five year plans + stakhanovite movement

What were the Five-Year Plans in the USSR?

State-directed economic plans aimed at rapidly industrialising the Soviet Union by setting production targets across all sectors, replacing the NEP.

When were the Five-Year Plans introduced?

The first Five-Year Plan began in 1928.

Why did Stalin replace the NEP with the Five-Year Plans?:

• ideological

• economic

• military/industrial

• political

NEP was seen as too capitalist

It had limited economic recovery (only increased it to 1913 levels)

Stalin feared Western attack and wanted rapid industrialisation

It allowed Stalin to eliminate rivals like Bukharin

What were the key goals of the Five-Year Plans?

• military

• economic

• industrial

• political

Rapid industrialisation

Development of heavy industry

Self-sufficiency

Strengthening military capacity

Centralising control over the economy

How did the Five-Year Plans support Stalin's ideology and power?

Aligned with Marxist ideals (industrialisation, collectivisation)

Rejected capitalism/NEP

Helped achieve "Socialism in One Country"

Gave Stalin more control over economy and political rivals

How did the Five-Year Plans aim to improve national security?

Developed heavy industry for armament production

Built more industrial centres in the east, far from Western borders

Reduced reliance on foreign imports (autarky)

What was Gosplan and what did it do?

Gosplan was the 'State Committee for Planning.' It set production targets for every region, industry, factory, and worker in the USSR.

How many factories were built under Gosplan between 1928 and 1937?

Over 5,000 new factories.

describe the main features of stalin’s five year plans

• which industry did it focus on

• what happened if you didn’t do enough

• who did it

• how did it get people to make enough stuff

Highly ambitious (often unrealistic) targets

Focused on heavy industry

Central planning via Gosplan

Use of foreign investment and expertise

Harsh penalties for failure

How many Five-Year Plans did Stalin introduce before WWII?

Three

What were the key successes of the Five-Year Plans?

• industry growth

• international reputation

• national security

• jobs

• life in the city

Massive growth in coal, steel, electricity

USSR transformed into a global industrial power

Improved military capability

Increased employment

Urbanisation and industrial cities like Magnitogorsk built

What were the major failures of the Five-Year Plans?

• quantity of goods

• living conditions

• how the work was generated

• did people actually do what they had to do

Constant shortages of consumer goods

Poor working and living conditions

Widespread use of forced labour

Unrealistic targets often unmet

Poor quality due to quantity-based goals

How did the Five-Year Plans affect agriculture?

Led to forced collectivisation

Caused mass starvation and famine

Grain was exported to fund industrial growth

What were the social and human costs of the Five-Year Plans?

• working conditions

• who was working

• pressure

• food

Harsh factory discipline

Famine and repression

Use of political prisoners as labour

Increased pressure on workers through propaganda movements

What was the Stakhanovite Movement?

A propaganda campaign starting in 1935 that celebrated model workers like Aleksei Stakhanov, who was said to have mined 102 tons of coal in 6 hours (14× his quota).

How did the Soviet government promote the Stakhanovite Movement?

Held nationwide contests

Rewarded high-performing workers with better pay, homes, and holidays

Used Stakhanov as a national celebrity

Created immense pressure on regular workers to overperform

What were the criticisms of the Stakhanovite Movement?

Output figures were likely exaggerated

Created unrealistic expectations

Added stress to both workers and managers

How did Stalin benefit personally from the Five-Year Plans?

Gained a reputation as a powerful moderniser

Became known as the "Man of Steel"

Strengthened his control over the party and state

What Marxist principles were applied in the Five-Year Plans?

Industrialisation is essential for socialism

Efficiency in production

Urbanisation over rural life

Decline in agricultural workforce

Abolition of private property and redistribution of wealth

What happened in the Third and Fourth Five-Year Plans?

Third Plan (1938): Interrupted by WWII

Fourth Plan (1946): Focused on post-war reconstruction and heavy industry, not consumer goods

Example: Ukraine's industrial output surpassed pre-war levels by 1950