Russia 1905-1941

IGCSE DEPTH STUDY

Russia Under the Tsars

 Before WWI, the Tsar held supreme power in Russia.

 The government of Tsar Nicholas II was very unpopular.
 The Romanov dynasty had held absolute power for 500 years.
 Peasants – 85% of the population.
 Poor people using old, inefficient farming methods.
 Industrial workers – had low wages and poor working conditions.
 Industry was growing.
Russia Under the Tsars

 The Tsar was all-powerful – he ruled without a parliament, and most of the country’s
wealth and land was owned by a small noble class. The Russian Orthodox Church taught
that Tsar must be obeyed.
 Peasant villages were controlled by the mir—a local council who interfered in everyone’s
business and had the power to decide whether a peasant was allowed to own or rent land.
 The growth of industry meant that there was a large working population in the towns and
cities but conditions there were cramped and the workers were badly paid.
 In 1905, Russia was defeated in a war with Japan.
 Poor conditions led to strikes and demonstrations—on “Bloody Sunday,” troops fired into
a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in St. Petersburg. There was nearly a popular
revolution.
Bloody Sunday
The Tsar Allowed Some Changes

 To respond to popular pressure, the Tsar established the Duma, or parliament. In the first Duma in 1906,
the liberal party known as the Cadets won a majority and demanded control of taxes which the Tsar had
promised.
 Instead, the Tsar dismissed the Duma and many liberals fled to Finland. New elections were held.
 This time, the Duma was even more radical. Members of the Marxist SDLP (Social Democrat Labour
Party) won some seats from the Cadets. The Tsar wanted to arrest several SDLP members but the Duma
refused. This Duma was soon dismissed as well.
 The next two Duma’s obeyed the Tsar. The SDLP were not allowed to run and many members were
arrested/exiled.
 The press was censored and a secret police force, the Okhrana, was established to spy on people.
 The situation of the people had not improved and there was still much discontent among the poor
working classes.
Dumb and Duma

 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: Make sure you know

how the situation in Russia changed after 1905.
Popular pressure for change forced the Tsar to
make concessions—but he managed to keep hold
of power. In some ways 1905 can be seen as a
sign of bigger changes to come.
Countdown to Revolution

 Attempts were made to fix Russia’s problems, but WWI made everything more difficult.
 Prime Minister Stolypin (remember his necktie!) wanted economic reforms—he was afraid that
badly run industry could get out of control.
He ended the control of the mir over how land was distributed.
 Hard-working peasants could now rent or buy farms for themselves.
 The better off peasants were known as kulaks.
 The mir system continued but became less efficient after the kulaks left. The country’s food supply
was at serious risk.
 Peasants in the mir farms resented the wealth of some of the kulaks.
 Reform needed peace, but Europe was heading for war.
 Stolypin was murdered in 1911 by a revolutionary.
Rasputin Undermined Tsar’s Authority

 Tsar Nicholas’s wife was influenced by a “Holy Man” called Rasputin who claimed
supernatural powers to treat the Tsar’s son for hemophilia—a disease where the blood
won’t clot.
 Rasputin became powerful and even sacked and appointed government ministers!
 He was killed by angry nobles in 1916, but the Tsar’s influence had been significantly
undermined.
 See political cartoon: what message is artist trying to convey?
WWI Caused Problems in Russia

 Patriotism and loyalty to the Tsar were revived with the outbreak of war. People wanted a
short and victorious war, but:
 There were high casualties – 1.8 million dead Russian soldiers by 1917.
 Shortages of rifles and equipment; poor transport slowed supplies to the front.
 Military leadership was bad. The Tsar took personal command in 1915. This left his unpopular
wife in charge in the capital.
 The Russian army was pushed back by the Germans and there was a stalemate.
 Inflation meant that prices at home went up massively.
 There was widespread hunger and food and fuel shortages at home.
A revolution was brewing…

 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: The failure of Stolypin’s

reforms and the impact of WWI led to greater
dissatisfaction within Russia. The Tsar also made big
mistakes – allowing Rasputin so much power and taking
personal command of the military, which meant he could
be blamed for the disastrous war effort.
The Provisional Government

 By 1917, the people of Russia had had enough and revolted against the Tsar.
 The “February” Revolution of 1917
 Demonstrations and food riots suddenly broke out in the capital city of Petrograd.
 The Tsar had lost support and control—when his soldiers were ordered to fire on the mob, many
refused and either deserted or joined the protests.
 The Tsar gave up the throne. A Provisional Government was formed with Alexander Kerensky
in charge. Russia was now a republic.
 The main revolutionary parties were taken by surprise—this was a real people’s revolution caused
by a sudden risings of workers and soldiers sick of the war, shortages and high prices.
 This set up to see the Provisional Government having a confrontation with the revolutionaries – a
group from the SDLP called themselves Bolsheviks.
Kerensky
The Provisional Govt Had Problems

 The Provisional Government wasn’t supposed to stay in power—but the economic crisis
made elections impossible.
 Inflation grew even worse. Prices were 10X higher from 1914-1917.
 Food shortages became worse and peasants began to seize land from noble estates.
 The Provisional government didn’t end the war – soldiers and sailors began to mutiny,
 A network of Soviets—elected committees of peasants, workers, and soldiers–was
established and the Petrograd Soviet became an alternative government.
 The Soviets told workers and soldiers to keep striking and demonstrating to undermine
the Provisional Government.
The War Continued

 The Soviets demanded an end to Russia’s participation in the war.

 In June 1917, the Provisional Government authorized an attack on German forces and,
after short-term gains, resulted in a German counter-attack which forced a Russian retreat
and the collapse of morale and discipline.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: In 1905, defeat in the Russo-Japanese War weakened the Tsar.
WWI did the same, but worse. Defeat was a major factor in the fall of the Tsar and had a
similar effect on the Provisional Government who kept the war up.
The Bolsheviks

 The Bolshevik Party wanted power in Russia – they held Marxists beliefs.
 Marxism said capitalism was wrong.
 Capitalism is the economic system based on business—selling things to make a profit (in
VERY simple terms)
 Karl Marx, a 19th century political thinker said this was unjust because the workers were
receiving low wages for labor that enriched a tiny elite class of super rich.
 According to Marx, history is a process of development towards an ideal society—change
comes because of class struggle between the middle class (bourgeoisie) and the working class
(proletariat).
 He said in time, this clash would lead to a violent revolution after which the means of
production would be shared equally – communism.
Karl Marx
The Bolsheviks

 The Bolsheviks came out of the SDLP

 At the Social Democrat Party of 1903, the SDLP quarreled over whether to become a mass
party (open to anyone) or to remain a small party of dedicated members working towards
revolution.
 The Party split into Bolsheviks who wanted a small party and the Menshiviks who wanted a
mass party.
 Vladimir Lenin was the Bolshevik leader. He was a clever and practical an who knew how to
take advantage of events.
Lenin
The Bolsheviks Were a Small Party

 At first, the Bolsheviks were too small a party to make of an impact on the workers.
 During WWI, Lenin was exiled in Switzerland. When the February Revolutionary came,
he returned to Russia to rally the Bolshevik cause.
 The Germans helped Lenin return in a sealed train in April 1917 because they hoped he
would cause another revolution and that Russia would end the war.
Lenin’s April Theses

 Lenin issued a document called the April Theses promising peace, land and bread.
 He called for an end to the capitalist war and demanded that power should be given to the
Soviets.
 He demanded a revolution against the Provisional Government as soon as possible.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: Make sure you know how the Bolsheviks were formed and what
they stood for. The April Theses are important too—nobody expected Lenin to attack the
Provisional Government.
The Bolsheviks Seize Power

 The Bolsheviks took advantage of the people’s unrest to gain more support and stir up further
revolts.
 “ALL POWER TO THE SOVIETS” – Bolshevik slogan
 In July 1917, the Bolsheviks tried to take control of the government but were defeated and
Lenin was forced to flee to Finland.
 Kerensky turned public opinion against Lenin by accusing him of being a German agent.
 Leon Trotsky led the Red Guards – a Bolshevik military force. At the same time, the
Bolsheviks won control of the Soviets and Trotsky became chairman of the Petrograd Soviet.
 Peasants attacked kulaks and took land from the Church and nobles; many soldiers deserted
from the army and returned home.
Trotsky
General Kornilov Attempted Coup

 In September 1917, the Russian Commander-in-Chief, General Kornilov, turned his army
back from the WWI front and marched against the Provisional Government determined
to seize power.
 Kerensky had to give weapons to the Bolsheviks and the Petrograd Soviet to save his
government from a military takeover.
 Bolshevik Red Guards were waiting to stop Kornilov’s advance—his soldiers deserted
him and fled.
 The Bolsheviks were now the real power in Russia, and Lenin encouraged Trotsky to
prepare for plans to seize political power.
The October Revolution of 1917

 The Bolshevik Central Committee under Lenin voted for revolution. Detailed plans were
made by Trotsky to seize important building in Petrograd and arrest Ministers.
 The Revolution started October 24th and the Bolsheviks were in control by the next day.
 The Red Guards took control of important railways and telephone exchanges.
 Kerensky fled Petrograd and tried to raise loyal troops.
 Bolsheviks storm the Winter Palace and meet little resistance.
A Matter of Dates

 REMEMBER: the Russian calendar was behind the

Western one at this time, by about two weeks. The
October Revolution actually happened in our November
and The February Revolution in our March. The
Bolsheviks changed the calendar to match the Western
one in 1918.
Bolsheviks Establish Control

 The Soviet Council of People’s Commissars was in control of Russia.

 Soldiers were sent into the countryside to seize grain to feed the towns.
 The Bolsheviks controlled the main centers of power.
 Elections were held for a new assembly.
 The Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRP) won most seats.
 The Red Guards closed down the Assembly after one day in January 1918.
 The Bolsheviks became the Communist Party, the only legal party in Russia.
 Lenin made 2 decrees
 1) Decree on Land – nationalized all land in Russia
 2) Decree on Peace – called for peace with Germany
Reasons for Bolshevik Success

 1) They were strong in key political and

administrative areas – especially Petrograd.
 2) They had their own military force, the Red
Guards.
 3) They were ruthless and had clear strategies.
 4) The Provisional Government was in effective
in dealing with the war and famine, and there was
a breakdown of law and order.
 5)The vision and ability of Lenin.
 6) They were practical – they recognized that the time for a true Marxist revolution was a long way off so
they changed their policies in order to seize power at the first chance.
1918 – Ending the German War

 The Bolsheviks signed an armistice with the Germans, hoping to delay the peace treaties
because they thought there might be a communist revolution in Germany too.
 This didn’t happen and the Germans advanced; the Bolsheviks quickly agreed to the
harsh terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)
A Civil War Was Inevitable

 There were three main reasons why civil war broke out:
 1) The communists had seized power suddenly and repressed the elected Assembly. They had
also outlawed political opposition, so many people saw them as a danger.
 2) Anti-communist army officers were no longer fighting Germany. Many were Royalists and
wanted the return of the Tsar. Now they could attack the communists.
 3) Communism wanted a world revolution – the Comintern (Communist International) was
formed under Zinoviev, a left-wing communist to promote revolutions abroad.
TOP TIP: The government moved from Petrograd to Moscow in 1918.
The Civil War 1918-1921

 The first big challenge for the new Bolshevik government was the brutal civil war.
 Anti-Communist forces surrounded Red Russia.
 These armies were called the “Whites” – the color of the Tsarist state.
 There were many White groups who often had very different aims and purposes.
 The Czech Legion
 Cossacks
 Polish forces
 Admirals and General fighting for their own interests.
 Britain, France, and the USA send troops to help the Whites because they were worried of a
global spread of communism.
Reasons for the Red Army Victory

 1) Red forces were united, while White forces were divided.

 2) Trotsky was a brilliant leader.
 3) White forces were a long way apart and spread out across gigantic Russia. They could
not coordinate attacks and didn’t want to work together.
 4) The Whites were led by nobles and foreign armies, so many patriotic Russians were
against this and supported the Reds.
 5) The communists controlled the main cities and railway systems.
 6) War Communism helped obtain supplies for the Reds.
 7) Foreign military support was withdrawn as soon as it was clear the communists would
win.
Murder at Ekaterinburg

 TOP TIP: Remember the Bolsheviks were holding the

Tsar and his family in the Siberian city of Ekaterinburg
(today Sverdlovsk)
 Asthe Whites approached the town, the Tsar and his
family were executed by the Bolsheviks.
War Communism

 War Communism was a strict system which helped the Reds win the Civil War.
 Farms and factories were put under State control – private trade was banned.
 Food was taken for soldiers and industrial workers – peasants who refused to hand it over to the
Red Army were shot or sent to labor camps.
 The secret police (Cheka) hunted and executed enemies of the state.
 Industrial workers weren’t allowed to strike or be absent from work.
 All adults had to work except for the sick and pregnant women.
 The results of war communism were famine (7 million dead) and decline in output.
War Communism

 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: While war communism helped

the Reds win the civil war, it had a negative effect on the
state causing famine, a decline in industry, and several
revolts.
 TheRed Army won the civil war also by being organized
and united.
The Kronstadt Rebellion

 Kronstadt was a Naval Base outside Petrograd. In February 1921, unhappy with the lack
of progress, the famine, and the terror, the sailors mutinied and seized the base.
 The Kronstadt sailors had supported the communists in 1917, especially Trotsky’s
leadership in Petrograd.
 Lenin and Trotsky were worried that dissent might spread when the ice around the base
thawed and let the sailors leave.
 Trotsky ordered the Red Army to put down the mutiny.
 The Red Army attacked, losing many men but captured the base in a brutal battle.
 Many rebels were killed in the fighting; those who were left were either imprisoned as traitors
or executed.
The New Economic Policy (NEP)

 The Bolsheviks survived in part due to Lenin’s willingness to change a failing policy.
 Communism was pushing ahead too fast. Trotsky recognized the economic crisis in 1920
and suggested a change in policy which Lenin rejected.
 Now the Civil War was won, the communists needed to keep control of public opinion.
 This meant a policy of complete party unity – no dissent allowed.
 In 1921, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) to restore order and increase
prosperity after the chaos of revolution civil war, and war communism.
The New Economic Policy (NEP)

 The NEP reversed War Communism

 Peasants could sell surplus food and pay tax of profits.
 Small businesses like shops and factories no longer had to be state-owned and could
therefore make a profit.
 Vital industries such as coal, iron, steel, railways, shipping, and finance stayed in the
State’s hands. But experts were brought in on high salaries and were paid better for better
efficiency.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: The NEP allowed economic recovery—by 1928, industrial and
food production levels were about the same as in 1914 and some people grew rich.
Understand how the NEP was different from War Communism.
Communist Political Control Grew

 A purge in 1921 expelled about 1/3 Party members—those who didn’t agree with Lenin.
 Communist governments were imposed in areas recaptured in the Civil War, against the
will of independent nationalists like those in Ukraine.
 A new constitution established the USSR—Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
 Each Republic had a government with some policy freedom but they all had to be communist
and the system was run by the Politburo in Moscow.
Lenin Timeline

 1870 – Lenin born

 1898 – First Congress of the SDLP
 1903 – Bolsheviks split from Mensheviks
 1917 – February: First Revolution, Provisional Govt (Kerensky)
 1917 – April: Lenin outlines plan to overthrow government
 1917 – October – Bolshevik communist revolution takeover
 1918 – Peace Treaty signed with Germany
 1918-1921 – Civil War
 1921 – Famine, Kronstadt Rebellion, NEP
 1922 – Lenin ill after stroke. Policy led by Stalin, Zinoviev, and Kamenev.
 1924 – Lenin dies. Stalin organized the funeral.
Dead Lenin
Lenin’s Key Strengths as Leader

 1) His organization and leadership of the Bolshevik Party.

 2) He had a pragmatic and realistic approach to problems.
 3) He was able to “seize the moment” which was vital in the Bolshevik’s gaining power.
 4) He could be ruthless – he set up the Cheka and labor camps. He also wasn’t afraid to
use force to put down rebellions like what happened at Kronstadt.
 5) He was able to change his policies – e.g. going from War Communism to win the Civil
War to the NEP to help the economy recover.
Bolshevik Success Also Relied on Trotsky

Trotsky too played a huge part in the revolution.

 He was a great theorist and speaker.
 Much of the tactical planning for the Bolshevik seizure of power was his
 He also put together the Red Army that won the Civil War.
 He was also prepared to be brutal to crush the Kronstadt rebellion.
Trotsky Leading the Red Army
The Struggle for Power

 Several leaders struggled to succeed Lenin

 Trotsky was the most able, popular with the army and Party members. He led the Red
Army brilliantly during the Civil War but some people thought he was too arrogant and he
lacked support in the Politburo. He had originally been a Menshivik and made enemies.
 Zinoviev and Kamenev were left-wingers who agreed with Trotsky’s ideas about state
control of land and continuing the revolution. However, they were determined to stop
Trotsky becoming Party leader. Kamenev was a close friend of Lenin.
 Rykov and Buhkarin were right-wingers who also sought power.
 Stalin didn’t seem likely to lead the party but he accumulated power through good
organization “behind the scenes” in his work as General Secretary of the Party
Political Spectrum

Liberals (Left) Moderates (Center)

Conservatives (Right)

__________________________________I________________________________________
War Communism
NEP
*Kamenev & Zinoviev *Trotsky *Stalin *Rykov &
Bukharin
Trotsky and Stalin – War of Ideas

Wanted revolution to spread Wanted a period of peace

to other countries and called for and rebuilding in the USSR
the USSR to work for a world revolution and communism in one
country.
How Stalin Made Himself All-Powerful

 Stalin controlled the Communist Party – he appointed people loyal to him to senior
positions.
 This meant that Stalin’s rivals had no support in the Party, and he suppressed Lenin’s
testament.
 Only Party members could hold government positions and they were chosen by Party
voting. It was a one-party state.
 By the late 1920s Stalin had enough Party support to have his rivals voted out of power.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: The Key factor in Stalin’s rise was Party Control. Remember,
the Party wasn’t the same as the government. But the USSR’s constitution could be
abused by anyone controlling the Party.
Stalin was Ruthless in Destroying Rivals

 Born in 1879 in Georgia, his real name was Joseph Jughashvili. He had studied to
become a priest but became a Bolshevik. He changed his name to Stalin (“man of steel”)
when he was imprisoned as a revolutionary.
 He was an organizer who began by making speeches, organizing strikes, organizing bank
raids to aid Bolshevik funds. He was efficient at routine organization which many
thought was dull.
 His power base came from being General Secretary of the Party after 1922. By
controlling political appointments he could control who was given government roles and
choose people loyal to him.
 By 1930, he was undisputed leader of Russia, but he became terrified that others wanted
to overthrow him – this made him determined to get rid of his rivals.
Stalin
Stalin Destroyed the Left and the Right

 Stalin joined Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky.

 “Socialism in one country” became Party policy in 1925.
 Trotsky was isolated and eventually dismissed from his role and thrown out of the Communist
Party in 1927.
 New members were elected to the Politburo who were loyal to Stalin. At this time, Stalin
supported the NEP.
 Zinoviev and Kamenev were dismissed from the Politburo because they believed in fast economic
modernization, one of Trotsky’s main ideas. They too were expelled from the Party.
 But in 1928, Stalin adopted fast modernization instead of the NEP. This swing to the left meant he
could now remove Rykov and Bukharin on the right who supported the NEP.
 By 1929, Stalin was in complete control of the USSR.
Terror and Purges

 The leader of the Communist Party in Leningrad (formerly Petrograd, formerly St.
Petersburg) was a man named Kirov. He was murdered in 1934.
 Some historians think Stalin was responsible for his murder as an excuse to start purging
more enemies.
 Khrushchev blamed Stalin for the murder in 1956.
 Immediately, Stalin ordered a purge of people he believed were involved in a conspiracy
against Kirov and himself.
 In 1935-1936, many old communists like Zinoviev and Kamenev were arrested and
charged in “show trials” where they confessed their crimes against Stalin after
previously being tortured.
Purging Ordinary People

 Anyone suspected of disloyalty to Stalin was taken away by the NKVD (the new secret
police).
 Most were shot or sent to labor camps.
 People who wanted to avoid arrest did so by providing information about others—even if it
was false.
 Stalin’s wife killed herself (or was murdered) after a purge at the university where she worked.
 Trotsky was exiled in Mexico and condemned Stalin’s purges. He called for a new revolution.
In 1940 he was murdered by Stalin’s agent.
 The total number of people killed by Stalin’s regime is uncertain, but including the Ukrainian
forced famine and the purges, the number range from 10 million-30 million.
The Purges Weakened the USSR

 Many of the most gifted and able citizens had disappeared—killed or sent to camps.
 The army and navy were seriously weakened by the loss of senior officers.
 Industrial and technical progress was hampered by the loss of top scientists and
engineers.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: Under torture, people invented all sorts of things to save
themselves. Stalin started to believe there really was a plot against him.
Stalin the Dictator

 Stalin controlled all information

 Artists and writers had to follow the Party line, creating “useful” art for the workers.
 Newspapers, cinema and radio spread propaganda about the heroic workers’ struggle and
Stalin’s great leadership and personality. Criticism was banned.
 History was rewritten so that Stalin became more important in the story of the October
Revolution that he really had been at the time.
 Trotsky became a non-person – his name was removed from history books and articles, and his
picture was rubbed out of old photos as though he has never existed.
 Photographs were altered to show Stalin as a close friend and ally of Lenin.
In Soviet Russia, Photoshop Add YOU!
The Communists Attacked the Church

 The Russian Orthodox Church had been a powerful supporter of the Tsar.
 The communist government began to take Church property and land– these were
valuable assets to the Party. Christians were persecuted as a political threat to
communism and priests were murdered or exiled.
 In 1929, the Church was banned from any activity except leading worship.
 By 1939, a few hundred churches remained active – the state claimed the promise of free
conscience in the constitution was being honored.
 Many people were still believers—nearly half the population in 1940.
Russian Orthodox Church
Stalin’s Russia was a Dictatorship

 Stalin ran everything – his policies were often completely different

from communist ideas.
 Party apparatchiks—members loyal to Stalin—received
privileges like holidays, flats, etc.
 Most people lived in fear but were unable to speak out.
The Five-Year Plans

 The Party used targets to increase the pace of industrialization.

 The NEP had made some progress but the economy was still poor and rapid growth was
needed for the USSR to catch up with the West.
 Stalin adopted Trotsky’s ideas for a programme of fast state-controlled modernization to
speed up production. The NEP was dropped.
 The state took over planning for industry and agriculture with a commission called
Gosplan to set targets for achievement.
First Five-Year Plan -- 1928

 A Five-Year Plan set targets for all basic industrial factories and workers.
 The Plan concentrated on basic heavy industries—coal, steel, railways, electricity,
machinery.
 Actual production figures were lower than the targets, but remarkable growth in output
was achieved.

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stry get wth
Second Five-Year Plan -- 1933

 Some parts of the second plan were achieved, but fear at the rise of Adolf Hitler in Nazi
Germany meant more development took place in the armaments industry than any other.
 A third Five-Year Plan started in 1938, but was even more disrupted by war preparation
and the German invasion of 1941.
 ***In under 10 years, the USSR had almost doubled its industrial output but the price
was misery and low living standards for Soviet workers.***
Serious Problems with the Plans

 New towns, cities, and industrial zones were set up, often with poor quality housing.
 Long hours were worked for low pay. Higher wages were paid to foreign workers with special
skills required to work on new schemes.
 Bonuses were given for workers who could improve production targets as an inspiration to
others.
 Alexei Stakhanov, who may or may not have been real, allegedly mind several kilos of coal on one
shift breaking targets and was held up as a hero.
 A “Stakhanovite” movement began to encourage workers to match this ideal.
 Much of the work was done at forced labor camps by criminals and political prisoners.
 The targets were propaganda tools—the government said they had been broken but often it is
hard to tell how much was really achieved and how much was just propaganda.
Collectivization

 Communism was also forced on the countryside – food production had to be increased.
 It was vital to increase food supplies to workers in the cities or the Five Year Plans
wouldn’t succeed.
 Millions of peasants hid food away and didn’t support the communists.
 Many richer peasants, or kulaks, were influential in the villages, which annoyed the local
Communist Party secretaries.
Collectivization

 In 1929, Stalin began collectivizing all farms.

 Land was pooled together and peasants worked together.
 The peasants were allowed to keep only a small fraction of the harvest; the rest was sold
to the government at a low, fixed price.
 Large farms employed the usage of extra machinery.
 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: The misery didn’t stop with the workers in towns and cities.
Before long, the peasants in the countryside had their own Five Year Plans and were
forced to cooperate together. The conditions in the countryside were appalling.
Problems with Collectivization

 The speed of change required would destroy the traditional peasant way of life.
 The peasants resisted change and didn’t want to give up land – especially for kulaks.
 The collectives were forced to grow particular crops needed for industry, export, or food
for workers. They also had to supply a specific amount for the State, whether the harvest
was good or bad.
 Party officials were brought in to run collectives—this was resented.
Stalin’s War on the Kulaks

 Some of the peasants refused to collectivize; Stalin blamed the kulaks.

 Stalin sent some troops to attack what he called the “enemies of the people.”
 An estimated 3 million kulaks were killed. Some were shot, others died from starvation
or cold either on their way to labor camps or during their time there.
 Some villages were surrounded and destroyed. Many kulaks burnt their own crops and
killed livestock in protest. This contributed to famine in Ukraine where about 5 million
people died.
 1930 saw famine and poor harvest. Collectivization was briefly halted.
Collectivization

 Collectivization began again in 1931 although the famine lasted until 1933.
 By 1939 99% of Russian farmland had been collectivized.
 The kulaks had been eliminated and the peasants were left afraid of the communist
power.
 The Communist Party held absolute authority throughout rural Russia as it did in the
cities.
A Collective Disaster

 TOP TIP FOR EXAM: Collectivization was

intended to help the Five-Year Plans but the
effects were horrific. When things went wrong,
Stalin looked for someone to blame. Kulaks were
the scapegoats for collectivization.
Results of Collectivization

 Positive View
 Ended forced exploitation of peasants by greedy landlords and got ride of the greedy and troublesome kulaks
 It helped peasants work together
 It provided large scale organization of food production for the farms
 This was communism in practice
 Soviet propaganda showed collective farms as a triumph for the state, and created a myth of the happy worker
 Negative View
 The changes were enforced by the army and by law – there was no choice
 The kulaks were scapegoats for the inefficient food production in the past
 The policy led to the murder and imprisonment of millions of people
 The new system didn’t work at first and a bad harvest combined with kulaks destroying crops and animals caused a
serious famine killing even more people.
Life in the USSR

 It was dangerous to grumble about poor conditions—people feared being taken away by
the NKVD. Millions were shot or imprisoned during the purges.
 Life in the cities was tough. Discipline was strict in the factories and wages were low.
 However, as a result of the rapid industrialization, there was no unemployment.
 Life was probably worse in the countryside as a result of forced collectivization. Most
people lived in rural areas and in general were far poorer than those who lived in cities.
Some Groups Were “More Equal”

 Everyday life was difficult for many citizens of the USSR, but some did better than
others
 What people could buy depended on a system based on social grouping.
 Those high up in the Party received special goods and services.
 There was a degree of social mobility though. As a result of the Five Year Plans,
thousands of workers received promotions and education.
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Ethnic Minorities

 Early Bolshevik ideology supported the rights of ethnic minorities, but the USSR didn’t grant any
real political independence to its non-Russian republics.
 This is further evidence that the USSR under Stalin drifted further and further from original Marxist
thought.
 Some minorities suffered forcible population transfers and deportations.
 In the 1930s Poles were deported to Siberia; in the 1940s it was the Baltic states which suffered that fate
 The USSR followed a policy of “decossackisation.” The Cossacks, a military people who mostly
fought against the Bolsheviks during the Civil War, were forced from their traditional homeland.
 Stalin distrusted Jews and purges great numbers of them in the Pogroms. Although communism
was against anti-Semitism, many Jews were killed in the USSR, including Trotsky.