War Communism Flashcards
When was trade with other countries stopped by blockade?
Mid 1918 to 1921.
What exacerbated Russia’s economic problems during the Civil War?
Loss of breadbasket Ukraine, shortage of materials, lack of consumer goods. Red Army precedence in goods.
When was War Communism introduced?
Summer of 1918
What were the elements of War Communism?
Centralised economic measures were introduced; aimed to secure food for the cities, halt economic breakdown, focus industrial production on supplying the Red Army.
Why were warnings issued in January and April 1918 against the expropriation of industries without the approval of Vesenkha? How was this responded to?
More and more factories begged Sovnarkom to take control of their industries.
This was largely ignored.
When was the Decree on Nationalisation?
What was its significance? What did it entail?
28 June 1918. Leap into War Communism.
State to take full ownership of all metallurgical, textile, electrical, mining, cement and tanning industries.
When was the Nationalisation of all factories that employ more than 10 workers and more than 5 if machinery used?
29 November 1920
How was Workers control compromised by War Communism?
Workesr were sent to factories where they were most needed, and those who disobeyed were threatened with the loss of rations.
Longer hours were introduced.
Absenteeism punished through assignments to more difficult duties and deduction in rations.
Strikers threatened with execution.
Voluntary work on weekends encouraged.
Trotsky called for battalions of the Red Army to be mobilised into ‘labour armies’ and used to build roads, cut trees etc.
Who were another source of labour during the Civil War? What did Trotsky say to such a group of people?
Bankers, priests, factory owners, boyars, former tsarist officials and aristocrats were forced into work gangs to clear streets.
“Our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and fathers all had to clean up the shit and filth of you grandfathers and fathers. Now you are going to do the same thing for us.”
When was all private trade declared illegal?
21 November 1918
How was the program of nationalisation and abolition of money carried out?
Government prints money until it becomes useless.
Food Commissariat was the only organisation allowed to supply consumer items, allowed to confiscate stocks held by private traders.
What was the effect of the attempt to abolish money, subsequent collapse of the rouble?
Black market economy, bartering becomes common, ‘bagmen’ travelled from country to towns to sell food and gain substantial profit.
From 1918-19 what percentage of city dwellers bread was being supplied from illegal traders?
60%
What free services did the state introduce to replace wages?
Postal service, public transport, medical treatment, food rations supplied by government free of charge.
What was introduced in July 1918? What did Lenin say of this?
Class based food rationing system was introduced wherein workers, soldiers and members of the Communist party received more food than the upper classes. “He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”
