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Impact Of Stalinism

Decent Essays

Assess the impact of Stalinism on the Soviet State until 1941
1st paragraph - Stalin, the cult of personality
Stalin’s cult of personality, derived through propaganda, censorship and education, was an essential element of Stalinism which had a significant impact on the society and culture of the Soviet State between until 1941. Stalin’s 50th birthday on 21 December 1929 initiated the moment in Stalin’s dictatorship in which the leader became an object of worship. Millions of party member came to compare Stalin to Lenin, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Eventually the cult of Stalin saw him as a political, military, scientific and philosophical genius. While the people feared Stalin, they were still drawn to his patriotism and love for the Motherland. …show more content…

Stalin’s Five Year Plans included the embarkment of huge industrial projects and a campaign to collectivise agriculture. Almost all party members agreed that the Soviet State would require massive industrial growth to achieve a secure society. Collectivisation was to be undertaken to ensure food supplies to the cities and help “mechanisation, increase output and reduce costs”. The first of Stalin’s Five Year Plans reflected Lenin’s ideas of giving priority to industries such as hydro-electric power, coal, iron, steel ships, railways, and machinery. However, this first plan failed due to falls in food and consumer goods output and the many unrealistic plan targets. The second of the Five Year Plans was scheduled to begin in October 1928 and “focused on the production of consumer goods for the workers and peasants to increase their production,” as well as development of heavy industry base for the military. The third of the Five Year Plans was intended to increase the supply of scarce consumer goods. However, the Third Plan never met its goals as it was interrupted by the German attack on Russia in June

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