The 'Great Turn'/ 'revolution from above'/ 'second revolution'

Question 1

What was the ‘great turn’?

Answer 1

Radical economic policies launched by Stalin at the end of the 1920s.
The NEP was cast aside.
Five Year Plans for industry and agriculture introduced.
Major shift in direction of the soviet economy towards central planning - the ‘command economy’.

Question 2

What was the aim of the ‘great turn’?

Answer 2

To transform Russia from a backward agrarian state to an advanced industrial superpower.

Question 3

What were the two strands?

Answer 3

1) Soviet economy - Industry - Industrialisation

2) Soviet economy - Agriculture - Collectivisation

Question 4

Why might industrialising Russia be difficult and what was done to solve this?

Answer 4

To industrialise a country need to spend money on factories, machinery and equipment (capital investment.
Soviet union not in position to obtain loans - sales of gold and furs did not bring in much money.
Wealth came from agriculture
Surplus grain could be exported to earn foreign currency.

Question 5

What were the reasons for the ‘great turn’?

Answer 5

1) To increase military strength - Stalin knew country that wasn’t industrialised = weak. War scare 1928 and during 1930s - Stalin convinced USSR would be attacked.
2) To achieve self sufficiency - Stalin wanted USSR to be less dependant on other countries - USSR needed strong industrial base to produce.
3) To establish credentials - Stalin needed to show he could succeed Lenin and take the revolution forward.
4) To increase grain supplies - wanted to end dependance of economy on agricultural system - didn’t want new socialist state to be at mercy of peasants.
5) The failure of the NEP - agriculture not producing enough grain, hadn’t rewarded ran workers, NEP men, ideologically impure.
6) To improve standards of living - Stalin wanted to catch up with West in terms of consumer goods - industrialisation created wealth for society.
7) To move towards a socialist state - according to Marx socialism could be created in a highly industrial state. 1928 -only about 20% population of USSR = workers.

Question 6

What did the ‘great turn’ mean for the direction of the Soviet economy?

Answer 6

Marked major shift Soviet economy towards central planning - the ‘command economy’