15th Party Congress Stalin calls for USSR to catch and overtake West in industrial production
Gosplan and Vesenkha – schemes to develop the economy
By 1927 economy had returned to pre-was production
1927-28 grain-crisis in agriculture persuaded Stalin NEP (New economic policy) should be abandoned
End of 1928 Stalin pushed for higher production targets from Vesenkha and Gosplan
April 1929 two draft five-year plans presented to 16th Party conference
By 1932 Stalin persuaded Politburo to accept ‘optimum’ plan to double industrial production
First began on 1st October 1928 – heavy industry – coal, iron, steel, oil and machine-production. Overall, increase by 300%
Light industry doubled its output – ensure enough energy available electricity increase by 600%
Workers enthused by vision of creating socialist economy and worked hard to fulfil each year’s targets – reports in Moscow with target exceeded unreliable
1929 discussion about fulfilling goals in four years rather than five – Stalin supported posters appeared proclaiming 2+2=5
Before 1928 - Soviet economy transformed – – new rail links, hydroelectric schemes industrial complexes built, new factories and mines set up in many regions some had no industrial developments
Stalin pushed rapid industrialization fear of international situation
1931 Stalin pointed out the USSR’s relative economic backwardness (50 to 100 years) – Soviet Union made it up in ten years
December 1932 Stalin announced first five-year-plan fulfilled – exaggeration despite tremendous growth, no major targets had been set
Second five-year-plan drafted – implementation costs much greater than Gosplan allowed increases in coal, iron and industrial goods too much for railway system to cope
Urban populations rapidly expanded – soon housing shortages, threatened continued industrialization
Effects of forced collectivism led to: food shortages, rationing famine
During forced collectivism;workers changed jobs frequently,managers increased wages & offer unofficial perks in order to retain skilled workers to meet targets
1933 Gosplan drew second five-year-plan first intended to create a fully socialist economy
Final draft approved by 17th Party Congress in January 1934 simply called for increased production and improved living standards
1934-36 successes – machine production, iron and steel output grew rapidly making Soviet Union practically self- enough in areas
2nd five-year plan success – huge increase in labor productivity
Augst 1935 – Aleksei Stakhanov miner in the Donbas mining region dug out a massive amount of coal in one shift (102 tonnes - normal figure 7 tonnes)
Production targets greatly increased as workers urged to follow Stakhanov’s example
Most industries had model workers who received higher bonuses, other material advantages ‘Heroes of Socialist Labour’ medals
Rationing abandoned in 1935 as forced collectivism over
1924-26 NEP led gradual increase in agricultural production
Good harvest in 1926 state collections were 50% less than expected – emergency measures taken in some areas against kulak ‘speculators’ and nepmen including seizure of grain, increasing taxes on kulkas to force them to sell more grain to the state
Low state purchases of grain in 1927 threatened hunger in expanding towns and increased industrialisation
15th Party Congress December 1927 (collectivisation congress) – communists saw continuing NEP as blocking agricultural and industrial development
15th Party Congress;Stalin argued problems overcome by strengthening co-operative farms, increasing mechanisation and supporting voluntary collectivisation of farms – no mention of forced collectivisation
1928 Stalin instructed local official increase state grain procurements – seized more grain and closed markets – resisted were arrested
After 1928 harvest actions (Ural-Siberian method) resulted in rural unrest and bread shortages
July 1928 Central Committeee meeting increase in price of grain and end to forcible measures – Stalin determined no industrial disruption by diversion of money to the kulkas
End of 1928 – fall in sales of grain to stat and crop failure in central and south-eastern region of USSR – dramatic increases in free-market prices, further slum in grain deliveries to state and introduction of rationing during winter of 1928-29
1929 forcible Ural-Siberian method used in most of Soviet Union – NEP destroyed
1929 November and December Stalin launched a programme of forced collectivisation and called for the kulaks to be ‘liquidated as a class’
Stalin determined to resolve crisis in agriculture before the spring sowing for 1930 harvest – emergency measure massive grain procurement campaign launched
Officials determined to avoid punishment for failure, arrested, deported and confiscated property of any peasant who failed to hand over grain quota
1930 -16 million tonnes collected in some areas over 30% of entire crop was taken
Safeguard industrialisation plans Stalin decided kulaks needed to be ‘liquidated’ as a class – December 1929 action taken against kulaks who resisted grain collections although ‘identification’ of kulaks not just a peasant with two horses and 4 cows
January 1930 – persuasion first method but Stalin wanted rapid results so violence increasingly used – kulaks divided- ‘counter-revolutionaries’ and ‘exploiters’ – execution or deportation
Richer peasants destroyed crops and livestock rather than hand them to local kolkhoz – or raided kolkhozes to re-take property
Local parties given targets of how many houses should be collectivised – official figures 4% of households as kulaks but in some 15% of households affected
150,000 people forced to migrate to poorer land in the north and east
By March 1930 – 58% of peasant households collectivised – process provoked serious resistance
March 1930 Stal pressurised Politburo into calling a halt – Official policy returned to voluntary collectivisation – peasant wrongly accused as kulkas had property restored
By October 1930 – 20% of households were still collectivised
Retreat from collectivisation (1930) temporary – once 1930 harvest secured, collectivisation resumed in earnest
By 1931 – 50% of Soviet households in collective farms -70% 1934, 75% 1935, 90% 1937
Between 1929-32 over 2500 Machine Tractor Stations (MTS) established to supply seed and to hire out machinery to local kolkhozes
Collectivisation – created upheaval and confusion resulted in dreadful famine in 1932-33
October 1931 – many agricultural areas affected by drought
Spring 1932 Famine Ukraine (first) – spread to other areas North Caucasus – worst famine in Russia’s history
1933 worst over – some areas still affected by serious food shortages in 1934
Despite rural catastrophe Stalin persisted with forced collectivisation and high state grain procurements – millions died
