Stalins Russia Plans Flashcards
Why was the Great Retreat Introduced?
Great Retreat = Stalins social policies towards women and children, reversed Lenin’s advances emphasised traditional gender roles.
Ideology - part of Stalins revolution from above. Although it was actually against communist ideology it was aimed to increase the number of workers which were essential to communism.
Economics - to encourage an obedient work force, to support 5 year plans and to increase population so more workers.
Control and stability - emphasis on family, laws to limit divorce and focus on traditional role reduced the high divorce rate and unstable working population as men moved around a lot.
Power Struggle - Why Stalin won
Ideology - wasn’t left or right wing which meant he could support either side. Supported socialism in one country (popular), NEP (isolate left wing), rapid industrialisation (isolate Bukharin). Used tension between left and right whilst he stayed central
Stalins Tactics - Tricked opponents (gave Trotsky wrong date for funeral), used his position as general secretary to fill party congress with his supporters, used bureaucracy to his advantage, whereas other underestimated it, used party congress to get rid of Trotsky (bureaucracy), Zino Kam and Trot (tried to get rid of NEP) and Buk
Trotskys failures - didn’t build up political allies, ill for important meetings and Lenin’s funeral, underestimated Stalin and stayed silent on Lenins testament, wrote “lessons of October” attacked Zino and Kam and so broke apart the left wing, didn’t appeal to outside of the party (could be accused of factionism)
Zino and Kam failures - Stop testament being published as was a remind of Oct Rev, saw Trotsky as biggest threat and underestimated Stalin, formed Triumvirate which made Stalin more powerful, vicious campaign against Trotsky, appealed to party masses to go against Stalin - factionalism so could be removed from party.
Bukharins failures - did not used his position as head of media (Pravda), didn’t see Stalin as a threat, lacked political cunning, didn’t support NEP when it was unpopular.
Lenins legacy - testament gave no clear successor, ban on factions was used by Stalin to remove Zino, Kam and Trot from party, he had no clear ideology - all claimed to be heirs
Great Retreat - Women positive or negative?
+ Had a bigger role in industry (5YP) 3mill (1928) –> 13mill (1940)
+ Could get higher and technical training
+ Divorce rates lower and marriages increased, return of wedding rings 1936 mad women feel more secure and less poor
+ Some women’s statuses improved as were seen as national heroes and part of the Stakhanovite movement
+ Finance - rewarded for having babies (7 babies = 2000roubles per yr for 5 yrs)
- ## Not treated equally (60% wages compared to men)
Great Retreat - Men Negatives
- Working hours increased (5YP) and living conditions got worse
- Choices restricted (divorce harder to get and more expensive and 1/3 earnings to children)
- Men were the terrors main focus (10% male pop killed or exiled 1936-7)
- Homosexuality illegal in1936
Great Retreat - Education
Focus changed to provide good worker for 5YP, discipline and obedience more important
More practical to give skill for workers
History about Russian heroes instead of class struggle (Lenin)
Fees introduced as money for education went toward 5YP. Children of party members more likely to have higher education
Komsomol (Youth Movement) focused on duty and discipline all children expected to join.
WWII - Why did Russia win
Stalins Eco Policies - FYP, economy dedicated to war 9 new aircraft factories
Stalins other policies - Total War, Sorched Earthpolicy (destroy everything the Germans could use) relocated industry, religion allowed (stalin was gods chosen) patriotic war (fight for Russia)
Foreign Aid - The alliance between GB, USA, USSR battle on 2 fronts, lend-lease share resources food and transport significant
German mistake - delayed, unprepared for the winter, not Total war, laid seige rather than take so Russia could regroup. Spread out over too many cities at once
Military leadership, tactics and equipment - Zhukov tactics in Stalingrad called in the Siberian fighters, sturmovik plane and T-34
Sacrifices of the people - Leningrad and Stalingrad
WWII impact
Social - harsh conditions got worst, peasants suffered as land had to be hand worked (horse and machinery go to war), shifts 12-18 hrs, food poor rations 90% went to gov from collective farms
Social FAMILY - women had to do even more 75% of workforce, women attached to ploughs instead of tractors, children 14-17 had to go labour reserve schools prep for war work and fought in Stalingrad
Political - Russian in a position to become a superpower
Economic - lost 1/3 of industry and agriculture, production of foods and goods dramatically fell (1942 Grain 36% of it in 1940) men conscripted to army
WWII - Preperation
Economic
+ 5YP heavy industry, 3rd focus on armaments (9 aircraft factories) huge slave labour resources (gulags)
- still low productivity, waste and many parts unusable, 3rd 5YP abandoned because of outbreak of the war
Military
+ 1935 re-introduced disciple to army ranks and had huge network of international spies
- 39000 officers executed from purges skills and experience lost, Germans had huge gains early on because of this, Stalin had to release 2 officers from gulags
- Didn’t trust information he received
Political
+ signed Nazi-soviet pact to delay attack more time to prepare for war
- Trusted Hitler wouldn’t attack until 1941, ignored warning so unprepared
Social
+ totalitarian regime. 7 day working week and strict discipline. Controlled by fear or influenced by propaganda
-Ukrainians and other alienated did not support communism wanted return of the church
Superpower
Economic strength
Quick recovery from WWII because of 4th 5YP. Over fulfilled heavy industry target. Total industrial production in 1952 was double that of 1940. BUT light industry still not developed, production still lower than western countries and depended on gulags slave labour
Military
Command economy meant could mass produce weapons and developed Nuclear weapons, helped Russia to develop atomic bomb in 49 and hydrogen bomb in 1953
International political - Sphere of influence over Eastern Europe, red army established governments in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland (eastern bloc), had influence in new communist country’s (China, Cuba)
Collectivisation - why introduced
RICE
Raise production - share labour and resources
Ideology - get rid of kulaks peasant more socialist
Control - peasant (MTS reported to the state) party (helped get rid of Bukharin
Economy - food for workers and export so cities and industry could develop. Grain Procurement Crisis 1927-9 peasants hoarded grain as no incentive to sell/to push prices higher
Collectivisation - Impact
Social
- Destroyed familys and communities 10 million exiled dekulakistion
- Demotivating - unrealistic targets and lost independence
- 10mill deaths due to famine 1932-4
+ Going towards communism as state controlled through MTS and fear by 1941 only collective farms
Political
+Stalin power increase as party supported him
Economic
+ Grain procurement increased to 23 tonnes in 1933 from 11 tonnes in 1928
+ Supported 5YP feed workers and export
- Production of grain fell as lack of incentive, production of livestock fell as peasants killed them instead of have them taken by the government
- Mechanisation failed in early period 1/2 Russian farms didn’t have tractors
+ Increased urban population by 1939 50% of population in cities
Terror why started
Congress of Victors - 1/4 against Stalin reelection to central committee many wanted Kirov to be general secretary
Economics - scapegoats for the failures of the FYP wreckers, cheap labour from gulags
Murder of Kirov - convenient excuse to hunt down other party members
Paranoia - easily taken down opponents, red army still loyal to Trotsky, old communists new about Lenins testament, wife’s suicide, doctor plot. Encouraged by Yagoda head of NKVD
Threat of war army not trusted
