Russia's Three Revolutions, 1917–1932

150 Part II The Era of Revolution and WarEFFECTS OF “THIRDREVOLUTION”2. More rapid industrialization, especially in heavy industry, was necessaryif the Soviet Union was to become a stronger military power. “If in10 years we do not cover the distance that other countries took 50 or100 years to traverse, we will be crushed,” Stalin warned.3. Marxist ideology based socialism on a developed industrial order, and thereforethe continued development of a Soviet socialist state was thought bymany to depend on the expansion of Soviet industry.4. Both the Five-Year Plan and collectivization would increase the control ofthe party over the economy and over the lives of Soviet citizens.5. If he now rejected the NEP approach, Stalin would at the same time discredithis remaining major political opponents, who had consistently supported it.With the inauguration in late 1928 of the first Five-Year Plan, the Soviet economytook on the characteristics that would mark it for the next six decades. Governmentofficials decided what should be produced in the Soviet Union and in whatquantity; consumers’ desires had relatively little effect. The government, followingparty orders as always, established target figures for the next five years, designedespecially to increase metal and chemical production, electricity and petroleum output,new factory construction, and other industrial growth. The government obtainedcapital for expansion in these areas by squeezing high indirect taxes from its population.The purchasing power of Soviet citizens declined, and few consumer goodswere available.At the end of 1932 the government claimed that it had already met the goalsof the first Five-Year Plan in a little over four years. Although it is impossible to besure of the exact figures, and haste in meeting production quotas often caused shoddyworkmanship, production did increase significantly in some areas. Most reliableestimates agree that iron and steel output went up at least 50 percent during the firstFive-Year Plan. The output of chemicals, machinery, equipment, fertilizers, petroleum,and electricity increased even more dramatically. New factories, industrial complexes,and cities sprang up, often located far in the interior, away from vulnerable borders.Although part of this industrial spurt flowed from genuine enthusiasm by someworkers for Stalin’s bold new plans, increased labor discipline and coercion alsohelped increase production.The record in agriculture was not as impressive. Russian peasants in 1933 producedless food than before collectivization, and the amount of livestock markedlydeclined. In addition, famine occurred in 1932–1933. The poor record was largelydue to the peasants’ resistance to collectivization and the government’s use of force.Stalin was determined to push most peasants into either collective farms or statefarms. In the collectives, peasants worked the land collectively, and, after meeting allother obligations, they divided what was left of their produce according to the percentagethey had earned by their work. On a state farm, on the other hand, workersreceived wages directly from the state.Both collective and state farms were unpopular with the peasants, and few werewilling to give up their old ways. Peasants slaughtered their animals rather than turnthem over to the collective farms. In response to such resistance, the government