Collectivisation and the Kulaks

In 1929 Stalin decided that the economic freedoms of the NEP should stop. The state would take direct control over every aspect of economic life. He introduced a programme of collectivisation in agriculture. This meant that the thousands of small privately owned farms would be combined into a smaller number of large collective farms run directly by the state.

Stalin’s motives To turn the Soviet Union into a modern industrial power Stalin knew agriculture must become more efficient before industry could expand. If industry did take off, peasants would leave the countryside to work in factories This would mean more factory workers to feed with less peasants working the land.

Stalin’s motives Stalin believed bigger farms would mean machinery could be used more effectively. Production would increase, once modern farming methods were introduced. Difficult for peasants to hide any produce when supervised by communist officials Efficient farming was politically important –failure to feed people in towns had led to downfall of the Tsar & the Provisional Government.

Kulaks Stalin did not trust the peasants –Natural enemies of communism He believed by taking away their independence (through owning the land) he would remove all threats He decided to destroy the Kulaks as a warning to others.

Stalin destroys the kulaks Winter : the policy of collectivisation began. 25 million peasant farms were combined to form 240,000 collective farms Involved 120 million people Wealthier peasants resented becoming unpaid workers for the state, so resisted Peasants killed their own livestock –In January & February 1930, 14 million cattle were slaughtered

Stalin’s Response Soldiers shot anyone thought resisting collectivisation Poor peasants, jealous of the wealthier ones denounced them as kulaks –Poor peasants had no land – nothing to lose –Kulaks saw all they had worked for, taken away Anyone accused of being a kulak was imprisoned, shot or transported –Probably 1.5 million transported, –Sometimes whole villages By 1932 most peasants who resisted had been killed or transported By end of % of all land had been collectivised

Food Stocks Destruction of livestock had disastrous impact on food stocks In three years farm animal population fell by half This and the disruption caused by collectivisation led to famine: –Between 1931 & million people died

Results for peasants Production level increased after a few years. Peasants on collective farms did not benefit – they remained one of the poorest section of society They lost any power they had to oppose the government – as Stalin intended.