The First Five Year Plan was aimed at expanding and modernising existing industries, establish new sectors, and relocating those in the west further to the east, so that they would be more secure and protected by the vast amounts of land if Russia were to be attacked by the West. Industrialisation meant that existing factories and equipment were now being used much more efficiently. Also, massive industrial centers such as Magnetigorsk and Gorki, examples of Stalin’s ‘gigantomania’, were built in the center. Many targets which the workers had to meet were unrealistic. For example, there was to be a 250% increase in total industrial output and a 350% increase in heavy industries. As describe by historian M. Macanely, “It was as if mathematics ceased to exist.”. The people were given no leave and absenteeism was treated as treason. The workers had to work hard to overfulfill, or be seen to be not committed to socialism. However, very few of them revolted, as they knew their wages were paid in food rations, which was a strong incentive to keep working. Also, propaganda was used effectively as brochures, pamphlets and posters were distributed throughout the large industrial towns to boost the people's morale. Human examples were used as ‘shining examples’, to motivate other workers to exceed their set limits.
Furthermore, Russian heavy industries were far below average, and Stalin felt that developing these industries were important. The factories would be able to churn out machinery for farming, which would increase productivity and allow more workers to join the urban working force. However, as the threat of Germany grew, there was a greater incentive put on defense in the third Five Year Plan. Factories were able to change their products into war machinery. Tanks, weapons and airplanes could be produced at these factories if when required. The large supplies of iron and steel, for example, which would otherwise have been used to make machinery meant for agricultural uses, could then be used for war machinery manufacturing. This would be a sufficient backup for machines to defend Russia if the West decided to attack.
The agricultural sector was not neglected. Rapid industrialisation could only be achieved if agriculture was made more efficient, as sufficient food had to be produced to feed the workforce. Surplus food could then be sold for money to boost the industrial sector. Stalin introduced a new method of farming called collectivisation which encompassed grouping small, scattered farms in an area together in an efficient collective, or Kolkhozy. These peasants pooled their animals, tools and labour to work for the benefit of the whole community. The collectives had to sell most of their produce at low prices to the government. Any profits and surplus were theirs to keep or sell at a profit. Agriculture was also subjected to state planning. The First Five Year Plan was aimed at raising agricultural output by 130%. Major grain-producing areas were to be collectivised by early 1931 followed by the other regions in the following year. Each collective had a quota of grain it had to deliver to the state by a set date.
Collectivisation was implemented in 1928 and supposed to be on a purely voluntary basis, and at a moderate pace. However, the speed of collectivisation soon got out of hand, as the communists were, according to Stalin, “dizzy with success”. In 1929 Stalin sped up the process because peasants refused to share their labour and would rather burn their crops and kill their animals instead of selling food to the government. The government had to apply force to make them join the collectives. Those who resisted were severely punished. At the same time, Stalin dealt with the rich class of peasants, the kulaks. As Communism preached equality among all men, these peasants of "higher class" had to be eliminated, which became known as ‘dekulakisation’. Stalin ordered these kulaks to hand over their land, houses and property to the government. Their crops, labour and machinery were to be distributed among the collectives. They were, however, not allowed to join the collectives and millions if these peasants were sent to labour camps or executed. Most kulaks resisted and destroyed their property, machinery, crops and animals so that the government would not be able to use it. In a bid to increase collective membership, peasants were granted incentives to join the collectives in 1930. Stalin introduced the machine tractor station in Russia, where collectives could borrow machinery and increase their productivity in return for payment in the form of crops.
Even though the official government figures were greatly exaggerated, in some regards the first Five Year Plan was successful. The plan was achieved in four years, and not five as scheduled. There was a huge expansion of energy production as new factories and towns needed power. Dams were created and other major projects also led to the improvement of Russia. Roads, railways and canals were constructed. Russia was able to increase manufacturing and thus make more ample preparations for war in future. However, the Five Year Plan was not all that successful if we talk in terms of the social aspects present in Russia at that time. The enormous demands placed on the workers meant that millions of them lived in harsh conditions, working on the vast projects in the interior of Russia. The state tightened its control on the workers. Absenteeism was treated extremely harshly. The large emphasis on heavy industries meant that consumer goods were high in demand. Shops were empty, clothing was in short supply and many household items were unavailable. The lack of consumer products was one example of the fall in the standard of living. Because of the huge influx of people going into the cities from the countryside, there were insufficient medical facilities, houses and schools.
Finally, Collectivisation was also part of the Five Year Plan, but it was less successful than industrialisation. It did not fulfill its targets under the Plan and grain production even declined from 1928 to 1932. This caused widespread famine later on. Even though millions of peasants died, the government still hoarded grain to sell to other countries to earn foreign currency to be used for investment in industry. Grain production then improved, but the livestock took till 1953 to regain its 1928 level due to all the killings earlier. Collectivisation was a success as it made Russia's agriculture more efficient. The efficiency, organisation and machinery meant that women were more able to farm the land on their own, which meant that peasant men left their farms and went to work in the industrial labour sector.
In conclusion, Stalin was successful in modernising Russia somewhat before 1941. According to Stalin, industrialisation and collectivisation were successful because they were able to rid themselves of the kulaks and move towards communism. The state could now exercise more control over the peasants with the collectives, and over the workers through strict demands and harsh punishments. Even though the consumer goods, housing and textiles industry were in decline, the USSR had advanced industrially, economically and agriculturally, and had moved further towards a socialist state.
