Russia Under Stalin ( )

Rise of Stalin Before 1917 Revolution Stalin helped Lenin in revolutionary activities Before 1917 Revolution Stalin helped Lenin in revolutionary activities After the October Revolution, he was made Commissar of Nationalities After the October Revolution, he was made Commissar of Nationalities During the Civil War, he was successful in defending Petrograd against the Whites’ attack During the Civil War, he was successful in defending Petrograd against the Whites’ attack At the end of 1923, Lenin was dying. Stalin allied himself with other prominent figure to seize power At the end of 1923, Lenin was dying. Stalin allied himself with other prominent figure to seize power

Lenin died in January, 1924 at the age of 54. It opened the way for Stalin and Trotsky to struggle for power. Lenin died in January, 1924 at the age of 54. It opened the way for Stalin and Trotsky to struggle for power. Both Stalin and Trotsky were important assistants of Lenin Both Stalin and Trotsky were important assistants of Lenin Although Trotsky regarded as ‘ an eminent mediocrity’, Stalin was in a strong position since he was the General Secretary of the party Although Trotsky regarded as ‘ an eminent mediocrity’, Stalin was in a strong position since he was the General Secretary of the party

The Power Struggle Besides the position in the Party, there were also ideological conflicts: Besides the position in the Party, there were also ideological conflicts: Trotsky advocated “Permanent World-wide Revolution” Trotsky advocated “Permanent World-wide Revolution” He believed that Socialism in Russia could never be successful until capitalism was overthrown in surrounding countries He believed that Socialism in Russia could never be successful until capitalism was overthrown in surrounding countries Trotsky’s doctrine conflicted with Stalin’s “Socialism in one country” Trotsky’s doctrine conflicted with Stalin’s “Socialism in one country” After a three-stages power struggle, Stalin had established his unchangeable dictatorship After a three-stages power struggle, Stalin had established his unchangeable dictatorship

The Five-Year Plans In order to achieve “Socialism in one country” and transform Russia into a modern industrial state, Stalin carried out the Five –Year Plans In order to achieve “Socialism in one country” and transform Russia into a modern industrial state, Stalin carried out the Five –Year Plans After economic recovery under the NEP, He abandoned it and embarked on his first Five-Year Plan in 1928 After economic recovery under the NEP, He abandoned it and embarked on his first Five-Year Plan in 1928

The First Five Year Plan( ) Aim: Aim: 1. To develop heavy industry; and 1. To develop heavy industry; and 2. establishing collective farms Priority was given to develop mining, machinery manufacturing, tractor production and electricity generating (Heavy industries) Priority was given to develop mining, machinery manufacturing, tractor production and electricity generating (Heavy industries)

Collective Farms In the agricultural field, the small farm owners allowed to exist under the NEP were now ordered to surrender all their land and live-stocks to form collective farms In the agricultural field, the small farm owners allowed to exist under the NEP were now ordered to surrender all their land and live-stocks to form collective farms Peasants were to own and work on these farms under state directions Peasants were to own and work on these farms under state directions Peasants who opposed collectivization were imprisoned, exiled or even executed Peasants who opposed collectivization were imprisoned, exiled or even executed Famine appeared in 1930 since peasant destroyed their crops and live-stocks Famine appeared in 1930 since peasant destroyed their crops and live-stocks

The Second Five-years Plan ( ) The process of industrialization and collectivization continued The process of industrialization and collectivization continued At first it still stressed heavy industries, but later turned to light industries, consumer goods and transportation At first it still stressed heavy industries, but later turned to light industries, consumer goods and transportation The rise of Nazi Germany, Stalin laid greater emphasis on defense industries The rise of Nazi Germany, Stalin laid greater emphasis on defense industries Stalin made some concession to collectivization since there were strong opposition. Stalin allow peasants to keep a small piece of land to grow their own crops Stalin made some concession to collectivization since there were strong opposition. Stalin allow peasants to keep a small piece of land to grow their own crops Agricultural production thus increased Agricultural production thus increased

The Third Five-year Plan ( ) At first it concentrated on the production of consumer goods At first it concentrated on the production of consumer goods The threat of Nazi Germany and the outbreak of WWII, the plan shifted to the production of armaments and defense The threat of Nazi Germany and the outbreak of WWII, the plan shifted to the production of armaments and defense

Overall Effects The Five-year Plans had successfully converted Russia from a backward agricultural country to a world industrial power The Five-year Plans had successfully converted Russia from a backward agricultural country to a world industrial power By 1941 industrial production was 9 times that of 1913, the area of cultivation increased by more than 25% since 1913 By 1941 industrial production was 9 times that of 1913, the area of cultivation increased by more than 25% since 1913 The establishment of a planned economy enabled Russia to prevent unemployment and to get rid of the disastrous effects of the Great Depression The establishment of a planned economy enabled Russia to prevent unemployment and to get rid of the disastrous effects of the Great Depression

However, human labor was mercilessly exploited and personal freedom and even lives sacrificed However, human labor was mercilessly exploited and personal freedom and even lives sacrificed Since the plans emphasized on heavy industries, the living quality of Russian did not improve Since the plans emphasized on heavy industries, the living quality of Russian did not improve Quantitatively and qualitatively, by western criteria, standards of Production were still low Quantitatively and qualitatively, by western criteria, standards of Production were still low

The Great Purge ( ) Stalin was confident that the elimination of the “Old Bolsheviks” in the party and army was the precondition for the establishment of his personal dictatorship Stalin was confident that the elimination of the “Old Bolsheviks” in the party and army was the precondition for the establishment of his personal dictatorship 8 million people were arrested, tried, sentenced to concentration camps or executed. Near all those who had worked with Lenin to make the revolution a success, with the exception of Stalin, fell victims in the Great Purge 8 million people were arrested, tried, sentenced to concentration camps or executed. Near all those who had worked with Lenin to make the revolution a success, with the exception of Stalin, fell victims in the Great Purge

The Constitution of 1936 Stalin introduced a constitution in 1936 to justify his personal rule and to give the appearance of democracy to Western countries Stalin introduced a constitution in 1936 to justify his personal rule and to give the appearance of democracy to Western countries The Supreme Soviet was composed of two Houses: the Soviets of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities The Supreme Soviet was composed of two Houses: the Soviets of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities Candidates were nominated and voted by citizens over 18, but the candidates were all from the Communist Party Candidates were nominated and voted by citizens over 18, but the candidates were all from the Communist Party

The Supreme Soviet had a Presidium. The Chairman of Presidium was the head of USSR The Supreme Soviet had a Presidium. The Chairman of Presidium was the head of USSR The Supreme Soviet also elected a Council of People’s Commissars The Supreme Soviet also elected a Council of People’s Commissars The power held in the hand of the Communist Party, headed by the Secretary-General, thus he was the real ruler of the country The power held in the hand of the Communist Party, headed by the Secretary-General, thus he was the real ruler of the country

Stalinist Russia - a totalitarian state State control over economy: State control over economy: Five-years Plans and Collectivization Five-years Plans and Collectivization State control over society State control over society All decision were made by the Communist Party All decision were made by the Communist Party Intellectuals were subject to strict supervision Intellectuals were subject to strict supervision Secret police were employed to spy upon the people Secret police were employed to spy upon the people

State control over education State control over education All student, teacher and textbooks were controlled by the Communist Party All student, teacher and textbooks were controlled by the Communist Party Students were taught to loyal to the Party Students were taught to loyal to the Party

Foreign policy Since Stalin’s idea of “Socialism in one state”, he supported of the Comintern was a low profile Since Stalin’s idea of “Socialism in one state”, he supported of the Comintern was a low profile The rise of Hitler alarmed Stalin, he then sought a closer relations with the non-Fascist states The rise of Hitler alarmed Stalin, he then sought a closer relations with the non-Fascist states He joined the League of Nations in 1934 He joined the League of Nations in 1934 He also signed military pacts and non-aggressive pacts with countries such as France, Czechoslovakia and Poland He also signed military pacts and non-aggressive pacts with countries such as France, Czechoslovakia and Poland He also signed non-aggression Pact with Hitler He also signed non-aggression Pact with Hitler