Why Did Stalin Introduce the Five-Year Plans? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

How Important were the Five-Year Plans - Summary

• The Five-Year Plans were instrumental in shaping the economy and society of Stalin's USSR.
• Stalin's objective was swift industrialization and the attainment of specific economic objectives within five-year cycles, heralding a transformation from an agrarian to an industrial powerhouse.
• Emphasizing heavy industry, infrastructure, and agriculture, Stalin oversaw notable progress in sectors like steel manufacturing and transportation. Yet, the plans exacted a heavy toll, marked by forced labor, famine, and political oppression. Impossibly high targets were set, leading to unattainable goals.
• While contributing to the modernization of the Soviet Union, the Five-Year Plans were marred by significant human and social costs.

Reasons for the Five-Year Plans

• The Five-Year Plans were designed to accelerate industrialization in the USSR.
• Stalin first introduced this concept in 1928.
  • There were multiple motivations driving the implementation of the Five-Year Plans.

Details of Stalin's Five-Year Plans

• Stalin initiated the establishment of Gosplan to organize the Five-Year Plan, which was an abbreviation for the 'State Committee for Planning'.
• Targets were set by Gosplan for every region, factory, manager, and worker. These targets were notably ambitious and often unattainable.
• Stalin leveraged foreign aid and investments from nations like Britain and the USA to support the implementation of the plans.

The First Five-Year Plan

The Second Five-Year Plan

The Stakhanovite Movement

• The movement gained momentum during the second Five-Year Plan in 1935.
• Its moniker was derived from Aleksei Stakhanov.
  • Stakhanov's purported feat of mining 102 tons of coal in under 6 hours, surpassing his quota by 14-fold on August 31, 1935, garnered widespread attention.
• The communist government lauded Stakhanov's accomplishment, propelling him to national prominence.
  • Stakhanov embarked on a nationwide tour as a celebrated figure, with the government providing him a residence, additional wages, and extended vacation time.
  • Nationwide competitions were orchestrated by the government to identify top performers in various industries.
• The publicity surrounding Stakhanov inspired others to emulate his example.
  • Nikita Izotov reportedly achieved the remarkable feat of mining 640 tons of coal in a single shift on February 1, 1936.
• Stakhanovites emerged across diverse industries, spanning urban and rural locales.
  • However, it's likely that Stakhanov and his adherents didn't consistently attain such extraordinary levels of productivity, contributing to inflated expectations and mounting pressure on workers and managers.

The Third Five-Year Plan