Theme 2 - Stalin: Abandonment of the NEP; The planned economy & collectivisation Flashcards
When did Stalin end the NEP?
- “The great turn”
- 15th Party Congress
- December 1927
When was the begginning of the first 5 year plan
- December 1927 or October 1928 depending on source
What was Stalin’s motive behind collectivisation?
- Hoped collectivisation would increase efficiency in farming
- Wanted to end reliance on peasantry
What was the outcome of Collectivisation
- Resulted in signifiant famine in many rural areas
- Marked emergence of Kirov as a rival
What was Stalin’s policy of dekulakisation
- Removal of a whole class of prospersous peasant (Kulak)
- Followed Lenin’s view of Kulak’s as “Bloodsuckers”
- Red army & Checka were used to indentify, execute or exile Kulaks
What was the definition of a Kulak
- Someone who had 2 horses and 4 cows
- However was often used arbitarily
Collectivisation vs Socialist - Marxist principles
- Followed: Planned by party and government in the name of the people
- BUT: use of repressive measures to achive contradicted socialist-marxist principles
How successfull was stalin in achiving collevtivistion
- Very
- 100% by 1941 vs 2% in 1928
What was Lenin’s policy of collectivisation
- Purely voluntary
- Only 2% by 1928
Pro’s of the 1st 5 year plan
- Electricity trebeled
- Coal and Iron doubled
- Development of engineering works
Cons of the 1st 5yr plan
- Very little growth in consumer goods
- Small workshops squeezed out
- Workers constantly changing jobs
Overview of 1st 5yr plan
- Economic success but did little to improve the lives of the urban working class
Dates of the 2nd 5yr plan
January 1933 to Dec 1937
Pro’s of the 2nd 5yr plan
- By 1937 USSR self sufficient in machinary
- Transport and communications grew rapidly
- Chemical industry growth
When did the Moscow metro open
- 1935
- Demonstration of success of 2nd 5 yr plan
Cons of the 2nd 5yr plan
- Consumer goods still laggin but not as bad
2nd 5yr plan overview
- Feeling Stalin overreached in goals of 1st plan
- 1934 to 1936 were “the 3 good years” - less pressure, rationing ended and families had more disposable income
Dates of the 3rd 5yr plan
- Jan 38 to Jun 41
Pros of 3rd 5 yr plan
- Heavy industry continued to grow
- Defence armaments grew rapidly
Cons of 3rd 5yr plan
- Many factories short of raw materials
Describe the influence of Stakahinov
- Mined 102 tons of coal in 1 shift
- Used as a tool for management to adpot new production methods
Overview of 3rd 5yr plan
- Ran into difficulties due to the harsh 1938 winter
State of USSR vs UK
- 1940 USSR overtook UK in iron and steel production
What were the years of the 4th 5yr plan
- 1946 to 50
Outcome of the 4th 5yr plan (industry)
- Overall successfull
- Most heavy industry targets met
- USSR became 2nd to USA in industrial capacity
- Production doubled
- Stronger industry than pre - war
Outcome of the 4th 5yr plan (agriculture)
- Hitler’s scorched earth policy left only 1/3 of state farms operational in former occupied territorries
- State procured 70% - leaving peasants with little
- Lagged significantly behind industry
- Almost half the food came from private plots
- Low incentives
Dates of the 5th 5yr plan
- 51 to 55
Outcome of 5th 5yr plan (Industry)
- Continuation of development of heavy industry
- National income rose 71%
- Malenkov reduced expenditure on army & heavy industry
Outcome of 5th 5yr plan (Agriculture)
- Still behind level of 1940
What impact did the 4th and 5th 5yr plan have on the lives of the russian people
- Neither the 4th or 5th 5yr plan sustancially improved the lives of the Russian people
- Quota system meant peasants earnt less than 20% of an urban worker
- Work day remained 12hrs
- By 1950 household consumption only 10% more than 1928
- 90% devaluation of rouble in 1947 wiped out savings
