2 Industrial and agricultural change, 1917–85

Question 1

What was the state of the economy when the Bolsheviks first took power in 1917?

Answer 1

• The economy was in chaos.
• It had been severely damaged by the WW1.
• The Bolsheviks were unsure as to how to modernise an outdated and inefficient industrial and agricultural system.

Question 2

Who did the Bolsheviks believe the economy should be in the hands of? stopped here!

Answer 2

The workers and the peasants themselves.

Question 3

what is war communism?

Answer 3

War Communism was an economic policy introduced by Lenin in June 1918 to replace State Capitalism. It was characterised by the nationalisation of businesses, central government control of industry, harsh discipline and grain requisitioning. War Communism contributed to Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War, but resulted in decreased production levels and human suffering.

Question 4

Why was War Communism introduced?

Answer 4

• Faced with desperate circumstances of the civil war, the Bolsheviks introduced a series of emergency measures to ensure that the Red Army was supplied with enough food and resources to ensure a communist win.
• These measures entailed far greater government intervention in the economy.d

Question 5

What other factors could have contributed to the introduction of War Communism?

Answer 5

• The communist ideological basis
• The response to the reality of economic collapse
• A reaction to early Bolshevik excesses

Question 6

WC was designed to ensure what three things?

Answer 6

• high levels of industrial production of war goods
• an effiencient allocation of workers
• food production to feed soldiers, workers and the civilian population

Question 7

Explain the role of the factor ‘the ideological basis’ in relation to the introduction of War Communism.

Answer 7

• The measures of WC went along w the long-term aim of the Bolsheviks to abolish private enterprise = seen as the application of com ideology.
• To some Bs, the old world had been destroyed by the WW1 and this provided an opp to build anew on Marxist lines.
• The collapse of the Russian currency & its replacement by bartering was seen by some Bs as a sign of liberation from capitalism, when in fact it was caused by inflation.
• The result of this optimism was a radicalisation of policy, pushing the Bolshevik leadership in to implementing large-scale nationalisation before it intended to.
• The nationalisation of all industries with ten or more workers in June 1918 was followed by a series of measures that showed the Bs were mesmerised by the opp to expand government control.

Question 8

Explain the role of the factor ‘the response to the reality of economic collapse’ in relation to the introduction of War Communism.

Answer 8

• There were also practical reasons for implementing War Communism.
• The Bolsheviks had inherited an economy that was in a state of near collapse and drastic measures were needed if they were to fight and win the civil war.
• State direction of the economy had been a key feature of many European countries during the First World War and it had nothing to do with ideology.

Question 9

Explain the role of the factor ‘a reaction to early bolshevik excesses’ in relation to the introduction of War Communism.

Answer 9

• Some of the Bolshevik policies for giving control to the workers proved to be idealistic and unworkable, especially during the emergency context of the civil war.
• The abolition of any ranks was reversed and factory managers had to be used to create some order in industry.

Question 10

What were the main features of War Communism?

Answer 10

Nationalisation of all industry without compensation. Only workplaces with fewer than ten workers were exempt.
- All industry was placed under the control of the state through the Supreme Council of National Economy (Vesenkha).
- The reintroduction of hierarchical structures in industry. in factories, the Workers’ Councils were replaced by management in order to instil discipline into the workers.
- Harsh military style discipline was introduced into the factories. The death penalty was introduced for all workers who went on strike. The unemployed were forced to join ‘Labour Armies’ and set to work on projects such as road building and woodland clearance.
- All workers were expected to volunteer for unpaid work on ‘Communist Sundays’.
- All private trading was banned. Trade was to be controlled by the state, but because could not meet demand a large black market developed.
- Transactions using money became limited due to massive inflation. Money was replaced by bartering using goods, and many workers received their wages in goods.
- - The forcible requisitioning of food from the peasants in order to feed the army and the towns. Around 150,000 Bolshevik volunteers were used to seize grain. The government attempted to use Committees of the Village Poor to spy on any peasants who might be hoarding food. The result was a rise in tension in the countryside and serious outbreaks of violence, often directed at the requisitioning teams. Malnutrition and starvation became commonplace.
- The introduction of rationing to ensure that the workers in the city were fed. Those industrial workers whose work was crucial to the war effort received preferential treatment.

Question 11

what were the economic measures put in place by lenin for WC?

Answer 11

• ‘food dictatorship’
• labour discipline

Question 12

‘food dictatorship’ as a measure of WC?

Answer 12

• grain requisitioning = cheka sqauds were authorised to seize grain and other forms of food from peasants wo payment
• rationing = the Supply Commissariat rationed the sized foods. the larget rations went to workers and soldiers, the smallest rations were given to mems of the bourgeoisie.

Question 13

‘labour discipline’ as a measure of WC?

Answer 13

wc entailed labour discipline:
- 1918 = wortking day extended to 11 hrs
- 1919 = work made compulsory for all able bodied ppl bet 16 and 50 yrs old
- harsh punishments = given to workers who were late/ caught slacking

Question 14

the abolition of the markt as a measure of WC

Answer 14

• chaotic conditions led to breakdown of the existing market + measure introduced to try to abolish the market:
  -> abolition of money = in short term, gov printed more money = led to hyperinflation. money = became worthless, workers paid through rations and pub services = provided freely
  -> aboltion of trade = privated trade made illegal
  -> complete nationalisation = all busses were taken over the state
  -> conscription = workers were assigned either to work in factories or fight on the army

Question 15

what did lenin argue the abolition of money was a step away from? why?

Answer 15

away from capitalism towards a socialist econ on which econ prod + distributuon = centrally planned
- bukharin too argued the abolition of capitalist market = major revolutuonary achievement
- both agreed these measures destroyed power of the capitalist class

Question 16

consequences of wc?

Answer 16

wc succeeded in keeping the RA spplied + allowing thme to win the civin war but it did lead to econ collapse and failed to abolish the market
- economic collapse
- growth of the black market
- mass poverty
- political crisis

Question 17

economic collapse as a consequence of wc

Answer 17

1. Grain requisitioning led to lower rates of agricultural production as peasants were not paid for any extra grain they produced, meaning they had no incentive to produce more than they needed to survive. By 1920, agricultural production was 40% lower than it had been in 1913.
2. Industrial production levels dropped significantly under WC, as workers had few incentives to work hard and central gov planning was chaotic.
   – By 1920, the gross output in
   all industry had declined by 70% from 1913 levels.
   – industrial workforce declined from 3 mil workers in 1917 to 1.2 mil in 1922 due to war and workers escaping cities.

Question 18

growth of the black market as a consequence of wc

Answer 18

Lenin’s food rationing and the ban on private trade did nothing to abolish the black market economy, which the government could neither control, nor profit from. Historians estimate that 60% of the food consumed in cities during the Russian Civil War was acquired through the black market. Much of this was purchased using goods stolen from government run factories.

Question 19

mass poverty as a consequence of wc

Answer 19

by 1921 = run econ was near collapse = shortages of all kinds of commondities
In February 1921, the factories in Petrograd ran out of fuel and 93 of them were closed, throwing 30,000 workers out of their jobs and ending their entitlement to food. They did not re-open for ten days.
- the harvest 1921 = only 46% of the 2013 harvest = rural area famine began + led to death of 6 mil

Question 20

political crisis as a consequence of wc

Answer 20

The suffering caused by War Communism led to political unrest in the countryside. Between August 1920 and June 1921, peasants in the Tambov region rebelled against the government. It was led by Aleksandr Antonov and began in the small rural town of Khitrovo, following the decision by a Red Army commander to beat the town elders in front of the rest of the peasants. The revolt spread across Russia within a few months until over 70,000 peasants were involved. It took 100,000 Red Army soldiers using aircraft dropping poison gas to finally eradicate the rebels.

Question 21

conclusion of wc

Answer 21

led to mil victory but econ ruin
- ideological victory
- abolition of money and cap market led many com including lenin to bel wc = foundation of new society would be built
- bukharin even welcomed econ crisis, arguing destruction of cap needed to be comp before socialism could start
- senior coms didnt see econ crisis as reason to stop the policy
- pol crisis = more worrying = further rebellions risked end of com gov.
- in order to save rev = lenin forced to accept compromise

Question 22

impact of wc

Answer 22

• It ensured the Red Army got the resources it needed to win the civil war.
• Left the economy in a state of near collapse
• By 1921, industrial production was only 1/5 of the figure for 1913.
• Disease and starvation were commonplace.
• A wave of serious unrest swept across the countryside.

Question 23

Define ‘bartering’

Answer 23

Paying for goods with other goods rather than money. This system of exchange is usually associated with underdeveloped economies or where the system of currency has broken down. During War Communism in Russia, it was seen by some as liberation from capitalism, but it was in fact a result of economic collapse.

Question 24

what is the nep?

Answer 24

The NEP was an economic policy introduced by Lenin in March 1921 to replace War Communism. It was characterised by a relaxation of government control of agriculture and industry, as well as the partial return to an open market. The NEP was an ideological retreat, but helped to provide valuable breathing space for the struggling Russian economy.

Question 25

why did lenin introduce the nep?

Answer 25

• to retaun political power: lenin described the nep as an econ retreat which designed to stop a political defeat.
• to revive the econ: lenin needed a policy that would stimulate grain production and end the famine
• build socialism: by 1921 clear that eur rev wouldnt happen. therefore lenin needed ecpn policy that would allow rus to buld socialis wo foreign aid
• The Bolsheviks had hoped that, through War Communism, communist ideology could be converted into meaningful policy.
• However, the reality of the social and economic situation by 1921 coupled with a deterioration of the position of the Bolsheviks led to the abandonment of War Communism and the start of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Question 26

What factors contributed to the change from wc to nep?

Answer 26

• Economic considerations
• The unpopularity of War Communism
• The Tambov Rising
• The Kronstadt Mutiny

Question 27

what did lenin argue as 1921 went on?

Answer 27

• argue the nep rather than wc was the correct econ foundation to build socialism on
• argued com party must learn trade and use capitialist methods to achive communism goals
• emphasised the nep would create peace w peasants and allow peasants and workers to build socialism together

Question 28

what did the nep do?

Answer 28

end wc. created mixed economy which had capitialist and socialist elements

Question 29

what measures were put in place under the nep?

Question 30

How did the factor ‘economic considerations’ contribute to the introduction of the NEP?

Answer 30

• By the end of the war, industry had ground to a halt.
• Production of heavy industry had fallen to 20% of its 1913 level and, in some sectors, production had stopped altogether.
• Food production had also fallen, to only 48 percent of the 1913 figure, and the breakdown in the transport and distribution systems had resulted in widespread famine.
• Weakened by a lack of food, many Russians succumbed to diseases such as typhus and smallpox.
• In addition to this, army soldiers had to be resettled into civilian life

Question 31

How many died from famine and disease in the 1920s?

Answer 31

20 million

Question 32

How did the factor ‘the unpopularity of War Communism’ contribute to the introduction of the NEP?

Answer 32

• Several of the key features of War Communism were loathed by the Russian population.
• The system of rationing was disliked, as the size of rations was depended on the social classification a person was given.
• Members of the Red Army and industrial proletariat received the most; members of the bourgeoisie received very little, and, in some cases, none at all.
• The use of managers and the return to hierarchical systems within the factories causes resentment among the industrial workers, leading to violence.
• Many workers felt that their opportunity for self-regulation was being undermined by the increasing dictates of the state.

Question 33

How did the factor ‘the Tambov Rising’ contribute to the introduction of the NEP?

Answer 33

• In the countryside, the resentment of War Communism was greatest in relation to the forcible requisitioning of food and the plans to get rid of the mir (village commune), which had become a genuinely peasant organisation since the revolution.
• Peasant resentment against the government came to a head in a series of uprisings in 1920-21.
• These were risings in the most important grain areas of the Volga basin, North Caucasus and Western Siberia.
• The most serious was the Tambov Rising in central Russia, where peasants reacted violently to requisitioning teams arriving in the area to seize grain.
• The revolt was only put down when 50,000 Red Army troops were sent into the area.
  The seriousness of these risings put pressure on the government to change its policy.

Question 34

How did the factor ‘the Kronstadt Mutiny’ contribute to the introduction of the NEP?

Answer 34

• The revolt by sailors at the naval base outside Petrograd increased pressure on the government.
• The mutiny alarmed the Bolsheviks because it was by a group that had previously been a mainstay of the Revolution and they could not be easily dismissed as ‘counter-revolutionaries’.
• The mutiny was over the increase in the power of the Party and its officials at the expense of the workers.
• The mutiny was suppressed by Red Army troops, but the revolt was a shock to Bolshevik leadership, and was a key factor in Lenin’s decision to change economic policy’

Question 35

What did Lenin say the Kronstadt Mutiny did to trigger change?

Answer 35

It had ‘lit up reality like a flash of lighting’.

Question 36

What were the key features of the NEP in agriculture?

Answer 36

• There was to be an end to requisitioning. It was to be replaced by a system of taxation, which allowed the peasants to sell any remaining food at market for a profit.
• The Bolsheviks also announced that there would be no forced programme of collectivisation. Without collective farms, the mir would stay as the means of peasants self-regulating whir farming activities.
• These reforms were a compromise with the peasantry, but the Bolsheviks knew that without an increased food production, the economy would never be able to revive.

Question 37

What were the key features of the NEP in industry?

Answer 37

• The NEP retired small-scale industry to private hands, although the state kept control of heavy industry, transport and the banks. This allowed Lenin to claim that the party still held the “commanding heights of the economy”.
• In state-owned factories, piecework and bonuses were used to try and raise production. To some Bolsheviks, these were techniques of the capitalist.
• The reintroduction of a currency for paying wages in 1921 was also viewed with suspicion by many communists as the re-emergence of capitalism.
• The legislation of private trading seemed the logical way of stopping a growing black market, a factor that already led some local authorities allowing private trade.
• With the growth of small-scale business and private traders, the Soviet Union saw the development of ‘Nepmen’, people who gained under the NEP.

Question 38

political and economic stability as a consequence of the nep

Answer 38

• ending grain requisitioning = extrmely popular amongst peasants
• free trade encourages peasants to grow more food = famine ended + food = widely available i country and city market
• end of grain requisitioning led to a return of pol and econ stability by ending the famine and ending a policy that was extremely unpopular = 80% of rus pop were peasants

Question 39

industrial growth as a consequence of the nep

Answer 39

• nep led to industrial growth
• the market stimulated the prod and gov invested money gained from taxing the peasabts in reopening factories closed due civil war
• lenin authorised major electrification campaign which revived an industry that had effectively been destroyed by cw
• by end of 1921 = len argued nep wasnt right policy for creating econ growth
• felt nep was best way for industrialisation and foundation for socialism
• len argued nep was form of state capitalism
• also argued allows com’s to build socialism w capitalist hands.
• by 1926 industrial prod w expecting of pig iron and steel had recovered to 1913 levels
• failed to provide sufficient funds to provide necessary money to build new large scale factories. from 1926-1928 industrial economy plateaued.

Question 40

consequences of the nep?

Answer 40

led to political and economic stability, but didnt lead to rapid industrial growth = not wholly popular within the party

Question 41

conclusion on the nep

Answer 41

it stabilised the econ replacing an extremely unpopular policy and ended widespread rebellion
- nep achieved lenin’s key goal of ensuring the coms hold on power
- however nep led to various problems like slow industrial growth and unbalanced econ, return of inequality, and growth of various kinds of from
- deeply unpopular w section of com party. nep led to bitter debate over state control of industry and agriculture which raged during the 1920s

Question 42

scissors crisis as a consequence of the nep