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Chapter 7- Stalin and the soviet economy - Coggle Diagram
Chapter 7- Stalin and the soviet economy
Revolution from above
Aim- modernise economy through collectivisation and modernisation.. 1926- soviet took over nations economy. A central planning agency was made under Lenin but under Stalin was more thorough. He saw hard policy as his main way of maintaining power.
Collectivisation
What was it?
Essentially war communism. All agriculture centralised under Stalin's control. All peasants work towards common goal, sharing work in commune and pooling wages. Hoped it would create surplus food that could be sold aboard to make capital for soviet industry. The move 80% of peasants to industrious west. 1928- voluntary and only 1% joined. 1929- gov introduced grain quotas and punishments for those who weren't successful 19129- 50% peasants forced in. Stalin blamed officials for its failures.
Restarted in 1930. 19322 62% of peasant households collectivised.1937- 95%, 1940- 97%
Resistance
People resisted in millions, 30,000 arson attacks. 172 first half of 1929 second half 229.
The role of women
Women suffered most as organisers of house so first to fight back. Okhochya- Ukraine women broke into barns seizing grain. Mothers and children stood in front of trucks protecting private farms. Officials reluctant to prosecute women.
Social effects
People believed propaganda against Kulaks. Many couldn't/wouldn't conform. soviet responded with forced coercion e.g. imprisonment, execution and deportation. Party workers sent to restore food production by farming land themself- added to disruption. More food in urban areas but less in Ukraine, Kazakhstan- lost 90% of livestock.
Any positives?
forced large number of peasants to leave land (necessary). Policies made economic sense. Russia sustained in difficulty for many years.
Nation wide famine
1932-33. 7 mill died from famine. 6.5 mill Kulaks. Many areas stopped producing grain. So many tried to move to the urban areas internal passports had to be produced. Whole population stripped off everything. New-born's buried on side of road. 1930-32- 2 mill peasants went into external exile as slave labourers. 1/4 a million dying from hunger and exposure.
The kulaks
Who were they?
More efficient peasants. according to Stalin- did not comply, hoarding best land and crops, keeping prices high, exploiting best peasants. Propaganda campaigns launched against them. Stalin said unless destroyed, prevent modernisation.
Dekulakisation
Led by OGPU squads with help of poorer peasants who saw it as opportunity to settle old disputes. 25000 officials enforced collectivisation. Land and property seized. Families physically assaulted. Arrest and deportation to inhospitable regions. Modelled on gangs who prosecuted peasants during the civil war,
The five year plans
What were they?
Way of preparing Russia for war, based on heavy steal industry e.g. steal, coal and oil. At same time great depression- Stalin reject capitalist ideas that had cause Americas failings.
The first five year plan
What was it?
OCT 1928- DEC 1932- Factory workers given unrealistic targets of production. Not given anymore resources just expected to give results. People worked quickly out of fear so quotes made bigger called optimal targets. Local officials inflated numbers making it look like they were reaching targets. Coal, iron did increase in period.
The use of propaganda
Fake stories of workers showing resistance. Show trails- had to apologise or shot on spot if did hung later. Propaganda campaign meant to make people feel they were personally engaged in Russian enterprise, people were enthuastic.
Resistance
Any underproduction/poor quality materials was blamed on managers and workers. OGPU squads sent in to terrorise workers. sabotage was a blanket term used for everyone not putting in their work. managers who did not meet quotas put on public trial so inflating figures became common practise . Statistics in period not reliable. Party cadres sent to spy on workers/managers.
Komosol youth
A group of 14- year olds who supported plan and believed it would save Russia. They were willing to work for it.
The second and third five year plans
Modelled of first but set more realistic targets. There was a lack of co-ordination overproduction, underproduction in others. Branches of industry would be held up because of lack of supplies and broken machines would be left standing for ages. The struggle to maintain supplies led to competition hoarding of resources, Complaints vailed as to not criticise Stalin.
The Stakhonovite movement
Stalin controlled newspapers, radios, cinemas etc.. so only positive view of plans was represented. AUG 1935- Axel Stakhanov reported to have cut 100 tonnes of coal in one five hour shift this was fourteen times his quota. His achievement was used as an example by authorities. Other workers encouraged to do same known as storming. Some Stakhanovism groups did produce more but they had been given special material sand had changed work plans to accommodate them. It caused disruption and dissatisfaction among the people as they began to realise they had been deceived.
Overall
Strengths
Remarkable increase in production over three years e.g. coal= 5 times, oil= doubled. electrical generation quadrupled. Allowed USSR to survive four years in war and enough to drive Germany out of soviet.
Weaknesses
Economic reforms only in traditional areas of industry. Old wasteful techniques such as the use of mass labour continued . No quality good which could be sold abroard. People living conditions not thought about.
Workers rights and living conditions.
Unions powerless, as socialist should be no diff between power of gov and workers. Asking for anything banned. 4/5 families share bathroom/kitchen. Defence spending but nothing for working and living conditions. Public housing produced a larger no. of Tennant blocks normally five stories no roof.