War Communism

Question 1

What was war communism?

Answer 1

The political and economic system adopted by the Bolsheviks during the civil war in order to keep towns and the Red Army provided with food and weapons

Question 2

Who initially opposed Lenin in war communism?

Answer 2

Trotsky

Question 3

What was the policy geared towards?

Answer 3

Making the best use of Russia’s production capacity as it disregarded the workers interests that were constantly changing

Question 4

How did the policy reflect socialism?

Answer 4

Put the good of all before individual needs and interests

Question 5

What was the Veshenka’s role?

Answer 5

Geared the control towards heavy industries such as coal and oil as these were materials that would help other industries

Question 6

Two key features of war communism?

Answer 6

Requisitioning

Nationalisation

Question 7

What was requisitioning?

Answer 7

Where units of the Red Army were sent out to find food for the hard pressed cities- often through a food dictatorship

Question 8

Why was War Communism introduced?

Answer 8

Consolidate ruling
Restore industries after workers decree
Issue of inflation
Lack of raw materials

Question 8

How were the peasant paid for their grain?

Answer 8

Officially peasants were paid a fixed price but local police began to offer inadequate vouchers which were to be exchanged at later dates

Question 9

How did the peasants react to war communism?

Answer 9

They hid grain, produced less and were known to murder members of the requisitioning teams

Question 9

Who was worst affected by the policy?

Answer 9

Kulaks- enemy of the people- as sometimes their whole production was taken
Poorer peasants were generally treated better as they were considered an ally

Question 9

What was nationalisation?

Answer 9

All businesses were to be brought under state control directed by the Veshenka

Question 10

Why did some peasants agree with nationalisation?

Answer 10

They believed their businesses were more likely to stay open so they had more sustainable employment

Question 11

What were worker committees replaced by?

Answer 11

Single managers “The specialists” who imposed discipline and increased output

Question 12

First and second industry to nationalise?

Answer 12

1st- sugar

2nd- oil