Stalin’s
Interpretation
INTRODUCTION: Stalin’s interpretation of Marxism-Leninism
After the communist leader (Vladimir Lenin) died,
Joseph Stalin came to power in the USSR. Stalin soon
developed and perpetuated his own interpretation of
Marxism-Leninism (the dominant socialist/communist
ideology based on the work of Karl Marx and Vladimir
Lenin):
● Stalin believed in Socialism in One Country. This was
contrary to Bolshevik (Leninist) beliefs that socialism
should be spread across Europe/the world to be
sustainable.
● Stalin believed that a successful revolution in Russia
would inspire an international revolution.
● In an attempt to secure revolution in Russia, Stalin
developed a series of Five-Year Plans to develop
Russian agriculture and economy.
Collectivisation & Industrialisation
● Stalin also pushed for modernisation and industrialisation throughout
Russia to survive against the West.
● The programme of Collectivisation was introduced in 1929, his programme
for developing agriculture:
○ Larger, more productive farms were established (collectively and state-
owned).
○ More peasants would be allowed to work in industry (factories, etc.)
○ More food would be produced to feed industry workers.
○ More capital will be raised for industrial development by selling surplus
food abroad.
○ Unfortunately, state farms failed and Kulaks resisted collectivisation.
The Kulaks were sent to concentration camps, and forced
collectivisation was completed by 1941.
○ These actions lead to a nation-wide famines between 1930-33.
Collectivisation & Industrialisation
● To develop industry, a series of Five-Year Plans with
production targets were created by the State
Planning Commission (Gosplan).
● They planned to develop heavy industry,
agriculture, consumer goods, communications
infrastructure, health, education and welfare.
● Workers suffered under these plans - forced labour,
and were mainly motivated by propaganda.
● The Five-Year Plans promoted quantity over quality.
○ This resulted in a somewhat steady growth-
rate which allowed the Russians to withstand a
German invasion in 1941.
● This transformed Russia. However, these Five-Year
Plans were at a great cost to the Russian people.
Political Terror in the 1930s
● Stalin faced increasing opposition to his
policies.
● In 1937 Stalin began purging the Red
Army because it was suspected that
members were plotting with Germany
against Stalin.
● The Commander in Chief and 7 leading
Generals were executed.
● From 1938-1939, all admirals and half of
all army officers were executed or
imprisoned.
● Stalin claimed the NKVD were fascists
and turned against them, claiming they
murdered innocent people.
The Impact of Stalin’s Policies on Soviet People
● Soviet people lived in constant fear, terrified of being accused of
traitorship and then being purged or tried in a show trial, which
usually resulted in being imprisoned, tortured or murdered.
● Writers and intellectuals were imprisoned or sent to
concentration camps.
● Twenty million ordinary citizens were denounced and sent to the
Gulag (labour camps/transition camps before imprisonment).
● Loyal party members were rewarded with new flats, holidays,
etc.
● Censorship and propaganda flooded Russia, as Stalin demanded
continuous praise and obedience.
● Prior to WWII, Stalin began a policy of forced removal - 3 million
people were sent to Siberia and the Central Asian Republic. Half
Women in the USSR under Stalin
● Both positive and negative changes to the
status/experiences of women under Stalin.
● Divorce and child support (if unmarried) became very
difficult to obtain because Stalin was in favour of
strengthening the idea of the family.
● Abortion was made illegal, but women did have access to
prenatal care and hospital births.
● Women were granted equal education and employment
opportunities compared to men.
○ As a result of women in the workforce, day-care
centres were established.
○ By 1937, 40% of industry workers were women.
● Women became victims of discrimination, as they were
offered lower positions than men and had higher rates of
illiteracy.
●
The Coming of WWII
● Stalin wanted the USSR to remain neutral and did not
plan to go to war. He was hopeful that other countries
would become financially and politically exhausted by the
war, which would make the USSR a global superpower.
● A non-aggression pact was signed with Germany
(Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) in which the 2 countries agreed
to divide Poland between them.
● On 22 June 1941 Hitler sent 3 million troops and 3500
tanks to invade the USSR. This was called operation
Barbarossa, which broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
● Stalin immediately entered WWII on the side of Britain
and France by launching an eastern battlefront in a war
lasting until 9 May 1945, when Germany surrendered
unconditionally.
