War Communism and New Economic Policy (NEP) Flashcards
Russia’s economy before the NEP
- Over 70% of Russia’s industry was geared to the war, resulting in large-scale closedowns and a rise in poor people in major cities
- workers returned to villages or joined the Red Army
- Petrograd lost 60% of its workforce by April 1918
- Urban proletariat decreased from 3.6 million to 1.4 in 2 years
- Autumn harvest of 1917 was down on the annual average
- confiscation of non-peasant land continued
- the balance in trading where farmers sent excess food to the town in return for manufactured goods was abolished
what was War Communism
harsh economic measures the Bolsheviks adopted during the Civil War
what were the aims of War Communism
- Put communist theories into practice by redistributing wealth among the Russian people
- help with the civil war by keeping the towns and the Red Army supplied with food and weapons
What happened in War Communism
- all large factories were taken over by the government
- production was organised by the government
- discipline for workers were strict and striker could be shot
- peasants had to hand over surplus food to the government and if they didn’t they would be shot
- food was rationed
- free enterprise became illegal
impacts of War Communism
peasants slaughtered their cattle and refused to sow land rather than turn over food supplies to the government. This resulted in:
- 1918 harvest was less than a tenth that in the 1916 harvest
- 344 peasant revolts in 1919
- 20 000 people rebelled, attacking grain-collection centres
- Famine became widespread across southern Russia in 1921 and diseases of poverty reached epidemic proportions
What was the Kronstadt attack on the Bolsheviks
In 1921, Bolsheviks were attacked from Kronstadt (Baltic Fleet) sailors in support of striking workers in the city. They’d turned against the Bolsheviks.
Why did the Kronstadt attack on the Bolsheviks occur
to show their dissatisfaction with the government. They wanted:
- new elections for the soviets
- freedom of speech
- freedom of assembly for trade unions and peasant associations
- freedom of all political prisoners
- fairer rationing
- freedom of peasants
What was the response to the Kronstadt attack on the Bolsheviks
Lenin sent Trotsky to suppress the attack and units of the Red army were sent to attack the naval base and behind the army there were CHEKA units with that were to shoot anyone that showed reluctance to advance
What were the results of the Kronstadt attack on the Bolsheviks
- lost 1500 men
- 2500 captured
- prisoners were handed over to the CHEKA to be shot
- Lenin was persuaded to reverse the War Communism policy
- NEP (New Economic Policy) was introduced as approved by the 10th Party Congress in 1921
What was the NEP
- retained the banking, steel and transport industries
- small business permitted and private profits could be made
- Brian requisitioning was abolished and replaced by a tax in kind
- peasants could sell their surplus crops in the marketplace for profit
what was the significance of the change to NEP
Leftists: War Communism was no more than a temporary diversion from the mixed economy
Rightists: The Bolsheviks’ true policy can be seen in WC, which was only abandoned in concession to the market when they were forced to do so as it was only introduced as a practical response to the demands of the civil war
why was the NEP introduced
- to prevent more uprisings such as peasant revolts and Kronstadt
- to revive the economy as famine and collapse threatened Bolshevik Rule
- NEP was a temporary retreat as Lenin still wanted a socialist economy but recognised the need for compromise
Comparison of War Communism and NEP
WC
Hard working peasants: Grows 10 tons, government takes all surplus (9 tons) and they are left with 1 ton
Lazy peasant: Grows 1 ton, government takes none and left with 1 ton
NEP
Hard working peasants: grows 10 tons and government takes 50% and peasant sells 4 tons and left with 1 ton + cash
Lazy peasant: grows 1 ton, government takes 50% and left with half a ton
