Stalins USSR

What was the power struggle?

The aftermath of Lenin's death which led to a struggle in who should succeed as Party Leader, and thus Leader of the Soviet Union.

Main figures in the Power Struggle

Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Gregorii Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev, Nikolai Bukharin, Alexei Rykov

Stalin as General Secretary

Although designed to be useless in the party, he managed to fill it with 'yes men' which led to him having full control in 1929.

How'd Stalin succeed Lenin?

Played both sides of the party. Supported Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky to get more power, turned on his allies who formed a 'United Opposition' to Stalin's 'Socialism in One Country', but he was too strong by then. Stalin then turned on Bukharin, Rykov, and the NEP instead advocating for rapid industrialisation. By Dec 1929 Stalin had full control of the Soviet Union and 'won' the power struggle.

Speech to Industrial Managers Feb 1931

‘We are 50 or 100 years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in 10 years. Either we do it or we shall be crushed.’

Why Industrialise?

"Stalin's Revolution from above"

Ideology - Socialism could only exist in a highly industrialised state, increase the Working-Class.

Power Struggle - Stalin used the economy to win, so needed to proof as Lenin’s successor.

Fear of War - Needed to industrialise for war production against a 'capitalist sea'.

The West - Wall St. Crash increased socialist ideologies strength, yet USSR playing catch up.

NEP Issues - New approach needed due to stagnation in the economy, also ideologically unsound.

Heavy Industry

Large scale projects requiring large amounts of capital and resources. E.g. Coal Mining, Iron + Steel Production, Energy Production, Building Dams and Bridges

Vesenkha

Stalin's Super Economic Council - made major investments in the coal, iron, and steel industries.

First 5YP - Dates

October 1928 - December 1932

First 5YP - Aim

To improve heavy industry production, 80% of the investments.

First 5YP - Success

Coal + Iron Production x2

Steel Production 1/3rd increase

Tractor works built in Stalingrad

First 5YP - Failures

Little growth in consumer industries, Small workshops squeezed out, Skilled Labour shortages

First 5YP - Overall

Very few targets met Massive step in kick starting the Soviet Economy.

Second 5YP - Dates

1933 - 1937

Second 5YP - Aim

Heavy industry, Improved communication and transport links (e.g. Moscow Metro)

Second 5YP - Success

1937 - self-sufficient in machine making and metal works. Transport + Communications grew rapidly (Moscow Metro)

Second 5YP - Failures

Lag of consumer goods, Oil production failed to meet targets

Second 5YP - Overall

Targets relaxed as compared to 1st 5YP. "3 good years"" from 1934-36

Third 5YP - Dates

1938-1941

Third 5YP - Aim

Heavy Industry. More towards military preparation for the next 3 and 1/2 years.

Third 5YP - Success

Some growth in heavy industries, others did poorly. Defence grew rapidly

Third 5YP - Failures

Consumer industries left behind. Factories ran short on materials. Oil production remained stagnant

Third 5YP - Overall

Harsh winter in 1938. Military priority. Purges created worker shortages.

Key 'events' during the 5YPs

Moscow Metro - 1935 (2nd)

Belomor Canal - 1933 (2nd)

Stakhanovites - 1935 (2nd)

Magnitogorsk - 1929 (1st)

Dnieprostroi - 1932 (1st)

Aims of Collectivisation

Economic - Use of kulaks, produce enough food to feed urban workforce, Produce enough food to export for capital to then invest in industry.

Political - Eliminate Kulaks, bring the countryside under total control of centralised governments.

Kolkhoz

"Collective Farm" with about 75 families, peasants worked on the land for the state yet small patches for the peasants to grow their own food. Machine Tractor Station (MTS) used as a position to monitor the farm. Most common type of farm.

Sovkhoz

"State Farm" built on old, landed estates. All land belonged to the state with every second of working time dedicated to producing food for the good of everyone. MTS still present but greater presence of OGPU. Most communist 'Showcase' Propaganda farms.

Holodomor

1932-33, translates in Ukrainian as to "Kill by Starvation"

A famine in Ukraine that led to millions dying due to the lack of food for the workers as it was all being sent to those in the Soviet Factories.

Questions if it was: to Quell Ukrainian Nationalism? Revenge? or an Accident?

Dekulakisation

The kulaks experienced a series of purges against them where they were either sent to labour camps in Siberia or the Arctic Circle or shot. Many kulaks in protest did not want to engage in collectivisation. Instead in protests they held feasts and burned and killed crops and livestock.

When was the First Show Trial?

1936

Which key opponents of Stalin were in the First Show Trial among the 16 tried?

Kamenev and Zinoviev

First Show Trial detalis

The defendants were accused of being counter-revolutionaries, involved in Kirov's death and planning to kill Stalin. Every one of them was found guilty and executed.

When was the Second Show Trial?

1937

Which political opponent to Stalin was among the 17 in the second show trial?

Radek

Second Show Trial details

This trial had the least high profile defendants, but only four escaped the death penalty. Radek escaped as he gave evidence on the betrayal of more, high profile figures and general information on groups pedalling Trotsky's ideas.

When was the Third Show Trial?

1938

Which of Stalin's political opponents were tried among the 21 in the Third Show Trial?

Bukharin, Rykov, Yagoda

Third Show Trial details

In spite of an impassioned early defence from Bukharin, eventually: torture, violence and threats persuaded him and the others to confess the crimes against the party. They were accused of being "Rightists and Trotskyites."

Gulags

Forced labour camps for soviet prisoners. Filled with the majority of people who were purged.

What was the name of the gulag in far eastern siberia?

Kolyma

Yagoda's notable importance on NKVD

Expanded Gulag System

Small scale purge of the military

Worked with Vyshinsky to set up the 1st show trial

Executed after 3rd show trial

Yezhov's notable importance on NKVD

Order no. 00447 set arrest quotas for local branches to fulfil.

Within a month, 100,000 arrested, 14,000 in gulags.

He was threatening the industrial programme with the 'Yezhovshchina' so was removed from his position.

Arrested and Tortured by Beria, executed in 1940.

Purges of the Military - General Tukhachevsky

Experienced veteran of the Red Army in the Civil War.

Was forward thinking and innovative, making him the greatest military mind in the country.

Was executed when forced to confess being a German spy.

Purges of the Military - Air Force

Purged less than any other branch. Yet all but 1 Air Chief Marshall removed from their positions in the 1930s.

Purges of the Military - Rank and File Soliders

No change to other areas of society in terms of purge risk. Thousands of soldiers were caught up in accusations of disloyalty to the regime.

Purges of the Military - Army Officers

23,000 purged during the 1930s, not all killed however.

11,000 reinstated in the early 1940s.

Chaotic war preparation failed to instil enthusiasm amongst officers.

Purges of the Military - Navy

All Admirals of the Fleet removed, due to memories of the Kronstadt Rebellion.

When and What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

1939 - An agreement between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia which provided the USSR: land, time to build up armed forces, deals with Japan in the East.

A “Marriage of Convenience” between two ideological enemies.

Who were the Stavka?

Stalin's war council during the Great Patriotic War.

What were some of the Human + Infrastructure costs of the GPW?

26-27 million dead - 8-11 million military, rest civilian.

Lost 1/3 of its national wealth.

Total financial loss was roughly $128 billion (1940s)

What and When was the 4th FYP?

1946-50: aimed to rebuild a post-war economy with heavy industry. Did have rapid industrial recovery but produced poor agriculture and low living standards.

What and When was the 5th FYP?

1951-55: aimed to continue growth, expand military/nuclear sectors. Had industrial expansion and consolidation as a global military + industrial power. But did neglect consumers with unreliable exports and inefficiency.

Generalissimo

Military title given to Stalin in 1945, symbolising his complete dominance over both military and citizen affairs. "Saviour of the Motherland."

High Stalinism

Describes the period of 1945-53, where Stalin's dictatorship reached its most repressive and centralised form, showcasing the Height of Stalin's power.

Zhdanovism

Extreme Stalinist repression and control of arts and culture during the period of High Stalinsim.