Lenin

Question 1

What was war communism deigned for?

Answer 1

Lenin constructed War Communism as a way to help him win the Civil War. It was designed to ensure:

• High levels of production of war goods.
• Efficient allocations of workers.
• Food production for the soliders.

Question 2

How were high levels of production of war goods achieved?

Answer 2

• Many Bolshevik policies were reversed so workers were no longer in charge of the factories.
• Strict punishments were given for disruption of labour, e.g. the death penalty was introduced for strikers.

Question 3

How was the efficient allocation of workers ensured?

Answer 3

• Private Trade was made all illegal and all businesses were nationalised. All workers were under strict government control.
• All the unemployed were conscripted into the workforce.
• Strict labour rules were enforced.
• Forced volunteering was introduced. Workers were expected to work on projects such as road fixing for free.

Question 4

How was food provided for soldiers and workers?

Answer 4

• The Cheka were authorised to seize grain from anyone without payment - grain requisition.
• Rationing: seized foods were rationed with the largest rations going to workers and soldiers and smallest going to the Bourgeoisie.

Question 5

What were the consequences of War Communism?

Answer 5

Poverty:

• Fuel supply was low so the Government ordered all the wooden buildings in Petorgrade and use it for fuel.
• 1921 harvest was only 46% of the 1913 harvest. Urban areas had famine causing 6 million deaths.

Political crisis:

• People began to rebel against starvation and the economic crisis.
• The rebels were dealt with by force, gas was used.
• They changed policies to keep the Bolshevik majority.

Black market:

• Only 40% of the food consumed in Russian cities came from rationing during the civil war.
• Lenin’s economic policies failed to abolish the black market.

Economic collapse:

• Farmers did not have incentive to work as their grain was being taken from them.
• People left cities to work on farms so they could eat

Question 6

What were the aims of the New Economic Plan (NEP)?

Answer 6

• Retain political power, revive the economy and build socialism.
• Replace unpopularity of war communism (grain requisitioning).

Question 7

What were the successes of the New Economic Plan (NEP)?

Answer 7

• Stimulated industrial growth:
  Government used the taxes to reopen factories and by 1926 industrial production reached 1913 levels.
  The level of production of electricity, cattle, pigs and grain, coal and steal grew drastically.
• Political and economic stability:
  Ended grain requisitioning, free trade ended and food of all kinds was available in city markets.
• Living conditions improved

Question 8

What were the failures of the NEP?

Answer 8

• Industrial growth
  Failed to provide necessary to build new large-scale factories.
  From 1926-28 the economy plateaued.
• The pay of minor, metal workers and engine drivers was lower than before 1914.
• Corruption: NEP men emerged.
• Scissor crisis 1923:
  Uneven economic growth, reached crisis point by 1923 and showed NEP was incapable of industrialising the economy.