Russia 1917-1991 condensed notes topic 2

October 1917 Land Decree, Decree on Worker's Control November, 27th of December People's Bank of Russian Republic. Eecember 1917 Vesenkha set up after worker's coucnils simply idly voted themselves pay rises and let factories rot. 

War Communism -- all industries with ten workers or more nationalised, all industry under Vesenkha, hierarchy and military-style discipline, "Communist Saturdays" and "Labour Armies" for the unemployed, private trading banned, rationing, bartering, 150,000 volunteers to seize gain,

NEP -- production at 20% of 1913 level, 48% for food production, 20 million died from famine and disease (eg typhus) in 1920s, Soviet population in general despised WC (rations were politicised, for instanc,e such that the "bourgeoisie" received practically nothing). Tambov and Krondstadt., risingsi n the Volga basin, western Siberia and the northern Caucasus. Agriculture, no more forced requsitioning, the peasant mir would remain, "commanding heights of the economy" only to remain nationalised, piecwework and bonuses to be used, reintroduction of currnecy in 1921, rise of the small-scale "Nepmen". Industrial output for three years did rise rapidly (37.6 million tons of grain 1921 vs 56.6 1934, 100,000 million tons of pig iron vs 300,000 1924 0.5 v 1.1 for electricity, 105 vs 691 million ms for cotton, 200,000 vs 700,000 for steel) but none of these mathced 1913 levels or were even close to them, imbalance between agricultural and industrial goods prices created the so-called "scissors crisis". December 1932 state had to regulate cirses. By 1924 45% industrial production only relativee to 1913. 

Stalinist economic order based upon a series of so-called "Five-Year Plans". 1929 25 at Magnitogorsk vs 1932 250,000. 1933 only 17% of Muscovite workforce skilled, lower everwhee else. "Model workers" and "shock brigades" (Stakhanov, 15 times average amont of coal). White Sea Canal, 180,000 employed and 10,000 died, to speed up only dug 12 feet and hence useless for most ships. Bribery, theft common to meet targets. Stalingrad tractors -- 500 a month by 1030 aims but only eight made in June, almost all of which broke within three days. Second Plan -- rises in coal ()64.3 vs 128 million tonnes, goal 152.5 and chemical production, but otherwise disappoiinting, Third Plan canceleld early and focused almost wholly upon arms production. Much new industyr in Kazkahstan and other outlying parts of hte union, deliberately located earl of the Urals to avoid attacks from the West. 1928-41 17% growth rate, fourfold increase in steel and sixfold in coal production, Dnieper dam for hydroelectri  power, but textiles declined and hosuing ignored, consumer goods overall neflected, collecitivsation destroyed mcuh cottage industry. …