The Soviet Union under StalinStalin's control over Russia meant that freedom was the one thing that people lost. Artists painted pictures glorifying Stalin  and he dominated many pictures.

He gained the nickname "Uncle Joe" which was an attempt to develop an image of a kind, homely man who was the ‘father’ of all Russians.

The Soviet Union under StalinBUT: the country did become a major industrial nation by 1939 and her progress was unmatched in the era of the Depression in America and western Europe where millions were unemployed.

People had access to much better medical care some 10 years before the National Health Service was introduced in GB.

The Soviet Union under StalinThe Five-Year Plan – Reasons

1. To make the USSR stronger than other countries- By modernizing USSR’s economy through rapid industrialization.-Was behind the other countries-Had to recover from effects of war

The Soviet Union under StalinThe Five-Year Plan – Reasons

2. To make the USSR a socialist country-Farming and industry in the hands of the country.

The Soviet Union under StalinThe Five-Year Plan – Reasons3. To catch up with other countries and defend against foreign attacks.-Western countries did not trust USSR-Was threatened in 1927 –Britain and China-USSR surrounded by countries which hated Communism – Poland, Finland and Romania

The Soviet Union under Stalin

The Five-Year Plan – Reasons

4. To get the support for the Communists through the workers and eliminate remaining opposition.

The Soviet Union under StalinFeatures of the Five-Year Plans1. Developing Industries- Heavy industries such as iron and steel.- Producing energy for factories eg. Coal, oil

and electricity- Methods:

Modernised existing industriesSet up new industriesRelocated industries to more areasUsed a huge labour force

The Soviet Union under StalinResults for the industries

Stalin’s aims for the major industries- Triple output of heavy industries- Double output of Consumer goods industries- Electrical energy to rise sixfold

The Soviet Union under StalinResults for the industries

- Doubled coal, iron and electricity production- Oil production increased- Completed huge projects – Stalingrad

Tractor Works, Magnitogorsk metal industry

The Soviet Union under StalinFeatures of the Five-Year Plans2. Aim: To build roads, canals and railways in

order - to link mines and factories to town

- transport foodstuff to the towns

Used many workers, mainly prisoners in labour camps.

The Soviet Union under StalinFeatures of the Five-Year Plans

Undertook 3 ambitious projects:- The Baltic-White Sea Canal- The Moscow Volga Canal- The Turkestan-Siberian Railway

The Soviet Union under StalinHow were the workers affected by the Plan• Aim: To fulfil the targets set up by 5 yr plan• Introduced new work practices- Introduced ‘uninterrupted work week- Punished absenteeism with sack and

eviction from housing- Encouraged competition between factories- Introduced internal passports to prevent

workers from moving to other towns to look for easier jobs

The Soviet Union under StalinHow were the workers affected by the Plan Stakhonovite

The Soviet Union under StalinHow were the workers affected by the Plan• Created the Stakhanovite- Form Aleksei Stakhanovite who worked out

a new way to extract coal and extracted 14 times more.

- Became a title given to any worker who produced above targets

- Rewards – Higher pays, extra food, new housing, medals and special holidays.

The Soviet Union under StalinEffects of 5 Yr PlanShort-term effects1. Standard of living so worsened.no consumer goods, more industrial products.2. Consumer goods became scarce3. Workers treated badly4. Massive movement of peasants into cities.

The Soviet Union under StalinEffects of 5 Yr PlanLong-term effects• Huge increases in production of oil, coal,

electricity.• Transformed USSR into an industrial country• Made Russia better-off- Standard of living improved in mid 1930s

with better education and medical cure- Everyone had jobs.

The Soviet Union under StalinEffects of 5 Yr PlanLong-term effects• Enabled Russia to defend itself better- Could manufacture war equipment- Had moved war industrial centres away from

the west into more secure areas.

The Soviet Union under StalinThe collectivisation campaign in the USSR, 1930s. The slogan reads: "We kolkhoz farmers are liquidating the kulaks as a class, on the basis of complete collectivisation."

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. CollectivizationHow is collectivization organised?

Small farms grouped into larger units

Run by party officials

State

Part of the produce given to state/Sold to state at fixed low prices

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. CollectivizationReasons for collectivization• To make farming more efficient by introduction of

mechanisation.• To free up workers for factories in the cities• To increase food production for the workers in the

cities• To produce surplus food and sell it abroad for

capital to build new industries• NOTE: The first collective farms called the Kolkhoz

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. CollectivizationOpposition to Collectivization• The Kulaks: Were richer farmers who owned land

and some animals- slaughtered animals- burnt land and crops

• Stalin decided to get rid (liquidate) the kulaks- sent to labour camps/gulags- Deported to Siberia or deserts of Central Asia

• Result: About 13m kulak families died.

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. CollectivizationEffects to Collectivization Short Term effects• Kulaks destroyed animals and crops,

leading to famines.• Famines, especially in southern Russia –

7m people died.• Fall in standard of living in the countryside

as food/clothing were scarce.

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. CollectivizationEffects to Collectivization Long Term effects• Mechanisation, leading to

- more efficient farming- less labour needed on farms- freed farm workers to work in factories

• Speeded industralisation• Helped USSR to become better-off

- End 1930: USSR, 1 of the leading industrial powers.- Able to defeat Germany in WWII.

The Soviet Union under Stalin3. Collectivization

The Soviet Union under StalinStalin’s purges• Aims : Remove anyone who threatened

Stalin’s position.: Terrorise people into obeying orders and to work hard

• Immediate Cause- The Kirov murder of 1934 – Stalin claimed the

murder was a conspiracy against himself and the Communist Party – Stalin passed a law to arrest and execute anyone found to be against the govt.

The Soviet Union under StalinStalin’s purges• How Stalin dealt with opposition- 1934-38: Victims were arrested, imprisoned,

murdered, sent to labour camps or simply disappeared.

- Included party members, scientists, priests, factory managers, army officers

- Started a series of show trials where the accused were forced to publicly confess to their crimes

- Eg. Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin.

The Soviet Union under StalinEffects of Stalin’s purges1. Stalin became more powerful- Got rid of rivals and critics- Ensured no one would challenge him (even in

WWII when USSR was doing badly)2. USSR weakened- Removed capable leaders in the army- Replaced leaders with younger less experienced

officials.- Led to Russia’s early defeats against Germany

The Soviet Union under StalinEffects of Stalin’s purges3. Made life miserable and difficult for ordinary

citizens.4. Damage to Stalins reputation5. Slowing down of industrial expansion due to

purging of scientists, engineers and factory managers

6. Gaps in the govt as party officials, administrators and politicians were purged.

The Soviet Union under StalinLife for the people in Stalin’s USSR• Freedom of Speech denied• Education and all forms of media

controlled by NKVD.• Posters, radio broadcasts & press

emphasized loyalty to the party and Stalin• Artists, musicians and performers had to

please Stalin with their work• Created cult of Stalin

The Soviet Union under StalinLife for the people in Stalin’s USSR• Created cult of Stalin- Displayed portraits in public places- Named towns, cities, schools and rivers

after Stalin• Encouraged worship of Stalin but

discouraged other forms of religion- Closed down churches and mosques- Arrested Church leaders.