Agriculture and industry

When was the command economy fully implemented in the Soviet Union?

By 1928, under Stalin, to bring about rapid industrialisation and consolidate Communist Party power

*linked to failure of NEP

What percentage of Moscow's workforce was skilled by 1933?

Only 17%, and even lower in other cities

** story about meaning of skilled workers

How many people lived in Magnitogorsk in 1929, and how many by 1932?

In 1929, there were 25 people; by 1932, this had risen to 250,000

What period does Stalin's Great Turn refer to?

1928-1941, focusing on transforming industry and agriculture under state control

What industrial city was built during Stalin's Great Turn, and how many prisoners worked on the White Sea Canal in 1932?

Magnitogorsk was a key project, and 180,000 prisoners worked on the White Sea Canal

How many prisoners died during the construction of the White Sea Canal?

Approximately 10,000 during the winter of 1931-1932

What were the steel production figures in 1940 versus 1945?

Steel production fell from 18 million tonnes in 1940 to 12 million tonnes in 1945

• why

How much grain was produced in 1942 compared to 1940?

Grain production dropped from 95 million tonnes in 1940 to 30 million tonnes in 1942

How many tanks and aircraft were produced between 1943 and 1945?

Over 73,000 tanks and 94,000 aircraft

When was the First Five-Year Plan launched, and what was its focus?

Launched in 1928, it concentrated on heavy industry such as coal, steel, and iron

What caused the shift in the Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937)?

Initially focused on consumer goods but redirected to defense due to Hitler's rise in Germany

What did the Fourth Five-Year Plan (1946-1950) aim to achieve?

Reconstruction to restore the economy to pre-war levels, with impressive results

• results detail

What was the Volga-Don Canal, and why was it criticised?

A grandiose project adorned with Stalin statues but rendered largely useless due to shallow depth

When did the Dnieper Dam begin construction, and when was it completed?

Construction started in 1927 and was completed in 1932

**gigantomania? explain

What was the output failure of the Stalingrad tractor factory in 1930?

It produced only eight tractors in June, most breaking down within three days

• what was this an example of

By 1937, what percentage of peasant households had been collectivised?

93%

What was the result of collectivisation on grain production from 1928 to 1934?

Grain production fell from 73.3 million tonnes in 1928 to 67.6 million tonnes in 1934

*decreased by 6 million tonnes

How many deaths occurred during the famine of 1933?

Approximately 4 million famine-related deaths

What percentage of the Kazakh population was reduced due to typhus during collectivisation?

40%

When was the Virgin Lands Scheme introduced, and how much land was brought under cultivation?

Introduced in 1954; six million acres were cultivated

How many tractors were provided for the Virgin Lands Scheme?

Over 120,000 tractors - huge waste of resources under Khruschev

What was the failure of the Virgin Lands Scheme by 1963?

Poor soil, inadequate storage, and lack of irrigation led to the need to import grain

What happened to the Soviet economy in the 1960s?

It slowed drastically, and agricultural failures contributed to Khrushchev's dismissal

What percentage of Soviet investment went to agriculture by 1976?

26%

How much produce came from private plots, despite being only 1% of cultivated land?

Private plots produced 25% of all agricultural output

What was Brezhnev's focus in linking science to production in 1973?

Major industrial complexes were paired with research institutions to modernise technology

• vague give examples

By 1980, what percentage of Soviet families had televisions and washing machines?

85% had televisions, and 70% had washing machines

What years did Andropov serve as General Secretary?

1982-1984

What was Andropov's focus during his tenure?

Improving economic efficiency, combating corruption, and addressing stagnation

How much of the Soviet workforce and investment was used in agriculture, and what was its output compared to the USA?

Over 25% of the workforce and 26% of investment (around a quarter) , but it produced only one-sixth of the US output\

• compare US investment + workforce too

By the early 1980s, how much did the military-industrial complex consume (% of resources and # of jobs)?

what was the military industrial complex

18% of Soviet resources and employed 30 million people out of 150 million

How did economic growth decline over the decades?

From 7% in the 1950s to 3% in the 1970s, eventually stagnating in the 1980s

What was the lasting impact of Stalin's economic policies?

They created a rigid command economy resistant to meaningful reform

**edit with example of something in the command economy which was rigid and difficult to change

• inefficiencies in central planning etc.

What was a major drawback of the Soviet economic system by the 1980s?

A focus on outdated heavy industries over modern technology like microchips

Why were reforms from 1953-1985 largely unsuccessful?

The entrenched command economy could not change without challenging the Party's political power

What was the NEP

idk