economic developments

Question 1

What was the NEP introduced by Lenin?

Answer 1

The NEP, or New Economic Policy, was introduced as a compromise in 1921 because the state lacked resources to control the economy and prevent collapse.

Question 2

What were the ideological implications of the NEP?

Answer 2

Many in the Party were uncomfortable with the NEP’s ideological implications, yet it created some economic stability after the Civil War.

Question 3

What was the ‘Great Turn’?

Answer 3

The ‘Great Turn’ was a radical change in economic policy that replaced the NEP with rapid industrialisation and collectivisation under state control.

Question 4

Who forced the ‘Great Turn’?

Answer 4

Stalin forced the ‘Great Turn’ after defeating Trotsky and the Left in 1927, and Bukharin and the Right in 1928-29.

Question 5

What were the reasons for the ‘Great Turn’?

Answer 5

Reasons included the slow pace of industrialisation under the NEP, a grain procurement crisis, ideological concerns about the NEP, and Stalin’s changing attitude.

Question 6

What was the grain procurement crisis?

Answer 6

In winter 1927-28, the amount of grain purchased by the government was 25% down from the previous year, leading to local Party officials blaming peasants for hoarding.

Question 7

What significant events occurred in 1927 related to the ‘Great Turn’?

Answer 7

Key events included the start of the grain procurement crisis and the expulsion of Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev from the Party.

Question 8

What was announced at the Fifteenth Party Congress?

Answer 8

The end of the NEP was announced, and Stalin demanded ‘extraordinary measures’ to deal with the grain crisis.

Question 9

What was Stalin’s attitude towards the NEP?

Answer 9

Initially supportive, Stalin became ready to adopt more radical policies due to economic pressures and his growing power.

Question 10

What was the purpose of the first Five Year Plan launched by Stalin?

Answer 10

The first Five Year Plan aimed to catch up with capitalist countries, prepare for potential war, and achieve significant social and industrial advancements.

Question 11

What were the key features of the Five Year Plan?

Answer 11

Key features included a central plan by Gosplan, rapid industrialisation, prioritisation of heavy industry, and increased investment.

Question 12

What was the purpose of the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 12

To achieve ‘Socialism in One Country’ and assert Stalin’s authority over the Party.

Question 13

What was the main focus of the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 13

Rapid industrial growth, with an overall industrial production increase planned by 300% between 1928 and 1932.

Question 14

What sectors were prioritized in the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 14

Heavy industry (coal, iron, steel, oil, and machinery) was prioritized, while light industry was given a lower priority.

Question 15

What infrastructure investments were made during the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 15

A significant increase in electrical power supply and investment in the railway network.

Question 16

What was the scale of new industrial centers planned?

Answer 16

Thousands of new industrial centers were planned, including the ‘steel city’ of Magnitogorsk.

Question 17

How did propaganda play a role in the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 17

Propaganda campaigns motivated workers and managers to meet targets, with boards displaying output levels and Plan targets.

Question 18

What was the ideology behind the ambitious targets of the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 18

The belief that socialism could achieve what seemed impossible to bourgeois capitalists.

Question 19

Who were brought in to assist with industrialization during the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 19

Industrial experts from foreign countries were brought in to build new complexes and train Soviet workers.

Question 20

What were the reactions to the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 20

Many were enthusiastic about radical social change, but there were concerns about class divisions and food shortages.

Question 21

What triggered the acceleration of collectivization?

Answer 21

The grain procurement crisis of 1927-28, caused by poor harvests and low grain prices.

Question 22

What actions did Stalin take during the grain procurement crisis?

Answer 22

He closed free markets and pressured officials to seize grain by force, believing in the success of his ‘Urals-Siberian method.’

Question 23

What was the status of collective farms in the USSR at the start of 1929?

Answer 23

Only 5 per cent of farms in the USSR had voluntarily collectivised.

Question 24

What are the two models for collective farms decided by the Central Committee?

Answer 24

Sovkhozy (state farms) and kolkhozy (collective farms).

Question 25

What is the main difference between a sovkhoz and a kolkhoz?

Answer 25

A sovkhoz is directly owned and run by the state, while a kolkhoz is a voluntary cooperative of farmers pooling resources and labour.

Question 26

What was the target for collectivisation in the first Five Year Plan?

Answer 26

15 per cent of the USSR's farms.

Question 27

What was the expected outcome of collectivisation in terms of agricultural production?

Answer 27

A 50 per cent increase in agricultural production.

Question 28

What role did the Central Committee play in promoting collectivisation?

Answer 28

They sent 25,000 industrial workers into the countryside to promote it, forcing peasants to collectivise.

Question 29

What was the problem with agriculture before collectivisation?

Answer 29

Agriculture was small-scale peasant farming using traditional methods, which could not produce enough food for a workforce.

Question 30

What was the proposed solution to improve agricultural production?

Answer 30

Collective farms would combine hundreds of peasant families and their land, using tractors and new methods introduced by farming specialists.

Question 31

What was the purpose of dekulakisation during collectivisation?

Answer 31

To eliminate kulaks as class enemies who were believed to hoard grain and drive up prices.

Question 32

What did the grain procurement crisis of 1927-28 reveal?

Answer 32

Private peasant farming was not reliable enough to provide the grain needed for rapid industrialisation.

Question 33

What was the state’s approach to production targets for collective farms?

Answer 33

Collective farms would be set production targets and paid a fixed (low) price for their produce.

Question 34

Why was private farming considered non-socialist?

Answer 34

It created petty-bourgeois attitudes that were selfish and capitalistic.

Question 35

What was Bukharin's stance on collectivisation?

Answer 35

He opposed the Urals-Siberian method and accelerated collectivisation, criticizing harsh methods.

Question 36

What happened to Bukharin's political position in 1929?

Answer 36

His position weakened as the drive for accelerated collectivisation became more popular in the Party.

Question 37

What significant political consequence did the 'Great Turn' have?

Answer 37

It enabled Stalin to remove Bukharin as a rival with accusations of 'Right deviationism'.

Question 38

What was the main objective of the first Five Year Plan launched in 1928?

Answer 38

To increase production and industrialise the USSR through central planning.