The Second 5-Year Plan 1933-38

Question 1

Why was there a change in aims after the First 5-Year Plan?

Answer 1

• faction of Politburo pressurised Stalin to prioritise living standards and consumer goods - improve parties popularity
• During F5YP - large quantities of raw materials produced - not used - no way of transport
• F5YP produced generation of workers able to perform complex industrial tasks

Question 2

What was that faction of the Politburo called?

Answer 2

Kirov Group

Question 3

What were the main aims of the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 3

• electrification
• transport
• new industries
• labour productivity
• consumer goods
• heavy industry

Question 4

How did priorities of the Second 5-Year Plan change in 1936?

Answer 4

Gov. scaled back spending on consumer goods - prioritise rearmament

Question 5

Why did the change in priorities of the Second 5-Year Plan change in 1936 occur?

Answer 5

• Germany rearming - Russians feared war with Hitler

- Kirov been assassinated in 1934 - followers purged in great terror

Question 6

What were the successes of the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 6

• Transport: Moscow Metro opened 1935, Volga Canal completed 1937
• Consumer Goods: Bread rationing ended 1934, 33-37: production of consumer goods doubled
• Labour productivity: Stakhanovite movement increased labor productivity across Russian industry
• Heavy Industry: steel output x3, coal output x2
• Rearmament: spending on rearmament rose from 4% GDP in 1933, 17% 1937

Question 7

What were the main areas of failure in the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 7

• housing
• consumer goods
• inequalities
• quantity and quality

Question 8

How did housing fail in the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 8

• many new houses lacked running water, basic sanitation

- 650’000 Moscow no access to public bathhouse

Question 9

In what way did consumer goods fail in the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 9

• Many Russians still had poor diet

- New clothing difficult to obtain

Question 10

How did inequalities form in the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 10

• 55’000 senior communists entitled to higher standard of living inc. holiday homes, chauffeurs etc.
• Stakhanovites entitled to large financial rewards

Question 11

How was there a failure in quantity and quality of goods in the Second 5-Year Plan?

Answer 11

• still emphasis on quantity

- poor quantity