Q (b)s What was the impact of Stalin’s economic policies? Flashcards
(17 cards)
(b) Why did Stalin want to modernise the USSR? [6]
Because
(1) Great leader reputation
To prove himself to be the true successor/heir of Lenin by continuing his work and bringing about even greater change and development therefore improving his own reputation as leader.
(2) To increase the USSR military strength
By 1927, Stalin feared the capitalist West would invade the USSR. The USSR needed to be able to modernise its army and mass produce weapons and increase its military strength. WWI demonstrated only a country with modern weaponry produced could triumph. Stalin paranoid about prospect of attack - Russia had lost all recent wars and barely survived civil war. “we are 50-100 years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good the difference in 10 years or they crush us”. Stalin put many of the new industrial centres to the East to protect them from invasion. It would then be able to defend itself from foreign threats as it did against Germany.
(3) To rival economies of USA/other capitalist countries
Much of Russia’s industrial equipment had to be imported. STalin wanted the USSR to be self sufficient and to improve the standards of living to win popular support.
(4) To create a Communist Society
According to Marxist theory, an advanced industrialised society with most people as workers was required for communism to flourish. In 1928 only 1/5 Russians were workers.
(5) To increase food supplies
The New Economic Policy seemed to have stalled as there was increasing unemployment, and in some areas of the economy the USSR had not yet reached the production levels of 1913. Stalin wanted more workers in industries, towns and cities. But this had meant fewer peasants to produce food so there needed to be a revolution in agriculture.
(6) Industrialisation policy over NEP
Politically, by changing his support from the NEP to rapid industrialisation, Stalin was able to eliminate his opponents on the right of the Communist Party, such as Bukharin, in the leadership struggle.
(7) Five year plans
By introducing the Five Year Plans, he would increase his power and control over the USSR, as it would mean Moscow would have economic control over the whole of the country.
(b) Why did Stalin introduce collectivisation? [6]
First para
- Stalin introduced collectivisation in the countryside so he could prevent future famine and feed the Russian cities.
- Russia had a long history of famine and Stalin needed to ensure that his industralisation of the USSR would be successful.
- Collectivisation would ensure that the government had greater control over food production in the countryside by taking a percentage of the grain to send to the cities to feed the workers. This would then allow Stalin to increase production more rapidly and catch up with the West. Ref also to 5 year plans.
Second para
* Stalin wanted to take communism to the countryside. Peasants had always demanded their own private land but this went against the ideals of communism which stressed communal ownership and no private property.
* Stalin viewed many peasants as counter revolutionary and therefore a threat to the communist party.
* Collectivisation forced peasants to create collective farms called KOLKHOZ or state owned farms called SOVKHOZ so they no longer owned their own land.
* Kulaks were liquidised as a class and many peasants were encouraged to inform the authorities if they suspected a kulak of hoarding grain.
(b) Why did Stalin introduce the Five-Year Plans? [6]
Stalin introduced the Five-Year Plans to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and move it away from a primarily agricultural economy towards a modern, industrial power.
(1) Rapid Industrialization:
Stalin’s primary goal was to transform the USSR into an industrial powerhouse, mirroring the industrial progress of Western nations. Stalin believed that the Five Year plans were the only way to transform the Soviet Union into an industrial power in a short space of time.’
(2) Shift from Agriculture:
Plans focused on developing heavy industry, infrastructure, and energy production, moving away from the agricultural focus of the New Economic Policy (NEP). ‘This was to reduce the power of the peasants, whom he deeply distrusted, whilst at the same time increasing wealth and provide luxury consumer goods.’
(3) Economic Goals:
Plans set ambitious targets for industrial production, aiming to achieve specific goals in areas like steel production, coal mining, and energy generation.
(4) Military Strength:
Industrialization was seen as crucial for building a strong military and national defence, particularly in anticipation of potential conflicts with the West. ‘He feared an attack from surrounding capitalist countries at any time. Only a strong
industrial economy could produce wealth and modern weapons to survive if an attack happened.’
(5) Reduce Dependence:
By becoming an industrial nation, the USSR aimed to reduce its reliance on foreign trade and become more self-sufficient.
(6) “Revolution from Above”:
Plans were seen as a forceful and centralized approach to economic development, a “revolution from above,” rather than the gradual development favored by some earlier economic policies. ‘Stalin thought that if he turned the peasants into industrial workers, he would be able to
broaden the support for communism among the people of the Soviet Union.’
(7) Inspiration from Trotsky’s ideas: Some historians argue that Stalin’s plans were inspired by Trotsky’s earlier advocacy for mass industrialization.
(b) Why did Stalin want to modernise Soviet industry? [6]
Because
(1) Great leader reputation
To prove himself to be the true successor/heir of Lenin by continuing his work and bringing about even greater change and development therefore improving his own reputation as leader.
(2) To increase the USSR military strength
By 1927, Stalin feared the capitalist West would invade the USSR. The USSR needed to be able to modernise its army and mass produce weapons and increase its military strength. WWI demonstrated only a country with modern weaponry produced could triumph. Stalin paranoid about prospect of attack - Russia had lost all recent wars and barely survived civil war. “we are 50-100 years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good the difference in 10 years or they crush us”. Stalin put many of the new industrial centres to the East to protect them from invasion. It would then be able to defend itself from foreign threats as it did against Germany.
(3) To rival economies of USA/other capitalist countries
Much of Russia’s industrial equipment had to be imported. Stalin wanted the USSR to be self sufficient and to improve the standards of living to win popular support.
(4) To create a Communist Society
According to Marxist theory, an advanced industrialised society with most people as workers was required for communism to flourish. In 1928 only 1/5 Russians were workers.
(5) To increase food supplies
The New Economic Policy seemed to have stalled as there was increasing unemployment, and in some areas of the economy the USSR had not yet reached the production levels of 1913. Stalin wanted more workers in industries, towns and cities. But this had meant fewer peasants to produce food so there needed to be a revolution in agriculture.
(6) Industrialisation policy over NEP
Politically, by changing his support from the NEP to rapid industrialisation, Stalin was able to eliminate his opponents on the right of the Communist Party, such as Bukharin, in the leadership struggle.
(7) Five year plans
By introducing the Five Year Plans, he would increase his power and control over the USSR, as it would mean Moscow would have economic control over the whole of the country.
(b) Why was Stalin determined to modernise the economy of the Soviet Union quickly? [6]
Stalin was determined to modernize the Soviet economy rapidly primarily to build a strong industrial base capable of supporting a large army and to prove the success of communism.
(1) Military Preparedness:
Stalin feared potential capitalist aggression and believed a strong industrial base was crucial for national defense, including the ability to mass-produce weapons and military equipment.
(2) Ideological Justification:
Communists believed that a modern, industrialized society was necessary for the establishment of a communist state, which they saw as the ultimate goal.
(3) Political Control:
Modernizing the economy through industrialization allowed for the creation of a larger, more controlled industrial working class, making it easier to politically control and indoctrinate them, according to a study on Stalin’s Five-Year Plans. Stalin also wanted to improve standards of living in Russia so that people would value Communist rule.’
(4) Economic Progress:
Stalin wanted to surpass the economic achievements of capitalist countries and demonstrate the success of his socialist system. Stalin wanted to rival the economies of the USA and other capitalist countries. When Stalin took power, much of Russia’s industrial equipment had to be imported. Stalin wanted to make the USSR self-sufficient so that it could make everything it needed for itself.
(5) Lenin’s Legacy:
Stalin aimed to build upon Lenin’s legacy by continuing his vision of building a communist state, as mentioned in the notes on Stalin’s five-year plans and establishing the USSR as a world power.
(b) Why was there resistance to Collectivisation? [6]
Resistance due to:
(1) Fear of Losing Land and Property:
Peasants were deeply attached to their land and livestock, and the idea of surrendering them to collective farms was met with strong opposition.
(2) Betrayal of the Revolution:
The promise of land to the peasants during the Russian Revolution was seen as a betrayal when collectivization was forced upon them.
(3) Traditional Way of Life:
Peasants valued traditional farming methods and autonomy of working their own land, and collectivization disrupted this way of life.
(4) Forced Nature of Collectivization:
Government’s forceful implementation of collectivization, including the use of quotas and the “kulak” designation, created resentment and resistance. 90% of Kolkhoz produce sold to State and profits shared out. !0% left used to feed Kolkhoz. By 1941 almost all land collectivised.
(5) Destruction of Crops and Livestock:
Many peasants, fearing the collective farms would not take good care of their resources, slaughtered their animals and destroyed crops before joining the collectives.
(6) Inefficiency of Collective Farms:
Collective farms often lacked the resources and expertise to operate efficiently, leading to poor yields and resentment among the peasants.
(7) Kulak Designation and Repression:
The label of “kulak” (well-to-do peasant) was used to target wealthy farmers who resisted collectivization. This led to arrests, deportations, and even executions, further fuelling resistance and fear.
(b) Why were the Purges carried out by Stalin? [6]
Major reason for the purges was to make sure Stalin stayed in power.
(1) 1934 Stalin was becoming increasingly concerned about opposition to himself and his reforms. So he introduced the purges to remove opponents or those who he thought were opponents. By 1934 some communists wanted to slacken pace of industrialisation to make life more bearable for ordinary Russians.
(2) By introducing a widespread series of purges, Stalin made it known that he would accept no opposition to his policies of industrialisation, collectivisation and modernisation.
(3) At the height of the purges in 1937/38 it is believed that as many as 700,000 people were executed. People were simply too frightened to speak against Stalin and his policies.
(4) Stalin also used the purges to secure his own position as head of government. He had defeated Trotsky to become undisputed leader, but by 1934 he was concerned that there were plans to remove him.
(5) When Kirov was murdered, Stalin used this as an opportunity to turn on his supposed enemies. In all sixteen ‘Old Bolsheviks’ were tried for treason and being involved in the death of Kirov. He even purged the Red Army to ensure it was totally obedient to him and could play no role in overthrowing him.
(b) Why did the introduction of collectivisation not go smoothly for Stalin? [6]
Due to:
(1) Peasant Resistance:
Peasants viewed collectivization as a direct attack on their way of life and personal property. They actively resisted the forced collectivization through various forms of passive and active resistance, including destroying crops, slaughtering livestock to avoid confiscation, and abandoning the collective farms.
(2) Dekulakization:
Stalin’s policy of dekulakization, which targeted wealthy peasants (kulaks) and aimed to eliminate them as a class, resulted in the forced relocation of millions of people and the loss of land. This policy further fueled resistance and animosity among the peasantry. The biggest obstacle for Stalin was the opposition of the kulaks who owned their own land. The kulaks simply refused outright to hand over their land and produce. Kulaks were arrested and sent to labour camps. In revenge, many kulaks burnt their crops and slaughtered their animals so that the Communists could not have them.’
Stalin said “we must liquidate the Kulaks as a class”
(3) Inefficient Collective Farms:
The newly formed collective farms, despite being intended to increase agricultural production, often lacked the necessary resources, expertise, and incentives to be successful. Centralized planning and management proved to be ineffective, leading to a decline in productivity and food shortages.
(4) Famine:
The combination of peasant resistance, inefficient farming practices, and government quotas resulted in severe famine, particularly in Ukraine in 1932-3. This event, known as the Holodomor, further highlighted the failures of collectivization and the human cost of Stalin’s policies.
(5) Lack of Expertise and Motivation:
The rapid and forced nature of collectivization meant that there was a shortage of qualified personnel to manage the collective farms effectively. Moreover, peasants lacked the motivation to work on the collective farms, as they did not benefit directly from the increased production.
(b) Why was developing heavy industry important for Stalin’s plans? [6]
Stalin introduced the Five-Year plans to rapidly modernise the USSR. He feared invasions from the West as he regarded Russia as being surrounded by capitalist enemies and was worried about its security. Heavy machinery was vital for defence and developing a modern army and would make Russia a major power. Stalin put many of the new industrial centres to the East to protect them from invasion. It would then be able to defend itself from foreign threats as it did against Germany.
Stalin wanted to be responsible for bringing about great change in Russia and to be known as a great leader. He also wanted Soviet Russia to be self sufficient rather than relying on imported goods and also wanted to compete with the economies of the West.
(b) Why was Stalin able to become dictator of Russia by 1929? [6]
- Elimination of Opposition: Stalin ruthlessly purged the Communist Party and the population, establishing a climate of fear and submission.
- Cult of Personality: He cultivated a cult of personality, presenting himself as the infallible leader, further solidifying his authority.
- State Control: Stalin controlled all major aspects of Soviet life, including the economy, media, and education, ensuring his policies were implemented.
- Use of Terror: The Great Terror, with its show trials and widespread arrests, intimidated potential rivals and the general population.
- Centralized Economy: The Five-Year Plans, with their focus on industrialization, gave the state immense power over resource allocation and production.
(b) Why was Kirov’s death in 1934 important? [6]
Important because:
(1) Escalation of Repression:
Kirov’s assassination, while the initial cause remains debated, provided Stalin with the pretext to launch a brutal campaign of repression against perceived enemies within the Communist Party and the broader society.
(2) The Great Purge:
The period following Kirov’s death, known as the Great Purge (1936-1938), involved mass arrests, show trials, and executions of political figures, military leaders, and even ordinary citizens.
(3) Justification for Terror:
Stalin used Kirov’s death to portray himself as a defender of the revolution and justified his actions as necessary to eliminate counter-revolutionary forces. In 1934 Stalin thought that his opponents were planning to replace him with Kirov. He
secretly ordered the murder of Kirov and then claimed that Kirov’s murder showed there was
a conspiracy to destroy the Party. He used the murder as an excuse to arrest his enemies,
accusing them of involvement in the murder, and to then initiate a purge of the Party to
eliminate threats to his leadership.
(4) Establishment of Stalin’s Power:
The Great Purge effectively eliminated potential rivals and consolidated Stalin’s absolute control over the Soviet state.
(5) Impact on Society:
The Kirov assassination and the subsequent purges had a devastating impact on Soviet society, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands and the imprisonment and exile of millions.
(b) Why was Stakhanov a celebrity in Russia? [6]
Stakhanov did the following 4 main things:
- On 30th August, 1935! and his team managed to mine 102 tons of coal in less than six hours - This was fourteen times the average for a shift. Stakhanov became a hero and
the propaganda machine encouraged all workers to be Stakhanovites.’ - He received a holiday, a new home and extra pay as a reward.
- He was held up by the Soviet Union as an example to other workers and became a national hero.
- He travelled the country as a celebrity and appeared on the cover of ‘Time’ magazine.
(b) Why was Stalin able to win the leadership contest after Lenin’s death? [6]
There were 7 important reasons why Stalin won the power struggle in 1929:
(1) His rivals made mistakes. Trotsky put forward the idea of ‘Permanent Revolution’ across the globe until the whole world was Communist. Many were worried this would involve the USSR in new and expensive conflicts and that the radical policies might split the party. Stalin’s argument for ‘Socialism in one Country’ was more acceptable as it focused on Russia and the cementing of Bolshevik control over Russia before thinking of spreading Communism elsewhere
(2) Stalin was able to exploit the division in the party over policy choices. Stalin switched his allegiance from the NEP to rapid industrialisation to attack his rivals.
(3) Being the general secretary meant Stalin could put his supporters into positions that mattered, such as the Party Congress, to vote against his rivals.
(4) Stalin was a very clever politician. He used his position as general secretary to undermine his rivals and he switched alliances to benefit his own position.
(5) He used his position as general secretary to pack the Thirteenth Party Congress in 1924 and the Fifteenth Party Congress in 1927 with his supporters.
(6) He took a pragmatic approach to policy. He supported Lenin’s New Economic Policy between 1924 and 1928, when it appeared to be working, so he could attack the Left Opposition, but he switched to supporting rapid industrialisation in 1928 when NEP was becoming unpopular.
(7) He was lucky. For example, in 1923 when Lenin was dying, Trotsky also fell ill and was unable to compete with Stalin.
(b) Why was Stalin the most plausible candidate to become leader following the death of Lenin? [6]
Stalin had 6 main strengths:
(1) He was the general secretary of the party in 1922, which gave him a lot of power as he could control what was discussed in the Politburo meetings.
(2) He could appoint his supporters to key jobs because he was the general secretary.
(3) He had access to 26,000 personal files which he could use against the other contenders.
(4) He launched the Lenin Enrolment programme from 1923 to 1925. This recruited over 500,000 largely uneducated and poor members who were loyal to him.
(5) Many members favoured his idea of socialism in one country, where they would concentrate on developing communism in the USSR rather than worldwide. Stalin’s ideas seemed more realistic than Trotsky’s ideas. Communist Party leaders were worried by Trotsky’s radicalism and his belief in permanent revolution, which meant that the USSR would be obliged to help communist groups in other countries. Stalin believed in ‘socialism in one country’, which would allow the USSR to concentrate on establishing communism at home first.’
(6) Most of the leading communists underestimated Stalin and viewed him merely as a capable administrator.
(b) Why were the Purges disastrous for the Soviet Union? [6]
Disastrous for the Soviet Union because:
(1) Weakened the Red Army:
The purges in 1937-8 removed experienced officers and leaders, including three of five marshals and fourteen out of sixteen army commanders and 37000 officers were either shot or imprisoned. As a result, when Hitler invaded in 1941, one of the key problems of the Red Army was a lack of good quality, experienced officers.’ Without this experience the German army was able to press deep into Russia with disastrous effects for Russia. This severely weakened the Red Army’s ability to defend the country.
(2) Destroyed Trust:
The widespread arrests and executions created a climate of fear and suspicion, eroding trust within the Communist Party and the general population. People feared being labelled as enemies of the state and were afraid to speak out or dissent.
(3) Hindered Development:
The focus on eliminating perceived enemies and the resulting terror diverted resources and attention from vital areas of development, including industry and agriculture. The purges also stifled innovation and creativity, further hindering progress.
(4) Strengthened Stalin’s Power: The purges allowed Stalin to consolidate his power by eliminating potential rivals and establishing a cult of personality. This made him an unchallenged dictator.
(b) Why did industrial production increase under Stalin? [6]
Because of:
(1) Five-Year Plans:
Stalin implemented a series of five-year plans that set ambitious targets for industrial production, focusing on heavy industry, such as steel, coal, and machinery. These plans were driven by a desire to modernize the Soviet economy, build a powerful military, and achieve a degree of autarky (self-sufficiency). Industrial production increased because far more workers were used. Many of these workers were women and by the late 1930s nearly half of
industrial workers were women. Most had not worked before. Centres were set up to look after their children. This added enormous numbers to
the workforce so that more could be produced. The number of workers also increased by using prisoners on projects like dams and canals.
(2) Forced Industrialization:
The plans involved a massive investment in industrial infrastructure, including new factories, power plants, and railways. This rapid industrialization was achieved through centralized planning, where the government-controlled resources, labour, and production.
(3) Collectivization of Agriculture:
To support industrialization, Stalin implemented the collectivization of agriculture, forcibly taking land from private farmers and creating collective farms. This policy was intended to increase grain production for export and to provide labour for industrial centres, but it led to widespread famine and a significant decline in agricultural production, according to some sources.
(4) Centralized Planning:
The command economy approach, with its focus on centralized planning and government control, played a crucial role in pushing industrial production forward. However, this system also had significant limitations, including poor-quality products, shortages of consumer goods, and a lack of innovation due to a lack of competition and market feedback.
(5) Military Industrialization:
A significant portion of Stalin’s industrial efforts was directed towards building a powerful military, in anticipation of potential wars. This further fueled the drive for heavy industry and resource mobilization, but it also came at the expense of consumer goods and living standards.
(b) Why was Stalin’s ‘cult of personality’ important? [6]
(1) To increase Stalin’s legitimacy and authority as Lenin’s true successor. It was important because it made Stalin central to everything in Russia
and showed him as representing everything that was good in Russia. He
wanted to be worshipped as a great leader and hero of the Revolution. He
wanted to be popular and to see pictures and statues of himself everywhere
and even have places named after him.’
(2) To unify the USSR around loyalty to one leader. This was a tradition in tsarist Russia where the tsar was seen as ‘the little father’. Stalin’s cult of personality was an extension of this. In 1930s USSR most Soviet citizens admired, even loved Stalin as they thought he was a great leader.
(3) It raised Stalin’s status above other members of the Party so he became all powerful. He was almost “god-like”. Regular processions praising Stalin. History books rewritten and Trotsky airbrushed out of history.
(4) Rapid industrialisation and collectivisation had created great suffering in the USSR. The cult of personality could be used to direct dissatisfaction towards other leaders in the Communist Party, not Stalin. Propaganda machine pushed Stalin into everyday lives of people. Portraits (most homes), photgraphs and staues everywhere.
