America question 4

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The following were equally important reasons why Stalin was able to hold onto power in the Soviet Union.

  • Stalin’s economic policies
  • Purges and show trials
  • Propaganda and Cult of personality
  • Secret police.

The above statement is subject to much debate. Individually each statement holds value and importance because together they form the underlying factors to Stalin’s hold on power. However to say that one holds more importance than the other is difficult to justify. It is therefore necessary to look at each statement individually and critically assess it in context to the political and social climate at the time.

Before evaluating each statement the strength and the capability of the secret police and how it had helped Stalin to stay in power seems like the strongest factor. This is because they were involved in each of the other factors and there presence could not have gone unnoticed. Therefore I do not agree with the statement.

Stalin believed that the USSR was under threat from non-communist states. He also believed that the only way for the USSR to make itself secure was to become a modern, industrial country. Stalin had said “we are 50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good the difference in 10 years or they crush us”, he wanted the country to rapidly industrialise. There were two aspects of Stalin’s plans. The first was to modernise the economy and the second to control the people to improve food production and increase production.

In order to achieve his first aim he came up with two five year plans which were to help the development of the USSR. The plans for this were drawn up by the GOSPLAN, this was the committee for economic planning in the Soviet union. GOSPLAN worked out, through trial and error, a set of preliminary plan targets. Thereafter each region was set targets. Targets were passed down, until finally targets were set for each shift for each individual worker. The affects of the five year plan were very pleasing, the amount of coal in 1928 was 34.5 and at the end of the first 5 Year Plan it was 64.3  and after the second there  was 128. The amount of steel aimed to get at the end of the second five year plan was 17 million tones, however they achieved to get 17.7 million tones. The five year plans were very important for Stalin staying in power as he gained a lot of support because of them. The people of the country were happy because there countries strength was being boosted up massively and at a very fast speed. Everyone ended up with houses and women had the chance to work. Through out the country there was hardly any unemployment. This was great for Russia and was great thinking by Trotsky, therefore the Five year plan was a great success for Stalin staying in power.

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Most farms were smallholdings tended by peasants. These holdings were never efficient in Stalin’s eyes so he introduced the policy of collectivisation. Peasants had to give up their land and join with other families on very large farms. These new farms were supplied by the state with seed, tools, tractors and other machinery. Their products produced were taken to the government to share throughout the country. There was some opposition towards collectivisation by the Kulaks however this was dealt with by ht secret police. The policy of collectivisation was a success to Stalin as it removed the Kulaks, and ...

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