduced living standards bec. food shortages, rising prices, housing shortages.
5. Ended high unemployment of 1920’s, enabled joined family incomes to rise, women could find office work, expansion of education from 1929 designed to increase skills & workforce productivity.

Question 6

How successful were Stalin’s economic policies? (impact on workers)

Answer 6

1929 - “uninterrupted week” introduced, w. shift work organised so factories weren’t closed at the weekend.
Late arrival for work was punished first by loss of job, after 1931, by imprisonment or sending to Gulag.

Question 7

How successful were Stalin’s economic policies? (Collectivisation)

Answer 7

Intended to solve shortfall in amount of grain needed to feed urban population.
However, destructive resistance of kulaks & disruption caused by deporting about 2.5 mill. ppl to Gulag 1930-31 led to serious drop in food production by 1931 - leading to famine 1932-33 where millions died.
But after 1928 grain deliveries to the state did increase.