Agricultural change Flashcards
1926
There was a bumper harvest but grain requisitioning only achieved 50% of what was expected.
Grain was being hoarded by the peasants until prices rose.
Taxes on Kulaks and Nepmen were increased.
Grain crisi of 1927
Was worsening and rationing was brought into the cities.
War communism methods were now introduced and troops went out to seize grain forcibly.
This requisitioning was known as the Urals-Siberian method as in January 1928 Stalin had gone to the Urals to participate in grain requisitioning.
15th party congress 1927
At the congress in December Stalin made it clear he wanted more voluntary collectivisation and greater mechanisation in the countryside.
This congress was known as the collectivisation congress.
(Same congress that the end of the NEP was announced and the 1st 5 year plan announced)
When did grain requisitioning stop and why?
In 1928.
Stalin was pressured by the right-wing in the party to stop requisitioning as they feared unrest in the countryside.
However, continuing grain shortages meant the Party swung behind Stalin.
Bukharin and other right wing members were discredited and removed from their posts.
Urals- Siberian method
By 1929 this was used throughout the USSR and the NEP had come to an end.
Forcible collectivsation
Introduced in December 1929.
Stalin announced he would “annihilate the Kulaks as a class”
The Red Army and the Cheka were used to identify, execute or deport Kulaks. About 15% of peasant households in reality were destroyed.
However, some Kulaks tried to avoid being labelled a kulak by killing livestock and destroying crops.
January 1930
Stalin announced about 25% of grain-farming areas were to be collectivised that year; this process was to go hand-in-hand with the destruction of the Kulaks.
The treatment given to Kulaks was intended to frighten the other peasants into joining collectives.
Peasants views on collectivisation
Referred to it as a “second serfdom”
Profits
Peasants were supposed to receive a share of the profits made by the collectives but these were non-existent and so they had little incentive to work hard.
Where did peasants spend their time
Cultivating their private plots which they would sell from in markets. Private plots produces... 52% vegetables 70% of meat 71% of milk
