economy and society 1929-1941

• What is the time period covered in Unit 4: Economy and Society?

  1929–1941
• When did Stalin announce collectivisation?


  1927
• What was the initial response of peasants to Stalin's announcement of voluntary collectivisation in 1927?


  It was ignored by the peasants.
• What event occurred in 1928 that affected food supply?


  Food shortages occurred.
• What actions did the police take in 1928 due to food shortages?


  They confiscated food and took it to the towns.
• What significant change did Stalin announce in 1929 regarding collectivisation?


  Compulsory collectivisation enforced by the army.
• What was the reaction of peasants to the announcement of compulsory collectivisation in 1929?


  They burned their crops and barns and killed their animals.
• What happened in 1930 regarding collectivisation?


  Famine occurred, and Stalin paused collectivisation.
• Why did Stalin pause collectivisation in 1930?


  He stated that officials had moved too fast.
• What was the status of collectivisation by 1932?


  Two-thirds of the villages had been collectivised.
• What was the impact of collectivisation on the kulaks by 1932-1934?


  Stalin declared war on the kulaks, taking their land and sending them to labor camps.
• How many kulaks were eliminated by 1934?


  7 million kulaks were eliminated.
• What percentage of land was collectivised by 1939?


  99% of land was collectivised.
• What were the two types of farms peasants could join?

  Sovkhoz (state farm) and Kolkhoz (collective farm).
• What was claimed by the party by the end of February 1930 regarding collectivisation?


  Half of all peasant households had been collectivised.
• What was the reality of collectivisation despite the party's claims?


  It was a disaster on a huge scale with food production disrupted.
• What did Stalin do in March 1930 regarding collectivisation?


  He called for a return to the voluntary principle and an end to coercion.
• What happened when peasants were given the choice to abandon collective farms?


  Many peasants abandoned the new collective farms.
• What did Stalin do in 1931 regarding collectivisation?


  He restarted the campaign to collectivise.
• What was the impact of the government's grain requisitioning during the famine of 1932-34?


  It continued despite the drop in grain production.
• What was the estimated number of deaths during the famine of 1932-34 according to Robert Conquest?


  As high as 7 million.
• Why did the Soviet regime not acknowledge the scale of the famine?


  It did not want to admit that collectivisation had failed.
• What was the situation in Ukraine during the famine of 1932-34?


  It was hit particularly hard with high grain procurement targets.
• What actions were taken by officials to find hidden stocks of grain during the famine?


  Thousands of extra officials were drafted in to root out hidden stocks.
• What law was introduced on August 7, 1932, regarding grain requisitioning?


  The Law of Seventh-Eights prescribed a ten-year sentence for stealing 'socialised' property.
• What was the end result of the government's policies during the famine of 1932-34?


  The death of millions of peasants in various regions.
• What percentage of peasant households were in collectives by the end of 1934?


  70% of peasant households were in collectives.
• What was the main problem with collectivisation after 1934?


  Lack of incentive for peasants to work.
• What percentage of vegetables did private plots provide?


  52% of all vegetables.
• How did peasants refer to collectivisation?


  As the 'second serfdom.'
• What was the main reason why Stalin undertook the transformation of Soviet agriculture between 1929 and 1941?


  • To improve food supplies in the USSR
• What was the First Five-Year Plan known as?


  Second revolution and "Revolution from above."
• What was the main aim of the First Five-Year Plan?


  To make the nation militarily and industrially self-sufficient.
• When was the First Five-Year Plan declared fulfilled?


  In 1932.
• What were the goals of the First Five-Year Plan?


  • Build up heavy industry without foreign loans
  • Make USSR self-sufficient
• What was the main goal of the Second Five-Year Plan?


  To increase industrial output by 250%.
• What was Gosplan responsible for?


  Planning the economy and answering all economic questions.
• What was the main focus of the Second Five-Year Plan?


  Transport and consumer goods.
• What were some successes of the Second Five-Year Plan?


  Moscow Metro and Volga Canal allowed transport of materials.
• What were some failures of the Second Five-Year Plan?


  Housing lacked water/sanitation and consumer goods were difficult to obtain.