“Saviour of Russia” or “Tyrannical Dictator”. Which term is the better description of Stalin’s perfo - page 1
Keywords: GCSE coursework on Stalin
By Northcott on 26/09/2008
Level: VGCSE
Page Number: 1 of 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
After Stalin became the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union extensive changes occurred throughout the nation. One of the major industrial advances was the Five – Year Plans, these were implemented to attempt to increase the industries output in five-year sections. This was just one of Stalin’s new regimes to re-build Russia. Secondly was Stalin’s rapid industrialisation that became known as “Stalinism” throughout the world. Thirdly he increased the amount that the State controlled but also brought in some slightly socialist ideas to help build up his idea of “Socialism in One Country”. The Five – Year Plans were initiated as soon as he came to power. He believed that industrialisation and urbanisation were the key to a greater production of consumer goods and food in particular. Due to this strong link between industrialisation and the production of food Stalin developed the policy of collectivisation in agriculture. All of this was trying to eliminate class division and build up the Soviet Union so that they could with stand an attack from more modernised countries form the west especially.
Starting with the “Saviour of Russia” type of view, Stalin had already decided that Russia had to be transformed for a few reasons. To make Russia a main economic power, be able to withstand an invasion from the west and as Stalin so rightly put it “make up 100 years of our countries economics in 10 years”. It was key that he improved the main things to do with industry: production and infrastructure. It was very obvious that Russia were well behind in terms of industry, so Stalin introduced the five-year plans. The First Five-Year Plan emphasized heavy industries to lay the foundations for future industrial growth. Despite the targets being unbelievably high, remarkable results were achieved. For instance, coal and iron production both doubled their output, electric power production almost tripled and 1500 new industrial plants were built. The First Five-Year Plan ended up being a success in the welfare of Russia, the lifestyle for lower-class people people improved and it was catching up in time with other countries.
In order to cope with this industrial boom the agriculture part of the country had to be improved to sustain the population. This was vital for feeding the cities that so desperately needed the food. To help this situation collectivisation was put in place. This made all the farming land the states
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