the first five-year plan

what is “target mania”

• gosplan (state planning commission) and the Vesenkha tried to outbid each other with higher target

• optimistic original targets were revised upwards

april 1929

• two versions produced: basic + optimum

  • optimum was chosen e.g., coal 35 to 75 million tons

• hopelessly unachievable

young people reaction

• gripped by new type of society → better than capitalist neighbours

propaganda

• after compromises of NEP, return to the war imagery of the civil war and war communism

• socialist offensive

• mobilising on all fronts

ideology

• socialist competition

• campaigns, breakthroughs, ambushes by class enemies

• criticism = treachery

1928 cultural revolution

• bourgeoisie specialist baiting + denunciation by workers is encouraged

role of the massive mobilisation of labour

• industrial workers doubled in 1st plan

• collectivisation

  • poured in from countryside

  • unskilled, malnourished, poor living conditions

• disciplined and diligent workforce is difficult to manage

june 1931 specialist baiting

• not conducive to discipline + stalin halts

ideological break

• higher wages and other incentives were used to encourage workers

management of workers positives

• authority and status of management supported

  • 1932 decree → managers sack unsatisfactory workers + deprive ration cards, social benefits + factory housing

management of workers negatives

• tough approach → workers search for better conditions

• labour turnover is high

• magnitogorsk: 1931 increase in workers, but a fraction of the number on siteat some times during the year

  • revolving door