Stalin and Russia•Stalin’s rise to power

•The Purges•Stalin’s Economic Policies

What factors meant that Stalin came to power after

the death of Lenin?

• Luck• Stalin’s Political Strengths• Stalin’s personal qualities• Trotsky’s weaknesses.

If asked about 3 factors, this is the least important.

How did luck help Stalin come to power?

It was lucky that:• Lenin’s testament was never published• Lenin died at a good time (earlier and Stalin

wouldn’t have had enough power)• Trotsky was ill through most of the power

struggle.

What strengths of Stalin helped him come to

power?• He was in charge of appointing offices. He could

give good posts to his “allies” and bad posts to his opponents where they couldn’t get much support.

• He had played a vital role in Bolshevik history so he was admired and considered loyal.

• His roles meant that he was a good ally to have for leading politicians and they were equally useful to him.

• He advocated the popular “socialism in one country”

What personality traits of Stalin helped helped him

come to power?• He was cunning, had no qualms about

playing people off one another. He tricked Trotsky about Lenin’s funeral so it looked like he was much closer to Lenin.

• He was considered mediocre and not a threat until it was too late.

• Didn’t mind doing boring, administrative tasks – which were vital to his plan.

What weaknesses of Trotsky helped Stalin

come to power?• He was high minded and looked down on his

colleagues. They respected him but didn’t “like” him.

• “The party’s most eminent mediocrity”, didn’t see Stalin as a threat.

• He didn’t believe in political alliances and dirty politics.

• Used to be a Menshevik so was not seen as loyal.

When did Russia become the USSR?

• Just before Lenin died.

What 2 major economic policies did Stalin make?

• 5 year Plans• Collectivisation

What did the 5 year plans aim to do?

• Increase production in heavy goods• Modernise the industry• Improve agriculture and economy• Catch up with other countries• Equip army for predicted war• Get power, control, order and discipline.

What measures were taken to enforce the 5

year plans?• Ambitious targets were set. Fines for not complying.• Whole cities built where there were rich natural resources• Dams built so hydropower could be used in industry.• Railways and canal built to improve transportation (e.g.

Moscow underground)• Siberia's rich mineral exploited• Spare money ploughed into agriculture• GOSPLAN drew up plans• Labour Camps• Propaganda

What were the successes of the 5 year plans?

• Production increased• No unemployment• Women started to work• More doctors/ head than Britain. • Basic education• Saved Russia from WWII defeat• Good for propaganda (promote communism)• Overtaking Britain and Germany• Soviet workers had slightly better living conditions• Alexei Stakhanov – a hero story.

What were the failures of the 5 year plans?

• Human cost (100 000 died on Belmor canal)

• Overcrowding• Racism• Not many consumer goods for normal

people.

What were the aims of collectivisation?

• Get peasants to use machinery• To modernise farming• Supply materials for 5 year plans• Fund the 5 year plans• Control over a large amount of the population• Eliminate Kulaks• Feed growing population• Introduce communist system

What were the measures taken to enforce collectivisation?• Farms groups together (Kolkhoz), government owned.

Could keep small plots of land for personal use.• Animals and tools pooled together• Given free grain and steady income• Machinery make available by government at Motor tractor

stations• 90% of food and produce would be sold to the state and

profits shared out.• Terror and propaganda turned people away from the Kulaks. • Requisition parties took all food, all of it if you refused.

What were the successes of Collectivisation?

• Nearly all the kulaks were gone by 1941• After it had been introduced there was no more

famine• 2 million peasants started using machinery.• Foreign experts taught new ways to farm.• Nearly all agriculture was organised in a collective

system by 1941.• Communist practise achieved• Eventually 30+ million tons of grain produced a year.

What were the failures of collectivisation?

• Initially caused a famine• Peasants didn’t like growing flax not food• Kulaks unhappy about have to give land

and produce• Kulaks burned land and killed animals in

protest• Peasants were suspicious of government• Didn’t work in the short term.

What were the purges?

• The systematic elimination of opponents by Stalin.

• Million’s of people imprisoned in labour camps (gulags)

What force did Stalin use to control the USSR

NKVD

When did the purges begin?

• 1934, when Kirov, leader of the Leningrad communist party was murdered.

• This was used as an excuse.

How did Stalin weaken the army?

• By getting rid of able officers that he saw as a threat. 1 in 5 officers were killed in the purges.

What cosmetic measures did Stalin introduce ?

• Gave people free speech and election. • In fact, all newspapers and magazines had

to be approved and only communist candidates could stand for election.