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Chapter 2.2: To what extent did Stalin's dictatorship devastate the…

- - - - Evaluation of Five-Year Plans
        
        Stalin sought to modernise the Soviet Union through a series of five year plans, encompassing both agricultural & industrial developments. 1st five year plan(1928-1932) -> expanding industry, transport, and power supply. 2nd five year plan(1933-1938) -> manufactured goods, including those for the farms. 3rd five year plan (1939-) -> luxury items but stopped due to WWII.
        
        In the initial years, the targets were often not met, it propelled the Soviet Union to be an industrial powerbase by 1941. However, little was done for the consumers. Some factories produced little due to shortages whilst others produced more -> a lot of wastage + quality of products were also sub-standard and potentially hazardous.
- - - - Famine
        
        The Soviet Union also experienced famines due to the collectivisation policy. Grain was distributed overseas at the expense of farmers. In the Great Famine from 1932-1934, 7 million peasants died.
      - Fall in standard of living
        
        Workers lived in crowded cities with cramped living conditions, often without running water or sanitation. They worked long hours with little pay.
      - Lack of consumer goods
        
        Stalin’s Five-Year Plans mainly focused on agricultural and industrial targets. The focus on industrial goods meant that there was little consumer goods available for the locals.
- - - - To consolidate his power and enforce party discipline, Stalin initiated the purges, a campaign to remove opposition. Between 1934-1938, there were show trials, arrests, interrogations, widespread police surveillance, and executions. Stalin used the 1934 Kirov affair to do away with his political opponents in the party. This period was known as the Great Terror.
        
        Arrests & Interrogations
        
        Stalin continued with peasants and other intellectuals such as scientists, engineers, and teachers. Some were executed while others were sent to forced labour camps – the Gulags. By 1937, 39 million people were executed + over 3 million people were imprisoned in forced labour camps.
        
        Purges & Show Trials
        
        To deal with the Kirov assassination, Stalin purged the Leningrad Party – Kirov’s powerbase. Those identified were mainly accused of being Trotsky supporters and executed. These included Kamenev, Zinoviev, and Bukharin -> forced to confess to crimes they never committed – a show trial.
        
        In the Red Army, Nikolai Yezhov and many others were also arrested and executed. Due to their closeness with Trotsky, Stalin distrusted many of the high-ranking commanders and officers. He had them executed and promoted younger members -> ensured the army’s loyalty.
        
        Loss of Intellectuals, Skilled workers & Officers
        
        It had a grave impact on the Soviet Union, as she lost groups
        of intellectuals, skilled workers and officers -> affected efficiency in managing affairs of the government.
    - - Stalin used propaganda extensively to build up his image and establish a cult - used various mediums such as books, art, posters, paintings, musicals, and film to generate more loyalty to himself, made sure that he was always pictured in ordinary clothes to allow the people to relate to him, all achievements and success were attributed to him + Disloyal rivals were removed from history.