Stalin Notes - Outcomes and Consequences of the Civil War Years PDF

OUTCOMES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR YEARS 1918 dissolution of the constituent Assembly banning opposition press and political parties 1921 Lenin banned factionalism and gained complete control (whatever he said went) GPU established (like secret police but for p...

OUTCOMES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR YEARS 1918 dissolution of the constituent Assembly banning opposition press and political parties 1921 Lenin banned factionalism and gained complete control (whatever he said went) GPU established (like secret police but for political opposition to the Bolsheviks) War Communism introduced to feed armies and cities during Civil War after its failure he introduced New Economic Policy to revive economy after War Communism (both weren't enough to solve Russia's problems) 1922 Russia was not the stateless, classless system Marx envisaged in his 1848 Communist Manifesto Bolshevik policies strengthened state power and all decisions were made by political elites (not unlike the Tsars inner circle) Bolsheviks didn’t eliminate class but created a new bourgeois breed (Kulaks and Nepmen) Ideology was less important to Bolsheviks as political survival THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF LENIN AND TROTSKY DURING THE CIVIL WAR Strong leadership skills Master public speaker Used Civil War to paint White Army and foreign forces as imperialists seeking to destabilize Russia Economic Controls Introduced War Communism giving Bolsheviks control to win Civil War Cracked down on political opposition using Cheka Leadership of the Red Army Enforced strict discipline and rigid hierarchy (structured army command and harsh punishments Insistence on using ex-Tsarist generals and soldiers (meant Red Army was packed with experience and expertise) Assigned political commissars to each military unit (these officers kept ideological flame burning throughout Civil War) Introduced mass conscription  Purpose-built armored train which travelled through battlefields along the frontline to support and lead Red Army troops during Civil War Trotsky was able to: Gauge mood of the people first hand Spread propaganda tailored to the situation Personally command the Red Army in crisis SOCIAL CHANGES UNDER BOLSHEVIK RULE Women Leading female Bolsheviks aimed to liberate women from oppressive structures of the state and church which deemed them second-class citizens Zhenotdel: Served as dpt. of women's affairs and attempted to free women from patriarchal social values of Tsarism through reform Reforms included rights to vote, property, abortion, divorce, paid maternity leave, civil marriage and management of business Education Prior to 1917 large portion of Russian population was illiterate however Bolsheviks power relied on a politically aware population who would understand Marxist ideology Nov 1917: 'Universal Literacy' Literate Bolsheviks were sent into rural Russia to spread politics and teach peasants Dec 1919: 'Decree on illiteracy' Made it a criminal offence to refuse to learn these skills Young People The Bolsheviks tried indoctrinate young people with ideology through youth organization KOMSOMOL (All-Union Leninist Young Communist League): Promoted the image of an ideal communist Used to spread communist ideology and prepare people for life in the party Religion Orthodox Church formed part of Tsarist State, accumulated lots of wealth and land and Communist ideology did not sit with religion Bolsheviks started seizing church land and during the Red Terror hundreds of priests and bishops were imprisoned and executed  Ideally Bolsheviks tried to abolish religion and promote state-wide atheism but this proved difficult due to long held beliefs of the population The Arts Under the Bolsheviks art was about criticizing the structures that kept the working class powerless Russian artists challenged aggressive features of Tsarism THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY Failure of War Communism which failed to improve economy and satisfy people Russia issues in 1921 included hyper-inflation, food shortages, low wages, oppressive government and little debate on economic and social policy Strikes and riots broke out as industrial and agricultural production fell below WW1 levels The NEP was introduced by Lennin at 10th Congress of the Communist Party Its role was to provide a temporary solution to Russia's economic problems and for the Bolsheviks to win support of workers and peasantry to consolidate control Introduced private enterprise and ownership Featured: Opening of small businesses Reintroduction of money into economy Increased freedom for trade unions Rights for peasants to sell excess grain for profit Improvement in working conditions Short term impacts Increased grain harvest Upturn in industrial production Improvements to transport, infrastructure and communication Long term impacts New class of wealthy peasants (Kulaks) Small capitalists (Nepmen) While private ownership lies at heart of capitalism, Lenin realized that NEP was an opportunity to popularize Bolsheviks and resurrect Russia's economy  NEP is described as a 'tactical retreat' into capitalism Needed to build enough capital through modernization and industrialization to sustain its revolution THE CREATION OF THE USSR USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics A collection of several different socialist countries RUSSIA ≠ USSR Empire contained more than just Russia and run by the Tsar Isolated from the rest of Europe March 15 1917 Tsar Nicholas II abdicates October 1917 Bolsheviks seize power Several territories previously apart of the Russian Empire declare independence Bolsheviks had long-term goal of kickstarting worldwide revolution Communist theory: national boundaries disappear as revolution spread which would allow global unification of the working class Lenin realized consolidating communism inside Russia was more important than spreading it outside and by end of civil war Russia was essentially one-party state Bolshevik control was made possible through Elimination of political opposition Extensive use of terror Establishment of soviets in neighboring territories 1922: Russia and surrounding territories were consolidated under Bolshevik control Members of Communist Party including Stalin pushed for creation of a state the recognized true extent of Bolshevik control Dec 29 1922: Treaty and Declaration on the Creation of the Soviet Socialist Republics 1924: USSR Constitution to legitimize the new state 1940: The USSR included 15 republics 1991: The USSR was dissolved THE DEATH OF LENIN  Russia was a feudal society when he Bolsheviks took power despite Marxist theory They struggled to modernize the economy and produce the capital to reach socialism War Communism and the NEP failed and they were yet to ask how to build up capital without turning their backs on communist ideology 1924: Lenin dies 1922: Lenin dedicates a letter outlining opinions on each key Communist Party member known as Lenin's Political Testament There was now a race between Stalin and Trotsky for the head of the USSR OVERVIEW OF THE BOLSHEVIK POWER STRUGGLE No one was appointed as Lenin's successor Main contenders were Joesph Stalin Leon Trotsky Nikolai Bukharin Lev Kamenev Grigory Zinoviev Mikhail Tomsky Alexei Rykov Stalin's Roles: General Secretary of the Party Commissar for Nationalities Commissar of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection A member of the Politburo His roles allowed him to influence all three branches of the Communist Party Administration Stalin limited the publication of Lenin's Testament, built support within the Communist Party and positioned himself as Lenin's disciple The leftists: Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev wanted to end the NEP The rightists: Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky wanted to continue the NEP for a bit  Stalin betrayed the rights and ended their party and he remained unscathed form this political mess REASONS FOR STALIN'S VICTORY IN THE POWER STRUGGLE Bolshevik Perspective: Many didn’t think much of him Referred to him as Comrade Card Index (as he was keen to fill admin roles) They thought he had no ambition In reality Stalin had filled party positions with loyalists so he had more support than his rivals With support from Zinoviev and Kamenev Stalin suppressed the Political Testament so that his reputation was not compromised Stalin developed the cult of Lenin by Tricking Trotsky into missing Lenin's funeral Embalmed Lenin's body and displayed it in the Red Square for mourning strengthening the connection between the people and the Communist Party Mentioning Lenin's name a lot, deifying Lenin and painting him as Lenin's most loyal disciple Stalin knew how to make and break alliances Deal-making with the lefts and rights Ban on factionalism gave him power to axe his rivals By 1929 all his political rivals were out of the picture Stalin had public appeal: Trotsky was brash and arrogant whereas Stalin was patient The Party took little notice in him die to his seeming lack of ambition Stalin was ideologically flexible Tapped into people's concerns and their patriotism Stalin proposed 'socialism in one country' so that Russia could achieve Communism without the Wests help COLLECTIVISATION  The Scissors Crisis: Steep increase of price of industrial goods Severe decrease in price of agricultural goods Caused tensions in the Urban-Rural divide Peasants were isolated from urban centers The concept of a peasant class was at odds with communist theory Urban rural divide impacted Russia's ability to modernise and industrialise Problem: USSR needed money to import industrial goods from overseas but could only make this money by exporting grain Stalin called for NEP'S end and collectivisation of agriculture Collectivisation involved creation of large state-run farms that were made to produce grain for urban populations In theory would generate enough food for cities and peasants can keep a share of the profit Dekulakisation: Kulaks land was confiscated and were exiled or shot for not cooperating Kulaks would do anything but hand over produce (killed livestock, hid grain and neglected their fields) 98% of agriculture was collectivized between 1930 and 1941 SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF COLLECTIVISATION Agricultural Production The destruction of grain and livestock in retaliation to the Party meant that grain production was plummeting between 1930-1934 Livestock populations dropped by more than 50% Peasant Discontent Due to peasant discontent with collectivisation, a large part of the peasant population refused to work on state-run farms This meant they were branded as Kulaks and punished with exile or death Human Cost An estimated 10 million peasants died due to mass deportations, executions and famine  5 million peasants died either directly from the famine or from malnutrition-related birth defects Consolidating Control of the Countryside Enforced adherence to Stalin's regime Building Up Capital for Modernisation Collectivisation increased grain exports allowing Stalin to feed cities and export grain overseas to build capital for industrialisation Collectivisation freed up peasants to work in the cities, supplying factories with labor to industrialise quickly Stalin had established his control through brutal violence of collectivisation and he had little choice but to maintain it This set many years of bitterness, resentment and ill-feeling between the peasants and the Communist Party REASONS FOR INDUSTRIALISATION Industrialisation: The transformation of the Soviet Union from an agrarian society to an industrial society Importance: A bigger, stronger economy and the survival of the USSR under Stalin By Lenin's death in 1924 no other country had undergone a communist revolution No one had come to Russia's rescue as Russia had more ideological enemies than friends The NEP was a short term solution for Russia's economic problems however it was fundamentally capitalist and would not generate enough capital for the industrialisation of the economy in the long run The leftists: Pushed for state-control of agriculture and an to the NEP and rapid industrialisation The rightists: Backed gradual industrialisation and continuation of the NEP Stalin approach to industrialisation overlapped with his desire for control of the party and the USSR Stalin initially backed the Right but then largely supported the Left by 1927, reasons: Dreadful grain harvests in late 1920's Stalin was tired of pacifying the peasant's Stalin announced plans for rapid industrialisation THE FIVE YEAR PLANS Stalin achieved rapid industrialisation by placing the economy under complete state control and planned industrialisation from the top down The State Planning Committee: would create a series of Five Year Plans which set targets for industrial production Between 1928 and 1941 there were three Five Year Plans The First Five Year Plan (1928-1932): Many unrealistic targets such as industrial production to rise by 180% Achievements: Steel and electricity production increased, 1500 state-run enterprises arised, prestige projects Impacts: came into effect too quickly so most labor force was unskilled, consumer goods were placed on backburner and domestic living conditions deteriorated The Second Five Year Plan (1933-1937) Achievements: Heavy industry remained focal point, transport, machinery and chemical industry grew Impacts: Golden Age of industrialisation in the USSR, working culture of hard work, productivity and loyalty developed The Third Five Year Plan (1938-1941) Cut short due to USSR's entry into WWII in 1941 Focus: building up armaments for use in war Impacts: consumer industries spiraled downwards, workers struggled to meet targets, shrinking labor force due to the Terror and the Purges THE GREAT TERROR The Great Terror was a bloody period of Soviet history beginning in 1937 Atmosphere of tension, suspicion and fear while Stalin was at the heigh of his power The USSR needed to master its economy: Stalin wanted control over this plan Stalin was paranoid his political rivals would try knock him off his perch Stalin plans to modernise were ambitious and he needed total cooperation to make it work Stalin started tightening his grip on every part of the USSR by: Bringing wealthy peasants into line  Cracking down on labor Eradicating disloyal Party members Enforcing strict subservience The Great Terror was defined by a massive increase in state-endorsed violence, arrests, imprisonment, torture, exiles and executions The whole point was to scare people into believing Stalin was their rightful leader Designed to scared people into submission to Stalin The NKVD (secret police) were used to round up, try and execute enemies of the state in purges and show trials Drew up massive arrest lists that targeted every sector of Soviet society Fixed percentages of those arrested were executed, sentenced to life in prison or sent to labor camps called gulags Stalin's policies eroded relationships enforcing strict loyalty to the state People turned against each other dobbing others in to avoid arrest 'Social Atomisation': the process where society is broken down to the individual The terror costed the lives of millions and transformed Soviet Society Complete transformation of the Communist Party: Old member were purged and replaced with new recruits Explosive growth of the secret police: became one of the Soviet Union's most powerful bodies Development of personality cult around Stalin Imposition of mass obedience to Stalin's regime THE PURGES AND SHOW TRIALS As Stalin strengthened his control he became increasingly paranoid about people trying to unseat him such as Ruined Bolsheviks Kulaks whose land was stolen Overworked industrial workers Anyone else who challenged him Purge: The rounding up, trying and executing of anyone who posed a real or imagined threat to Stalin's power  Stalin used the murder of Sergei Kirov to green-light the Kirov Decrees Laws that mapped out how the Communist Party should deal with threats This meant Stalin could start purging the Party Show Trial: Carefully staged shows where suspects were often forced to confess to crimes they hadn't committed Inevitably found the accused guilty of sabotage Punishments ranged from execution to exile in labor camps The purges and trials turned Stalin into a ruthless, incontestable dictator Created an atmosphere of terror and punishment Up to 24 million kulaks sent to gulags and 13 million died 1/2 soldiers of the Red Army where accused of treason. They were executed or imprisoned Any Trotsky supporter was purged Millions executed for unsubstantiated crimes Stalin booted many senior, talented workers, managers and commanders, leaving the running of Russia to those least suited PROPAGANDA, CENSORSHIP AND OFFICAL CULTURE Propaganda: spread of information to convince someone of a particular point of view Stalin's propaganda aimed to: Promote Communist Party values: hard work, discipline and loyalty Emphasise the importance of modernisation through collectivisation and industrialisation Celebrate success of socialism Glorify Lenin's vision and Stalin's ability to achieve it His propaganda was very visual (large and colourful with dramatic slogans) Aimed to convey a simple but profound message in as few words as possible to show Stalin as a great guy Deliberate suppression of information deemed inappropriate or threatening Stalin's censorship was about drowning out opposition and protecting his reputation Stalin banned anything that: Undermined the ideals of the revolution  Questioned official Party practice Challenged economic modernisation Generally annoyed him Stalin also used censorship to hide official figures if they made the USSR look economically and politically weak Culture that was backed by the state: the art, music and general way of life that supported Stalin and his vision for the USSR Fostered an atmosphere of conformity that enabled Stalin to enforce his control Promoted a vision of life in the USSR based on prosperity, freedom and equality i.e socialist realism (the official artistic style from 1930's onwards) Artist were only permitted to paint, draw or sculpt optimistic imaged of life that emphasized the successes of socialism Stalin however could never fully control what people thought STALINS CULT OF PERSONALITY Refers to the glorification and deification of a country's leader System that seeks to portray a leader a legendary and heroic Cultivates a positive image of heroism Legitimises he dictator's rule Painting a leader as god-like makes it harder for people to question his authority Used the Cult of Lenin as a springboard for his political career Stalin's name and ideas were inseparable from Lenin The Cult of Lenin was slowly transferred to Stalin himself Used propaganda and mass communication to position himself as the USSR's one true leader Soviet citizens were told that Stalin's glory could be transferred to them if they: Worked hard enough Praised Stalin enough Demonstrated enough commitment to the Communist cause Stalin manipulated the presentation of key historical moments Books, paintings and radio programs were manipulated to show Stalin's prestige  New version of Soviet History were taught Trotsky was removed from photographs, paintings, letters, books and meeting notes to protect Stalin's reputation Stalin's opinion became the only correct one Stalin continued to align himself with Lenin through propaganda Positioned himself a s Lenin's rightful successor STALIN AS TOTALITARIANISM System where government has total control over the lives of its citizens Six criteria for a totalitarian state: A single, small party headed by one leader A powerful ideology that everyone was expected to follow Total control over the armed forces Total control over communication Total control over the economy The extensive use of terror, police control, brutality and intimidation These features would come together in a totalitarian state to dehumanise people, turning citizens into 'mere cogs in the administrative machinery' Political system in the USSR under Joesph Stalin Increasing control of the Communist Party and Stalin himself over Soviet society, politics and culture Collectivisation Industrialisation The secret police Bolshevik history In comparing the two we can see that the USSR met all criteria However the Communist Party could never achieve total control over it people for two reasons The USSR was massive so decisions couldn’t be enforced everywhere It was impossible for the Party to infiltrate the thoughts of Soviet citizens