Economic and social developments - booklet 2 Russia

War Communism

June 1918- March 1921

As the Civil War intensified, the Bolsheviks adopted War Communism as a set of policies to sustain the war effort.

: All major industries are nationalized. The state controls production and distribution.

Grain Requisitioning: The state takes grain and food from peasants to feed the army and urban populations, often through force. This policy causes widespread resentment among the peasantry.

The Red Terror

• triggered by the attempt on lenins life. The cheka executed thousands of perceived enemies of the state.

  Mass Executions: hundreds of individuals were executed in Petrograd within days of the assassination attempt.

  Executions: Estimates vary; some sources suggest that the Cheka executed over 12,000 individuals between 1918 and 1920.

  Victims: Targets included former Tsarist officials, bourgeoisie, clergy, and political opponents.

Tambov revolt

19 August 1920 – mid 1922

: A major peasant revolt in the Tambov region, led by Antonov against Bolshevik grain requisitioning and other policies. Bolshevik forces brutally suppressed the revolt using mass arrests, executions,50,000 Red Army troops and even poison gas against rebel-held forests

• Political Impact: The rebellion highlighted the deep dissatisfaction among the peasantry with Bolshevik policies and led to a reconsideration of War Communism.

50,000–70,000 well-organised peasant fighters.

Kronstadt rising

(1921): The sailors at the Kronstadt naval base near Petrograd rise up against the Bolshevik government, demanding reforms such as greater freedom, better working conditions, and a return to the original revolutionary goals. The Bolsheviks crush the revolt, killing or imprisoning many sailors.

This event marks a turning point in Bolshevik rule, revealing the discontent among even their own

The NEP (New Economic Policy)

1921

: After the disastrous effects of War Communism and the civil war, Lenin announces the New Economic Policy in March 1921.

allowing a greater degree of private enterprise.

Peasants are allowed to sell surplus grain for profit (replacing grain requisitioning).

State Control of Key Sectors: The state retains control of major industries, banks, and transport, but much of the economy is decentralized compared to War Communism.

Impact of NEP

• by 1922 the results were better than expected . by 1923 cereal production had increased by 23% from 1920.

• 1920-1923 factory output rose by 200%

• In cities, small businesses and markets revive. Peasants benefit from the ability to sell their produce.

• Mixed Reactions: While the NEP helps stabilize the economy and ends the famines, it creates dissatisfaction among some Bolshevik hardliners who view it as a betrayal of socialist ideals. many viewed it as a temporary measure - Bukharin “we are making economic concessions to avoid political concessions”

The USSR

: In December 1922, the (USSR) is officially established, consolidating the various territories under Bolshevik control into a single state. This move solidifies the Bolshevik grip on power and sets the stage for the development of the Soviet state.

Key dates

• 1918-1921: War Communism period.

• June 1918: Grain requisitioning begins, forcing peasants to give up surplus grain to the state.

• 1919: The state begins nationalizing large industries, factories, and banks.

Nationalization

Nationalization: By 1919, nearly all private businesses were nationalized.

NEP allowances

• The NEP allowed peasants to sell their surplus grain for profit, reducing the tension between the state and the peasantry.

• Private businesses were allowed to reopen, and small-scale private trade was permitted. However, the major industries (e.g., oil, steel, and coal) remained under state control.

Biggest reason for october revolution

• failure of the pg

• War continuation: The Provisional Government chose to keep Russia in World War I, which was deeply unpopular. It caused mass desertions, worsening economic crisis, and food shortages.

• Lack of legitimacy: It wasn’t elected, and it shared power with the Petrograd Soviet which made it appear weak

• Failure to deliver land reform: Peasants were desperate for land, but the government delayed action,

• Kornilov Affair (Aug 1917): A failed right-wing coup led by General Kornilov made the Bolsheviks look like the defenders of Petrograd, boosting their popularity and allowing them to arm the Red Guards.

War communism social impact

• Urban Migration: Between 1916 and 1920, northern and central Russian cities lost 33% of their population as people moved to rural areas in search of food.

• Famine: The Volga famine of 1921–1922 resulted in approximately 5 million deaths due to food shortages and disease.Many resorted to cannibalism

War communism as an economic policy for the country was disastrous, however for enabling the bolsheviks during the civil war it was an absolute success

War communsim economic impact

• Industrial Output: Fell drastically; by 1920, industrial production was only 20% of 1913 levels.

• Agricultural Production: Grain harvests plummeted from 80.1 million tons in 1913 to 46.5 million tons in 1920.

• Hyperinflation: The ruble collapsed, leading to barter becoming the primary means of exchange.

• Food rationing was class-based — workers prioritized, bourgeoisie excluded

• Workers fled to countryside: urban workforce shrank by 50%

NEP economic & social impact

Currency Reintroduction: The ruble was reintroduced in 1922 to stabilize the economy.

• Agricultural Recovery: Grain harvests increased from 37.6 million tons in 1921 to 76.8 million tons in 1926.

• Industrial Growth: Industrial production rose from 2,004 million rubles in 1921 to 11,083 million rubles in 1926.

• Coal Production: Increased from 8.9 million tons in 1921 to 27.6 million tons in 1926.

What type of revolution was the october revolution

• Small, organised group: The revolution was led by a tightly controlled Bolshevik party—only a few thousand Red Guards actually took part.

• Seizure of power, not mass uprising: It was a planned takeover of key buildings in Petrograd (like the Winter Palace), not a spontaneous mass movement.

• Limited fighting: There was almost no violence or resistance—most of the country didn’t even know it had happened at first.

• Not supported by a majority: The Bolsheviks had strong support in cities like Petrograd and Moscow but weren’t the majority party nationwide. In fact, in the Constituent Assembly elections in November, they didn’t win the majority of votes.

State capitalism problems

• Economic breakdown worsened

• Peasants hoarded grain

• Industry lacked discipline or coordination

• Contributed to move towards War Communism in 1918

countryside during the civil war

• Grain requisitioning by the Cheka & Red Army caused famine

• Estimated 5 million deaths in 1921 famine (esp. Volga region)

• Peasants hid grain or stopped producing surplus

• Led to major rural resentment and revolt

economic collapse

• Industrial output by 1921: 20% of 1913 level

• Grain harvest in 1921: only 48% of 1913

• Rouble virtually worthless

• Led to mass unrest and famine

severe winter of 1920-21

repeated strikes

22 january 1921 bread rations cut by one-third in several cities

workers were angry about factories “Worse than a tsarist prison camp” where workers were shot if targets were not met

what did lenin say about the kronstatd rebellion

“The flash that lit up reality more than anything else”

it was clear that war communism could not be continued

Political suppression under the NEP

-political pressure on rival socialist parties was intensified, the SRs and Mensheviks became more popular during the strikes and revolts
-the bolsheviks arrested some 5000 mensheviks in 1921

-censorship grew in 1922 dozens of writers and scholars were deported

by 1924

Russia was governed by a centralised one party dictatorship which did not permit anyone to challenge its power