Industrialisation

• Magnitogorsk was the first rapid industrialisation project set up by Stalin in his new position of power. Magnitogorsk was a remote, uninhabited area next to a mountain, rich in steel.
• Magnitogorsk by literal definition is 'Magnetic Mountain'.
• Everyday life at the site of Magnitogorsk was grim, there was not a lot of food, and it was poor quality of life. The temperature was around -35 degrees celcius, around 10000 people died there due to hunger, cold, and disease in the first five years of construction.
• People from all over the world wanted to help in the construction of Magnitogorsk, however, many workers were political prisoners, of which there were around 40000 on site. This made it a health and safety nightmare as the people had little training to do such dangerous and strenuous work, which subsequently added to the number of deaths. It also meant the quality of steel produce was low, due to the poor skill levels and infrastructure.
• The first shock workers arrived in 1929, and by 1932, there were 250000 workers on site at Magnitogorsk, and steel production had begun. It was a construction project of vast steelwork and city, and in the eyes of many people it was a symbol of soviet achievement.
• The first five year plan: October 1928 to December 1932. Its main aim was to expand heavy industries.

  There were three main successes of the first five year plan,

  1. The economy grew by a huge 14% each year.
  2. Coal and iron outout doubled.
  3. Steel production increased by 1/3.

  However, there were also many weaknesses of the first five year plan too,

  1. Many targets were not met due to them being set at unrealistic levels.
  2. Many products were of extremely poor levels.
  3. There was a lack of skilled workers.
  4. Living and working standards declined dramatically.
• The second five year plan: January 1933 to December 1937 aimed to expand heavy industries, develop new chemical industries and improve railway, canal and road transport links. From this there were three noteable successes, including continuing advancements in heavy industry.

  1. Gains were made in the chemical industries, such as fertiliser production.
  2. More realistic targets were set.
  3. New transport links such as the Moscow Metro and Moscow canal were completed.

  Unfortunately, despite promises to raise living standards, consumer industries recieved little investment.
• The third five year plan: January 1938 to June 1941, aimed to continue expanding heavy industries, and increase armaments production to prepare for war. Successes included,

  1. By 1940, one third of government investment was spent on defense.
  2. The basis of a powerful arms industry was laid.
  3. Nine new aircraft factories were established.

  However some weaknesses included

  1. The plan running into difficulties due to Stalin's purges removing (by arrest) many factory managers and gosplan officials.
  2. The plan was cut short by the Nazi invasion of Russia, June 1941.
• Overall successes of industrialisation include:

  1. Increased size of working class rather than peasants (urbanised society)
  2. Unemployment vanished
  3. Improved wages and living conditions for stackhanovites.
• Overall failures of industrialisation include:

  1. Quality of goods was very poor, as targets were set for quantity rather than quality.
  2. Gosplan - unrealistic targets placed huge pressure on factory managers, which may suggest evidence that production levels were exaggerated to fit the harsh quotas.
  3. Some showpieces used force, and slave labour. The white sea canal used 100,000 prisoners from the Gulags, of which 12,000 died.
  4. Workers worked 7 days a week and long hours
• Gosplan created detailed plans, and soon got 1/2 a million employed officials. Their work included the task of transforming the soviet union, and they were labeled the state committee of planning.
• In August 1935, Alexei Stackhanov alledgedly mined 102 tonnes of coal in 6 hours, 14X the amount of the average miner. He was inspiration for other miners to try hard, and had statues built in his honour.
• The stackhanovite movement, was a publicity stunt, however it offered real rewards for workers, such as larger houses, higher pay and similar luxury goods. The movement aimed to give workers a sense of excitement and purpose within the 5 year plans' work.
• The stackhanovite movement disrupted normal patterns of work, and the stackhanovite workers became a pushy party who were mean, and only interested in helping themselves (not communist).