World War Two and the Soviet Economy

Question 1

What economic changes had been made after the Nazi invasion of 1941?

Answer 1

Local level - defence committees set up to coordinate production.
Factories began to manufacture war goods e.g. children;s bicycle in Moscow converted into factory that made flame throwers.

Question 2

What aided Stalin in adapting the economy for war?

Answer 2

centralisation of the economy under the FYPs

Gulag labour - 15% ammunition produced through this.

Question 3

How did Stalin manage to keep industry going and avoid economic collapse?

Answer 3

where possible industry was shifted to the new cities in the East and where it was going to be taken by the Nazis it was destroyed.
Severe punishments for negligence or being late for work - many workers slept in their factories for fear of being late.
70 hour working weeks = norm
Rationing
Food had to be collected from the workplace.

Question 4

How was it ensured that there we’re sufficient consumer goods?

Answer 4

production of consumer goods virtually ceased - shortages of consumer goods - these goods imported from Britain under the LEND - LEASE SCHEME.

Question 5

How did Stalin manage to keep agriculture going and avoid economic collapse?

Answer 5

Govt lifted restrictions on the cultivation of private plots.

Question 6

In what ways did industry suffer?

Answer 6

oil and steel production fell.

Question 7

In what ways did agriculture suffer?

Answer 7

grain output fell from 95million tonnes in 1940 to 30 million tonnes in 1942.

Question 8

What state was Russia in by the end of the war?

Answer 8

25 million people homeless

1,700 towns destroyed