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Stalin Notes

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Stalin Notes
The USSR and Stalin 1924-53

How successful was Stalin in solving Russia’s economic problems?

What were Russia’s economic problems?

Stalin believe rapid expansion of heavy industry was essential to deal with evident attach from west
Industrial workers were the communists; greatest allies
Peasants: enemies of socialism
Industrial: Peasant ration
Greater it was, greater communist state would be

The Five Year Plans for industry

Stalin = no economic experience
Plans designed to overcome the problems in shortest possible time
“We are 50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in 10 years. Either we do it or wee shall be crushed.”
Stalin, February 1931
Indust. Expansion tackled by series of Five Year Plans
First two: completed year ahead of schedule ; neither reached full target
Third plan cut short by USSR’s involvement in WWII
First plan
Dealt with heavy industries
Coal, iron, steel, oil and machinery
Two other Plans
Increase in consumer goods as well as industry
Plans were a remarkable success
1940 USSR > Britain in steel production
How was all this achieved?
Cash provided almost entirely by the Russians
Grain exports, charging peasants heavily for use of government equipment + ruthless ploughing back of all profits and surplus
Plans had their drawback
Punishments for bad workmanship
Accused of being saboteurs or wrecks if targets not met
Forced labour camps
First Five Year Plan
Declaration of war by the state machine against the workers and peasants of USSR
Greater exploitation then under communism
Drawback with plans was production of poor quality products
Martain McCauler
“the First Five-Year Plan was a period of genuine enthusiasm, and prodigious achievements were recorded in production.
Alex Nove
Similar view
“Argues that given industrial backwardness inherited from the tsarist period. Something drastic was needed” (Lowe)
“Under Stalin’s leadership and assault was launched …
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