The First Five Year Plan (1928-1932) Flashcards
When was the programme launched
1928
What were the 4 major aims of the first Fiver Year Plan
- Develop heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil and machinery)
- Boost overall production by 300%
- Transform society and the economy by electrification; the target was to generate 6x more electrical power by 1933 than in 1928.
- Feed the expanding industrial workforce through big increases in agricultural production.
What did Stalin claim to be the key to fulfilling the targets of the first Five Year Plan
Stalin claimed the targets of the first Fiver Year Plan would be fulfilled by the mass enthusiasm of the workers, all pulling together for a great cause.
Which 2 areas of infrastructure were to be heavily invested in
Major investment in infrastructure, especially in the railways and energy production.
Name 2 new ‘steel cities’
Magnitogorsk and Stalinsk
Describe the 4 main successes of the first Five Year Plan
- Targets were ‘met’ in 4 years
- Electricity output trebled
- Coal production rose by more than 2x from 35.5 million tonnes in 1927 to 75 million tonnes in 1932
- Steel production rose from 4 million tonnes in 1927 to 10.4 million tonnes in 1932
What was the common belie of the industrial workers in terms of ownership and profits
That every worker would benefit and have their share of profits and machinery/resources from these labour intensive ‘steel cities’.
Why did Stalin want to rapidly industrialised Russia/ what did he claim would happen if they failed to do so
In 1931 in a speech made to the Central Committee Stalin claimed Russia must overtake Capitalist countries it they will destroy the USSR. Russia was miles behind modern Western countries in Industrialisation and agriculture.
What were the 5 main failures of the first 5 Year plan
- meeting of targets was probably down to over enthusiastic reporting by local officials (targets may not have really been met)
- Targets for the chemical industry we’re not met
- Consumer holds were neglected
- Too few skilled workers and too little effective central communication
- Quality was ignored over quantity.
When was USSR industrial output at rock bottom and how did it compare to that under the tsar
Rock bottom in 1925, at which time it was 1/5 of what it had been under the tsar
What did the Bols see as the way forward and why was this the case
Bols were the worker’s party and this saw industry as the way forward- industry which was built and managed by the workers for the workers. Stalin wanted to advance Russia
What was seen from the introduction of the plan in 1928
Heightened production targets were announced for every industry. There was a concentration on iron, steel, coal and oil.
What was constructed in Magnitogorsk
At first Magnitogorsk worked on iron and steel production and was an iron and steel complex that could rival any in the world.
What was built to replace Barron land. What were these seen as
Barton land replaced by blast furnaces and smelting plants. Seen as symbols of what industrial planning could achieve.
What was the situation in America during the first 5 year plan and how did this effect Russia
America in depression after start of the Great Depression (1929-39) meaning no lines could be taken from USA and they wanted any outstanding loans to be paid. Also vast unemployment in USA
Describe the transport systems and other conditions in Magnitogorsk
The city had no roads or sewage pipes. Unadvanced. Housing was make-shift barracks which were shared by more than 1 worker. Food was scarce and a lack of wood and coal led to freezing.
Equipment was frozen and the hard, labour intensive work was dangerous, leading to accidents and deaths of many employees ( coming from Russia, China, USA and other countries to work, due to Propaganda and enthusiasm). Workers were mostly peasants.
What was the attitudes of workers and how were they treated
Some were forced to work, where as other came enthusiastic die to fact that equipment and profits belonged to the workers so hope of a better and more prosperous future. Workers could be shot for stealing gov property if they used wood for burning or as lumber to secure scaffolding. People are black bread as this was all there was and wore clothes until they were destroyed.
What was the line of production in Magnitogorsk
Metal>tractors>land ploughed>profit
What major advances were made in Magnitogorsk
- By 1935 blast furnaces were made and ready to start producing materials.
- By 1936 furnaces and mills produced 15,000 tonnes of iron ore daily, and 4000 tonnes of pig iron, as well as 2,500 tonnes of road steel per day
Describe USSR life in 1936 (few years after first Five Year Plan)
Cinemas and theatres open. Street cars and stores with goods in reasonable quantities at reasonable prices. No longer necessary to steal to survive.
2 failures of Magnitogorsk
-Machinery pushes beyond safe limits and work quotas placed workers under dreadful strain, causing resentment and fear amongst those unable to keep up.
- Feat of system grew from the mid-1930s ownwards:
In Moscow Stalin held trials to remove opposition and executioners in trials (Vishinky) orders the court to ‘shoot like dogs’ those who betrayed there motherlands (stole or didn’t meet ludicrous targets).
How was Propoganda used in steel cities by the Bols
Propaganda led people to denounce those seen as slowing industrialisation or made mistakes. There were also prisoner and slave labourers forced to work vs their wills. Most of whom were kulaks. Lateness was a criminal offence in steel cities
How many kulaks were there in Magnitogorsk and how were they treated
35,000 kulaks, who were forced to work vs their will and we’re often slave labourers or prisoners.
What happened when people in steel cities were arrested and why were they arrested
Workers and managers often arrested for no reason. Secret trails were held, often resulting in exile or execution. Petrified people.
Impact of WW2 on success of Stalins plans
By 1941 USSR was at war, Iron and steel produced in 1930s and 40s used for guns and tanks. Stalin seen as a war hero, farther of his country and America’s friend
How far behind other Capitalist countries was Russia said to be
Said to be between 50-100 years behind the industrial strengths of Capitalist countries, in words of Stalin.
What would the Five Year Plan allow Stalin to prepare for and what would it represent for industrial workers
Ready the USSR for a war with Capitalist countries- Stalin reminded his people that Russia had suffered defeats and exploitation’s as it was backward and weak.
Achieving ‘socialism in one country’ would show workers around the world what a socialist state is able to achieve, as well as allowing Stalin to assert his won authority and dominance over the party.
What did the first 5 Year Plan not intend too improve
Not intended to improve living standards for workers and Stalin knew it would cause problems for peasants as investment was pulled from the countryside
Describe the central planning of the first 5 Year plan
- Gosplan ( the state planning committee) would set targets for different industrial sectors.
- A command economy would bring a top-down, centralised approach to managing the economy.
What was the expected increase in production of light industry
Light industry (such as household products and chemicals) was less of a priority than heavy industry but was still expected to increase production by 100%.
How many people were there in the settlement of Magnitogorsk
175,000 people by 1932
Huge steel production centre at its centre
What did Stalin say in 1931 portraying Bols ideology
‘There is no fortress the Bols cannot capture’ Stalin believed ambitious targets would show that Socialism could achieve what would seen impossible to the bourgeoise capitalists.
Describe the use of foreign exports in first Five Year plan
Industrial experts brought in to build new complexes and to train Soviet workers
Eg Magnitogorsk planned by American company (Arthur McKee & Co) which also trained the Soviet engineers in how to build it
Describe the reactions to the fist Five Year Plan
-Many party members pleased to see a commitment to radical social change and an end to compromises of NEP
-Propaganda had a considerable impact. Urban workers how’s for better employment prospects and higher living standards (not the true aim)
-Many poor and ‘middle’ peasants led to hope they would benefit from further land reform and the introduction of modes modern methods.
Also some serious concerns:
-Stalin authorised huger wages for skilled workers (including the industrial experts). Some worried this was creating different classes within the Proletariat
-Harsh imposition of collectivisation, and switch in investment from agriculture to industry, worried many in party who feared would result in less food being produced (famine)
-Many of those managing industrial production were already critical of adverse impact of central planning. They regarded a huge new emphasis on central planning as a high-risk gamble
Why did managers and local officials make up/exagerarte figure
They feared execution if they hadn’t reached targets
By how much did the plan increase the USSR economy
Increased the economy by 14% each year.
What was the effect do the plan on education
Education became more accessible during this period, especially universities. Russian’s were encouraged to go to Uni as gov invested in technical education.
How long was the working week in steel cities
7 day working week
What caused a black market to be created
Stalin’s abolition/closing of the free markets and his pressuring of local officials to seize grain by force.
Table of stats and targets for heaving material production
MEMORISE
Material. 1928. 1932. Target
Iron. 3.3. 6.2. 8
Steel 4. 5.9. 8.3
Coal. 35.5. 64.3 68. 75 by 1933
Oil. 11.7. 21.4. 19
(In million tonnes)
Where diets better or worse under 5 year plan that under NEP
Diets were poorer, yet 5YP was more successful overall
What was the aim of the first Five Year Plan for collectivisation
To collectivise 15% of USSR’s farms. This was expected to lead to a 50% increase in agricultural production.
What was the Dnieprostroi Dam and when was it constructed and where was it situated
Constructed between 1927 and 1932.
It was a dam generating hydro-electric power, built on the Dnieper river in Ukraine.
Why was the Dnieprostroi Dam so significant
One of the largest power stations in the world at the time.
The dam powered aluminium and steel production in nearby new industrial centres
