Russia - Autocracy to Communism revision cards

Alternative transcript:

in it Slavonic culture and traditions However humiliation like the defeat in the Crimean War (1865) could spark reform Keywords Zemstva: Elected local councils (power was limited) Mir: the traditional village community Intelligentsia: Educated members of Russian society who wanted to see the country reform along western lines. Autocracy: The absolute rule of one person. The Tsar Nicholas Il's personal issues • Pobedonostsev: Nicholas was tutored by this man. Known as the "Great Inquisitor" because of his repressive attitudes. He had a deep hatred for liberalism and democracy. Believed in Programs and that the "dark masses" should not be allowed to vote as they were too uneducated and vulgar. He said representative government was the "great lie of our time" • Easily Manipulated and Swayed: Especially by his wife Alixandra and Pobedonostsev later on Rasputin •Lacked Imagination: Many of his policies were just a continuation or modification of older ones introduced by his father Alexander III. • Ministers: He mistrusted most of his ministers and yet was incapable of carrying out the task of ruling the vast Russian empire alone. Nicholas Il's Policies Russification This Restricted the influence of non Russian national minorities with in the empire by emphasising all things Russian. Aim: To impose Russian ways and values on all the people within the empire Implications: •Russian declared as official language causing all legal proceedings to be performed in Russian. Public office closed for those not fluent in Russian. •Discrimination was more open and vindictive •Over 600 new polices introduced to pose heavy social, political & economic restrictions on the 5 million strong Jewish population •Jews lived in Ghettos and suffered from Pogroms(fierce violent attacks) Russification and therefore Tsardom actively encouraged this. Group called "black hundreds" were notorious for Pogroms. Result: Policy alienated half of Russia's population. This led to large pockets of anti-tsarist minorites forming across the empire and many people joined political parties or just developed a hatred of Tsardom. Jewish Bund formed in 1897: this was a Jewish anti-tsarist movement Nicholas Il's polices: Witte In the 1890s industry grow so quickly the term "The Great Spurt" was used. Witte thought Russia needed to raise capital. So he... •Negotiated Loans from abroad. Protective Tariffs were set up as a means of protecting Russia's domestic industries State Capitalism This is the direction and control of the economy by the government using its central power and authority Witte believed that modernization could only be achieved though this. Foreign help Invited foreign experts and workers to advice. Plus engineers and managers from Europe. Gold Standard implemented on currency. Making it stable and encouraging FDI in Russia. This was mainly successful. But penalised consumers at home. Since the higher value currency made products already scarce more expensive. Remember! The Tsar only wanted to modernise to gave it a strong military force!! 1885 onwards - 50% of government spending on military Foreign Loans Key Developments Private Enterprise State Capitalism The Great Spurt Population growth Urban Growth (urbanization) Witte's reforms Capital investment Industrialization Railways most of the capital was invested in this. Called the "transport revolution" year 1881 1891 1900 1913 Miles of track 13,270 19,510 33,270 43,850 (+230% increase) Railways Good • Annual production (millions of tons) Oil Grain 1890 1913 Coal Type 5.9 Groups 35.4 Pig Iron Witte impacts: Good & Bad Importance 0.89 3.9 4.1 9.1 • Urbanisation - working classes reached aprox. 11 million •Growth of railways by 230% in 30 years Russia became the 4th largest economy 36 • In 1900-economy expanding at 8% per annu 90 Populists (revolutionaries) •Peoples will •Social Revolutionaries (SRs) Bad No doubt his policies were good, but did have drawbacks Political Opposition to the Tsarist system Assassinations •Contributed to many rising and unrest • Made Russia too dependant of foreign loans • Neglected areas such as light engineering Paid no attention to agriculture • Growth figures are not as impressive as their was a huge increase in population at the time However! His freedom of polices were restricted and he often was told to focus more on military. Witte was disliked by the royal court and therefore not trusted. This meant the very system he was trying to protect restricted him despite his ability. Liberals (Reformists) No real organised party pre 1900 •Octoberists •Kadets •Limited as government just ignored requests Backwardness of Russia made them weak Marxists Social democrats (SDS) (later split in Bol + Men) Industrial unrest would of occurred with out them because of industrialization, so easy to over state their importance at this time! Mensheviks Plekhanov (for founder of Russian Marxism) •Martov A mass organisation with membership open to all Open, democratic discussion with the party. Votes of members made decisions. Alliance with other parties Bolshevik - Menshevik Split (SD) Causes Territorial disputes •Minster or war belied Nicholas wanted to expand empire into Asia further. (Nicholas cousins Kaiser Wilhelm once called Nic the Admiral of the pacific) • Witte wanted to expand economy into the far east Obtain an ice free port •Distract from domestic issues (Plehve said "a little victories war to stem revolution) Port Arthur fell in Jan 1905 * Russian surrender of Mukden in Feb 1905 Disagreement over the party size had •Lenin fundamentally split the party. Lenin claimed his side were the majority which means Bolshinstov in Russian. They split into two Marxist parties in 1903 Disagreement The party Decision making Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 Strategy View of Japanese • Saw them as an inferior nation and was very racist towards it. Referred to as "yellow danger, the new hordes of Mongols with modern tec" . Russian fleet destroyed at Tsushima, may 1905 (after sailing for 8 months to get their was sunk immediately Russia turned it into a patriotic struggle. War was nothing less than the defence of Russia's European identity against the Asian hordes. Bolsheviks A tight knit, exclusive organisation of professional revolutionaries Authority to be exercised by the Central Committee of the party No cooptation with other parties Outcome Russia lost, but why? Russia's Weakness • Military poorly equipped • Logistic problems in running a war from 6000 miles away Commanders using 19th century tactics (bayonet charges) Underestimated Japs Japans Strength • Under Maji emperors Japan had rapidly modernized Better equipped & prepared Effect National humiliation •Showed incompetence of government •Excited the unrest in the country (this shown by the assassination of Plehve in 1904, in Warsaw this was celebrated by crowds in the streets) Key dates from 1905 & aftermath 1905 Jan Bloody Sunday 1905 May Union of Unions formed 1905 June The Potemkin Mutiny 1905 Oct October manifesto - Duma / St Petersburg Soviet formed Moscow Soviet formed Fundamental Laws / First Duma 1905 Nov 1906 1907 1907-12 1911 1912 1912-14 Throughout 1905 had been instances of troops refusing to fire/disperse on unarmed peasants Second Duma Third Duma Stolypin Assassinated Lena Goldfields Forth Duma/ WW1 Potemkin Mutiny June 1905 Crew of the Battle ship Prince Potemkin mutinied at sea. This was over the bad food and water they were given. Crew took over the ship from the officers and sailed to Odessa Their was serious anti- goverment strikes in Odessa and the crew were greaten as Heroes. Troops were sent in. Marched though with bayonets, trampling over people and driving many into the sea. 1000s dead! Very worrying for the goverment as a goverment that cannot rely on the loyalty of its armed forces is in a very vulnerable position. Witte feared troops returning form Russo-Japanese war would join the revolution. If this happened, he said "then everything would collapse" Bloody Sunday (22nd January 1905) Aim Father Gapon led a peaceful march of workers and their families to the winter palace to present a petition to the Tsar, begging him to improve conditions However The march caused the police force to panic and they fired on the marchers and charged down by the cavalry! Approximately 200 dead Disorder spreads Because of Russo-Japanese war, Bloody Sunday and all other Russia's problems • Strikes in all major settlements • Terrorism against goverment and landlords (Plehve killed) • Public buildings attacked • large private estates attacked • land and property seized by peasants • Georgia declared itself an independent state • Jews demanded equal rights • Union of Unions formed (called goverment "gang of robbers") Reasons for 1905 Rising Governments own responsibility Repression Taxation leadership Social unrest - Economic recession - Bad harvests Peasants anger over mortgage repayments Workers anger over unemployment and falling wages Russia's humiliation to Japan Liberals Concessions were: • Creation of Duma •Freedom of speech, assembly and worship •Right for political parties to exist • legalising of trade unions These were substantial gains for the liberals who felt satisfied with reform HAPPY!! By October, concession was unavoidable for the Tsar regime. Witte created the October manifesto with the intention to divide the opposition forces (liberals, workers and peasants PROBLEM Rural crisis STOLYPIN'S AIM De-revolutionising the peasantry October Manifesto STOLYPIN'S METHOD The wager of the strong 1905 "De-Revolutionising" the peasants High price of land led to high mortgage (redemption) payments. One of the reasons that peasant joined the 1905 revolution is the fear that government would reposes land. In 1905 government cleared this debt to "de- revolutionise" the peasants Peasants Concessions were: • Mortgage repayments to be slowly reduced then abolished Rioting stopped, decline in lawlessness in countryside Stolypin and the land reform 1906-1911 How to feed Russia's growing population? HAPPY!! Workers Concessions were: • None! With two groups satisfied the goverment opposed only the workers. •Troops who returned from East crushed strikers and seized the Soviet HQ in St Petersburg. Ringleaders (including Trotsky) arrested. • Moscow HQ was burned Destroyed!! Rural Crisis The problem of land shortages and overpopulation of the countryside caused by rapid population growth. Bad harvests in 1890s led to famine in 1891 and 1897. Wager on the strong (1906-07) Stolypin introduced measure to restore peasants sense of security. His aim was to create a layer of prosperous, productive peasants. Whose new wealth would turn them into a Tsarist supporter • Farmers urged to abolish strip system with fenced fields • A Land Bank established, to allow a independent peasant to buy his own land Did it work? Stolypin had little chance of success as Russian peasantry was so backwards and he had so little time to change things. Conservatism (suspicion of change, therefore resistance to it) of most peasants prevented change occurring. Also Stolypin admitted he needed 20 years to achieve success. He was assassinated in 1911 and therefore only got 5, 1905 Impacts (What it showed) 1905 showed that as long as the Tsarist goverment kept its nerve and the army loyal, the forces of protest would find it hand to mount a serious challenge Liberals Few Liberals enjoyed co-operating with the workers. Many were frightened by the primitive forces (dark masses). Liberals betrayed workers and backed out of the revolution, leaving them to be crushed by the troops. Tsardom Tsardom emerged stronger than it had entered 1905. with the loyal support of its armies. Trotsky said about the Tsarist system: "although with a few broken rips, had come out of the experience of 1905 alive and strong" Fundamental Laws April 1906 Despite the concessions the Tsars power was not limited. The Duma was not a limitation of the Tsars autocratic power. This was made clear by the Fundamental Laws. A quote: "No law can come into law with his(Tsars) approval" The Russian Economy after Witte 1906-1914 End of great spurt Global Recession Population explosion in cities Inflation - Unemployment - overcrowding Workers unrest Result: Economy increased, but Russia cant be called a modern industrial state as 4/5 of population are still peasants. Workers had terrible conditions. "At mercy of employers" Dumas 1906-1914 First Duma April-June 1906 Second Duma Feb-June 1907 Before first Duma met the Tsar • Loaned from France to restrict Dumas financial control Issued Fundamental laws • Made Duma "Bi-Cameral" (this split the Duma in two, one chamber elected, another (with right to Veto) were appointed by Tsar) Result: Dumas had no real power, Tsarist regime no intentions of allowing concessions it had made in 1905 Third Duma Nov 07-June 1912 Duma was dominated by Reformist parties, they demanded the Duma have more power, the opposition the Duma presented the Tsar caused him to say "curse the Duma, its all Witte's doing". He then dissolved it after only two months. It achieved nothing (then Vybord Appeal) Why Tsar Kept Duma: Despite the opposition of first two Dumas the Tsar kept them because the Tsar wanted to show Russia as a democratic nation to boast foreign relations and trade, this worked. Forth Duma Nov 12- August 1914 Loss of Kadets seats were filled by SD's and SR's. This caused a clash between the Right-Wing and revolutionaries parties. As well as a clash between the Duma and the Tsarist system once again. Dissolved by Nic ended in disorder So: Stolypin rendered Duma docile by changing voting laws. Peasants and workers lost votes and Tsars supporters gained votes, third and forth Dumas were now PRO Tsar and full of ring wing parties Third Duma more cooperative with government, enabled Stolypin to push though his Land Reforms. Among the 2571 bills it approved were social reforms measures that included the setting up of schools for poor children and national insurance for industrial workers Social reform work continued. But this Duma did criticise the government. An Okhrana report in 1912 blamed the tensions in Russia on the awkward and searching questions the Duma was asking of government policy Growing tensions in Russia, 1911-14 Following Stolypin's assassination in 1911, the various ministers appointed by the Tsar were all incompetent. And just enforced further repression. Terror was used to programs returned to province • From 1911 to 1914 strikes rose from 24 to 2400 • 17000 acts of terrorism (although a lot not political, just mindless) The Lena Goldfields Incident, 1912 Demands from miners in the Lena Goldfields, Siberia, for better pay and better conditions led to the employers appealing to the police. When the police moved in the Miners closed ranks and situation worsened. Resulted in troops firing on miners and killing large numbers Anger among the Moderates (Tsars supporters) In 1913 the Octoberist leader told his party that their aim for "a peaceful, painless transition from the old condemned system to a new order" Had failed. This shows even the Tsars supporters were starting to turn against him due to his governments incompetence to deal with problems Russia's faced. Government remained hostile towards reform, not only economic change needed, but also political, which government was not willing to accept, instead just repressed. After Witte and Stolypin that "might" have saved Tsarism were either ignored or killed Tsarism was doomed. The Vyborg Appeal After the first Duma was dissolved the frustration led to 200 Kadet and Labourists deputies to reassemble in Finland. Here they drew up the "appeal" urging Russia's people to defy Russia's government by... • Refusing to pay taxes Disobeying conscription orders . However Russians did not conduct widespread passive disobedience, but scattered violence occurred. Reaction by Government: violence gave government the excuse for retaliation. Stolypin appointed by Tsar as strongman. Vyborg deputies arrested and banned for re-election into Duma. This led to Stolypins policy of repression. Martial Law proclaimed • Military courts opened and used to quell disturbances • between 1906-1911, 2500 people were executed • Hangman's Noose renamed the "Stolypin Necktie" War and Revolution 1914 August 1st 1915 June-July June 25th August 22nd 1916 December 1st 1917 Feb 18 March 4th Feb 18th Feb 23th Feb 25th Feb 27th Feb 28th March 4TH Germany declares war on Russia Forth Duma suspended Forth Duma reconvened Progressive bloc formed in Duma Nicholas made himself Commander-In-Chief of Russia's armies Rasputin killed by group of aristocrats February revolution Liberals never recovered from humiliation. Which allowed left and right parties to think reform could only be achieved though revolution Strike Begins in Petrograd IWD sees the beginning of widespread workers demonstrations City-wide strike in Petrograd Unofficial meeting of Duma coincides with first meeting of Petrograd soviet Nicholas ii prevented from returning to Petrograd by railway workers PG formed from Duma committee Tsar signs abdication decree Russia's entry into the War Russia's concerns • Growth of United Germany • Formation of Austria- Hungary • Russia saw itself as protector of Slav culture (Balkans, Serbia) • Austro-Hungary& Russia fighting over Balkans (Serbia) Problem: between 1914 & 1917 government spending rose from 4 million roubles to 30 million. Solution • Increased Taxes as home • Heavy borrowing • Abandoned gold standard, thus allowing quantitative easing On 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Serbians who wanted to break away from Austro- Hungarian influences. However this made money worthless. Serve Inflation followed. Wages doubled, but price of food and food quadrupled In July 1914 Nic II sent telegrams to his cousin Kaiser William II regretting the growing crisis between the countries. These are called "Willy-Nicky" exchanges. Impacts of WW1 on Russia (1) Three years of total war proved too much for Russia and it became crippled economically Inflation Value of money sharply declined, creating instability and high prices Food Supplies Dwindled as a result of requisitioning and transport disruption - urban areas suffered shortages Problems: • Requisitioning of horses and fertiliser, lowered production • Inflation made trading unprofitable so peasants stopped selling food. Army had first claim to food Russia mobilised in order to scare of Austria- Hungary (realistic chance) however Germans plan was a lighting quick attack so it mobilised as well (Schrieffer Plan) and declared war on Russia on August the 1st. V • Army priority of transport systems meant food supplies didn't get where they were needed, the cities • Petrograd suffered badly during war, residents easting a quarter of their 1914 diets Germany and Austria- Hungary VS. Russia, Britain And France Transport Broke down under stresses of Total War Problems in 1916/17: • Signalling system on which train network relied broke • blocked lines and trains stranded by engine issues were common 575 stations were no longer capable of handling freight Implications of this: • Food rotted in stranded trains • Pile up of supplies at Archangel port that goods sunk into the ground under the weight of newer goods placed on top. Before war Moscow received 2200 wagons of grain per months, was 700 in February 1917 Lack of food in Urban areas Military shortages of equipment First Months of WW1 Patriotism and unity • Nicholas II became the symbol of nations resistance • French ambassador said about the Tsar "the absolute master of their bodies and souls" shows level of support at start of War. Special Duma session all the deputies pledged themselves to the national struggle • all political pressure disappeared as parties jointed the national struggle Bolsheviks They were against the war so classed as traitors or German spies. Everyone went into hiding. Impacts of WW1 on Russia (2) Role of the Tsar Nicholas being Commander- An-Chief made the survival of Tsardom dependant on Military success The Army Russian army was very strong because of its size, however its crippling weakness was that it was lack of equipment. Problem: Lack of equipment. This was not caused by lack of resources but by poor administration. Transport chaos also effected the army and meant it was often under supplied. Government departments for supplies didn't work well together • Troops even fought bare footed because of lack of hoots. Implication: Russian army was being beaten and were losing the war. Problem: Nic II became commander-In- Chief in order to rally the nation around him. But this made him personally responsible for the war effort. Implication: Nicholas II had to take the blame for Russia's poor war performance, he could no longer blame his other men. Morale After 1914 spike in moral it sunk rapidly and people became very pessimistic Why Morale was low: • Suffering from food shortages • Collapsed transport system • Poor leadership by Nicholas • Large Casualty list from war Implication: • Some soldiers deserted (but so did other countries?) • growth of opposition to Tsardom Growth of Opposition to Tsardom "Progressive Bloc" Duma Recalled In August 1914 Duma voted to be suppressed for duration of the war, this was sign of total support for the Tsar. By 1915 Duma demanded to be recalled as a result of Russia's poor military showing. Dumas deputies tried to pursued Nic to replace his shit cabinet with Duma members. Nic Rejected Denied a direct voice in national policies over half of Duma members formed a "Progressive Bloc "within Duma. Bloc was a supporter of the Tsar trying to persuade him to make concessions. But his unwillingness to co-operate made the Bloc a focal point of political resistance. Not a revolution from below Rasputin Bolsheviks played no part Revolution started by Tsardoms traditional supporters A failure of leadership and nerve at the top A revolution in one city - Petrograd ↓ Not result of social or political movement, just of war An institutional crisis? Brought it to heal Nic's son. Became Alexandra's confidant whilst Tsar was away. "The German woman" and a "mad monk" effectively ran the country. February revolution 1917 (Character) The fact that Rasputin became so prominent with the Tsarist system convinced many the system wasn't worth saving. Soviets 27th February. First meeting of Petrograd Soviets. Represented sailors, soldiers and workers. Formed the Dual Authority with PG From 27th the Soviets and PC became the De Facto government of Russia (De facto means to denote the real situation, even though technically not correct) February revolution 1917 (events) Strikes in major factories: Putilov works 23rd February: International women's day protest turned into bread riot Disorder spreads throughout city Nicholas ordered troops to take control, they changed side and joined By 26th only 1000 of the 150000 garrison in Petrograd hadn't deserted 12 rebellious Duma members create provisional committee Nicholas tries to return to Petrograd but is halted by mutinous troops 4TH: Army advišes Nic to abdicate Dual authority established The October Revolution March 2nd March 12th March 14th April 3rd April 4th April 20th June 16th July 3-6th July 8th August 30th September 25th October 9th October 23-25 V Formation of the Provisional government Stalin and Kamenev arrive In Petrograd Petrograd Soviet issues its "address to the people of the world" Lenin returns Lenin issues April thesis Bolshevik red guards formed Kerensky offensive Failure of July Days Kerensky became prime minister Bolsheviks released to protect Petrograd Bolsheviks gain majority in Soviet Petrograd Soviet set up the Military Revolutionary Committee (MRC) October Revolution, Bolsheviks seize power Provisional Government Dual Authority Initial Balance Considerable cross-over and jointed membership "Soviet order number 1" gave the Soviet effective veto over the government But considerable cooperation in the early months after Romanov fall Petrograd Soviet This enabled the PG to achieve a number of progressive reforms such as • Full civil and religious freedoms •Trade unions legally recognised The April Theses Issued on the 4th of April this set out future Bolshevik Policy He condemned Accommodationsim and all that had happened since the Feb Rev. He instead the Bolsheviks were the only truly revolutionary party and they must; • Abandon all co-operation with other parties • Work for a true revolution • Overthrow the PG • Pass power to the workers • demand authority pass to the soviets Lenin created two slogans to some up his aims "Peace, bread and land" • "All power to the Soviets" The first highlighted the problems in Russia, that could not be solved by the PG because they were only interested in their own classes affairs. That's why he wanted to sweep ministers aside with a completely new class of people, hence the second slogan. Bolsheviks Return All the Bolsheviks came out of exile when they learned of Tsar abdication But their was two views on what they should do... Stalin & Kamenev: Accommodationism These two believed in Accommodationism, this is the idea that Bolsheviks should accept the situation that followed the February Revolution and co-operate with the PG and other parties Lenin: Revolution Before returning his "letters for afar" urged WW1 should be turned into a class war with all armies turning on their governments. On the third of April he arrived in Petrograd and gave a speech. He declared the Feb Revolution had created a "parliamentary- bourgeois republic" "Old Duma in a new form" he called for a genuine revolution. The PG and its many problems The War If Russia didn't fight on in the war it would no longer receive War Credits. The PG relived on these to survive finically as Tsardom had left Russia bankrupt. This meant the PG was preoccupied with the war and therefore could not focus on Russia's economic or social issues. It was in a paradoxical situation, in order to survive the PG needed to keep Russia in the war, but the war was destroying its chances of survival. "Address to the people of the whole world" 14th of march this was issued by Soviets calling for peace without reparations, government accepted this addresses. However it became known that Milyikov had pledged to allies that Russia would fight until Germany was defeated. This caused demonstrations against Milyikov in late April and caused him and few other ministers to resign and caused a reshuffle of the cabinet with it shifting left. Kerensky Kerensky became war minister and campaigned for Russia to embrace the conflict as a struggle to save the revolution. Kerensky offensive This was a major offensive in June. Low morale which was made worse by Bolsheviks agitators meant it was a massive failure. Whole regiments mutinied or deserted. Governments Side Did not redistribute land, this led to peasants seizing property of local landlords, this happened throughout 1917. can be called a National peasants revolt. Kornilov called for the PG to stop offensive and focus on crushing the "Political Subversives" at home. This appeal was taken up by PG and Lvov stood down. Kerensky became prime minster with Kornilov Commander-In- Chief Land shortage was a problem. It was a chief concern of the peasants unrest since the Emancipation of the serfs in 1861. The February revolution had led peasants to Majority of PG's members came from landowning classes, so they didn't want to threaten their own position. The Land Question Bolshevik Adaptability As they were a party for the workers they didn't have a land policy. However Lenin adjusted. He knew it was impossible to ignore the problem that angered 4/5 of the population. Lenin asserted that the peasants were acting as a revolutionary force. Thus allowing them to be classed as part of the proletarian. Lenin then stole SR's land policy and all this caused a swing for the Bolsheviks in the countryside. The July Days In July it seemed the government was not in control of events, the signs of this were • The spread of soviets • Workers control of the factories • Widespread seizure of land by the peasants • the creation of breakaway national minority governments- Ukraine mostly Ministerial clash over Ukraine's independence coincided with larger street demonstrations that were as a result of the Kerensky Offensive failure and other issues. These demonstrations turned into a direct challenge to the PG However However the rising was crushed easily as it was a confused affair with demonstrators often fighting themselves. Troops loyal to the PG scattered the demonstrators. What this showed • Bolsheviks weren't the dominant revolutionary party, and in no position to take over • PG still had strength to be able to put down armed insurrection Two days after Kerensky became prime minister, he arrested Bolsheviks (Trotsky and Kamenevland closed Pravda The Kornilov Affair Kornilov the commander in chief, believed before Russia could defeat Germany it had to destroy the socialist enemies within. He said "Its time to hang the German supporters and spies, with Lenin at their head, and to disperse the Soviet" Disorder Large number of refugees flooded into Petrograd spreading disorder. Kornilov feared that Russia was on the edge of anarchy. He told Kerensky that he would bring his loyal troops to Petrograd to save the PG. (perform Coup) Response Kerensky publicly H condemned Kornilov and ordered him to surrender his post, he placed Petrograd under Marital law for its protection. Kerensky called on loyal citizens to take up arms and defend the city. Weapons were given to anyone who was willing to fight. Kornilov stopped by Railway workers on 1st September ✓ Bolsheviks •Were given weapons by the very government they were trying to overthrow. • Many released from prison • Gained popularity as seen as defenders of the city • showed PG weakness to Coup October Revolution (1): Soviet role "All power to the Soviets". Lenin said this in the April theses because he saw the Soviets as power base that could give his small party the power in which to take over. Bolshevik Majority By middle of September the Bolsheviks had a majority in both the Moscow and Petrograd Soviet. However this was only because attendance had dropped massively meaning it was easier for Bolsheviks to influence Soviet. Trotsky Elected chairman of the Petrograd Soviet in Sept. On 9th October the Soviet set up the Military Revolution Committee (MRC) in order to protect the city against another Kornilov. Trotsky was on the Troika meaning he had control of the only effective fighting force in Petrograd. October Revolution (2): Lenin Urgency "History will not forgive us if we do not assume power" Lenin wanted to overthrow the PG when it was at it weakest point, he was concerned about two events that were taking place in the Autumn. • the meeting of the All-Russian Congress of Soviet in late October • the election of the Constituent Assembly in November The "Pre Parliament" Kerensky created this as body to fill in before the Constituent assembly, was a body of a variety of parties to advise the government. Lenin instructed his Bolsheviks to condemn the Pre-Parliament then walk out. Return Lenin returned to Petrograd from Finland on the 7th October and spent the next two weeks convincing all the Bolsheviks that the time was right for revolution. October Revolution (4): Power The Bolsheviks did not seize power; it fell into their hands. On the 27th of October Lenin said "from being on the run to supreme power makes one dizzy" The next day at the All-Russian Congress of Soviets it was announced that the Soviets had seized power. A list of 14 names were read out of the new government, all were Bolsheviks or left SR's. Mensheviks and others walked out saying it was not the Soviets who had taken power, but a Bolsheviks military Coup. They were right... October Revolution (3): Course of events Leaked Kamenev and Zinoviev (both on the central committee) wrote in an article that they felt it would a mistake to overthrow the PG at present circumstances. Kerensky acted first and ordered an attack on the Bolsheviks, on 23rd October Pravda was shut down. Attempts were made to round up Bolsheviks by PG troops. In response Lenin ordered Coup to begin and Trotsky directed Red Guards and MRC to seize key locations over Petrograd (bridges, telegraph offices) Fighting In the three days (25th-27th) that it took for Bolsheviks to take control only 6 men died, all Red Guards. The PG had hardly any military force, the ones it did have were not willing to fight a futile struggle so surrendered. October revolution: Weakness Vs. Strength Strength of Bolsheviks • MRC; Trotsky said their control of this gave them "Three Quarters" of their victory. • Ruthless and hugely dedicated to the revolution. • Absence of challenge from the other parties • Lenin's leadership Trotsky's organisation skills Weakness of PG • Wasn't elected therefore lacked mandate to rule, would only be judge on its dealing with Russia's problems • Authority limited by "Dual Authority" with soviets • No military support in October as seen as not worth struggling to save • Feared Tsarists (right) more than Socialists (left) • Strain of war • No answer to the land question • Lack of popular support The Bolsheviks in power Problems confronting them • Bolsheviks controlled only Petrograd and Moscow • Low industrial production • High Inflation • Large food shortages • The War Measures to take problems Economic • State Capitalism - a compromise measure to achieve the transition to a socialist economy • Decree on land-abolished private property and recognised peasant takeovers • Decree on Workers control - • Vesenkha - body to oversee economic development Political • Cheka - secret police to crush counter - revolution and impose Red rule. The Bolsheviks in Power, 1917-20 1917 Nov December 1918 Jan March June July September 1918-20 1918-21 1919 march 1920 April Bolsheviks issues the Decrees on Land and Workers control Cheka created Bolsheviks forcibly dissolve the Constituent Assembly Red Army Established Treaty of Brest-Livosk Decree on Nationalisation Forced grain requisitions begin Romanovs killed Red terror officially introduced Civil War War Communism Comintern established (aiming for world revolution) Bolsheviks renamed the communist party Red Army driven from Poland Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly Truly democratic elections that took place in November 1917. Results go badly for Bolsheviks (24% of the votes) January 1918: After one day Bolsheviks forcibly disperse the Assembly Lenin's Reasons Assembly would be a brake of Bolsheviks power Elections condemned as corrupt bourgeois manipulation • The soviet government already expressed the will of the people (apparently) Reaction to dissolution Criticised by some Bolsheviks (Maxim Gorky said "Peoples Commissars have ordered the shooting of this democracy") Widely condemned by international people The Treaty of Brest-Litvosk 1918 Views on a treaty Lenin took a realististance • Russia could not win, so best to make peace and fight another day (Lenin believed that after the war the capitalists would fight among themselves) • Idea that if Germany won on both fronts Russia would be no worse off, but if it lost Russia would just get the land back anyways. (However this not the case, Poland independence) The Treaty • Lost third of its European lands • With 45 million people in them • To pay 3 Billion roubles in reparations Consequence • Conflict between Lenin and SR's • However Germanys defeat in Nov 1918 made treaty pointless as Russia got original land back. Important to remember Lenin and Trotsky were International Revolutionaries. This meant they were willing to sacrifice national interest for the cause of world revolution of the workers. This can help explain why Bolsheviks were willing to sign a devastating peace treaty. Treaty a small account when set against the great sweep of world revolution. Effects of Civil War on Bolsheviks Centralisation As war required speedy day-to-day decisions to be made their was a move away from the Central Committee, that took to long, towards the Politburo and Orgburo. These two sub committees set up in 1919 could make decisions quicker. Trotsky took a compromise position: "Neither piece, nor war" • Russia could not win; but delay peace settlement as long as possible to encourage mutiny in Germany. • Used deliberately disruptive tactics at talks (yawned when Germans speaking, talked to fellow colleges, random speeches about Revolution) Toughness The Bolsheviks had taken power during war, they now had to set up a government during war. Of all the members of the Communist party (Bolsheviks) in 1927, a third had joined in the years 1917-20 and had fought in the Civil War. This created a tradition of military obedience and loyalty. Bolsheviks were tough men. Authoritarianism Because of the large military aspect of early Bolsheviks government it would of been impossible to of survived without resorting to authoritarian measures. The Civil War 1918-20 Reasons for war Reds: Needed military victory to consolidate grip on power. Whites: War was the only way to challenge Bolshevik absolutism Greens: Fighting for national independence Red Strengths • Area they held had... - Administrate centres of Russia (Moscow & Petrograd) - Most of the rail network, this meant they could keep troops supplied and on the move. - Industrial centres: this gave them access to munitions and resources the whites didn't have. • Red army and Trotsky leadership • Reds could be seen as champions of Russian people due to allied intervention. • Red Terror (Cheka & Red Army) • High Morale, confident in final victory Why the Interventions? • Resentment at Russia withdrawal from war • Fear of Bolshevikism • Anger at wiping of foreign debt • To support the whites Background of Hunger. Transport issues of WW1 continued, plus Russia lost Ukraine in Brest- Livosk. Russia's "wheat Basket"! Why the interventions fail? • Lack of Co-ordination and liaison • Tired after WW1 • Very limited objectives • Not a concerted effort to bring down the Bolsheviks White Weaknesses • Various white armies fought separately and with different aims, very rarely worked together to form a united opposition to reds. • Too reliant on supplies from abroad, which didn't arrive in right quantities, place or time. Bolsheviks had the peasent support at start of conflict; however brutality when dealing with peasants matched white brutality. Only reason people leaned towards reds is that Whites could just offer return to pre-revolutionary past. The Land question meant peasant support was very low for the whites. Foreign Interventions 1918-20 • lacked Leadership of Trotsky like figure. • Political differences often caused conflicts. Who came and where? Americans = Archangel & Siberia France Odessa Japanese Vladivostok Consequences After failure of Invasion into Poland and revolutions in Germany and Hungary Lenin concluded the world was not yet rip for revolution. He therefore modified his foreign policies to avoid conflict with other nations. Lenin's Revolution 1917-24 1918-20 1918 January 1918 June 1918 July 1921 March 1922-23 1923 1924 January Red Terror established Red Army established Decree on separation of the church and state Decree on nationalisation Murder of Romanovs The Kronstadt Rising NEP introduced Degree on Factionalism Lenin suffers strokes The Scissors Crisis Death of Vladimir Lenin War Communism 1918-21 Summer of 1918, restrictive economic measure to replace "state capitalism" and to meet the needs of the Civil War. Effects: Industry Decree of Nationalisation 1918: Lenin wanted a policy of Centralisation and now he had the Cheka and Red Army to enforce it. : The Decree was passed and in two : years practically all industry was brought under government control. Result: this do not raise production because: • Deprived of manpower due to conscription and people moving to find food (Population of Petrograd and Moscow halved from 1918 to 1921. • Hyperinflation caused by quantitative easing. • Military priority Effect: Agriculture Peasants saw no point in producing more food until the government was willing to pay a fair price for it. Although government said these Kulaks (rich, exploiting peasants) were hoarding food, this was untrue. Grain Requisitioning was brought it to repress the peasants and gain food. Cheka squads were sent into the countryside and take grain by force. Lenin ordered Kulaks to be "mercilessly suppressed" Result: Peasants produced even less food as they knew any surplus would just be taken from them. Famine followed in 1921 killing 5 million people. Effects: Church Lenin welcomed the famine as it gave him the opportunity to destroy church. Ordered shooting of priests saying "the more, the better". Support? Many believed it represented true revolutionary as it • Centralised industry • Ended private ownership • squeezed peasants Ending Famine, failure of economy and Anti-Bolshevik risings in 1920-21 (Kronstadt) made Lenin think alternative was needed. The Red Terror! This was the repression that accompanied Bolshevik control between 1918-21. the two main instruments of this were the Cheka and Red Army. Both were critical during the civil war. WHY? Or? Lenin A response to extreme conditions? The Cheka Secret police force that answered only to Lenin, had unlimited powers of • Arrest • Detention • Torture Its role was "Exterminating enemies of the working class" Trotsky An expression of Lenin's authoritarianism? • Ended Trade unions • Brought workers under military discipline Red Army Turned the old Rubbish Red Army into a 3 million strong fighting force in 2 years. • reinstated old fashioned army, made it very strict. • Conscripted anyone, "everyone to the front". People unloyal to reds made to dig trenches and move guns etc. • Red idealism boasted morale The Kronstadt Rising, March 1921 Origin: Problems of Cheka terror, Grain requisitioning and Commissars spying on workers led to "workers opposition" groups led to strikes in Petrograd. These strikes travelled to Kronstadt where they joined with sailors and dockyard workers to demonstrate for greater freedoms. Why the fuss?: This concerned the Bolsheviks because the people who had drafted the plans had been Bolshevik supporters in 1917. called the "heroes of the Revolution" had now turned on the government. Crushed: Trotsky ordered the Red Army to crush the demonstrators. 60000 troops sent and after violent fighting crushed the rising. NEP: Lenin later described this as a "lit up reality like a flashing light" he wanted to avoid the scandal and embarrassment of another type of rising so moved to another economic policy, in order to deal with a famine and lessen the opposition to Bolshevikism. People who are supportive of the Marxist principles of which Communism was based but who turned away from it because of its brutal authoritarianism are said to have The New Economic policy (NEP): March 1921 Economically war communism had failed, so NEP brought in to meet the food shortage. Lenin judged that if the peasants could not be forced, they had to be pursued. Features: • Central economic control relaxed • Grain requisitioning stopped; replaced with Tax in kind • peasants allowed to keep their surplus and sell it for profit • public markets restored Lenin admitted that this showed the Bolsheviks couldn't create an economy along purely ideological lines. This NEP marked a retreat into a mixed economy. Although he argued that the government still controlled the "commanding heights of the economy" Bolsheviks objections to NEP • Trotsky described the NEP as "the first sign of the degeneration of Bolshevism" as he believed that War Communism was the proper revolutionary policy. • "Nepman" created. People who would get rich because of the NEP. Traders and rich peasants Lenin was so worried about arguments about NEP he introduced a "one party unity" with a ban of Factionalism (groups within the party with a particular complaint) This made challenging the NEP hard as you would technically be challenging the party itself. Soviet society under Lenin Trotsky claimed that the aim of the communist state was to create Homo sovieticus. This mock term was invented to describe the new "soviet man" To achieve this culture was brought under state control. The Proletkult (proletarian culture) was used to extend Bolshevik control Culture had to serve the state, if it didn't it was unacceptable, no place for free expression. Lenin said "the purpose of art and literature is to serve the people" By 1922 a range of Proletkult organisations set up: • Writers circles • amateur dramatic groups • art studios • poetry workshops • musical appreciation societies The New Economic policy (NEP): March 1921 Bukharin's Role The outstanding economist enthusiastic his opposition to the NEP and became its biggest supporter. He said "Enrich yourselves under the NEP" he believed as peasants could sell grain they'd get income, which could be spent on manufactured goods, stimulating industry. Success Production figures showed the policy worked. • Value of factory output doubled • average wage of worker doubled • Electricity production tripled • Grain production: 37% increase Problems Agriculture recovered and led to a surplus of food, and a rise in income of peasants. Surplus meant price of food dropped. Industry hadn't recovered as fast so more income meant prices of manufactured goods rose as demand was larger and goods scarce. Danger was that the peasants would lose the incentive to produce extra food as they would have to sell it for a low price and not be able to buy expensive goods. Lenin's role as Revolutionary Heir to Russian tradition? Ways Lenin was like the Tsar • No time for democracy • Authoritarianism (repressive government) • Secret Police (Okranna & Cheka) 1917 revolution did not mark a break from the past, but rather a replacement of one form of state Authoritarianism with another. Lenin's adaptability •Modified Marist theory to fit circumstance • Combined Marxist revolutionary stages. "Telescoped revolution" Compressing of the last two stages of revolution Stalin and Lenin's relationship Bad Good Lenin impressed by • Stalin's organising ability • Insensitivity to suffering willingness to obey orders Lenin once called him "that wonderful Georgian" • Stalin's rudeness with Georgians after Civil war caused Lenin to get involved to improve relations. • Over a discussion with Lenin's wife over the Georgian questions Stalin got angry and called her a "whore". He Subjected her to a "a storm of the coarsest abuse" Lenin's Testament The very day Lenin learned of Stalin's words to his wife Lenin wrote his testament • He said "Comrade Stalin, since becoming general secretary in 1922, has concentrated enormous power in his hands; am I am not sure he always knows how to exercise that power with sufficient caution" • he always said Stalin was to rude for his role and urged "To think of ways of removing Stalin from that position" However Lenin was too ill to get involved politically. Lenin's testament was not seen by the mass party however. Other factors that helped Stalin The Lenin enrolment Changes in the structure of the party helped. Between 1923 and 1925 the party set out to increase the number of proletarians in it. This was known as the "Lenin Enrolment". However the new members were uneducated and politically unsophisticated. They were loyal to the person who had brought them into the CPSU as this allowed them perks. The people who did this worked under Stalin. This therefore provided Stalin with a reliable body of votes all around the party and government. The Attack on Factionalism This was introduced by Lenin to stop opposition to the NEP. What it effectively did was frustrate any serious attempt to criticise party decisions or policies. The challenge of factionalism provided Stalin with a weapon for resisting challengers to the authority he had begun to create. Stalin's Positions from 1917 Position Peoples commissar for nationalities Liaison officer between politburo and Orgburo Head of the workers and peasants inspectorate Date 1917 1919 1919 General secretary of the 1922 communist party Significance Little... Allowed him to monitor both the parties policies and personnel Allowed him to oversee the work of all government departments Enabled him to build up personal files on all members of the party. Overall: These various positions allowed Stalin the power of Patronage. This means he could appoint people to key positions in the party, in return for their support. Lenin's Funeral Straight after Lenin's death, the Politburo whose members were Stalin, Trotsky, Rykov, Tomsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev publicly said they would lead as a collective. However they all wanted to become leader. Stalin: At Lenin's funeral Stalin gained and advance as he made a speech. The sight of Stalin as leading mourner suggested a continuity between Lenin and him. Trotsky: Meanwhile Trotsky, who had first been offered to make a speech in which he declined, was on holiday. He hadn't even attended the funeral. Hardly giving of the image of a dedicated Leninist. Trotsky predicted Stalin would be the "dictator of the USSR" but did little to stop it. Attitudes towards Trotsky People feared Trotsky as the main threat so Kamenev and Zinoviev and Stalin formed a triumvirate within the Politburo. The aim of this was to isolate Trotsky by exploiting his unpopularity with larger sections of the party. Attack Bureaucratisation Trotsky's attacks 1924-27 Info Trotsky condemned the growth of bureaucracy within the party and called for a return to "Party democracy". Kamenev and Zinoviev Political attack Towards Kamenev and Zinoviev as they were "October deserters" Trotsky: Permanent revolution His key ideas • Revolution was not just a single event but a continuous process in which risings took place from country to country. • events of 1917 were just the first steps of a worldwide revolution of the proletariat • Individual nations did not matter, the interest of the international working class were paramount. Result Trotsky believed that USSR could not survive in a hostile world. He thought Russia would be "incapable of holdings her own against conservative Europe". The only way to guarantee survival was to "export revolution". Attack misjudged. In trying to expose the growing bureaucracy within the party Trotsky had overlooked that the party had been bureaucratic since 1917. Party members gained perks form the party being bureaucratic, so member didn't want to change it. Permanent revolution VS. Socialism in one country They replied stating Trotsky's Menshevik past and his divergence from Leninism. He lost support. Stalin: Socialism in one country Stalin wanted to build USSR into a modern state capable of defending itself, to consolidate Lenin's revolution. His key ideas • To overcome its present agricultural and industrial problems by its own unaided efforts. • to go on and build a modern state. The equal of any state in the world • to make the survival of the USSR an absolute priority, even if this meant suspending efforts to create world revolution. Stalin used Trotsky's view against him. He portrayed Trotsky as an enemy of the USSR. Thought-out 1920s was fear of invasion from capitalists, this only damaged Trotsky's ideas further. Policy NEP Fighting over policy Trotsky's actions. Had openly challenged the NEP at its introduction as it marked a retreat from Communism. This was again clear in 1923 when he led a party members to criticise the Gosplan for putting the interests of Nepman above those of Marxist. the revolution. Industria Everyone agreed that because Russia had little lisation capital and couldn't lend after 1917 that other only way of raising it was to produce surplus grain to sell. So peasants must produce more grain. Left (Trotsky) believed they should be forced into producing more, right thought they should be persuaded. Result Stalin used Trotsky's attitude towards the NEP to undermine him. Trotsky went against Lenin, so then could be seen as anti- Created disagreement and effectively split the party between right and left. Defeat of Trotsky and the Left Local party bosses, Kamenev and Zinoviev, used their influence to create a pro-Stalin, anti-Trotsky, CPSU Congress in 1925 (this is over "October deserters" attack by Trotsky) Congress votes against Trotsky - he is dismissed as Commissar of War Stalin then turns on Kamenev and Zinoviev who form "united opposition" Polices of United opposition on NEP and industrialisation match Trotsky's. So Kamenevite- Zinoveivite- Trotskyite bloc formed Stalin uses the Right Communists to deliver the vote in the 1926 Congress that results in The left united opposition being defeated Kamenev and Zinoviev dismissed as soviet chairmen Trotsky expelled from both Politburo and Central Committee 1927 Congress expels Trotsky from the party 1929 he is exiled from the Soviet Union Defeat of Trotsky and the Left Local party bosses, Kamenev and Zinoviev, used their influence to create a pro-Stalin, anti-Trotsky, CPSU Congress in 1925 (this is over "October deserters" attack by Trotsky) Congress votes against Trotsky - he is dismissed as Commissar of War Stalin then turns on Kamenev and Zinoviev who form "united opposition" Polices of United opposition on NEP and industrialisation match Trotsky's. So Kamenevite- Zinoveivite- Trotskyite bloc formed Stalin uses the Right Communists to deliver the vote in the 1926 Congress that results in The left united opposition being defeated Kamenev and Zinoviev dismissed as soviet chairmen Trotsky expelled from both Politburo and Central Committee 1927 Congress expels Trotsky from the party 1929 he is exiled from the Soviet Union Defeat of Bukharin and the Right Leading Figures of the Right Bukharin, Tomsky, Uglanov Issued raised by the Right When end the NEP? How were the peasants to be treated? What was to be the pace of industrialisation? Weakness of the Right Lacked appealing ideas: Could be seen as unrevolutionary Poorly organised Leaders unable to rally real support By 1929 Stalin had triumphed over the Left and Right! He now held complete power. he was the Vozhd! (Supreme leader, like a Fuhrer) Trotsky Weakness • Felt inhibited by his Jewishness. Knew about Russia anti-Semitism. Example of this is when in 1917 Lenin offered him the post of Deputy chairman of the soviet government he rejected. Saying "it would..""give enemies grounds for claiming that the country was ruled by a Jew". • Used to be a Menshevik, this made many older Bolsheviks not trust him. • New "Lenin enrolment" members were not impressed by his cultured attitude and intelligent idea, Stalin was more down to earth and so gained support. • Failed to build a power base so appeared an outsider Stalin, and the economy. 1926 1928 1933 1938 1941 The critical resolution by the party congress on the future of the soviet economy Collectivisation begins Start of the First Five-Year Plan (FYP) Start of the Second FYP Start of the Third FYP Operation Barbarossa The Second Revolution Crash course of transforming Russia into a modern industrial country. Unlike 1917 this would be a revolution from above, with state controlling things. Stalin said in 1931: "We are fifty or a hundred years behind the Aim A second revolution to modernise Russia Motives • To establish his credentials and authority as leader • To Increase military strength (paranoid USSR would be attacked soon) • To achieve self-sufficiency (Socialism in one country) • To move towards a socialist society (end NEP and peasants grip on economy, impose state control, create more workers in the workers country) Means Collectivisation Industrialisation The Kulaks advanced countries. We must make this distance up in ten years. Either we do it, or we shall be crushed. " Upon its introduction in 1928 Stalin said Collectivisation was voluntary. But in truth it was enforced on a reluctant peasantry. Stalin indentified a class of "Kulaks" who were holding back the workers revolution by monopolising the best land. By hoarding their produce they kept grain prices high thus getting rich. Stalin believed unless they were broken as a class they would prevent the modernisation of the USSR Despite this class being a Stalinist Myth it provided the grounds for the oppression of the peasantry as a whole. De-Kulaklisation OPGU (new name for Cheka) squads were sent to arrest and deport Kulaks. This was the prelude for a widespread of physical attacks by the poorer peasants. The richer peasants land was seized. This renewal of terror was a warning to the mass peasantry of the consequences of resisting the new agricultural plans. Collectivisation Stalin judged the only way to raise capital for Industrialisation was to use the land. Aim: To end private land ownership of peasants and give all land to the state. Peasants would pool together and farm the land for a wage. This would allow the USSR to take the collective profits to finance a massive industrialisation programme. Stalin described it as "The setting up of Collective farms in order to squeeze out all capitalist elements from the land" 50 or 100 private holdings would be joint to create large farms. It was believed that larger farms would be more efficient and would encourage the effective use of agricultural machinery. The tractor became the symbol of the mechanising of soviet farming. Tractorisation Efficient farming would have two results: • would create surplus grain that could be sold abroad to raise capital • decrease the number of rural labourers needed so release new workers for the new factories.. Results (1) Production Fell & Famine Resistance In the period of 1929-30 • 30000 arson attacks occurred • number of rural demonstrations rose by double. • peasants ate their corn and destroyed their livestock so it couldn't be collectivised Soviet authorities responded with harsher repression. Imprisonment, deportation and execution. But this just lowered production further. Despite the beginning of famine due to the chaos: "surplus" grain was still being sold to finance industry. Migration When national famine occured many peasants produced even less. Many peasants decided to move to the cities and towns in desperation. As the OPGU grain requisitioning meant their was more food available in Urban areas. Results (2) Despite the famine the government adopted an "Official Silence" This meant that they pretended their was no famine. this meant that • Stalin's reputation wasn't damaged; "soviet people were sacrificed on the alter of Stalin's reputation" • Prevented measures to relive the famine as it did not officially exist. So no foreign aid could be accepted like the 1921 famine. Points of note about Collectivisation and the Famine • "First man made famine in history" • "Second Serfdom" 14.5 million death toll by 1939 production had returned to 1913 level. Such as the chaos of polices. Was it justifiable?: Economically it did redress the balance of Russia as many people moved to the cities. This had been a major problem since before communism. Stalin enforced the needed change from a Rural agricultural society to a urban and industrial one. • Stalin's aims were understandable but his methods were unacceptable First FYP (1) (October 1928 - December 1932) The emphasis was on heavy industries, coal, oil, iron, steel, electricity, cement, timber and metals. This accounted for 80% of all investment. Success? • electricity production trebled • coal and iron output doubled • Steel production increased by 1/3 rd • Increased output of machine tools • Huge new industrial complexes built (Magnitogorsk) Weakness? • Decline in consumer industries (although this was planned) •Chemical targets not reached • Production targets fiddled with • due to peasants in factories. Skill was low which meant quality was low, so due to Gigantomania it was all about quantity. Industrialisation Stalin described his plans as establishing a War Economy. He was preparing the USSR for war with its capitalist enemies. Stalin regarding Iron, Steel and Oil as the sinews of war. Their successful production would guarantee the strength and readiness of the nation to face its enemies. Gosplan was required by Stalin to write up a set of quota (targets) these were called the FYP, their was 5 of these. First FYP Second FYP Third FYP Forth FYP Fifth FYP October 1928 - December 1932 January 1933 - December 1937 January 1938- June 1941 January 1946- December 1950 January 1951 to December 1955 First FYP (2) (October 1928 - December 1932) Cultural Revolution • Economic changes in this period a real attempt is being made to create a new type of individual. Homo Sovieticus (soviet man). • Genuine enthusiasm had swept across the country. People believed they were building a new and better world. This was a combination of Oppression, Propaganda and genuine enthusiasm. Sabotage • A series of show trails of "wreckers" scared workers in being productive. • The "Bourgeois experts" were not to be tolerated no longer (quantity of quality) • Managers who did not meet their targets branded as enemies of the state, so they fiddled figures or produced at very low quality (January 1933 - December 1937) Second & Third FYP (1) (January 1938 - June 1941) Good • By 1937 the USSR was self sufficient in machine making and metal working • Defence and armaments grew rapidly in Third FYP as resources diverted to it. • Better transport system • Industry built on foundations of First FYP and continued to expand • Success of big projects such as Dnieprostroi dam and White Sea Canal The Stakhanovite movement: 1935 It was officially reported that in August 1935 a miner, Alexei Stakhanov, had single handily cut over 100 tons of coal in one five hour shift. The government turned this into a propaganda campaign to encourage people to increase their productivity and to show what could be achieved under the Great Stalin. Second revolution: Overall Judgement • From 1927-1940 - Coal production Quadrupled - Steel production increased by 6 times - Oil doubled - Electricity quadrupled • USSR survived Great Patriotic War Bad • Old, wasteful techniques used: Not efficient • no attention to quality goods that could be sold aboard to raise money USSR needed. • Couldn't compete with economies of Europe or USA • Lowered Soviet peoples living standards • Failed to increase Agricultural productivity. Meant food had to be bought in draining USSRS limited finance • Poor balance between sectors of industry Quotes • "Stalinism is one way on attaining industrialisation, just as cannibalism is one way of attaining a high protein diet" - • Grand projects completed. Made USSR look good to outside world Quotes • Outcome of the polices was "an economy that was strong enough to sustain the USSR though four years of the most demanding of modern wars." "Russia could not have been modernised by any other methods other than those used by Stalin". - Peter Bad More realistic targets. Production raised of history industry, however: • lack of co ordination. Meant overproduction in some areas and under production in others Second & Third FYP (2) • Spare parts hard to come by, so broken machinery lay broke for long time periods • Fierce competition between sectors of industry to obtain materials so they could avoid being branded "saboteurs", as a result their was hording and lack of co operation between sectors • Shortage of Skilled workers in 1938 sent Gosplan into Chaos (purges to blame) Scapegoats This scared attitude towards highlighting a problem in the plans meant issues were only relived at serious breakdowns. This hindered economic growth. Scapegoats where found for these failings. (January 1933 - December 1937) (January 1938- June 1941) • Time of the purges, war on Bourgeois experts was a serve loss to industry • Workers had to accept harsher conditions or face persecution Stalin's Terror State 1932 1933 1933-34 1934 1936-9 Trail of the Ryutin Group Purges begin under Yezhov's direction Legal system brought under Stalin's control Assassination Of Kirov! Purges used as terror Intensification of the purges The "Great Purge" of the party, the army and the people Early Purges Having become the Vozhd in 1929,1 Stalin spent the rest of his life consolidating and extending his authority. Early purges included • Shakhty Affair public trail (FYP saboteurs) • Ryutin Group who criticised Stalin were expelled from the party. Following this in 1933-34 One million of the three million members of the CPSU were excluded from the party on the grounds they were "Ryutinites" however this was a peaceful purge. It was done by the removing of party cards. Kirov's murder: 1st December 1934 Kirov was secretary of the Leningrad Soviet and popular within the party. A striking handsome Russian that had made a great impression at the 17th party congress in 1934 and had been elected to the Politburo. It was known he was unhappy with Stalin's economic policies and his disciplining of party members. Stalin felt his position was threatened by Kirov. Kirov was murdered by Leonoid Nikolaev on the 1st of December. Whatever the motives Stalin used this to his advantage. Within two hours he signed the Decree against Terrorist Acts. This gave the NKVD unlimited powers in pursing enemies of the state. Stalin claimed the assassination had been organised by a circle of Trotskyites and Leftists. So he purged them. Zinoviev and Kamenev were arrested as well of 1000s of other party members. Development of Purges, 1933-34 Terror In 1934 the purges developed into a system of terror. Its hard to say why • Stalin's increasing paranoia • his "Gross personality disorder" Stalin saw everyone as a potential enemy Mechanism of control In the years 1933-34 Stalin centralised all major law enforcement agencies • The civilian police • The secret police • Labour camps commandants and guards • Border and security Guards All of these were put under the NKVD. (new OGPU, which was once Cheka) That was answerable directly to Stalin. Military courts established to deal with "serous crimes". This term meant anything that challenged Stalin's power, for example "counter-revolutionary activity" was a serious crime. This system made the purges possible ! Party Purges after Kirov The "Stalin enrolment" 1931-34 had meant the CPSU had recruited a higher proportion of skilled workers and industrial managers than at any time since 1917, the aim of this was to tighten links between party and those involved in FYP's. The new members were aware of Stalin's patronage that had advanced their career, so in return supported him and his purges. The representatives of the 1934 party Congress. • of the 1996 delegates, 1108 were executed during the next three years (over ½) out of the 139 Central committee members. Only 41 survived the purges. All key positions throughout the CPSU were filled by Stalinists. Their was no significant area of the Soviet Bureaucracy that Stalin didn't control. "Stalin had became the party" - Leonard Shapiro The Great Purges: 1936-39 Despite Earlier purges Stalin was not satisfied. He declared Russia was in a "state of siege" in 1936 progressive terrorising of the Soviet union began which affected the entire population Terror programme can be broken down into three sections • Purge of party • Purge of Armed forces • purge of the people The Great Purges: The Party (2) Purging the Right the details of the 16s confession incriminated the right. Therefore Stalin prepared the next wave of political purges upon the "right deviationists". Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky were arrested but not charged as their was a delay. This was caused by a reluctance of some older Bolsheviks to denounce their comrades. "Anti-Soviet Trotskyite Centre" The trail of the 17 in 1937 provided evidence against the right. The 17 members of the "Anti-Soviet Trotskyite Centre" were accused of spying for Nazi Germany. Purging the Right The evidence had been collected. In 1938 the third major show trail of the 21 including Bukharin & Rykov (Tomsky had killed himself) sentenced the "Trotskyite-Rightist" with a number of crimes. Stalin Constitution: 1936: This constitution didn't say anything about party power. Meaning therefore it was unlimited. The Great Purges: The Party (1) Purging the Left CPSU sent a secret letter n 1936 warning of a terrorist conspiracy by the "Trotskyite-Kamenevite-Zinovievite- Leftist counter-revolutionary bloc" Kamenev & Zinoviev were put on public trail in Moscow. Both men pleaded guilty to involvement in Kirov's murder. But why? • Physical and mental torture used • Sense of demoralisation at having been accused and disgraced by the party they dedicated their lives too. • Admission of guilt their last act of loyalty to the party Their confession made it difficult for other people to plead their innocence. It created an atmosphere were innocent people accepted charges and begged for parties foreignness. Trail of the 16! The Great Purges: The Armed Forces Stalin knew that if anyone could organise a revolution or Coup. It would be the military leaders. So he purged them. In may 1937 it was announced that “a gigantic conspiracy" had been discovered in the Red Army. Eight generals were arrested, all of whom were considered "heroes of the Civil War" a trail was held in secret and in June 1937 with evidence provided by the Nazis upon request by the NKVD was men confessed and were executed. To prevent a retaliation over the next 18 months • All 11 war commissars were removed from office • Three of the five Marshals of the Soviet Union were dismissed • 91 members of the 101 man Supreme military council were dismissed • Half of 35000 officers were shot In a time of great foreign tension it deifies logic that Stalin had crippled Russia's fighting force. It suggests he had lost touch with reality. The Great Purges: The People • One person in every eight of the population was arrested during the purges • Almost every family in the USSR suffered a loss of at least one of its members as a victim of the terror. The Quota system Quotas were set on the amount of people that had to be arrested. Random people were arrested in order to make the quota, like an industrial target. People no longer seen as people, now seen as numbers. . On the day of the 12th of November 1938 Stalin & Molotov sanctioned the execution of 3100 people Stalin's Cult of Personality Adolf Hitler once wrote that "the personality cult is the best form of government" Purpose of this: • To reinforce a belief in the achievements of socialism, the soviet government and Stalin. • To create a personality cult around Stalin which raised him to the level of Vozhd. • To bond Stalin to the state so any criticism of him was seen as Anti-Soviet, their fore treason. Methods • The media (propaganda) • Leisure and Public celebrations • Arts and popular culture • Education • Youth Organisations The Great Purges: Conclusion Overall figures • 29 million arrested, most send to labour camps • 15 million died. This exceeded the Nazi Holocaust Although Stalin started purges, many people welcomed them. Purges as much from below from above. • As far back as Russian people can remember, the people have always been forced to obey. The purges were just the natural progression of this. • The Novenklatura. The new Stalinist ruling class of elite that had replaced the old Bolsheviks. Because of the rights they enjoyed: more food, luxury homes, motor cars. Were totally loyal to Stalin. • Local party bosses saw the purges an opportunity to advance their career. If their bosses were purged, they'd get a promotion. • The role of Ideology is important. People genuine believed the purges were justified.as. they building.a.Communist paradise on earth. Stalin's Cult of Personality: Results Stalin became the party itself, then he became the image of the nation. Communism was no longer a set of theories, it became what ever Stalin said or did. Soviet communism was Stalinism. Stalin personified everything good about Russia. The communist movement, which in theory drew its authority from the will of the masses, became so dependant on one leader. People had a Quasi-religious faith in Stalin. This means a conviction so powerful it has the intensity of a religious believe, they worshiped him. Bureaucracy • One - Party government Command Economy Police State (climate of fear) Socialist science ● • Privileged Elite Strict censorship ● ● Characteristics of the USSR in 1941 ● International isolation Dominant Stalinist Ideology