Russia Topic 5 War Communism and the NEP Flashcards
(20 cards)
1
Q
When was War Communism introduced?
A
1918
2
Q
Food
Why was War Communism introduced?
A
- keep RA & workers supplied with food to win CW
- peasants forced to hand over surplus grain - could be shot if they refused
- strict rationing of food where soldiers and workers got more
- 1918 <1m tonnes of grain collected
- 1920 6m (still too little)
3
Q
Ideological Reasons
Why was War Communism introduced?
A
- war communism was close to a perfect socialist society where the state controlled all production
- allowed Bs to move rapidly to a communist economy
- free enterprise illegal
4
Q
Industrial Control
Why was War Communism Introduced?
A
- industrial production after BT was 60% of 1913 level
- 40% of industrial areas lost in T of B-L
- production planned through Vesenkha
- 1919 workers could be forcible moved to different sectors
- 1920 labour conscription of 16-50 year olds
- all factories with >10 workers nationalise
5
Q
Peasants
What were the effects of War Communism?
A
- grain requisitioning
- 1920 production was 37% of 1913 level as peasants refused to grow excess
- killed own animals so they couldn’t be taken by state
- led to 1921-2 famine
- thousands killed in conflicts with requisitioning squads
- kulaks blamed
6
Q
1921-22 Famine
A
- caused by bad harvests and 7 years of continuous war
- ¼ of crops died before harvesting in some areas
- peasants didn’t have any stored grain like usual due to grain requisitioning
- crime, cannibalism and body snatching
- US sent >1m tonnes of grain & 300 aid workers
- at least 5m died
7
Q
Workers
What were the effects of War Communism?
A
- black market supplied 70% of food
- workers fled to countryside in search of food; 70% of Petrograd, 50% of Moscow
- 4:3:2:1 rationing ratio, soldiers, manual workers, middle-class workers, formerly wealthy ppl
- workers’ ration regularly below starvation level
- strikers could be executed
8
Q
How many Red Army soldiers were sent to put down the Tambov Uprising?
A
50,000
9
Q
How many Red Army soldiers died whilst putting down other rebellions not including the Tambov Uprising?
A
250k
10
Q
Economic Reasons for the introduction of the NEP
A
- famine in the Volga region killed 5m and affected 20m
- hopes NEP would help recover crippled economy as a result of WC
- element of private ownership permitted to provide incentives for small businesses
- needed food supply to cities
- agricultural production needed to increase
11
Q
Politial Crisis
Why was the NEP introduced?
A
- Bs could not blame Whites for problems
- 1920 75% of Petrograd factory workers on strike
- Tambov Uprising and Kronstadt Revolt
12
Q
NEP
What did it entail?
A
- announced March 1921 at 10th PC
- free market
- no requisitioning; peasants could sell surplus grain for profit
- factories with <20 workers privatised
- 1920-25 20k experts from US and Canada to advise on how factories should be run
- money used again
- new class that profited extremely well emerged called NEPMEN
13
Q
Impact of the NEP on the Economy
A
- increased production (but only to pre WWI levels)
- few industries reached 1913 production level
- grain increased to 72m tonnes from 50 but still not back to 80m in 1913
- 1925 imports 9x higher than 1921-22
- 1922-25 steel and pig iron production increased 10x from 0.2m tonnes to 2m tonnes and 0.1m tonnes to 1m tonnes, respectively
14
Q
Impact of the NEP on Peasants
A
- Prodnalog tax on food sold instead of requisitioning
- taxed grain in 1922 was ½ of volume taken by requisitioning in 1920
- NEP and good weather reduced economic inequality greatly
- 1927 25m peasant holdings (98.3% of farmed land, many earned decent livings
- 1928 5.5m households still used sokha (strip farming)
15
Q
Scissor Crisis
Impact of the NEP
A
- 1923 food production so great that prices decreased as there was so much supply
- low industrial production meant high prices of goods
- peasants refused to sell grain as they couldn’t buy goods (or too expensive) also because of lower prices for their grain
- food production down; industry prices up
16
Q
The Modernisation of Russia as an Effect of the NEP
A
- L aimed to have a working light in every Russian household
- 1921 ½ of Russian trains off tracks due to damage and lack of workers
- 1923 rail system carred 45% more passengers and 59% more goods
- 1927 number of passengers and goods surpassed 1913 level
17
Q
Ideological Opposition to the NEP
A
- emergence of kulaks and NEPMEN highly unpopular
- 1925 steps taken to curb NEPMENs’ profits
- L banned free discussion about NEP
- Old Bs like Z + K felt betrayed. K - “New Exploitation of the Proletariat”
18
Q
When did Lenin die?
A
January 1924
19
Q
FOR
Was Lenin a good leader?
A
- modest, no personal ambition, never became rich, lived simply
- powerful speaker, excellent leader, decisive political figure and superb organisational skills
- without him, most likely no revolution in 1917
- good political judgement allowed and adaptable: abandoning WC for NEP
20
Q
AGAINST
Was Lenin a good leader?
A
- seized power in a coup leading to a dictatorship
- wouldn’t share power w/ other socialists in CW
- used ruthless methods to hold power (Cheka and terror)
- ban on political parties, no elections, censorship
- prepared to see suffering of millions for his ideals
