Stalin’s Dictatorship Sara Slusher

Stalin Gains Power A power struggle among communist leaders, the chief contesters being Trotsky and Joseph Stalin. In 1920 Stalin became the general secretary of the party, he used that position to build a loyal following who owed their jobs to him.

Stalin versus Trotsky Lenin had expressed grave doubts about Stalin, stating he was “too rude”. At Lenin’s death Trotsky and Stalin jockeyed for position. Trotsky urged support for a worldwide revolution against capitalism, while Stalin wanted socialism at home first. Stalin put his own supporters into top jobs and isolated Trotsky within the party. Trotsky fled to exile in 1921 and was later murdered in Mexico by a Stalinist agent.

The Five-Year Plans Once in power Stalin set out to make the Soviet Union into a modern industrial power. In 1928 he proposed the first several “five-year plans” aimed at building heavy industry, improving transportation, and increasing farm output. To achieve economic growth, he brought all economic activity under government control. The Soviet Union developed a command economy. The government owned all businesses.

Industrial Growth Stalin’s five-year plans set high production goals, especially for heavy industry and transportation. Between 1928 and 1936, large factories, hydroelectric power stations, and huge industrial complexes rose across the Soviet Union. Oil, coal, and steel production grew, mining expanded and new railroads were built.

Mixed Results Despite the impressive progress in some areas, Soviet workers had little to show for their sacrifices; although some former peasants did improve their lives, becoming skilled factory workers or managers. For others, wages were low and consumer goods were scarce. Soviet Union continued to produce well in heavy industry, but failed to match the capitalist world in making consumer goods.

Revolution in Agriculture Stalin also brought agriculture under government control. He forces peasants to give up their private plots and live on either state owned farms or collectives. Peasants were aloud to keep their homes and personal belongings, but farm tools and animals were turned over to the collective.

A Ruthless Policy Peasants resisted collectivization by killing farm animals, destroying tools, and burning crops, and the government responded with brutal force. Stalin targeted Kulaks, or wealthy peasants, for special treatment. The government confiscated Kulaks’ land and sent them to labor camps where thousands were executed or died from overwork.

Effects The government seized all the grain, leaving the peasants to starve, leading to a terrible famine. Between 5 and 8 million people died in Ukraine alone, millions more in other parts of the Soviet Union. During the 1930s, grain production inched upward, but meat, fruits, and veggies remained in short supply. Feeding the population would remain a major problem for the rest of the Soviet Union’s existence.

The Great Purge In 1934 Stalin launched the Great Purge, in which him and his secret police targeted Old Bolsheviks, army heroes, industrial managers, writers, and ordinary citizens. Between 1936 and 1938 Stalin staged “show trials” in Moscow, where former Communist leaders confessed to all kinds of crimes against the government. At least 4 million were purged during the Stalin years; almost 800,000 were killed. 90% of the nations military officers were purges also.

Foreign Policy Between 1917 and 1939, the Soviet Union pursued divided foreign policy goals. Soon after the revolution, Lenin organized the Communist International, or Comintern, aiding revolutionary grasps around the world. The Soviet Union sought to join the League of Nations. In the 1930s Stalin urged Britain and France to join in an alliance against Germany, but western suspicions of Soviet intentions made this impossible.