History - Life in the soviet union

living conditions

housing conditions were basic but better than they had been before 1928

space was the main problem, with families restricted to living in one or two rooms

conditions on collective farms were harsher than in the city

working conditions

workers given holidays, days off, housing, health care and free education

trade unions were banned and workers were often not allowed to change jobs

conditions in the factories were poor and there was limited health and safety

life in towns

housing - some workers lived in barracks; many families shared communal housing

food - food was rationed until 1935

working conditions - little concern about worker safety and harsh laws punished lateness to work and unauthorised time off. pay and conditions were, however, better than for rural workers

personal freedom - internal passports (1932) restricted people’s ability to move. secret police kept close control over everyone’s lives

life in the countryside

housing - little investment in collective farms and housing remained basic

food - collective farm workers had very low pay and didn’t own the crops they grew for the state. most depended on their very small garden plots to eat.

working conditions - working life was hard with few rewards. the farm workers resisted the conditions imposed on them by working as slowly as they dared.

personal freedom - collective farm workers were the lowest social group in the USSR. Internal passports aimed to keep them in their place, despite the risk of being arrested and sent to the gulag, thousands tried to escape the countryside

priveledge and the party

the soviet union was supposed to be a workers state but party members got better treatment than anyone else.

party members had better housing, better jobs and special perks like holidays and access to leisure clubs

however, under stalin’s rule no one was free as everyone lived in fear of being reported or arrested.