Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
and caused hyperinflation. Grain production fell from eighty million tons in 1917 to
thirty-seven point six million tons in 1921. In response to this, Lenin introduced the
New Economic Policy in 1921. This lowered the tax on peasants harvests and
allowed them to sell their excess products for profit. Small private businesses, such as
shops, were allowed to open,which would account for forty per cent of domestic trade
by 1924. This served to increase trade and reduce inflation. However, some
Bolsheviks were against this policy, as it aided the Kulaks, wealthy peasants who
were seen as the enemies of Marxism. Following Fanya Kaplans failed attempt to
murder Lenin, he unleashed the Red Terror, where the Cheka secret police, led by
Felix Dzerzhinsky, set about eliminating threats to Lenin, essentially the liberal,
free-thinking castes of society, such as noblemen and priests,thus destroying the
intelligentsia in society. (10/12)
Paragraph 2: Stalins economic transformation of USSR (GOSPLAN)
Following Lenins death in January 1924, Stalin seized power by exiling Trotsky,
Lenins preferred sucessor, who was later assasinated. In 1928, Stalin began his
Five-Year Plan which placed heavy emphasis on industry such as coal and iron. The
aims of this Plan, such as a two hundred and fifty per cent increase in industrial
development and a three hundred and thirty per cent increase in heavy industry, were
unrealistic, but the goals were to transform the USSR economically and industrially,
into a complete socialist state, centrally-planned by Gosplan, the main planning
authority. This Plan also introduced the policy of collectivisation in agriculture.
This meant state control over the farms, especially over those controlled by wealthy
peasants, called Kulaks. The second Five-Year Plan in 1933 concentrated on the
same aims as the first, while the third Five-Year Plan concentrated on defence
spending, armament and industrialisation, effectively militirising the economy. These
plans were overall successful as it helped to cement Stalins control over the state and
the Communist Party. It also led to huge numbers of industrial successes, such as the
vast ironworks build in Magnitogorsk and the hydro-electric plant built on the River
Dnieper.This was also a staggering economic feat, as Russia had lost much of her
industry in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and was more successful than Lenin.(9/12)
Paragraph 3: Stalins use of Propaganda Cult of Personlaity
These aims were accomplished through the wide use of propaganda and state terror.
The state media, controlled by the Party, glorified Stalin and his policies creating a
cult of personality, giving Stalin a god-like persona who could do no wrong, similar
to Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. Several towns, such as Stalingrad, were renamed
after him, and he was given the title of vozhdor leader and the successes of the
Five-Year Plans were overexaggerated, through the use of state heroes, like Alexei
Stakhanov, and awarding those who exceeded their qouta with the Order of Lenin,
who was largly omitted from State history. Following the murder of Sergei Kirov in
December 1934, the NKVD secret police, under orders from Stalin, unleashed the
Purges or the Great Terror. Copying Lenins Great Terror, this targeted anyone
Stalin believed was a threat to his power. Among the numerous crimes committed
during this period was the state famine in Ukraine, killing millions and wiping out the
Kulaks.The Purges also targeted many of the Old Bolsheviks in the Communist
Party, thereby removing most of Stalins political opponents. Several million people
who were arrested were sent to prison camps, called Gulags, who were then used as
slave labour in Stalins industrial projects. (9/12)
against Stalin, and made the Red Army and NKVD pro-Stalinist organisations.This
also served to weaken the Red Armys Officer Corps prior to the German invasion.
(9/12)
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we see that Lenin and Stalin did indeed transform the Soviet Union,
both economically and socially, between 1917 and 1939. However, it did come at a
huge human cost. Lenins War Communism of 1918, though reversed by the New
Economic Policy of 1921 damaged the economy, while the Great Terror removed
intelligentsia in society.Stalin,however, had more of an impact on the USSR, as his
Purges left him in complete control of the Communist Party and created an
atmosphere of terror and mutual suspicion throughout the USSR. As an added effect,
the purge of the Red Armys officers left it severally weakened during the German
invasion of 1941. However, the new industrial projects, most notably the munitions
factories in the Ural Mountains which had been built during the Five- Year Plans,
ensured the Soviet Unions recovery and eventually victory. This supposed foresight
aided Stalins persona as a great military commander, at the expense of Lenin, who
was largely forgotten until 1954, when Nikita Khruschev discredited Stalin. (7/12)
CM = 11 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 8 + 9 + 7 = 63/ 60
OE = 28/40 (*Respond consistently to the question & compare Lenin & Stalins
transformation from Tsarist Russia up until 1917)
Overall = 88/ 100
1. Excellent work Mark. My only issue is with a consistent response to the
question asked; make it more explicit in each paragraph. How different was
the USSR after Lenin & Stalin compared to that of Tsarist Russia up until
1917? Refer to Tsarist Russia as this is your comparative (in the
introduction & conclusion).
2. The depth and range of supporting evidence is A+. Well done.
3. The Conclusion could also do with a little bit more on the overall impacts,
particularly socially, of both Lenin & Stalin. One other possible weakness is
that the treatment of Lenin is significantly less than that of Stalin. However,
one could argue that that is a reflection of Stalins longer period of control,
which is something you could mention to justify the imbalance of treatment.