STALIN SOCIETY 1941-53 Flashcards
18 . The social condition of the Soviet Union by 1941
STALINIST SOCIETY
Stalin’s economic programme had also brought major social change to the USSR. Communist control in the countryside had grown stronger as something of the socialist ‘communal values had been put in place. Peasants were living and working in the kolkhoz and firmly under the supervision of the Party officials. They were also watched by the
NKVD units stationed at each Motor Tractor Station.
18 . The social condition of the Soviet Union by 1941
The quality of life did not increase substantially under Stalin. In the Leninist era, the demands of the Russian Civil War had made poor living standards excusable. Under Stalin, the
low rations, poor housing and lack of consumer goods were much less so. Internal passports (reintroduced in 1932) restricted freedom of movement; there was strict censorship, and propaganda was everywhere. Mass organisations and movements mobilised the people, particularly the youth, and even the churches were held in close check.
18 . The social condition of the Soviet Union by 1941
What emerged in the 1930s was a very different type of society from the socialist ideals of the October Revolution. Rather than a classless society, there was a
hierarchical society dominated by a privileged elite organised around the Party and nomenklatura. The urban and rural working classes, no longer exploited by capitalist employers, were instead ruthlessly driven by their Soviet masters and instead of withering away the State had become more formidable, extensive and brutal.
18 . The social condition of the Soviet Union by 1941
Increased urbanisation and the massive expansion of town populations had also helped create a far stronger working class proletariat’ - the backbone of the Communist State.
A new mass culture was being developed. Through
education, propaganda, the leadership cult, public celebrations, arts, culture and the show trials, it was claimed that the fulfilment of socialist values was well underway.
19 . social impact of war
The announcement of the German invasion saw recruitment stations flooded with volunteers keen to fight for the Motherland. Around 120,000 signed up in Moscow alone. Some volunteers believed they were following the tradition of the pioneers that fought in the civil war; others fought for their community and locality, and this was particularly true of the citizens of Leningrad, Stalingrad and Moscow. The panic induced by the German attack helped to
reunite Russian society and provide the cohesion that had been threatened in the 1930s.
19 . social impact of war
The central authorities also stepped in to ‘manage’ society, particularly recruitment and the deployment of labour, in the same way that they directed agriculture and industry. Everything was to be subordinated to the sheer necessity of survival.
In December 1941, a new law was introduced, which
mobilised all undrafted workers for war work. All men aged 16 to 55 years and women aged 16 to 45 years were required to devote themselves to the war effort. White-collar workers were sent to munitions factories; pensioners were encouraged to return to work; and students were asked to undertake part-time work.
19 . social impact of war
Overtime became obligatory and holidays were suspended. The working day was increased to 12 hours, the average working week was 70-77 hours, and it became normal for workers to sleep in their factories. Factories were placed under martial law and discipline was tightened. This meant severe punishments for negligence, lateness or absenteeism:
Unauthorised absence from work was classed as desertion, punishable by death. Clearly, the harsh conditions suffered in the 1930s helped in the acceptance of such measures and probably helped to provide some of the resilience displayed in the war years.
19 . social impact of war
Added to this were acute housing and fuel shortages, so that health problems escalated. Some found themselves refugees, fleeing the German advance, others were left fighting for survival in the besieged cities; and yet more were forced to leave their homes and accept tough living conditions alongside their newly relocated factories in the east. Here, the priority was always
factory-building first, accommodation second, and through the bitter winter of 1941-42, thousands were forced to live in improvised huts and tents.
19 . social impact of war
To maintain supplies, gulag labour was used. Many of those deported to the camps (in particular prisoners of war, collaborators and ethnic minority groups) built airports, landing strips and roads in the most inhospitable of conditions, as well as producing vital war supplies. The death rate in the labour camps in 1942 was
25 per cent, but slave labour was regarded as endlessly renewable.
19 . social impact of war
CHURCHES
There was a respite in the persecution of the Churches, which were reopened.
The Russian Patriarch, whose position had been abolished by the Tsars, was restored and clergy were released from the camps, although
priests and bishops were officially vetted and had to swear an oath to the Soviet state.
19 . social impact of war
In 1943, the Internationale (the socialist anthem) was even replaced by a new nationalistic song of the Motherland.
Artists enjoyed more freedom in the interest of fostering an atmosphere of national reconciliation, and previously banned individuals were allowed to work again, so long as they avoided direct criticism of Marxist-Leninism. For example,
Akhmatova, a poet, broadcast patriotic verse on the radio.
Musicians gave concerts. Yudina, a concert pianist, was flown into Leningrad during the siege (1943) where she performed both live and on the radio with poetry recitals in the intervals. Shostakovich was reprieved and composed his Symphony No.7 ‘Leningrad; which was performed at the height of the siege on 9 August 1942. The brass players had to be given extra rations to enable them to perform.
19 . social impact of war
The Soviet people also suffered a chronic food shortage. Over a quarter of The Soviets suffered 25 million deaths during the war due to starvation. A comprehensive rationing system (which favoured the military) was maintained but
the allows often the often pathetically low. The allies provided tinned spam, which was often a lifesaver, and rations were only given to those who turned up for work.
19 . social impact of war
Discipline in the army was also tightened. Not only was it an offence to be taken captive; while a soldier was in captivity his family’s military ration cards were confiscated. Indeed, service in the army was tough in every respect. For Stalin, the lives of Red Army soldiers were expendable in the interests of the ‘greater good’ and
8.6 million soldiers were killed between 1941 and 1945 - an average daily rate that was twice that of the allies. Such, largely male, losses naturally had a disastrous effect on the ability of families
‘back home’ to survive.
19 . social impact of war
PROPAGANDA AND CULTURE
Stalin played on the connotations of the ‘Great Patriotic War to harness society for the war effort. The people were encouraged to sacrifice themselves in the interests of Holy Mother Russia against the godless invaders and child-killers. Posters bore words such as ‘Everything for Victory, Long live our Motherland, Her freedom, Her independence! Death to the German invaders!’ The non-Russian nationalities were told to
‘join in with your Russian brothers - the home of the Russian is also your home. Deeply patriotic and violently anti-German letters were published in Pravda, to inspire heroism and self-sacrifice.
19 . social impact of war
Stalin wanted to use the Church to lift morale and strengthen the people’s resolve, so attendance was encouraged. Services became
patriotic gatherings with sermons and prayers calling for victory and defiance of the Germans, and praising the great leader, Stalin.
However, the Church was not allowed any real autonomy and all Christian denominations were placed under the control of the Orthodox Church, which to some extent, turned religion into an arm of the government.
