Transcript Russia 1900 - 1945

Russia
1900 - 1945
Revision Power Point
Russia
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Land mass covered one-sixth of the Earths land surface
Many different climates - from warmer, humid regions, to deserts to the freezing
cold Tundra of the north and Siberia.
Poor transportation - mostly dirt roads cobbled in parts Moscow and St.
Petersburg
Trans-Siberian railway - only transportation link across whole country
Communications poor
Tsar’s - the rulers of russia
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The Romanov’s where the rulers of Russia for many centuries. At the start of the
20th Century, 1900, Nicholas II was the Tsar, and the ruler of Russia. Nicholas was
an Autocrat. This meant that he had complete an absolute power. He was not
elected but was born into power. He, and most other Russians, believed that he had
a divine right to rule - that he had been chosen by God.
Nicholas did not need to consult with any one else to make decisions, new laws or
initiate new programs of reform.
No parliament - to represent the views of the people
Tsar - power base 10% of people - aristocrats - church - military - bureaucracy
Bureaucracy - civil servants - was massive - Russia so large it was a massive task to
collect taxes and run country.
Tsar censored newspapers and books
Education was via church
Okhrana - secret police - used to stop protests or opposers to Tsar’s rule
Siberia - prison camps
Nicholas II - the last tsar
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Devoted family man
Ruled by his wife - the Tsarina - a German women named Alexandra
Deeply religious
Kind to those around him yet ruthless
Anti-Jewish
Good intentions but not a born leader
No idea what the majority of Russian’s lived liked
He had no idea of the problems of his people or how to cope with them.
the people of russia
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The Empire of Russia contained about 130 million people and covered one-sixth of
the Earth’s continent.
Less than half of the population where actually Russian. The rest of the population
was made up of peoples who had been conquered by the Russians. Examples Cossacks, Jewish, Evenki’s etc.
Russification - Everyone in Russia regardless of culture etc - had to speak Russian,
wear Russian clothes, follow Russian customs. Russian officials also governed nonRussian areas of Russia such as Finland, Poland and Latvia.
Peasants - 85%
Urban workers - 4% - lived in poverty similar to peasants. 4 families/room etc.
Military - 5%
Govt. Officials/bureaucracy - 4%
Nobility - 1.5% - owned 25% of all land in Russia
Priests - 1%
Merchants - 0.5% - development of middle class - business men, bankers, etc.
Peasants - the people of russia
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Peasants made up 85% of the population.
Poor/Poverty stricken
Life expectancy less than 40 years
Deeply religion & superstitious - imp because kept Tsar in power
Lived lives of hard labour, poor health, inadequate food, infectious
diseases
Cold - extremes of weather in most of Russia
Food - grown strip method - not productive as could be - had been
no agricultural revolution.
Main problem - is not enough land to go around for the peasants to
grow their food on - poverty and low standard of living.
Russia 1900 - Orthodox Church
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Orthodox Church - is a branch of Christianity - was religion of Russia as it was the
religion of the Tsars.
Orthodox Church - closely linked to the Tsar and supported his way of ruling.
Church taught that the Tsar was the undisputed leader of Russia, that he was the
head of the Church and as a result he was God’s chosen representative on Earth.
Peasants thought of the Tsar as the ‘little father’.
Only education peasants could receive was via church - learnt what the church and
the Tsar wanted them to learn.
Church & Tsar controlled education - reading, writing and as a result knowledge.
Russo-Japanese War
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Russo-Japanese War brought recognition to Japan as a major world power. Russia's
poor showing in the war sharpened the dissatisfaction of its people with the Russian
government. This discontent helped shape the course of the Russian Revolution of
1905. The Russo-Japanese War began on Feb. 8, 1904, when Japan attacked Port
Arthur in Manchuria. It ended on Sept. 5, 1905, with the signing of the Treaty of
Portsmouth.
War started over land in Manchuria - Russia & Japan wanted control over the area mainly to
have control over Port Arthur. It was the only all year, ice-free port Russia had.
Tsar thought it would be good - unite Russia and people would stop criticizing him.
Japanese defeated Russians again and again - in May the Russian navy had sailed half the way
around the world - from Euro-Russia only to be defeated in under an hour by the Japanese.
War made conditions worse in Russia - food shortages, lack of industrial materials.
Port Arthur fell in 1905 - renewed protest at Tsar’s incompetence. Highlighted Tsar
incompetence as ruler and added to the weight or rebellion and discontent.
Bloody Sunday 1905
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January 1905 - conditions were bad in St Petersburg - tension high
Father Gapon organized a peaceful march - to deliver petition to the Tsar - asking
for help - religious freedom, 8 hr working day, minimum wage etc.
200,000 people marched towards Winter Palace - deliver petition.
As the marchers approached palace - met by troops.
Marchers were fired upon by the troops and a massacre occurred.
The official count of the dead was - 100.
Unofficially estimates were much higher - in thousands.
1905 Revolution
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End of Jan. 400,000 workers on strike
Feb - strikes spread to other cities
March & May - defeats in Russo-Japanese war - demands for change of Govt.
June - sailors mutinied on battleship Pataki
June & July - peasants rioted - looted & burned landowners houses.
Sept. - peace treaty signed with the Japanese - via USA
So far the year of 1905 had bought chaos to Russia - demonstrations, petitions, uprisings,
strikes, riots and assassinations
October - strike spread from Moscow to other cities - all opposition groups united - workers,
students, revolutionaries, doctors - demanded change - barricades set up in streets
St Petersburg Soviet of Workers was formed - representatives from diff. Factories met to coordinate strikes - organized revolution was occurring - threat to Tsar.
Tsar - had to give in OR use force - like Bloody Sunday
OCTOBER MANIFESTO!!!
October Manifesto 1905
30th of October 1905 Tsar issued the October Manifesto:
Promised:
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Parliament - Duma elected by the people;
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Civil Rights - freedom of speech and conscience;
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Uncensored newspapers and the right to form political parties
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The liberals and middle class thought they had achieved what they wanted - a
democratic government. Stopped protesting - supported the Tsar.
December all the troops were back in Russia - Tsar felt strong enough to shut
down St Petersburg Soviet and crush the uprising in Moscow. Tsar sent troops to
take revenge on those that had not supported him. The Tsar also issued a
constitution the following year which reinforced his autocracy over Russia.
Stolypin & agriculture after the
1905 Revolution
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Most rioting stopped in cities in 1905 but still rioting in countryside of Russia till 1906.
Stolypin appointed Prime Minister by Tsar
Stolypin set up military courts
Okhrana - secret police - everybody had to carry a passport, register with police outside
home district.
Newspapers censored
Stolypin tried to make agriculture more efficient - set up peasant banks - peasants could by
land of less enterprising neighbours - farmer larger plots - use modern farming techniques wanted to develop a new class of peasants - KULAKS - be loyal to Govt.
15% peasants got loans & bought land
Improvements - production of grain increased
Poorer peasants forced to sell land
4 million peasants encouraged to re settle on new land along Trans-Siberian railway - made
the long journeys - land already taken.
Stolypin - called his agricultural policies - ‘wager on the strong and sober peasants’.
Stolypin & industry after the 1905
Revolution
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INDUSTRIAL BOOM - between 1906 - 1914 - workers benefited little conditions
still dismal in cities & industrial centres.
Industrial factories - larger amounts of workers - easier to organize strikes squashed with force - Lena Goldfield Massacred 1912 - had similar impact as
Bloody Sunday
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Stolypin was assassinated in 1912.
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The Dumas
30th of October 1905 Tsar issued the October Manifesto:
Promised: Parliament - Duma elected by the people.
- The Duma’s has no power - to make laws, control finance, appoint ministers and
the Tsar could dissolve them at any time.
- 1 representative in Duma for every 2,000 nobles
- 1 representative in Duma for every 90,000 workers
Despite this the 1st 2 Duma’s were quite radical and demanded more power and
sweeping changes -- Dismissed by Tsar within weeks.
- 3rd Duma was more conservative - elections were altered to favour
nobles/gentry even more - few good reforms passed - army & navy
- 4th Duma - achieved little before war declared.
1. DUMA 1906 - dismissed to radical
2.DUMA 1907 - dismissed to radical
3.DUMA - 1907 - 1912 - more conservative achieved some good reforms
4.DUMA - 1912 - 1914 - Achieved little - WWI
Rasputin & the Tsarina
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Rasputin coarse peasant, priest
Sex orgies, rumors of aristocratic affairs - even rumors of relationship with
Tsarina & eldest daughters
Healed the heir - Alexis - hemophiliac - several occasions Rasputin healed the heir
Close friend of the royal family
Tsar and Tsarina suffered because of their association with Rasputin - shocked the
highest levels of govt. and society.
Stolypin had Rasputin banished from St. Petersburg - Tsarina furious
Stolyping died 1912 - returned - influence increased
Articles on Rasputin censored - DUMA in conflict over Rasputin - inc. gossip.
Rasputin and his connections with the Royal Family had serious repercussions for
the Tsar and his family.
Assassinated in 1916 - Prince Yusupov - related to the Tsar - decided to get rid of
the Tsar because of damage he was doing to the royal family.
World War One: The War to end all Wars
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War 1914 - 1917 for Russia & 1918 for the rest of Europe
In a burst of national pride Russia united - Tsar more popular than had been for
years.
United under Tsar
St Petersburg - renamed Petrograd
Tsar worked closely with the DUMA
World War One: The effects on soldiers
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Enthusiastic at first - some initial successes
Heavy defeats
Over 1 million soldiers wounded, killed or taken prison by end of 1914 - 8 million by
1917.
Soldiers slaughtered in futile manner - soldiers had no weapons or ammunition, some
soldiers had no boots and died of weather exposure - cold, or where ordered to take
control of areas, after capturing them and loosing many men, they where then told
to abandon.
Officers - where ineffective, not trained, had lack of equipt, poor communications
between officers and different infantry groups.
High ranking officers were not military trained etc. they where
aristocrat/bourgeois sons.
World War One:
The effects on Russians at home
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Food was short - millions of male peasants conscripted to army - food was not
getting to cities - Russian trains carrying supplies to war front - reduce trains
carrying food to the cities.
Coal and industry materials where short - factories closed - unemployment - people
cold and hungry
Prices of food and goods continually rose
Families lost sons, brothers and husbands in the war.
Steps to a Revolution:
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Sept. 1915 Tsar: Nicholas II - went to the War front - BAD MOVE!!!
Tsar was now blamed for defeats
Handed over day to day running of country to Tsarina - German - people thought of her as a spy.
Population thought that the Tsar had handed over Russia to a German and Rasputin - coarse
uneducated priest - rumors that he was evil.
Losing support - food situation became more desperate (huge bread cues and no bread), war
casualties increased, 1916 winter was bad, railway lines iced - food & munitions to the war front,
Tsarina and Rasputin in charge --- Tsar & Tsarina losing support of middle and upper class!
March 1917 -- Revolution begins -- Petrograd March 7th 40,000 workers on strike, March 8th
thousands of women joined strikes (International Women’s Day)
Tsar order riots but put down by force -- 12th of March the SOLDIERS refused to fire on the
crowds, some regiments shot their officers and joined demonstrators. Riots marched to the
DUMA and demanded changes.
Tsar tried to get back into Petrograd - railway workers refused to let his train pass. From his
train on 15th of March the Tsar abdicated.
Causes of the
March Revolution:
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Economic Causes - conditions in industry and agriculture for mass of population were
appalling - low wages, low working days, little accommodation in the cities and
increasingly less and less food.
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Social Causes - living conditions of peasants and workers, October Manifesto not
recognized by Tsar.
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Political Causes - no voice for the people - DUMA - little peasant, worker
representation, Tsar wasn’t running country very efficiently
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The War - effects on the people - poor, men at work,hungry, massive slaughter and
defeat, not organized, little communication, Officers did not care for soldiers well
being, Tsar leaving for the front & the Tsarina being in charge, Rasputin
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Conditions in March 1917
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Army refused to fire on crowds
The Provisional Government
& the Petrograd soviet
Prov. Govt. Established on Tsar’s abdication in March 1917 - dominated by liberal minded Cadets with some
Mensheviks and SR’s. Initial changes included - amnesty for political prisoners, 8hr working day, a promise
to establish a constituent assembly to discuss demands of workers and peasants, abolish special courts of
secret police freedom of press, freedom of speech, the right to strike, no discrimination or death penalty.
BUT they continued with the war as to fulfill commitments to the allies and did little to solve the nation’s
basic economic problems.
Provisional Govt. set up to run the country until elections could be held. Their main aims were to equip Russia with a constitution that would end Tsarist autocracy, to establish a law-making body with
meaningful powers and to guarantee basic rights such as freedom of speech.
The Petrograd Soviet also set up to represent the workers and soldiers- ,made up mainly of soldiers and
factory workers. Insisted on checking decisions of the PG as well as issuing orders of its own. E.g. P.Soviet
Order Num1 - obey only the soviet and elect own committees to make decisions. The supported the creation
of Constituent Assembly but opposed to the continuation of the war.
Dual Power - Prov. Govt. accepted as govt. but carry out decisions only if P.Soviet agreed.
The Provisional Government
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March 12th Provisional Govt. & Petrograd Soviet formed.
2.
March 14th - Order No.1 issued - Soviet in charge of armed forces.
3.
April 16 - Lenin returns to Petrograd - Germans give him special passage - 17th of April the April Thesis
published.
4.
Elections - Socialist Rev. win followed closely by Mensheviks, the Bolsheviks
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Major military offensive launched by Kerensky on Germans - terrible defeat - demonstrations in Petrograd
6.
July Lenin goes into hiding - Kerensky produces letters claiming Lenin in pay by Germans - other leading
Bolsheviks arrested.
7.
Kornilov appointed head of army by Kerensky - attempted military coup by Kornilov. Kerensky panics - asks for
Bolsheviks help - gives them munitions and rifles - Kornilov never came - railway workers stopped the trains and
persuaded the troops not to fight. Red Guards kept their weapons.
8.
Sept. 19 - Bolsheviks win control of Moscow Soviet
9.
Oct. 6th - Bolsheviks win control of Petrograd Soviet
10.
Oct. 23rd - Lenin returns
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Nov 6/7 - Bolsheviks take control of Petrograd and force out the Provisional Govt.
Why did The Provisional Government
Fail?
Slowness in summoning the Constituent Assembly which the government had
Promised
The continuation of the war
Allowing political exiles to return home to Russia
What the peasants wanted was land, the city workers wanted control of the
factories. The govt. failed to realize the needs of his people. The war
further discredited the govt.
Lenin - returned and immediately called for the overthrowing of the Prov.
Govt. In order to gain mass support Lenin promised - Peace, Land & Bread! Bolsheviks
tried to take control in July but it failed.
Kornilov Conspiracy - Bolsheviks given munitions and hailed as saviors of Petrograd.
Russian Revolution October: The
Bolshevik’s
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Bolsheviks - saviors of Petrograd - support all time high
Won majority in elections in Petrograd but not in all of Russia
Rest of Russia - conditions were deteriorating fast - peasants seizing land, Kerensky
sent out punishment brigades - made peasants hate Prov. Govt.
Lenin - told Bolsheviks to seize power
Bolsheviks slogans/aims - PEACE, BREAD & LAND
23rd Oct. - Lenin returned
Lenin convinced Bolsheviks to seize power
7th Nov. - Red Guards took over Bridges, railway stations, power stations etc. and
Winter Palace - Bolsheviks in control of Petrograd
The Red Army & Trotsky
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Led by Trotsky
Red Train
Trained troops - “3 weeks a flabby mob transformed into a efficient fighting force”
United under Trotsky and under Lenin
Built up Red Army from nothing - brought in conscription 18yrs+
Appointed fanatical Bolsheviks to units of men
Vigorous, organized, efficient and feared leader
Red Army was bound together through friendship and common need
The Death of the Tsar & his
family
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1917 Tsar Abdicates
Held under house arrest in St Petersburg
Sent to Tobolsk in Siberia for their safety
Moved to Ekaterinburg in the Urals - held by the Reds
Tsar was continuing problem for Reds - if he escaped he might unit the Whites, if
executed he could become a martyr - as peasants of Russia had grown up for
generations believing the Tsar was one down from god. Also family members ruling
royalty in other European countries.
July 17th - executed
Different versions -surrounded in mystery - surviving daughters, sightings etc. from Whites and Reds
Regardless after this date - no longer a threat to Bolsheviks
Civil War
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Reds - one aim to stay in power, united under Trotsky and Lenin, Trotsky very courageous
Held the central area of Russia, large industrial centres - produce munitions - control of
railways which connected Petrograd and Moscow - transport soldiers an munitions to any place
quickly.
Whites - lacked good leaders, cruel commanders, treated soldiers with disrespect, did not coordinate their attacks, one aim - get rid of Reds - until they won - then different aims, fighting
and squabbling amongst troops, drinking , drugs, troops tied of war, refusal to fight, mutinies
etc.
Whites scattered around central area - often hundreds of miles separating armies,
communications very difficult.
Foreign Intervention - on Whites side - Britain, France, Japan, USA - did not want to see
Communism spread in Europe - but intervention was half hearted and ineffective - troops tied
from WWI, countries in debt from WWI, more worried about their own economies etc.
Fighting was bitter and cruel - many atrocities committed by both sides - ravaged the peasants
and workers of Russia once more.
Support of the peasants was vital - they made up the armies - Bolsheviks said they could keep
land where as Whites would take it back off them.
War Communism
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Economic Policy put in place by the Bolsheviks - focused all of economy on fueling the Red Army to win
the Civil War.
Communist used propaganda - 5000 political posters - anti-Whites - Tsarists, foreign intervention etc.
Govt. control of industry -had been handed over to workers committees in 1917 - Lenin put in his own
managers - strict discipline imposed on workers.
Trade Unions band
Food rationed
Money became worthless
Lenin needed food to feed workers - grain requesitioning and seizures of animals - peasants hid food
and where punished by Cheka - peasants produced less.
Famine of 1921 - 8 - 12 million died in Volga Region
Red Terror initiated as a result of attack on Lenin’s life - Cheka became increasingly brutal
News Papers censored
Opposition eliminated - CHEKA
Control via terror - CHEKA
RESULT OF WAR COMMUNISM:
Famine of 1921 - 8 - 12 million died in Volga Region
Economy in ruins - money useless, agriculture had collapsed, low harvests, chaos in the cities - crime.
Krondstadt Uprising
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Opposition to Lenin & Communist Party - grew as a result of harsh treatment and
conditions of Civil War, War Communism and the Cheka.
Workers Opposition - demanding higher wages, better conditions etc. - called for
Soviets without Communists.
Kronstadt Naval Base - March 1921 - sailors stage an uprising - strong supporters of
the Bolsheviks in 1917 revolution - Trotsky used troops to squash the sailors 20,000 men killed and wounded - executed in batches or sent of to labour camps.
Krondstadt uprising was a surprise to the Bolsheviks.
NEP 1921 - 1928
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Krondstadt uprising - Lenin realized the toll of War Communism - need to improve
the economic situation - introduced the NEP.
Grain requisitioning stopped
The peasants give a fix amount of grain each year as tax - any surplus could be sold
Traders could buy and sell goods - illegal during war communism
Smaller factories - returned to former owners - allowed to make a profit
Larger industries - coal, steel and transport - remained under state control.
Foreign trade - inc. trade with the west - Anglo-Soviet trade agreement in 1921
Agricultural and industrial production increased dramatically over this period.
Lenin at this time also brought in policies on:
Electrification - technologically advancing Russia
Cultural Changes 1920’s
Communist Party - control tightened in the 1920’s, opposition was exiled or imprisoned,
after Lenin died - new rules within the party - no factional squabbles - united party. The Red Army grew in strength,
equpt. Prestige and power and members treated well
Bourgeoisie - some small business were given back to owners under the NEP emergence of Kulaks and Nepmen
Peasants - shortened military service, reeducated in Marxist ideology
Education - 1917- 1926 - 5 million overcame illiteracy etc, was open to all and free to all
Hung on old customs - despite Bolshevik push for change - for example there was not a
lot of freedom for women in the villages - old customs take many generations to change
Industrial Workers (Proletariat)
Education
More jobs - NEP
Paid in money and regularly - more food available as production increased
Worker conditions better than under War Communism
Church - continuosly persecuted, forbiddent to teach religion to children under 15, churches taken
over and priests exiled
Women - delcared equal in 1917, creches and kindergarten set up in order to free women from the drugery of family
life? Or was it in order to them into the workforce?
Marriage and divorce made easy
Abortion on demand
BUT FAMILY PROVED VERY RESISTANT TO CHANGE, HOWEVER WOMEN DID GAIN MORE EQUALITY IN THE
WORKPLACE.
Lenin’s Death
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Lenin died Jan 1924 - aged 53
Thousands lined the streets
Embalmed and placed on display in a mausoleum
Was he a tyrant or a inspirational leader?
Modest man no personal ambition
Excellent leader, inspirational speaker and superb organizer
Without him on revolution in Nov 1917
Largely due to Lenin that Bolsheviks stayed in power during Civil War
Had to use Cheka to win the civil war
Policies of War Communism - cruel and harsh - grain requisitioning etc.
Suppressed freedom of speech, the media and his opposition - using CHEKA
Red Terror
No elections, would not share power - made Civil War much worse - more casualties
Seized power without the support of majority of population (elections 1917
Bolsheviks did not win)
Millions suffered for his ideals
Structure of the CP
Party Structure
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Politburo - Decision making body - 7 people
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Orgburo - Organizing body 
Central Committee - Runs the Communist Party - 1500 - 2000 people
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Communist Party of the Soviet Union - members elected from regions
Secretary-General
The Secretariat
- Appoints people to carry out decisions
Government Structure
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Sovnarkom - (Council of People’s Commissars) - Ministers in cabinet control and direct
government departments - Commissar for War etc.
}
All Russian congress of Soviets
Fight for Leadership: of the CP
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Stalin had powerful position in CP - started manipulating CP in regard to Lenin
before Lenin’s death
Lenin’s Testament - warned of Stalin - rude etc - not a good leader - not made public
Trotsky - planned Nov. Revolution, well-known figure, believed in Permanent
Revolution, controlled Red Army, more extreme views
The struggle for power - Battle for leadership - battle of ideas & people
Left Wing - Permanent Revolution, pure communism
Right Wing - move towards socialism
Stalin sided with the Left wing - Kamenev & Zinoviev to oust Trotsky - Trotsky lost
his job as Commissar for War - no longer controlled Red Army
Stalin then sided with Right wing, Bukharin, to oust - Kamenev & Zinoviev - they
both lost their jobs in the Politburo
1927 - Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev expelled from party
1929 Stalin then turned on Bukharin (who supported NEP) - NEP stopped - Bukharin
removed from his post
1929 - Stalin 50 and undisputed leader!
Stalin
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From Georgia - born 1879
Born a peasants - other CP leaders - middle class
Smart, educated in seminary
1902 - 1913 - arrested and exiled to Siberia 8 times - escaped on 8 occasions
Prison camps changed his name to Stalin - man of steel
Editor of Pravda (Truth)
1917 Nov. Revolution - Commissar for Nationalities
1922 - General Secretary
1929 - undisputed leader of CP
Mid 1930’s undisputed dictator of Russia - largest country on Earth
The Purges 1934 - 1938
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Millions of C.Party members, the army arts and sciences arrested and either sent to
the labour camps of shot.
Public show trials - old Bolsheviks confessed to crimes against the Soviet Union.
Stalin purged the Communist Party of all people who might oppose him.
The Purges began when KIROV, a leading C.Party member, was murdered outside his
office. Stalin used the fear created by KIROV’s murder to order arrests.
KIROV was very popular and there was talk of removing Stalin as the C.Party leader
and putting in place KIROV as the leader.
1934 - Zinoviev, Kamenev - accused of murdering KIROV. Confessed at trial,
confessions broadcast - C.Party members executed. Imp. To get the confessions so
as conspiracy against Stalin and the Party could be proved.
1937 Bukharin, Yagoda, Rykov - to dangerous to have men like this around who knew
to much about the old days.
Under torture and risk of harm to family these men confessed.
Of the 1,961 delegates at the 17th Party Congress - where KIROV was applauded
longer than Stalin, 1,108 were arrested.
The Purges:
How did they effect the People?
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Stalin’s regime was one of fear and terror
No one spoke out against C.Party or Stalin
NKVD - secret police
No one felt safe
End of the purges in 1938 - purges were out of control - Stalin called an end to the
purges and then purged the NKVD.
Stalin purged the NKVD - so no knowledge of what had happened would be available.
Stalin’s position was now unchallengeable.
No one even had memories of the old Revolutionary War Heroes - Stalin could now
re-write history.
WHY did Stalin PURGE RUSSIA - consolidate his rule - for selfish reasons but also
because he believed he was the only person that could industrialize Russia and
secure Russia from attack by Hitler.
Collectivization
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In May 1929, the new Five-Year Plan for agriculture announced 5 million households were to be
put into collective farms by 1932-33.
Stalin introduced collectivization because:
1. Agriculture was very backward - needed to mass produce food with new technology and
methods of farming. Couldn’t do this while farm lots where small.
2. More efficient farming - less peasants need to work land - releasing them to work in
industry.
3. Easier for state to obtain grain from collectives rather than individuals.
4. Collectivization was the socialist/communist way to farm the land.
Very urgent and wanted to introduce Collectivization in 4 years! WHY! Food crisis of 1920’s peasants producing less because it was taken off them for little pay - made more selling it at
markets than from state. Peasants hid grain etc. Stalin need to remove the control the peasants
had over food. The food was need for the cities, the army and the new industrial towns.
The tool Stalin used to break the peasants stranglehold on grain - COLLECTIVIZATION
Stalin blamed the Kulaks, or rich peasants - who where usually still poor but the most efficient
of the peasants - many killed and sent to Siberia
Collectivization
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1.
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Peasants were encouraged to put their individual plots of land together to form a collective
farm or KOLKHOZ.
Hand over animals and tools to the farm collective.
Work together and share everything - inc. what was produced.
Sell some of the produce to the state for a low price and in return the state would provide
farm machinery and help the peasants to farm more efficiently.
Where other types of collective farms - machinery was shared but ownership of land was
private or where state owned land BUT Kolkhoz was preferred type by the Communist
Government.
How was Collectivization carried out then - as most peasants where not in favour.
OGPU - state police - sent to country side to persuade peasants - sign contracts demanding
to be collectivized - animals, implements and buildings taken from Kulaks - form the basis of
the new farm. Those who refused where shot or sent to labour camps.
Dekulakisation - was central to the collectivisation process. Stalin need to blame some one kulaks were blamed for everything that went wrong Stalin used hatred to whip up hysteria to
liquidate the Kulak class. Kulaks barely even existed - usually just the most efficient farmers
with a few animals and tools.
Stalin said “We must liquidate the kulaks as a class.’
Kulak’s & the gulag’s
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Kulak’s were the supposed wealthy peasants who need to be eliminated so as Collectivization
could take place.
Gulag’s were Prison Camps were the Kulak’s were sent if they were not shot. Millions of
Kulaks died in these prison camps of severe weather exposure, disease or malnutrition.
Conditions were harsh and most never returned to their old way of life.
“ At the end of the workday there were corpses left on the work site. The snow powdered
their faces. One of them was hunched over beneath an overturned wheel-barrow; he had
hidden his hands in his sleeves and frozen to death in that position. Someone had frozen with
his head bent down between his knees. Two were frozen back to back leaning against each
other… At night the sledges went out and collected them…And in the summer bones remained
form corpses which had not been removed in time, and together with the shingle they got
into the concrete of the last lock at the city of Belomorsk and will be preserved there
forever.”
Effects of Collectivization
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Fierce resistance to collectivization - peasants refused to hand over their animals, tools etc.
Preferring to slaughter and eat them or sell the meat than hand them over. Peasants burnt
crops, tools and houses rather than hand them over to the state.
Agriculture was disrupted.
Famine in 1932 - 13 million people died due to collectivization and the resulting famine
State was in control of grain - Govt. could now commandeer food from the peasants at
incredibly low prices.
Govt. acquired the additional working force for industrialization.
Loss of expertise of Kulak class
1928 - 1934 - decline in agricultural produce
1940 - agricultural figures reached those of 1914
Industrialization
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5 Year Plans:
1928 - 1932 - heavy industry focused on - coal, iron, oil, steel and electricity. Unrealistic and
unbelievably high targets set. But much was achieved - electric output almost trebled. 1,500
new industrial plants built, 100 new towns built.
1933 - 1937 - Heavy industry focused on again but communications also important - esp.
railways. New industries such as chemical and metallurgy.
1937 - 1941 - ran for only 3 years and WWII interrupted. As war approached more
resources put into developing armaments - tanks, planes & weapons.
Specialist - brought in from other countries to build infrastructure - dams etc.
Single Managers - intro. Single managers - workers control left behind.
Spectacular Achievements - spectacular building projects held up as showpieces of
Communist/Soviet success. Exp. Moscow Metro, Volga Canal etc.
Stakhanov’s - workers were made to work harder through punishment, awards and propaganda - the
Stakhanov story was a set up but people tried to live up to his achievements to receive
rewards.
Cultural Change under Stalin
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Stalin controlled the Russian peoples ideas through art, education and propaganda.
The Arts - writers and artists were censored. They had much less freedom than in the
experimental 1920’s. Artists were forced to glorify Stalin.
Education - strictly controlled. Discipline and examinations - abolished in the 1920’s - was
brought back in 1934. History was rewritten - how Stalin wanted it to be taught.
The Church - church was hit hard - looted, bishops, priest exiled or killed etc.
The Cult of Stalin - Stalin was glorified as an almost god-like super-being. Posters, art,
education, and propaganda used to do this. As stated Stalin Changed history - taught that he
played a much greater role in the revolution and people such as Trotsky were omitted.
Role of Women - abortion, free-love and divorce of 1920’s was out - family was back in. Famine,
divorce etc of late 1920’s, early 1930’s - vast army of homeless children. State now encouraged
families to stay together. Divorce was made harder and restrictions placed on abortion. Creches
and childcare readily available so women could work. Women could work in all industries and did.
Living standards increased but still food shortages.
Little improvements in housing conditions.
Leisure - sport and fitness encouraged to improve the general health of Soviet Unions men and
women. Collective farms played big role in entertainment - films, festivals, clubs etc.
Political Rule under Stalin
1929 onwards
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Terror/Fear Regime
Totalitarian Society - ruled by Stalin.
Censorship of papers, books, art etc. all forms of media
Cult of Stalin - re-writing history - Education used as a tool to paint Stalin as “God like”
Propaganda
No people representation
No alternative political groups - elimination of political groups/opponents.
Labour Camps - few survived harsh conditions. Camps all around Soviet Union - worst in
Siberia. Terrible, harsh conditions - work, food, disease, rats, fleas, bed bugs, extreme
weather conditions etc.
Political Rule under the Tsar
1900
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Terror/Fear Regime
Totalitarian Society - ruled by Nic II.
Censorship of papers, books, art etc. all forms of media
Tsar as ‘Little father’ - chosen by God - Education via Russian Orthodox Church they instilled this into the peasants or you weren’t educated. - Education a tool.
Propaganda
No people representation
No alternative political groups - elimination of political groups/opponents.
Labour Camps - few survived harsh conditions. Camps all around Russia - worst in
Siberia. Terrible, harsh conditions - work, food, disease, rats, fleas, bed bugs,
extreme weather conditions etc.
Political Rule under Lenin
1917 - 1924
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Red Terror/War Communism - win civil war
NEP
Censorship of papers, books, art etc. all forms of media
Equality of women
Education -Massive literacy program - inform peasants about benefits of Communism
Propaganda
No people representation
No alternative political groups - elimination of political groups/opponents.
Labour Camps - few survived harsh conditions. Camps all around Russia - worst in
Siberia. Terrible, harsh conditions - work, food, disease, rats, fleas, bed bugs, extreme
weather conditions etc.
The disagreements between Trotsky and Stalin, and then between Stalin and Zinoviev
and Stalin and Bukharin, were genuine disagreements about policy, about economic
organization, about the problems of increasing agricultural production. In Lenin’s day
these would have been hammered out among the party leaders. Though Lenin’s
personality was such that his views usually were finally accepted, people were not
penalized for voting against or speaking out against him. They were certainly not killed.
Economic Development under
Stalin
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The Planned Economy
5 Year Plans: 1928 - 1932
1933 - 1937
1938 - 1941 - interrupted by WWII
Make the workers work harder - Stakhanov - Impossible Production Levels
Industrialization - bring Russia into the 20th Century.
Collectivization - pulling of farming resources
Russia became a world power - evidence Cold War, Space Race.
Industry grew - unprecedented levels of industrial output - iron, steel, electricity.
Agricultural produce increase - unprecedented output of agricultural produce.
The Victory of Communism?
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The 5 Year Plans - despite the exaggerated Communist Propaganda surrounding
them - achieved remarkable outcomes.
Russian industrial output in the period 1928 - 1940 increased 7 fold - which placed
Russia amongst the world’s leading industrial powers.
Collectivization was less successful but achieved what Stalin needed - control over
agricultural produce.
Russia became world power globally - PROOF - cold war, space race
But what was the cost of this - human life, misery and suffering - Kulaks, Civil War,
millions of Peasants, War Communism, Famine’s of 1921 & 1932, Purges, Trotsky,
Bukharin, Yagoda, Rykov, The Tsar and his family.
8-12 million died in the famine in the Ukraine, more died in Siberia on the White
Seas Canal project.
The Failure of Communism?
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Ridiculously high targets for industrial production - workers pushed to limits,
produce quickly - poor quality produce - pig iron (scrap metal).
Brutal enforcement of Collectivization vastly reduced amount of meat available
WWII Ukraine German invaders were welcomed
Purges slowed economic progress - removal of most experienced men
Almost caused military defeat in first months of WWII - deprived the army of
experienced generals - purged when the secret police was purged.
Russia won the war in spite of Stalin not because of him
Stalin betrayed the ideal of Marxism, of Lenin and of Communism
Stalin and his managers - his communist party - were the ruling elite the bourgeois
of the Tsar
Web Sites to check out for
revision
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http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Rus
sian-Revolution.htm
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http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/R/Russia
nR1.asp