Stalin's Economics

What did left-wing communists argue in the late 1920s?

Forced collectivisation and rapid industrialisation

What did right-wing communists argue in the late 1920s?

Continue the NEP

Give three aims of Stalin’s industrialisation.

Build socialism; Rapid economic growth; Military self-sufficiency; Strengthen Stalin’s power

What was the central planning agency under Stalin?

Gosplan

Which propaganda movement encouraged productivity?

Stakhanovite movement

Give an example of gigantomania.

Dneiper Dam; Magnitogorsk; Moscow Metro; Moscow-Volga Canal

Give three pieces of evidence industrialisation was a success.

Heavy industry increased; Transport projects built; Rearmament strengthened USSR

Give three pieces of evidence industrialisation was not a success.

Poor quality goods; Consumer shortages; Harsh working conditions; Waste; Unrealistic targets

What was the purpose of the Labour Decrees 1938 and 1940?

Increase labour discipline and prepare for war

Give three reasons Stalin introduced collectivisation.

Destroy kulaks; Increase grain supply; Support industrialisation; Strengthen control

Why was dekulakisation carried out?

Remove opposition; Terrorise peasants

How did Stalin ensure enough kulaks were deported?

Set arrest quotas

How many and what percentage of peasants were collectivised early 1930?

60 million; 50%

Give two methods of resistance to collectivisation.

Riots; Killing officials; Slaughtering livestock; Hiding grain

What was set up to control peasants and machinery?

Machine Tractor Stations

Give two pieces of evidence collectivisation failed.

Livestock slaughtered; Grain output fell; Famine; Low productivity

Give one piece of evidence collectivisation succeeded.

Grain procurement increased; Grain exports increased

Give two pieces of evidence of economic failure during WW2.

US imports fed Red Army; Harvests halved; Bread rations cut

What were the aims and dates of the Fourth Five-Year Plan?

1945–50; Rebuild economy and prepare for Cold War

Give two successes of the Fourth Five-Year Plan.

Industrial output up 80%; Consumer goods doubled; Major reconstruction projects

Give two failures of the Fourth Five-Year Plan.

Low wages; Housing shortages; Gulag labour increased

Give one failure of post-war agriculture.

1946 famine