War Communism Flashcards
What was war communism?
the political and economic system adopted by the Bolsheviks during the Civil War in order to keep the towns and the Red Army provided with food and weapons
How did the Bolsheviks decide to treat the economy?
as if it were a single enterprise geared towards the best use of Russia’s productive capacity
Why did Bolsheviks prefer War Communism over market forces of a capitalist economy?
this stopped the worrying of individual interests of managers and workers which constantly changed
Under who’s direction were areas of Bolshevik control geared for the war effort?
the Veshenka’s (the Supreme Council of the National economy
Which industries were essential to Bolshevik survival?
heavy industries
What were the 3 main features of war communism between 1918-1921?
- Prodrazvyorstka, requisitioning
- Nationalisation
- Labour discipline and rationing
What did the Prodrazvyorstka, requisitioning build on?
the ‘socialism of land’ decree of February 1918
When was the socialism of land decree which Prodrazvyorstka, requisitioning built on?
February 1918
What was set up to organise the socialisation of land decree February 1918 of requisitioning?
a Food Supplies Dictatorship in May 1918
When was the Food Supplied Dictatorship which organised grain requisitioning built open the socialisation of land decree February 1918 set up?
May 1918
What was collective farming and was this successful in gaining the support from peasants?
- a number of farmers would be worked by a community under the supervision of the State
- only a minority of households complied
Who often took more requisitioned produce from the peasants? (3)
-detachments of soldiers, Cheka, and workers from large towns
What did the detachments of soldiers, Cheka and workers from large towns offer in return for requisitioned produce from the peasants?
inadequate vouchers to be exchanged at a later date rather than money
Which peasants were the worst hit?
the ‘grasping fists’- the kulaks
Who were kulaks
Russian peasants wealthy enough to own a farm and hire labour
What were kulaks named?
‘enemies of the people’
How were people who informed soldiers of people hiding grain praised?
they were given half of any grain discovered
How did peasants respond to grain requisitioning- Prodrazvyorstka?
- they grew less
- murdered some members of requisitioning units
What did demands of the Civil War mean for nationalised industries?
nationalisations multiplied
What was the first and second entire industry to be nationalised?
sugar in May 1918
oil in June 1918
By what date was nationalisation extended to nearly all factories and businesses?
November 1920
What was banned (industry)
private made and manufacture were banned
What did workers lose which they had formally echoey under the Decree of November 1917?
freedom
what were abolished from workers?
workers soviets which had run the factories
Who were used by the State to reimpose discipline and increase output?
Professional ‘managers’
Which workers suffered during changes in the civil war period?
those employed in non-essential industries or small workshops as they were often closed
How was discipline strict for workers? (4)
- strikes forbidden
- working hours extended
- ration card workbooks issued replacing wages
- fines
What were fines issued for? (3)
- slackness
- lateness
- absenteeism
How was hard work rewarded? (2)
- bonuses
- more rations
How were food clothing and losing controlled?
through centralised distribution and regulations
What were introduced to stop employees from drifting back to the countryside?
internal passports
Who was obligatory labour duty demanding at?
the non-working classes
how was rationing reorganised?
on a class basis
Who got the highest rations?
- red army soldiers
- factory workers
who were smaller rations given to ?
-white collar professionals (doctors)
Who were limited or no rations given to ?
what the regime called the ‘former people’ (nobility+clergy)
Why did production fail?
transport systems were disrupted by fighting
management struggled to get factories working efficiently
by 1921, what had total industrial output fall to?
to c20% of pre-war levels
In what year had total industrial output fallen to c20% of its pre-war levels?
1921
For those who ignored the passport system what did they face while trying to flee to the country ?
armed guards stationed on the city boundaries
by the end of 1920, what had the population fallen by in Petrograd and Moscow from the 1917 level?
Petrograd-57.5%
Moscow-44.5%
When was there an acute food shortage due to harsh requisitioning and attacks on the kulaks?
1920
what ratio of land was abandoned to grass?
1/3rd
What percentage did the harvest of 1921 produce compared to that of 1913 which resulted in wide spread famine?
48%
What was Russia’s population in 1913 and 1921?
1913- 170.9 million
1921-130.9 million
What were there reports of at the worst of the civil war?
-cannibalism and trade in dead bodies
