1. SECTION 3 THE FIVE YEAR PLANS PART ONE YOU NEED TO KNOW: THE FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN 1928-1932- ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES THE SECOND FIVE YEAR PLAN 1933-1937: HOW DID IT DIFFER FROM THE FIRST AND WHY? EXAMPLE EXAM QUESTION: How far did the priorities of the three Five- Year Plans change in the years 1929–41? 30 marks

2. FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN OCTOBER 1928-DECEMBER 1932 REASONS FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN: Stalin believed that socialism was only possible in an advanced industrialised nation. Stalin aimed to bridge the gap between Russia and more industrialised countries in 10 years. He wanted to replace the “bourgeois specialists” who managed industry with “red specialists” (Communist educated and working class). As collectivisation had been achieved this inspired Stalin to change industry. Stalin no longer wanted to be seen as “Lenin's pupil”. A strong industry was needed in the event of war. The NEP had failed to industrialise Russia. Results were not being produced fast enough. Russia was behind Germany, France and other western nations.

3. WHAT WAS THE PLAN? A series of targets. The targets were drawn up by Gosplan- State Planning Committee. Targets were set for every factory, workshop, mill and mine in Russia. Many officials who set the targets had little knowledge of the factory or mine that they were setting targets for. In 1927 targets were set for coal, iron and steel. These were ambitious targets, but in 1932 Stalin raised these targets upwards. The government demanded production with no clear idea of how it was to be achieved or what was to be done with the materials produced. Stalin saw the coal, steel and oil industries as decisive as they were the first industries developed in the industrial revolution. He believed to achieve industrialisation that these industries needed reforming. All industries needed raw materials and heavy industry was essential. (coal, steel and oil). The new industrial workers (peasants who left the land), were better suited to producing large quantities of raw materials as it was not a complex process like producing consumer goods. It was hoped working in heavy industry would prepare peasants for working in other industries at a later time. Heavy industry would be important for rearmament in the case of war. (building up weapons).

4. OVERVIEW OF RESULTS SUCCESS The production of raw materials had increased. The economy grew around 14% a year. (this was during the time of the Depression). More impressive results than NEP produced. Production of Iron, Steel, Coal and Oil rose sharply. More peasants moved to the cities. Many existing industrial workers were promoted. Workers were encouraged to attend classes in technical subjects. Universities were more accessible. 150,000 new “red specialists”. FAILURE Many official targets were never met. Local Party officials who failed to meet targets were sacked, demoted or in some cases put on trial and executed as enemies of the state. Many local administrators lied about production, creating the impression that targets had been exceeded. All four of the key heavy industries (Iron, Steel, Coal and Oil) did not meet the set targets by 1932. As targets related to quantity produced, this led to a drop in quality of production. (some materials produced were such low quality that they were useless!). Consumption of goods produced was not considered and much that was produced was wasted and not used.

5. LIVING AND WORKING UNDER THE FIVE YEAR PLAN Workers were on a diet that was poorer than under the NEP. Consumer goods virtually disappeared, queueing became a necessity. A seven-day working week was introduced. People now had to work on a Sunday. Many peasants perished in hastily constructed factories. Miners were subjected to dangerous conditions. Their managers only concerns were to meet Stalin's targets. Discipline was harsh. Lateness was criminalised, strikes outlawed (banned) and workers who broke machinery were exiled to forced- labour camps. This led to absenteeism and low productivity. Many workers were prisoners who were forced to work. They were called “white coal” and had no rights. They were allowed to starve or freeze to death. THE ABOLITION OF THE FREE MARKET The plan failed to create a planned economy. The shortage of consumer goods increased their value and led to illegal trade (vodka, cigarettes, footwear etc.). The black market was so widespread that it was impossible to police. Anyone caught was subjected to a “show-trial” (made an example of) and punishment was forced-labour.

6. MAGNITOGORSK Stalin's planners aimed to build a steelworks- and an entire city- from scratch. 250,000 workers were transported to the “magnetic mountain” and instructed to create Russia's largest steel factory. It was meant to be a city with clean and modern accommodation. When workers arrived they discovered that few houses had been built. The workers lived in shacks, tents and mud huts with no sanitation or heating. Workers on average left after 82 days. 40,000 prison workers and dedicated volunteers did manage to turn Magnitogorsk into one of Russia's major industrial centres. BUT the ideal community was never constructed, the steelworks was largely created by slave labour of Stalin's political prisoners.

7. THE SECOND FIVE-YEAR PLAN 1933-1938 BACKGROUND The Second Five-Year Plan was different from the first plan. Production targets were more realistic and there was a greater attempt to develop the economy in a more rounded way. THE PRIORITIES OF THE SECOND FIVE-YEAR PLAN Stalin promised workers that their standard of living would improve. From 1934-1936 a more concerted effort was made to improve living standards. (but this changed in response to German rearmament, and military spending became the focus rather than consumer goods). The new plan was concerned with consolidating the gains of the first plan. New industries were included such as chemical processing as well as improving Russia's transport system. It was recognised that labour productivity was low. Incentive schemes were introduced.

8. REASONS FOR CHANGING PRIORITIES Many in the Politburo argued for a better standard of living for industrial workers. A second shortcoming was the inability to transport raw materials produced. Improving transport infrastructure was a priority. The Politburo argued that peasant support should be won (the threat of war after Hitler's election was a consideration). The priorities of the plans changed after the purges of 1936 (more later in our study of Stalin's Russia on this matter). The threat of war was growing and this further changed the plan.

9. THE STAKHANOVITE MOVEMENT A new propaganda campaign was launched appealing to the heroic instincts of Soviet workers whilst at the same time offering incentives for workers who exceeded their production quotas. A media legend- Alexei Stakhanov was created. In August 1935 he mined 102 tonnes of coal in six hours (14 times the output of a normal miner!). A month later, he exceeded this record, mining 227 tonnes in a single shift. He was rewarded with 200 roubles (1 months wages), a new apartment, tickets to cinemas, clubs and holiday resorts. He appeared in magazines and was a celebrity. He was held up as an example to all Russian workers. The message was simple: work hard and you'll be rewarded. Factory bosses were required to reorder production techniques in order to facilitate increased output. Workers were rewarded with better living conditions and financial bonuses if they exceeded their targets. NB: The achievement of Stakhanov was no accident. (provided with state of the art equipment and a number of assistants in order to achieve his production “miracle”). BUT his legend inspired workers across the USSR.

10. FILM CLIP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXGTh PeOJu4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXGTh PeOJu4 Brilliant film 5 year plan in 5 minutes