Stalin's Soviet Union

Negative impact of collectivization

Collectivisation destroyed Soviet farming, causing a drastic decline in food production. Many Kulaks resisted collectivisation by burning their crops and killing their animals. The actions of the kulaks resulted in drastic fall in food production, resulting in the Great Famine in 1932-33. It was estimated that 10 million people died of starvation, particularly in Ukraine, Soviet Union's richest agricultural region. Despite severe shortage of food, the state did not distribute the grain but continue to sell grain abroad to fund industrialization. Moreever, the Kulaks who resisted collectivisation were deported or sent to gulags (concentration camps) where they were tortured or killed. As a result, the Kulaks suffered misery, hardships and loss of lives.

Living in Fear

Fear became an aspect of everyday life in the Soviet Union when Stalin's government relied on the use of fear to intimidate the people into obeying him. Stalin set up a police state whereby everything that the people said or did was monitored by the secret police (NKVD). If he suspected that people were opposing him or would be a threat to him, they were arrested. The secret police had informers everywhere to watch over the people. People knew they were being constantly watched and did not know who they could trust. Millions were arrested and tortured, sent to concentration camps and killed. This systematic use of terror helped create a climate of fear and suspicion which made lives unbearable. Hence Stalin's rule was harmful as the people lived in constant fear of losing their lives and lives of their loved ones.

Positive impact of rapid industrialisation (5-Years Plans)

In the long term, the Five Year Plans made the USSR a much more industrialised country with much better communications. An important part of the Five Year Plans was building roads, canals and railways to improve the communication network. It saw the growth of industrial cities like Magnitogorsk, as well as economic expansion of remote areas. Factories, mines and dams mushroomed all over the USSR. Foreign technicians were brought in and great investment was put on education and training to produce skilled workers. There were enormous increases in production. By 1939 the USSR became an industrialised power, second only to the USA. Soviet people's livelihood were assured as the rapid industrialisation created plentiful jobs for the people. It further provided the USSR with a strong industrial base for a powerful arms industry. The USSR would therefore be able to defeat Germany in WWII.

Positive impact of collectivisation

Modern farming methods eventually helped to make farming more efficient. Agriculture output began to improve in the 1950s as a result of this policy. Modern farming methods also helped to support Stalin's industrialisation programme. Larger collective farms made it easier for Stalin to control the peasants and food production. By controlling food production, Stalin could feed the factory workers in the industrial cities. Control over food production also enabled Stalin to export grain to buy industrial equipment to support his industrialisation programme. Hence Stalin's collectivisation benefited the USSR as it helped support industrialisation

Impact of Stalin's policies on children and youths

Schooling was made compulsory. Every child was provided with at least 9 years of free education. Schools and universities stressed on technical subjects to meet the needs of industrialisation. Education became a tool for propaganda and indoctrination. Youths were encouraged to join organisations which indoctrinated them to be loyal to Stalin and the Communist Party. They had to go on political campaigns instead of focusing fully on studying. The compulsory schooling increased the rate of literacy. By 1939 literacy had risen from 40% to 94% for men and from 13% to 65% for women. This improved their chances of getting better jobs, thus improving their lives. It also improved the quality of the Soviet workforce which was beneficial for the economy. Hence Stalin's leadership benefited the country and the people as it increased literacy rates. However Stalin used education to brainwash the Soviet youths to garner their support.

Great Terror (1934-1938)

Stalin became increasingly paranoid and power-mad. By 1933 the Communist Party was becoming unpopular and they were many people who opposed Stalin. Some of them were the communist party members and leaders, and Red Army officers. Stalin carried out a series of campaigns of political repression and purges to eliminate his enemies between 1934 and 1938. This period was characterised by purges, show trials, arrests, interrogation and executions to eliminate his opponents, and to instil fear. Thousands of party members were arrested and accused of being involved in the murder of Kirov. Political rivals were accused of conspiring with Trotsky to overthrow the government and put on show trials before being executed. Stalin also had tens of thousands of Red Army arrested and executed for being loyal to Trotsky.

Impact of Stalin's Great Terror (1934-1938)

Stalin consolidated his power through his campaign of Great Terror. By purging his enemies, Stalin built up a new party and army leadership of young men who were loyal to Stalin alone. The Great Terror also resulted in the loss of intellectuals, skilled workers and army officers. Stalin's purges damaged the USSR by removing many of its ablest people. The purging of the Red Army commanders and officers meant that there were no experienced military personnel to lead the army and this affected the military strength of the country. The mass killings of intellectuals and workers due to the purges greatly further affected the quality of the education and the industrial output.. The loss of skilled administrators and politicians affected the efficiency of the government. Hence the Great Terror weakened the Soviet Union's defence, economy, and government.

Collectivisation

Stalin needed to modernise agriculture to improve efficiency on the farms. By merging small farms into large collective farms, it enabled the use of machinery such as tractors. Collective farms were given machinery and peasants were taught modern farming methods. By using machinery on the collective farms, it is hoped to increase efficiency and output.

Impact of Stalin's policies on workers

Stalin took great efforts to develop the "New Soviet Man" his attempt to bring about industrialization. It meant the ideal Soviet citizen who was proud of being part of the industrial society and was willing to serve the state selflessly. Model workers who far exceeded their work targets were hailed as heroes These workers were called Stakhanovites and were given benefits and honour. But the pressure to meet and exceed targets as well as the oppression faced by those who failed to do so had a negative psychological impact on Soviet society. Hence many workers became increasingly unhappy with the state and the 5-year plans.

Stalin's use of propaganda

Stalin used propaganda to make sure that the people knew only the positive aspects of his rule. He used propaganda extensively to portray himself as a wise leader and father-figure. His portraits and statues could be found everywhere in the USSR. All the achievements and successes of the USSR were credited to Stalin's leadership. Large portions of history were also rewritten to boost Stalin's status and discredit his rivals. Photos were edited to remove unwanted people. There was also strict censorship to ensure that nobody would be able to speak or hear negative opinions about him. Stalin used education to brainwash and enforce his personality cult on the Soviet youths to garner their support.

Rapid Industrialisation (5-Years Plans)

Stalin wanted to modernise USSR through a series of Five-Year Plans. Stalin's industrialisation focused on heavy industries e.g. coal, iron, steel, gas. New dams and hydroelectric plants were built to create the energy needed for the new industries. Many new industrial cities were built.

Negative impact of rapid industrialisation (5-Years Plans)

Stalin's industrialisation focused on the development of heavy industries, which meant there were huge shortages of consumer goods such as clothing, furniture, housing and other amenities etc. This led to a fall in the standard of living among the Soviet people. In the short term, Soviet citizens were worse off as there was a fall in the standard of living. Additionally, the Soviet people had to work long hours with low wages, and were subjected to harsh working conditions so that they could meet or exceed the targets set. Those who failed to meet the targets were punished harshly. Focus on targets meant managers were more interested in quantity than quality, so there was a lot of waste and a lot of accidents, as safety standards were ignored.

Impact of Stalin's policies on women

Stalin's rule liberated women, as their role changed. Under the Soviet Constitution women were given equal rights as men. Divorce and abortion were legalised. This means women have more control over their own lives. Furthermore, Stalin's Industrialisation encouraged women to enter the workforce and become productive members of the economy. Women were also encouraged to work on the collective farms to boost productivity. The increased job opportunities freed women from dependence on men to provide for their livelihood. State-run childcare centres were built to enable women to work in the factories. As such, women were valued as workers who could contribute to industrial progress of the USSR. The status of women in Soviet society was greatly boosted.

Impact of Stalin's policies on minorities

The various minority republics in the Soviet Union lost their autonomy with the creation of the Soviet Union under Stalin's dictatorship. Soviet Republics also experienced the same effects of collectivisation, rapid industrialisation and the Great Terror as Soviet Russia. Those who dared to advocate autonomy for their republics were targeted and eliminated during the Great Terror. It was believed that the millions of Ukrainians who died during the Great Famine was a deliberate attempt to attack Ukrainian nationalism. As such minority republics lost their autonomy as their governments were all controlled by the Communist Party in Soviet Russia. Hence the tight Soviet control and the loss of autonomy affected the lives of the people in the republics, as they led the same miserable and fearful lives that people in Russia led. This in turn led to growing dissatisfaction against Stalin and communist rule.

Kulaks

They were rich peasants who owned land and benefitted from Lenin's New Economic Policy. As they resisted Stalin's collectivisation, Stalin introduced the policy of 'Dekulakisation'. They were deported them to gulags (concentration camps) where they were tortured or killed.

Impact of using propaganda

Through use of propaganda, Stalin would be able to make people believe that he was the rightful successor to Lenin, and so they would support his policies. Many more people worship him as their leader. All of these measures boosted his authority and status, both within the Party and among the people. The personality cult made opposition against him even more impossible. Hence the use of propaganda made him the undisputable leader of the USSR.

NKVD

With the rise of Joseph Stalin, the secret police which had once been used purely for enforcement, expanded its control over the country. In 1934, it became known NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) The NKVD was the vehicle that drove a great part of Stalin's purges. He used the NKVD as his own private force for eliminating people he thought were disloyal or a threat.