Topic 5: War Communism and the NEP

Question 1

What was War Communism?

Answer 1

An economic and political system implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War (1918-1921) to ensure resources were directed to the Red Army.

Question 2

What were the key features of War Communism?

Answer 2

1.Grain requisitioning from peasants.

2.Nationalization of industry.

3.Banning private trade.

4.Strict central control of the economy.

5.Rationing of food and goods.

Question 3

How did War Communism affect the peasantry?

Answer 3

Peasants resented grain requisitioning, leading to reduced agricultural production, hoarding, and widespread famine.

Question 4

What was the Red Terror, and how did it relate to War Communism?

Answer 4

The Red Terror was a campaign of political repression by the Cheka to suppress dissent and enforce War Communism policies.

Question 5

What were the consequences of War Communism?

Answer 5

1.Severe economic decline.

2.Widespread famine and social unrest.

3.Worker and peasant uprisings, such as the Kronstadt Rebellion.

Question 6

What was the Kronstadt Rebellion (1921)?

Answer 6

A revolt by sailors against Bolshevik policies, demanding greater political freedoms and an end to grain requisitioning. It was brutally suppressed by the Red Army.

Question 7

Why did Lenin introduce the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921?

Answer 7

To address the economic collapse and widespread opposition caused by War Communism, and to stabilize the Bolshevik regime.

Question 8

What were the key features of the NEP?

Answer 8

1.End of grain requisitioning, replaced with a tax in kind.

2.Allowance of private trade and small businesses.

3.State retained control of “commanding heights” (heavy industry, transport, and banking).

4.Foreign investment encouraged.

Question 9

How did the NEP impact agriculture?

Answer 9

Agricultural production increased as peasants were incentivized to grow and sell surplus grain.

Question 10

What was the “Scissors Crisis” of the NEP period?

Answer 10

A situation in the mid-1920s where industrial goods were expensive while agricultural prices fell, creating economic imbalances and dissatisfaction among peasants.

Question 11

What were the political consequences of the NEP?

Answer 11

maintained strict political control, including banning factions within the Communist Party.

Question 12

How did Lenin justify the NEP to Bolshevik hardliners?

Answer 12

Lenin described the NEP as a temporary “strategic retreat” to revive the economy while maintaining the ultimate goal of socialism.

Question 13

What role did the Gosplan play during the NEP period?

Answer 13

The Gosplan (State Planning Commission) was established in 1921 to oversee economic planning and development.

Question 14

What was the relationship between the NEP and foreign trade?

Answer 14

The NEP encouraged foreign trade and investment to rebuild the economy and modernize industry.

Question 15

How did the NEP affect workers in urban areas?

Answer 15

Workers experienced improved living conditions and wages, but unemployment and inequality persisted.

Question 16

What was the “commanding heights” of the economy?

Answer 16

Sectors like heavy industry, transportation, and banking that remained under state control during the NEP.

Question 17

What impact did the NEP have on Soviet society?

Answer 17

It stabilized the economy and improved living standards, but created social tensions due to the rise of the “Nepmen” (private traders) and inequality.

Question 18

Who were the “NEPmen”?

Answer 18

Private traders and entrepreneurs who emerged during the NEP and became symbols of capitalism within Soviet society.

Question 19

Why was the NEP eventually abandoned?

Answer 19

Stalin replaced the NEP with the First Five-Year Plan in 1928, prioritizing rapid industrialization and collectivization

Question 20

What were the long-term consequences of War Communism and the NEP?

Answer 20

They shaped Soviet economic policies by showing the need for balance between state control and economic flexibility, setting the stage for Stalin’s later policies.