Stalinist
Russia
The Five Year Plans
In Today’s Class
● Today we will learn about Stalin’s
economic policy of the Five Year
Plans.
● We will discuss the first 3 plans, and
the results of these plans.
The Five Year Plans
● The Five Year Plans were
introduced by Stalin in 1928 to
industrialise Russia as quickly as
possible.
● They replaced Lenin’s NEP.
● The State now controlled all
aspects of the economy.
Marx vs. Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Karl Marx
● Marx envisioned ● Stalin created a state
that was run by the
a socialist state
elite members of the
that would be led
Communist Party.
by the workers.
● Worker would run ● Government officials
made all the decisions
the factories.
about the economy.
The 1st Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
● Production targets were
set in manufacturing,
transport and raw
materials.
● It concentrated on heavy
industry, i.e. coal, iron,
gas and electricity.
Results of the 1st Five Year Plan
● Machinery production increased by 4 times
the 1927 level.
● Oil production doubled.
● Electricity trebled.
● New towns were constructed.
● Focus on quantity over quality led to faulty or
poor quality production.
Results of the 1st Five Year Plan
The 2nd and 3rd Plans (1933-1941)
● 2nd Plan - Focus on two areas of production:
Metal production and transport (1933-38)
● Initially the plan was in danger of failing so
creches were introduced so that mothers
could join the Soviet workforce.
● 3rd Plan - Focus on Arms production (19381941).
Results of the 2nd and 3rd Plans
● Russia became a major steel producer and
matched Germany for steel production.
● Production of industrial goods trebled.
● The urban population trebled between 1928
and 1938.
● There was no economic depression and
almost full employment.
● Illiteracy was almost wiped out.
"We are the Realisation of the Plan (1933)
“Stop and
punish
harshly the
lovers of
the
unearned
rouble!”
“With
shock
labor we
will ensure
prompt
delivery of
the Five
Year Plan”
In Conclusion
● The Five Year Plans rapidly
modernized Russian industry. But
often the good produced were of low
quality.
● But consumer goods (houses,
clothes, appliances etc.) were
neglected and quality of life
remained poor.