A Level History - Russia chapter 16

What percentage of the population lived in towns in 1926?

17%

What percentage of the population lived in towns in 1939?

33%

Which country had Russia overtaken in iron and steel production in 1940?

Britain

Which country was Russia very close to in iron and steel production in 1940?

Germany

What did Stalin lay the foundations for by emphasising heavy industry and rearmament?

victory in WW2

How many aircraft factories were constructed in 1939?

9

Between 1938 and 1941, by how much did spending on rearmament increase?

43.4 billion roubles

How much of the budget was devoted to defence in 1933? (%)

3.4%

How much of the budget was devoted to defence in 1937? (%)

16.5%

How much of the budget was devoted to defence in 1940? (%)

32.6%

What were the flaws in the economy despite emphasis on heavy industry and rearmament? (5)

economic development was uneven, quality of goods was poor, bureaucracy hindered implementation of economic schemes, organisation at local level was chaotic, economy was not geared for imminent war

What was the result of economic development being uneven?

consumer goods were very scarce (scarcer than under NEP)

What was the result of the economy not being geared for imminent war? (2)

there were deficiencies in both quality and quantity of equipment, there were problems of supply

What positive claim concerning ideology could Stalin make as a result of his economic drive?

could claim to have made more progress towards true socialism (he claimed that state ownership was just a particular form of social ownership)

How did Stalin justify state ownership being a particular form of social ownership?

state was protecting the individual against the exploitation of capitalist countries who economies were based on private enterprise

What was a key success for Stalin concerning how much power he had as a result of the economic drive?

he had much greater control over the people

Where were secret police units stationed in the countryside to watch the rural population?

at the MTSs

How were factory managers in cities kept under control?

could be demoted or executed if they didn't follow orders

How were factory workers in cities kept under control? (5)

labour books, internal passports, threat of denial of ration cards, threat of eviction from homes, penal sentences for misdemeanours

Instead of forming a classless society, what had Stalin actually formed?

a hierarchical society dominated by a privileged party elite

What did Marxist stage theory suggest the state and governing bodies should eventually do in order to achieve true communism?

"wither away"

Why did critics claim that Stalin's state was not socialist?

because social ownership under Stalin did not exist for the good of the people and was dictatorial/totalitarian

When was poor quality production made a criminal offence?

July 1940

What CC directive was breached when poor quality production was made a crime?

directive that enterprises such as factories should be managed by one person and free from interference from the party

When was the CC directive that enterprises such as factories should be managed by one person and free from interference from the party?

1929

What did Stalin sacrifice in order to achieve his economic vision?

the welfare of the people

How was the quality of life for non-party members affected? (3)

low rations, poor housing, constant pressure

What did Stalin use to preach against 'class enemies'?

communist youth groups (eg Komsomol)

What was Komsomol?

one of the communist youth groups in Russia

How was it claimed that the harshness of labour laws and severity of working conditions in the 1930s was a positive thing?

suggested that this helped build resilience among the labour force and make them more able to cope with the hardships of war!

Which FYP was left incomplete?

third FYP