Social and economic condition by 1941

• Economic strengths by 1941:

  • Highly industrialised nation - USSR overtaken britain in iron and steel production
  • Urbanisation resulting in a larger workforce
  • All farms collectivised
  • Military spending increased from 3% in 1933 to 34% in 1940
• Economic weaknesses by 1941:

  • Economic development was uneven - lack of basic consumer goods
  • Quality of products was poor
  • Organisation at local level was often poor - by 1940 there was 2500 planning targets for Gosplan to manage (up from 300 in the early 1930s)
• Social strengths:

  • Food rationing ended in 1934
  • Greater state control - from 1929 peasants were supervised by party officials and secret police were stationed near motor tractor stations
  • Workers who consistently beat their targets were given improved wages and living standards
• Social weaknesses:

  • 6-8 million died in the famine of 1932-34
  • 10 million peasants died from effects of dekulakisation and deportation
  • Living conditions poor due to lack of housing and urbanisation
  • Working conditions were harsh and discipline strict
  • Benefits for party bureaucrats resulted in social inequalities - around 50,000 were awarded better living conditions
• Outbreak of War 1941:

  • Central control of command economy helped organise the war effort
  • Harsh labour laws may have helped build resilience in workers
  • By 1941 the economy was still producing less grain than in the NEP