Economic (Factor / Description / Effect)5 – Year PlansIndustrialization. Goal: To transform the Soviet union into a modern industrial state1st plan focused on heavy industries like steel and iron2nd/3rd plan focused on consumer goods and military production.Salaries were offered based on how much a worker produced, and awarded with medals and holidays. Workers were taught new skills.Turned USSR into a modern, industralized country with better communication and able to fight a long war. Although there were jobs for everyone, people were worse off in the short term and there was no focus on consumer goods.CollectivisationGoal: To produce enough food to feed the Soviet Union and make money profits to invest in industry, improve farming methods to get more people to work in the factories.All tools and animals on a collective farm are shared. Farmers would sell a percentage of their crops at a low price to the government.Effect: Famine across southern USSR from 1932 - 33, about 7 million died, agricultural production plunged.Long term effect: Easier to introduce modern farming methods, farming became more efficient, many peasants were better off the state provided, more people can work in the factories.Political FeaturesEstablishment of a DictatorshipStalin established an authoritarian regime where he was a dictator and held all the political power in his hands. He banned other political parties from the Soviet Union and anyone who opposed Stalin was beaten, jailed or even killed.As a dictator, Stalin could make laws without consulting other members of the government or the people of Russia. Stalin’s Purges (Development of Terror State)Stalin was determined not to let anyone undermine his power.Arrested by the NKVD (secret police), the opponents were sent to jail, tortured, sent to labour camps or simply executed.No one was safe. Those suspected to be against Stalin was arrested.Those arrested were put on “show trials” where they were made to admit to ridiculous crimes and sign confessions before being jailed or executed. People lived in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. People were encouraged to inform on one another and no evidence was necessary for persecution. Mass executions were carried out and the victims buried in mass graves. Over 20 million Russians lost their lives to the purges. Stalin became extremely powerful as no one dared to challenge or oppose him. However, his reputation was further damaged and was hated by the people.Severely damaged USSR by removing many people. E.g. Purge of the Red Army, causing USSR to be weak. Industrial expansion was also affected by purge of scientists and engineers.Misery and Suffering by millions of Russians. PropagandaStalin used propaganda to persuade people to accept and obey him as the rightful leader and saviour of the country. The media was controlled by the state.Stalin often exaggerated his achievements and made writers and journalists portray him as a hero of the people.They gave the impression that Stalin was a great hero whom all should love and obey.Social FeaturesArts / Religion / EducationArts should glorify political and social ideals of Communism. Every artist had to join the Union of Soviet Artists controlled by the state.Religious worship was banned, replaced by worship of Stalin. Churches, mosques and synagogues were vandalized and religious leaders persecuted.Stalin introduced education to eliminate illiteracy. He tried to control the minds of younger Russians through education. Teachers forced to teach children to be loyal communist citizens. History textbooks were rewritten to show that Stalin and Lenin were the real heroes. Schoolchildren had to join the young pioneers (pro stalin youth group).Lack of independent thinkingLack of competent workforceDestroyed Religions and cultural traditionsLack of variety of the arts --> Russia become culturally barren.

Economic ImpactWorking ConditionsHitler formed the German Labour Front (DAF) which is used to control workers to ensure that wages are fixed. A worker’s salary is about 30-32 marks weekly.Rebuttal: Although Nazi Statistics showed that wages during Hitler’s rule increased, however the wages did not actually increase as the working hours were also increased.The DAF tried to improve the lives of the workers through the ‘Strength through Joy” programmes which included cheap holidays and sporting activities.Hitler’s economic plan did not last.The plan depended on having enough money to keep building weapons.Germany stopped paying reparations but still did not earn enough money from German goods overseas.Overall, although unemployment did go down, the economy did not improve.New JobsBig new government projects were implemented to reduce employment like building hospitals and highways.Civil service expanded to provide more administrative jobs.Reintroduction of conscription also provided jobs.Rebuttal: Although Nazi statistics showed that the number of unemployed reduced significantly, many jobs were available simply because women and Jews were forced out of jobs; the number of unemployed did not included those people.Big BusinessesThe Nazis announced a 4-year economic plan to achieve autarkyWeapon manufactures, businesses involving coal, steel and transport won large government contracts.However, autarky was not achieved; Germany still imported more than 1/3 of its raw materials. Small businesses did not benefit much from the government as well.Political FeaturesEnabling ActHitler wanted to wipe out democracy as he felt it was an obstacle to restoring Germany’s greatness.Before the new elections, the Reichstag caught fire and Hitler blamed the fire on the Communists. Using the fire as an excuse, Hitler convinced the President to give him Emergency Powers. He used the powers to ban other political parties and trade unions and replace Nazi officials with all the members in the government.After the elections, the Nazis still did not get enough votes so Hitler asked the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act which would give him dictatorial powers.He got the vote by gaining the support of the Nationalist and Catholic Centre Parties.Under the Enabling Act, Hitler managed to remove all other political party, making the Nazi Party gain dominance in Germany.Night of the Long KnivesThe SA, Hitler’s own private army, had grown very strong and powerful over the years under the leadership of Ernst Rohm. Ernst Rohm called for the SA to be merged with the German Army which alarmed it.Hitler was afraid of losing the Army’s support and was growing distrustful of Rohm as he saw him as a potential rival. In 1934, Rohm and many of the SA were arrested and executed in what became known as the Knight of the Long Knives. Hitler also used this opportunity to arrest, imprison and execute some of his rivals.Hitler managed to gain support of the Germany Army, which helped him to become the Fuhrer of Germany later on.Seizure of President’s RoleOn the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler did not call for elections but took over as President and Chancellor, allowing him unlimited and unchallenged power. He was now the Fuhrer of Germany and had the support of the German Army following the Night of the Long Knives.Stalin managed to gain dictatorial power.

Social FeaturesReligion was brought under controlHitler distrusted the Christian churches as he felt that they exercise a lot of influence over the people. If people were loyal to a church, they would not be so loyal to him.Hitler used churches to spread Nazi ideasThe influence of the church over people was significantly reduced through the closing of church schools and church youth groups.Destroyed Religions and cultural traditions.Emergency lawsAnyone suspected of being against the government was arrested and imprisoned immediately.No fair trials conducted as judges were controlled by Nazis.People who are arrested were being sent to concentration camps where there were very bad working and living conditions which caused many deathsHitler became extremely powerful and nobody dared to oppose him.Persecuting the JewsHitler hated the Jews. This was because many Germans resented their economic wealth (being wrongly accused for having profited from the war), blamed for the economic difficulties and was seen as contaminating the purity of the Aryan race.Began to take measures of Jews: Not allowed to own property, stripped of German citizenship, shops were attacked, and many were killed through poison gas.In September 1935 Hitler became more confident to go further and passed the Nuremberg Laws where Jews were deprived of citizenship, forbade marrying Germany and had to wear patches on clothing to identify them as Jews.On the Night of 9-10 November 1938, thousands of Jewish shop windows were smashed and their churches burnt down. This was organised by Goebbels in retaliation for a Jewish refugee killing a member of a German Embassy in Paris. This event was known as the Night of the Crystal Glass.Hitler managed to get rid of the Jews.Organisations and SchoolsChildren joined Nazi youth organisations. These organisations were quite successful in winning the support of young people and preparing them for war.Boys went through physical and military trainingGirls learnt to be physically fit and take care of babiesSchools encouraged in young Germans loyalty and obedience to Nazi beliefsTeachers had to teach Nazi beliefs more efficiently. They also had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler.