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Questions and Answers
What was the main aim of the five-year plans initiated by Stalin?
What was the main aim of the five-year plans initiated by Stalin?
Which organization was responsible for overseeing the industrialization efforts under the five-year plans?
Which organization was responsible for overseeing the industrialization efforts under the five-year plans?
What was one significant consequence of the five-year plans for ordinary citizens?
What was one significant consequence of the five-year plans for ordinary citizens?
What tactic did factory managers often employ to meet production targets?
What tactic did factory managers often employ to meet production targets?
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How did the plans affect skilled labor availability in the workforce by 1934?
How did the plans affect skilled labor availability in the workforce by 1934?
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What was one notable example of the reliance on forced labor during the five-year plans?
What was one notable example of the reliance on forced labor during the five-year plans?
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Who was Alexei Stakhanov and why was he significant during the five-year plans?
Who was Alexei Stakhanov and why was he significant during the five-year plans?
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Which production target was set for electricity during the First Five-Year Plan?
Which production target was set for electricity during the First Five-Year Plan?
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Study Notes
Five-Year Plans
- Stalin initiated "five-year plans" in 1927 to transform Soviet industry.
- These plans were ambitious production targets for Soviet industry.
- Industrialisation was overseen by Gosplan, the State Planning Authority.
- Commissariats were established to coordinate different branches of the economy.
- Officials were assigned to factories to ensure orders were followed.
Five-Year Plans & Nepmen
- Five-Year Plans aimed to curtail small businesses (Nepmen).
- Nepmen were pressured to join state cooperatives.
- Experts deemed 'bourgeois' were removed from their jobs.
- Accusations of sabotage were often leveled against these experts for removal.
- Unskilled labor hindered progress.
First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932)
- Main objective was to rapidly increase heavy industry (coal, steel, iron).
- Production targets aimed for 300% increase in these sectors.
- Other industry targets included oil, machinery, and a 600% boost in electricity production.
- Light industry targets were less significant compared to heavy industry.
- Magnitogorsk, a large industrial city, was constructed.
Plan Implementation & Challenges
- Targets were not realistically met despite some growth.
- Electricity output tripled.
- Coal and iron production doubled.
- Steel production increased by one-third.
Worker & Management Pressure
- Workers faced severe pressure to meet targets.
- Factory managers used various tactics to ensure target attainment.
- Resources were sometimes diverted to fulfill targets.
- Targets not met resulted in punishment.
Gulag Labor
- Gulag prisoners were utilized for large-scale projects.
- The White Sea Canal project employed 180,000 prisoners by 1932.
- Approximately 10,000 Gulag prisoners died during the project.
Impact on the People
- The plan caused hardship for ordinary citizens.
- Working conditions were poor and dangerous with many factory accidents.
- Industrial accident rates soared as managers prioritized targets.
- Worker productivity was low.
- Machinery neglect and a lack of training contributed to low productivity.
- Quality of goods produced was poor due to neglecting consumer industries.
- Consumer goods were scarce, and poor quality items were common.
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Description
Explore the significance of Stalin's Five-Year Plans initiated in 1927, designed to industrialize the Soviet Union and transform its economy. This quiz covers the objectives, implementation, and challenges of the first Five-Year Plan, including its impact on small businesses and workforce dynamics.
