1941 - Economic Weaknesses

• Collectivisation had proved very unsuccessful overall.
• The initial push for collectivisation met with fierce resistance from many peasants and not just the kulaks.
• The subsequent slaughter and destruction of peasant property was very damaging in the long-term.
• Harvests were poor after collectivisation and the workforce on the new farms was unethusiastic.
• The centrally planned economy was very difficult to efficiently operate.
• The whole economy was just too big to be controlled entirely from Moscow.
• As a result of centralisation, bureaucracy and inefficiency became endemic features of the Soviet economic system.
• The purges had created a situation whereby people were very reluctant to put forward new ideas or show any sort of initiative.

  • If you did and you got promoted, then you would be the one held accountable if anything went wrong.
• Thousands of managers were arrested for sabotage or wrecking when they failed to meet their targets.

  • This culture of fear was often counter-productive as people would rather cover up mistakes than make improvements.
• Even the Stakhanovite movement could have its downsides.

  • Other workers resented the privileges that these higher-status workers got.
• Managers did not appreciate having to support attempts by workers attempting to become Stakhanovites as it disrupted the normal routine of production.