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.
