Theme 2 Stalin Flashcards
Why did Stalin change his mind regarding NEP after 1926 in Foreign issues?
There was a strong chance of foreign invasion from 1927.
-British government raided Soviet trade mission in London.
-Chinese communists in Shanghai were ready to attack the USSR.
In response, many hoarded food.
Why did Stalin change his mind regarding NEP after 1926 in Soviet production?
Soviet figures were below western economies in Europe. Stalin wanted to push with the 1st 5 year plan.
State control = government could direct economy to create adequate production and distribution.
Why did Stalin change his mind regarding NEP after 1926 in Political issues ?
Nepmen and kulaks that had benefitted from the NEP would have to replaced as they were not ideologically communist.
Allowed Stalin to reinforce his own power as leadership by arguing NEP was holding back industrialisation of USSR.
Why did Stalin change his mind regarding NEP after 1926 in A change in perception about the role of workers?
Clear that workers control over the economy was inefficient and less productive.
Showed that Lenin’s declaration was naïve and unrealistic.
Did the policies of War Communism and NEP serve their purpose?
War communism successfully allowed the Bolsheviks to secure control from the Civil war at the dispense of extreme loss of life.
the NEP successfully recovered the economy.
Both fulfilled their aims.
What were the Five-Year Plans designed to do?
To industrialise the country as they remained underdeveloped and old-fashioned from Lenin’s leadership.
To break away from the NEP and remove its capitalist elements
How would the FYPs be carried out?
Used mass mobilisation of people and resources to modernise.
Placed under direction of Gosplan (state planning agency) that would set targets for industries to help modernise.
What happened to the Nepmen and ‘bourgeois experts’ under the FYPs?
Five- Year Plans went against NEPMEN. Many forced into joining co-operatives.
Bourgeois experts used in State Capitalism were removed to open up job opportunities for loyal communists.
1928 - Bourgeois experts purged in show trial. Accused of “wrecking” and sabotaging.
What were the aims of the First, Second and Third FYPs?
First (1928-32): Growth in heavy industry (coal, steel, iron). Consumer goods neglected due to need to industrialize.
Second (1933-37): continued from 1st but added a higher focus on military goods.
Third (1938 - 41 (Germany attack)): geared entirely for production of military against Germany.
What evidence can be found of success of the First Plan?
Magnetogorsk = Large industrial cities were built entirely from manpower. Provided new jobs and helped economy. In 3 years, Magnetogorgsk grew to 250,000 inhabitants.
Alexei Stakhanov used as role model for coal production to motivate other workers. Rewards for hard work such as new flat/rations.
What evidence of failure can be found of the First Plan?
-Large building projects failed. White Sea Canal built using slave labour between 1931-32. 10,000 prisoners died. Canal was useless anyway. Propaganda triumph.
-Unrealistic targets set by Gosplan meant that workers and factory managers used bribery and corruption to “fulfill” targets.
-Most produce made in plans were unsatisfactory condition. Quantity over quality. Many tractors made broke down within three days.
What evidence of success can be seen in the Second and Third Plans?
- Coal production and chemical industry greatly increased
- Industry was moved around the country or better distribution in case of attack. e.g. in Ural Mountains.
- Machinery production greatly over fulfilled quota.
- Growth in the transport and engineering industry.
- 4x increase in steel production and 6x in coal production between 1928-41.
- Dnieper Dam successfully built. Provided power to the people.
- Footwear production increased
What evidence of failure can be seen in the Second and Third Plans?
- Oil production remained low
- Low consumer goods
- Despite large increase in machinery, little metal produced. (faked statistics)
Overall, how successful were the Five Year Plans between 1928 and 1941?
Showed the foreign superpowers that the USSR could fend for themselves.
Made an undoubtedly large step in fixing the economy by sacrificing the people. Slave labour heavily used and many were purged or send into slave labour.
Why was collectivisation needed with reference to development of industry?
A modern economic base was needed to help defend the USSR against foreign powers. Industry could not develop without the development of agriculture to create sufficient food and resources. Food could also be exported for money or machines for industry.
