(f) The impact of the five year plans and collectivisation

What major economic changes took place in the USSR between 1928 and 1941?

Industry and agriculture were brought under state control through the Five-Year Plans and collectivisation.

How did the Soviet economy change as a result of these policies?

The USSR was transformed into a modern, industrialised superpower: ‘Stalin’s revolution’ but had a massive human cost

Why was the Soviet economy seen as inadequate by the late 1920s?

Although the economy had advanced under Lenin’s NEP, the USSR was still economically behind the rest of Europe, with outdated technology unable to meet the needs of a growing population.

What were the aims of the Five-Year Plans?

They aimed to break away from the NEP and its capitalist elements, achieve rapid industrialisation, modernise the economy, and move the USSR towards socialism.

Why did Stalin want to eliminate the Nepmen?

The move to nationalisation and state control would remove the Nepmen, private traders who profited under the NEP and were seen as capitalist class enemies representing the old world.

How did fear of foreign invasion influence Stalin’s industrial policy?

Stalin argued the USSR was “50 to 100 years behind” advanced countries and had to industrialise within 10 years or be crushed; industrialisation was presented as patriotic and central to “Socialism in One Country.”

When and how was the decision made to abandon the NEP?

The decision to abandon the NEP and pursue rapid industrialisation was taken after the Fifteenth Party Congress in 1927.

What were the main aims of the Five-Year Plans?

They aimed to use advanced technology, prioritise heavy industry, and make the USSR economically self-sufficient.

How were the Five-Year Plans expected to be achieved?

Through the mass mobilisation of the Soviet population and resources.

How was the language of the Five-Year Plans presented to the public?

It used military-style language, encouraging people to “storm” and “conquer” on many “fronts.”

Who directed industrialisation in the USSR?

Gosplan, the State Planning Authority, oversaw industrialisation.

How were industrial priorities determined?

Targets were set for industries considered key for modernisation, and resources were allocated accordingly.

What impact did the Five-Year Plans have on the economy?

They rapidly extended state control over the economy.

How was industrial production coordinated and enforced?

People’s Commissariats coordinated different industries, and Party officials at factory level ensured central orders were followed.

What happened to Nepmen under the Five-Year Plans?

Small businesses and shopkeepers were forced to join state co-operatives as part of a drive against them.

What did the state take-over of the urban economy signify?

The mixed economy of the NEP came to an end, as the state controlled nearly all urban economic activity.

Who were the "bourgeois experts" in Soviet factories?

Technical staff who retained their jobs because the state needed their expertise to keep industry running.

Why did the government target the bourgeois experts?

Policy built on industrial workers’ and communists’ prejudices, and experts’ scepticism about Five-Year Plan targets; removal opened jobs to more loyal, if less skilled, communists.

How were bourgeois experts punished?

In 1928, show trials accused them of “wrecking” and sabotage, often claiming collaboration with foreign agents.

What was the impact of removing bourgeois experts?

Part of the old order was replaced by a socialist order, but the loss of skilled technical staff hindered progress under the Five-Year Plans.

When was the first plan?

1928-32

What was the focus of the First Five-Year Plan?

Rapid growth in heavy industry, such as coal, steel, and iron, following the advice of super-industrialisers.

Which theorist influenced the plan, even if unacknowledged?

Evgeny Preobrazhensky’s economic ideas influenced the First Plan, though Stalin did not acknowledge him.

How were consumer industries treated under the First Plan?

Consumer industries, like textiles and household goods, were neglected.

What was the justification for focusing on heavy industry first?

To build an industrial infrastructure of factories, communication networks, and plants before other sectors could flourish—a reasonable justification for the First Plan.

What was the focus of the second plan 1933- 37

it initially set higher targets for the production of consumer goods, but as the 1930s progressed, the rise of Hitler in Germany redirected the focus onto the needs of defence, which meant that heavy industry continued to receive priority

What was the he focus of the third plan 1938?

The Third Five-Year Plan, launched in 1938, was geared even more directly towards arms production to meet the threat of Germany

How were the targets of the First Five-Year Plan set?

They were very ambitious and, once the plan started, were constantly raised to even more unrealistic levels where the targets where barley achieved.

What became the measure of commitment to the Revolution?

Over-fulfilling targets became expected; failing to meet them was seen as a lack of revolutionary commitment.

What was the overall impact of the first three Five-Year Plans?

They transformed the USSR into a major industrial power with a modern but unbalanced economy.

The First Plan: What largely drove industrial expansion under the First Five-Year Plan?

More efficient use of existing factories and equipment.

The First Plan: How significant was the impact of new plants built during the First Plan?

New plants were built, but they did not significantly increase production until after 1934.

The First Plan: What were Magnitogorsk and Gorki?

Large industrial centres built from scratch during the First Five-Year Plan, which grew into major cities.

The First Plan: How quickly did Magnitogorsk’s population grow?

From 25 people in 1929 to 250,000 three years later.

The First Plan:What were the living and working conditions at these new industrial centres?

Facilities were primitive—workers lived in tents and temporary huts, material rewards were limited, and work was hard.

The First Plan: How were workers motivated, given low skill levels?

Workers, many volunteers, relied on revolutionary attitudes and socialist beliefs; by 1933, only 17% of Moscow’s workforce was skilled, and other cities had even fewer skilled workers.

The First Plan: What were "shock brigades" in Soviet factories?

Groups of the best workers used to set an example and increase productivity.

The First Plan: Who was the most famous model worker and what did he achieve?

Alexei Stakhanov, a coal miner from the Donbass region, who mined 15 times the average amount of coal.

The First Plan: What rewards were given to model workers?

Rewards included new flats, bigger rations, and public recognition, while slackers were ridiculed.

The First Plan: How were workers inspired to greater achievements?

Many sites had statues of Lenin built to motivate workers toward revolutionary goals.

The First Plan: Why did the Soviet government use slave labour during industrialisation?

Vast resources were in remote, inhospitable regions (like Siberia) where nobody would volunteer to work.

The First Plan: How was the Gulag population used in economic projects?

Prisoners were sent to mines, railway construction, and other large-scale building projects.

The First Plan:What happened during the White Sea Canal project?

180,000 prisoners worked on it; during the winter of 1931–32, 10,000 died.

The First Plan: What does the White Sea Canal project reveal about Stalin’s government?

Propaganda celebrated completion, but the canal was shallow and nearly useless, showing human cost and quality were ignored if the aim was achieved.

The First Plan: How did factory managers cope with unrealistic targets in the 1930s?

They used enterprising methods, including diverting resources meant for other factories.

The First Plan:What other method did managers sometimes use to meet targets?

Bribery.

The First Plan: How did the drive to meet targets affect product quality?

Quality was often sacrificed; the rush to meet quotas led to poorly made goods.

The First Plan: Give an example of poor quality under the Five-Year Plans.

The Stalingrad tractor factory aimed for 500 tractors a month in 1930 but produced only 8 in June, most of which broke down within three days

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How did the Second Five-Year Plan improve on the First Plan?

It drew on lessons from the chaotic planning of the First Plan and made more use of technical expertise.

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: What were some successes of the Second Plan?

Coal production rose substantially, the chemical industry progressed, and there was rapid growth in engineering and transportation.

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How did the Second and Third Plans develop industrial centres?

They developed traditional centres (Moscow, Leningrad) and new centres in less-developed regions like Kazakhstan.

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How did the location of new industry support national strategy?

Industry was deliberately located east of the Urals, safer from potential Western attacks, and promoted more even regional development.

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: What was achieved in heavy industry overall?

Enormous growth: steel production quadrupled, coal production increased six-fold, and power projects like the Dnieper Dam were completed.

Positives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How did the Second Plan impact consumer industries?

Some progress: footwear production and food processing increased, new bakeries, ice-cream, and meat-packing factories were built, slightly improving living standards.

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: Which industries remained disappointing?

Oil production under the Second Plan was disappointing, and consumer industries remained underdeveloped overall.

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: What problems arose from the command economy?

Central planners in Moscow often lacked understanding of local conditions, leading to wasted resources and inefficient allocation.

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How did political purges affect industrial progress?

The purges of 1937 removed many managers and technical experts, which slowed down the economy.

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: How reliable were the official production figures?

Official figures were often misleading: machinery production was overstated while metal production lagged, showing inconsistencies between related industries.

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: Were all economic targets achieved?

Few industries met the overambitious targets, and progress was unbalanced, despite impressive overall growth (17% growth rate for 1928–41).

Negatives – Second and Third Five-Year Plans: What long-term negative consequence resulted from the focus on heavy industry?

Consumer goods and housing suffered, shortages persisted, and the focus on heavy industry shaped economic priorities for the rest of Soviet history.