History USSR 8 and 16 markers

Explain two effects on the Soviet Union of Lenin’s death in 1924

Power struggle, changes in Soviet policy (NEP to collectivisation)

Explain two effects on the USSR of Stalin’s decision to abandon the NEP

Shift to collectivisation, introduction of Five Year Plans

Explain two effects on the USSR of Stalin’s purges

Elimination of political rivals, suppressing dissent

Explain two effects on schoolchildren of Stalin’s decision to restore traditional values to the USSR’s educational system

Emphasised loyalty to the State, reinforced traditional gender roles

Explain two effects on the USSR of Stalin’s policies towards ethnic minorities

Forced deportations (Volga Germans to Siberia), Soviet nationalism

Explain two effects on the Soviet war effort of the Red Army’s victory in the Battle of STalingrad

Boost to Soviet morale (850,000 Germans killed/wounded/captured), prevented Germans from seizing territory (oil fields in the Caucasus)

The main reason as to why Stalin won the leadership struggle (16)

Socialism in one country (appealed to people who feared global revolution, 60% of Central Committee, least important), General Secretary (26,000 secret files, most important), use of Party Alliances (Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev removed by 1927, quite important)

Stalin undisputed leader in 1929 (16)

Trotsky’s unpopularity (only 10-15% of Central Committee on his side by 1927, most important), clever tactics (anti-Trotsky alliance, alliance with Bukharin, quite important), Socialism in one country (dominant ideology in the party, least important)

Effect of FYPs (16)

Rapid industrialization (steel rose by 50%, coal by 60%, electricity by 100%, most), improved transport links (length of Soviet rail network grew by 30% during the 1930s, quite), agricultural collectivisation (90% of peasants live on collective farms by 1937, least)

Reasons Stalin launched purges (16)

Removing rivals (1936-38, 1 million arrested, most), rapid industrialisation (key figures in the industry sector, quite), consolidation of the military (40,000 officers arrested, least)

Impacts of the purges (16)

Removal of opposition (90% of the Central Committee had been purged by 1939, most), weakening the army (3/5 Marshals executed, quite), atmosphere of fear (8 million people sent to the Gulags in the 1930s, least)

Main effect of Stalin’s women and family policies (16)

Increase in female employment (43% of the industrial workforce were women by 1940, most), growth in political participation (10% of delegates to the Supreme Soviet were women by 1939, quite), reintroduction of traditional family legislation (the state offered ‘Mother Heroine’ awards to women with 10 children or more, abortion was banned in 1936, least)

Main reason for USSR’s victory over Germany (16)

Soviet war production (by 1943, Soviet factories produced 1300 tanks and 1200 aircraft every month, most), German mistakes (Germans ended up fighting in the Russian winter at -40 degrees C, quite), Soviet civilian determination (the Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days, and the city did not fall, despite the death of over 1 million citizens, least)

Main reason for Soviet victory in WWII (16)

Soviet war production (1,300 tanks and 1,200 aircraft per month, most), Battle of Stalingrad (Soviet forces captured 91,000 German troops, quite), Allied support (Lend-Lease supplied food, 400,000 trucks, 13,000 tanks, 12,000 aircraft to the USSR from the USA, least)